Sr. Alison McCrary | Beyond the Habit

Summary

A Catholic sister shares her journey from rural Georgia to New Orleans, where she combines her faith with social justice advocacy. As a community lawyer and spiritual advisor to those on death row, she reflects on her ministry of radical availability and love. She serves in the historically significant Treme neighborhood, working with musicians and supporting local communities. Her spiritual calling is rooted in her conversion to Catholicism, where she was inspired by women religious who embody vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience as a prophetic witness in a world focused on power and wealth.

Takeaways

• 👩‍💼 The speaker is a sister and a lawyer, often misunderstood by others due to her dual roles.
• 🏠 She represents the Treme neighborhood, historically significant for its black homeowners and musicians.
• 🎵 The Candlelight Lounge, represented by her, is the last live music venue in Treme where local musicians start their careers.
• 🌾 Raised in rural Georgia, she converted to Catholicism as an adult in New Orleans, inspired by others living out Gospel values.
• 📜 Her ministry involves 'community lawyering', being available to the community in times of need.
• 🙏 Being a sister provides her with the availability to help people, as they can call her anytime.
• 👥 Her first vocation was social justice, grounded in prayer life, spirituality, and community.
• 🔗 She witnessed sisters doing civil disobedience and serving on their legal teams, which influenced her path.
• 💉 She visits death row inmates in Louisiana, serving as a spiritual advisor and accompanying them to executions.
• 🕊️ An inmate named Chris on death row shows compassion by feeding birds with his leftover food.
• 🏛️ St. Augustine Church is significant to her as it's where she converted to Catholicism and had her first communion.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Treme neighborhood mentioned in the transcript?

The Treme neighborhood is historically significant as it was home to many of the first black homeowners in the United States. It is also known for its cultural contributions, being a place where many Grammy award-winning musicians from New Orleans have gathered.

What is the role of the Candlelight Lounge in the Treme neighborhood?

The Candlelight Lounge is the last standing live music venue in Treme, serving as a place where local young black musicians would get their first gigs before they started making it big and producing their records.

Why did the speaker convert to Catholicism?

The speaker converted to Catholicism as an adult in New Orleans after meeting other Catholics who were living out the Gospels and the social justice teachings.

What does the term 'community lawyering' refer to in the context of the transcript?

Community lawyering refers to being radically available in the community when people need legal assistance the most, embodying a form of ministry that is deeply rooted in service and availability to the community.

How does being a sister provide the speaker with a sense of availability to the community?

Being a sister provides the speaker with a sense of availability because it allows her to be accessible to the community members who know they can call her anytime, offering support and legal assistance.

What was the speaker's first vocation and how does it relate to her current work?

The speaker's first vocation was social justice. She wanted that work to be grounded in her prayer life and spirituality, and she desired to do it in community. This vocation led her to her current work as a 'community lawyer', serving those in need.

What does the speaker mean by 'prophetic witness' in the context of her work?

The term 'prophetic witness' refers to the act of being a vocal advocate for justice and change, often through acts of civil disobedience, as exemplified by the sisters the speaker met who were doing such work.

What is one of the darkest places the speaker has worked in?

One of the darkest places the speaker has worked in is visiting those on death row in Louisiana and serving as a spiritual advisor, which includes accompanying men to their executions.

What is the significance of St. Augustine Church in the speaker's life?

St. Augustine Church is significant to the speaker as it is where she had a conversion experience and felt called to convert to Catholicism. It is also where she had her first Catholic Communion.

What role does the speaker believe women religious have in society today?

The speaker believes that women religious have a role to play in society as prophetic voices, especially in a society that values power, money, and sex. Making vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience is seen as a radical act in such a context.

What does the vocation of being a sister invite the speaker to do?

The vocation of being a sister invites the speaker to love in a radical and inclusive way, offering love to everyone who needs it and being a loving presence in the world.