Prayers are Requested for CTU’s Beloved Biblical Scholar, Barbara Bowe, RSCJ

As many of our friends know, Barbara Bowe was diagnosed this past fall with brain cancer. On January 20, 2010, the CTU community held a prayer service for Barbara in which she was anointed and blessed as she prepared to undergo additional treatments. Barbara will be living at her RSCJ community’s residence in Menlo Park, California, just outside of San Francisco while she undergoes treatment at Stanford. We ask that all keep her in prayer in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Barbara said a few words before she departed. She shared with those present how much support and strength she has found in the prayers of those around her – her family, her RSCJ family, the CTU family, and the biblical world. She expressed her deepest gratitude for all the prayers that have been offered and will continue to be. And she asked us all to be mindful of how important this has been for her during this very difficult journey.

We ask you to continue to hold her up in prayer. Many asked that the blessing that was conferred upon Barbara before she left for the airport be shared with all. To follow is this blessing written by Fr. Donald Senior, C.P., president of CTU, fellow biblical scholar, and long-time friend of Barbara’s.

ADDITION: Since this was posted, many have requested contact information for Barbara. At this time, Barbara is not able to be reached by email. The best way to send your wishes is by snail mail. If you would like to be in touch, please send all correspondence to:

Barbara Bowe, RSCJ
140 Valparaiso Ave.
Atherton, CA 94027

A PRAYER FOR HEALING AND STRENGTH

Loving and gracious God, Good Shepherd, Gentle Jesus, Source of all Life and Healer of Body and Soul, we ask your blessing and tender mercy on our beloved friend and yours, Barbara Bowe, as she sets out on her journey seeking God’s will and seeking your healing.

We implore you to walk with her in her journey as you did with the disciples on the way to Emmaus;
may her heart burn with the fire of your loving presence.

May she feel your healing touch as did the woman bent double in the synagogue
and thus be able to stand strong as a Daughter of Abraham beloved by you.

Raise her up, Healer Jesus, as you did the daughter of Jairus, the son of the widow of Naim,
as you did for your friend Lazarus whose suffering made you weep.

Drive from her any demons of pain or isolation or despair that might assault her as you did for the man in the synagogue of Capernaum, or the daughter of the Canaanite woman, or the suffering Gadarene.

May she sense your love embracing her in the tender care offered by her sisters, in the constancy and prayers of her many friends, in the skill and determination of her doctors and caregivers as did those sick who sought you out and felt the touch of your healing hand.

May you who knew so much suffering and loss be with her, awake and alert,
as you asked your friends to be with you in Gethsemane when the days are long and burdensome.

May you send Barbara back to us and to her mission, strong and filled with ecstasy and joy, as you did those disciples who encountered your Risen Presence in Jerusalem’s upper room and on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Above all, dearest faithful Jesus, stand beside her through every day ahead, and call her name as you did your friend Magdalene in the Garden, and so renew her joy and sustain her hope in you.

For you, Barbara, we make this prayer of blessing and love and healing in Christ’s holy name.

Amen.