“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15

Sister Nena Hermil – Panama Pastoral Center

Thanksgiving invites us to pause and reflect on the many blessings that fill our lives. As Maryknoll sisters, we strive to make gratitude more than a feeling and recognize it is a call to share God’s love with others through prayer and action.

We see this spirit reflected in the ministry of Sister Nena Heramil who has been supporting the underserved in Panama City for the past 9 years. During her time at the parish of San Juan María Vianney in El Vallecito, she identified the urgent need of access to education, food, medicine, and clothing as well safe and sanitary housing.

Sister Nena established a Pastoral Center to begin addressing these needs. The center offers an after school program for the children, a lunch program, a skills development program for women to generate income, along with catechism classes to prepare young people for their First Communion and Confirmation. She hopes to continue her mission by addressing the lack of adequate bathroom facilities in many homes and desires to provide safe and hygienic conditions to protect the community, especially those most vulnerable from illness and contamination.

We are reminded by the words of Mother Mary Joseph that gratitude must extend beyond our words and into action. “Sisters, we should bear in mind that it is not always enough for us in thanking God just to say it in words… but on a day like Thanksgiving, we should offer to God some special prayers of thanksgiving, for the blessings He has bestowed upon us during the year…”

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, may we remember that our blessings carry the opportunity to bless others. Through your prayers, generosity and compassion, we can further Sister Nena’s mission and bring blessings to those in need. God Bless you!