Special message from Sr. Debbie
Sister Debbie Blow, OP
Dear Mission of Hope community,
Some of you may be surprised to hear from me after these past months of relative quiet. Please know that my silence was never meant to signal disengagement or lack of care—quite the opposite. I am deeply aware and profoundly grateful for the many ways you have reached out through Mission of Hope leadership, friends, and family to check in on me. Your concern, prayers, and kindness have not gone unnoticed.
The truth is that I have been navigating a season of grief following the death of Sister Stephanie, while also spending time discerning what God may be asking of me now. As many of you know, when I stepped away from my formal role with Mission of Hope during my cancer journey a few years ago, I also became Sister Stephanie’s full time caregiver. That daily "Ministry of Presence" shaped my life in ways I am still coming to understand. Steph lived with significant disabilities, recurring illness, and deep suffering—yet she was also someone whose life and ministry touched thousands. Even so, she sometimes wondered whether her life had truly made a difference. I wish she could have known then what has become so clear to me now.
Alongside the work of grieving, I have been reflecting deeply on my life and on the many losses I have experienced over the past five years. I am also learning what it means to sit with loneliness—something new for me. Those of you who have lost someone dear will recognize that strange feeling of being out of sync with the world, as though life is moving forward at a pace your heart cannot yet match. While I know I am not alone in this experience, it feels uniquely personal when you are living it.
What has never been absent, however, is my awareness of how blessed I am—by lifelong friendships, by having had a soul friend like Sister Stephanie, by the extraordinary people God has placed in my life, and by the inspiring choices of students, adults, and Dominican Sisters who continue to shape and enrich my journey. At the same time, I carry deep concern for the suffering and unrest unfolding in our world, which calls all of us to compassion and courage.
I share all of this because, at the core, I am not so different from any of you. While I live my vocation as a consecrated religious woman, I am also very human. Loss and love, faith and doubt, hope and loneliness—all of these are part of our shared experience. Recently, while watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics, I was struck by a sudden ache of loneliness as I realized it was the first time I had ever watched them without Sister Stephanie’s running commentary. We always watched together. In that moment, I asked God for a sign—something to bring comfort.
Within minutes, I received a message from a former Mission of Hope student. With her permission, I would like to share it with you.
Her name is Stacia Rice, and she participated in one of our most recent missions to Nicaragua. She wrote: “Hey, Sister Debbie! I wanted to share an experience I had today. We had a UVM Health Network emergency medicine conference (UVM, CVPH, Alice Hyde, etc.), and I walked in, and Jacob Schiff, who is apparently an ED nurse at one of our satellite hospitals, was in the room.0 We recognized each other immediately, embraced in a big hug, and promptly started chit-chatting and catching up on life. We hadn't seen each other in 10 years, but the connection we had made it seem like we had been friends for a lifetime. Mission of Hope truly changed the lives of so many and has made lasting impressions on those involved. The everlasting connections that came out of that place are so special, and you and Sister Steph deserve so much praise for making those connections possible. So, Olivia Politi, Jacob, and I are all in the emergency departments helping people on their worst days, and I think Mission of Hope definitely sparked the passion for helping our community and being the best caregivers we can be. The week-long trip to Nicaragua changed our entire lives for the better, all thanks to you and Sr. Steph."
To say I was deeply touched is an understatement. Receiving that message in a moment of loneliness and uncertainty was both comforting and hope-filled. It reminded me that through the kindness of others, we rediscover joy, carry hope, and find light again.
I was equally comforted by the belief that Steph now sees with “resurrection eyes”—able, at last, to fully understand how loved and appreciated she was, and how profoundly she inspired others to become their best selves. It is in this spirit that I share another gift of hope: Mission of Hope recently received a $50,000 memorial donation in Sister Stephanie’s name from a former mission traveler, who wrote, “Her smile and her eyes are what I remember most about Sister Stephanie… I know you are still very close, though in different places for now.” This generous gift will support a new Education program, particularly those serving young women and children.
Many of you may still be wondering what this season looks like for me. For now, my focus is simply on “being”—on reflection, prayer, and adjusting to my present reality while remaining open to whatever God may be calling me toward. I continue to serve Mission of Hope in ways that are possible at this time, including collaborating on the new brochure you will soon receive and remaining involved with the Education Sponsorship Committee. I am also spending time with family, friends, and community—and even finding myself writing lyrics and phrases for a song, though that story will wait for another day!
I would like to close by sharing a reflection that has stayed with me. It comes from a Buddhist teaching:
“Life has a way of reminding us what truly matters.
The things we chase—status, possessions, recognition—
Fade with time.
They may impress the world for a while,
But they rarely touch the heart.
What remains is simpler:
The love you gave,
The kindness you showed,
And the way you made others feel.
In the end,
A meaningful life is measured
Not by what you gathered,
But by what you shared."
Thank you for allowing me to share a bit of myself with you. Please know of my continued prayers for each of you and your loved ones, and of my deep gratitude for your presence in my life and in the life of Mission of Hope. I remain committed to being of service in whatever ways I can. As I have said many times over the years, I truly believe we are all called to serve—and we live that call in countless, beautiful ways.
So live fully, and be HOPE,
Sr. Debbie
Sr. Debbie Blow, OP