Citation:
Rhonda Mary Maingot,
Degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD)
Chancellor, a “leap of faith” brings to mind jumping off a cliff and hoping the bungee cord wasn’t too long, or jumping out of a plane and trusting that your parachute deploys as it should. That imagery is entirely inappropriate to describe the modus operandi of Rhonda Mary Maingot, because while leaping often requires a commitment, it typically does not demand sustained effort. A long time ago Ms. Maingot embarked on a “journey of faith” and that continues to make all the difference.
Perhaps the journey began by growing up in a Catholic family of seven sisters and brothers and not having much money. The onus was always on the siblings to help in sickness, in times of need, or just to help around the house. The household culture made helping and being available for each other the natural order of things.
However, the path ahead would start to come sharply into focus with a calling from God. So powerful was the message that it prompted her to sell everything she owned and set off in search of the God who had captured her heart. She started a prayer meeting and working with the poor. By her own account, “no one came for a couple of years.” Nevertheless, the movement caught the attention of Archbishop Pantin who invited her to hold meetings at the Archbishop’s Residence. His endorsement promoted a considerable increase in attendance.
From the outset, the focus was on the poor, the suffering, the afflicted and in effect, people on the brink of something dark. In addition to being a co-foundress, Rhonda Maingot would serve as the Director of the Living Water Community from 1975 to the present. In all that time she has served a Living Mission which has evolved to address human need however and whenever it presented itself. From this platform, she would go on to found:
–The Living Water Hospice to care for the terminally ill and socially deprived
–The Ave Maria Caring Centre for Homeless Persons
–The New Life Ministries Drug Rehabilitation Centre
–The Marian House for Homeless Boys
–Our Lady of the Wayside Halfway House for Abandoned Children
–The Fountain of Hope Developmental Programme for Young Women
–The Caribbean School for Catholic Communications
–The Mercy Home for those afflicted with HIV/AIDS; and
–The Home for the Aged in rural south Trinidad
During that time, her vision has also extended beyond local shores in the establishment of permanent missions to the Netherland Antilles, Barbados and St. Lucia as well as a three-year mission to Russia after the fall of communism.
Strategically positioned, the Living Water Community attracted many benefactors and volunteers, all fired with a desire to live their faith through self-empowerment and service to others. Added to this is the observation that after making a contribution, or even while in the act of contributing, people are invariably moved to remark that they receive so much more than they could ever give.
Always striving to reach out to as many as possible, Ms Maingot is the station director for the recently launched Trinity TV 24/7. She described the venture as, “an extremely bold step of faith” and as, “an amazing opportunity to bring the word of God not only to the wider Trinidad and Tobago Community but (also to) the Caribbean.”
She has been described as the “administrative hub” of all activities. However, like all the best leaders, she has guided the Living Water Community to the point where it will survive and thrive without her. Today, Rhonda Mary Maingot is a Consecrated Sister in Household Community. Her journey of faith continues to gain momentum in the exploration of new territory.
Chancellor, I present Rhonda Maingot, and ask that by the authority vested in you by the Senate and Council of The University of the West Indies, you confer on her the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.
Standing here today, I feel greatly humbled at the thought of receiving an honorary degree from our University of the West Indies, and challenged to be given the honour of addressing you young graduands as you step out into the future with the world as your oyster.
As I pondered and prayed about what I could possibly share with you young, bright and excited group of successful students, the words of an incredible and holy man of our time, spoken to young people, filled my mind, and I quote:
"It is God who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow yourselves to be ground down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and fraternal. …‘Do not be afraid. …Put out into the deep and cast out your nets for a catch’.”
These are the words of Saint, Pope John Paul II, as some of you may have guessed!
Permit me to briefly expand on these few, but powerful statements, in relation to my own life.
"It is God who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal"
You are graduating with a degree in Science and Technology and maybe for some of you, this statement is somewhat questionable. I can relate to this thought, as I remember the day in my own life when I would have questioned the reality of a God. I don’t intend in this talk to try to make you believe in God. No. This is not my intention, but, I would like to share with you a special moment in my life.
Here I am a young single woman, great job, great friends, enjoying great ‘limes’ and parties, or fetes as we used to say, wonderful holidays, filled with the joy of life, excited about what lay before me, when, suddenly one night, El-Shaddai, the Most Powerful God, exploded into my consciousness with a loud booming voice and commissioned me to "love and show the world how to love." That was the most important moment in my life!
In that moment, my life changed. Any thoughts I had previously about the non-existence of God disappeared in a flash, because I knew then that there was a God and this God I would seek after the rest of my life. That was like the 'Big Bang' in my life!
That was almost 40 years ago; soon after this I was introduced to the co-founder of our Community, Rose Jackman, who at the time was a religious sister in Rosary Convent in Port of Spain. After some months and with permission from her Superiors, Rose joined me in my quest to love and show the world how to love. Feeding and caring for the poor in the hills and streets of Port of Spain soon became a regular activity for us, along with spiritual feeding and caring for the souls of many, many people who had begun to commit themselves to our mission of love.
The rest is history and the reason why I stand here today, a humble joyful servant of El-Shaddai, daily trying to follow the ideal of 'love and to show the world how to love.'
A very high ideal indeed and a daunting task which for me is impossible, but for God, nothing is impossible. Not by my power does this happen, or anything I can do myself, but as a quote taken from the Holy Scriptures, says: "It is this God working in you, giving you the desire and power to do what pleases him." (Philipians 2:13)
Yes, you, young sister, young brother, at the threshold of life in the working world, you also have in you, all that it takes, for you to bring about that seemingly impossible and beautiful dream you have in your heart today.
Do not be afraid!
'the refusal to allow yourselves to be ground down by mediocrity' is the second part of our quotation.
I like to read of the lives of saints because they emulate for me excellence in holiness. Many of these saints have been canonized by the Church. Recent ones whom you may have heard about are Saint John XXIII and Saint John Paul II – who visited our shores in 1985 captured me. But there are many other saints whom we may meet in our life’s journey. These holy men and women are mentors for me because after my ‘Big Bang’ experience I earnestly desired that my life would be pleasing to this God who had captured me. Yes, my desire then and still is, to become a saint, because saints please God!
For me, there was only one way; and that way was being on a journey to holiness. I soon realized that if this was to come about in my life I could not allow myself to be 'ground down by mediocrity’ I would have to strive for holiness every day of my life. This is not an easy journey and I fail miserably many times, but, by the grace of God, I will never give up. I am encouraged by a beautiful verse from Galatians 6:9 in the Holy Bible, and I quote:'Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up.'
I do not go to a gym, but I understand that even when you feel so exhausted after running for 45 or 50 minutes on the treadmill, your trainer will be there to encourage you to do another 5 minutes! My treadmill is prayer and when I feel that my time is up, there is a voice within, nudging me to continue. Whatever is our journey in life, we must keep pushing the level of the bar higher.
Set your goal to the highest. Strive every day to fulfill this goal. When you fall, and I’m sure you will, don’t give up but get up and go again with a determination for excellence and an inner conviction, refusing to allow yourself to be 'ground down by mediocrity,' do not be afraid; cast out your nets.
'the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and fraternal', is the final piece of the quotation I would like to reflect briefly on today.
Pope Saint John Paul II, once observed: “Scientists, precisely because they ‘know more,’ are called to ‘serve more.’ Since the freedom they enjoy in research gives them access to specialized knowledge, they have the responsibility of using that knowledge wisely for the benefit of the entire human family.” (Address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, 11 November 2002)
We live in a world of pain and suffering and the need to be 'your brother’s keeper' is probably more urgent today than it has ever been in history, and yet, our secular society pushes us deeper into individualism. The challenge for young people like yourselves to be committed to improving not only yourself, but the society in which you live, making the world more human and fraternal, is hugely difficult as you are called to swim against the tide. Our world needs you to think and act not only with you in mind, but with your brother and sister in mind, especially those who are poor and vulnerable and have no voice. “To whom much is given, much is expected.”
It was customary for us to feed the homeless on the streets at night, and one night, sandwich and soup in hand, I looked for Nicholas to give him his food. Knowing that he had recently come out of hospital where we had taken him for treatment, I knelt before him and said 'Nicholas, how are you feeling tonight?’ As I looked up into his eyes I saw the eyes of Jesus Christ looking back at me. I could only exclaim, 'Oh, Jesus, this is you' and I recalled the words of scripture in Matt. 25:40: '”Whatever you do to the least of my brothers you do unto me.”
Our mission to love was clarified further that day.
....yes, we are our ‘brother’s keeper.’
I do believe that young people today are very idealistic and seek something much more than the world seems to be offering and knowing beautiful young Trinbagonians as I do, I'm sure that you here fit into this category.
Pope Benedict XVI, referring to the new technologies in our world today said, 'These technologies are truly a gift to humanity and we must endeavour to ensure that the benefits they offer are put at the service of all human individuals and communities, especially those who are most disadvantaged and vulnerable.'
Yes, each of you graduands has at your disposal all the various and exciting technologies in our world which are a gift to humanity. You can use them selfishly; for your personal gains; seeking only what benefits your life; what makes you happy with no thought of your brother or sister. Or, you can use them wisely and effectively; you can use them humbly with care and patience for the good of humanity and you will make the world a better and more fraternal place.
The choice will always be yours. I pray that you will always choose that which the world is so much in need of and which will give you and humanity life.
Go."Do not be afraid. .... Put out into the deep and cast out your nets for a catch.”
I thank you and may God bless each and every one of you as you begin this new journey in your life today.
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