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“In 2002, Greg Lafreniere, a writer for the Long Island Catholic, did a series of articles on the work of the Sisters of Mercy in Panama. In one article, Sister Barbara Ozelski, who has been in Panama for 41 years (now 49 years), is quoted as saying, “The story shouldn’t be about me. It should be about the people here, the Sisters of Mercy and the work that is being done.” Sr. Barbara has been Mercy in Panama and still continues to bring life and hope to Panamanians, especially women and children.
“I firmly believe that we all have a call to be critical to all that is oppressive”, Sr. Barbara notes. She arrived in Panama in 1964 for a five-year commitment to the people of Panama, and began by teaching at St. Mary’s Canal Zone School (for the children of the American Military). She wanted more involvement with the Panamanian people, and so after school, she began to work at the Leper Colony at Palo Seco, about 15 minutes from the Canal Zone. There she met Juan Salazar who had advanced leprosy. Their visits actually became a soul-sharing and they decided to be each others’ spiritual directors. For Barbara, it was a blessed experience-one that changed the direction of her life. Juan challenged her to move on to be more present to the people of Panama. He’d ask, “What can you do for the poor? They need you...and you need to be evangelized by them...” His question haunted Barbara.
After her five-year commitment, Sr. Barbara returned to Brooklyn, NY, where she studied for the next year and in 1971 returned to Panama as a member of the Vincentian Pastoral Team. She began work with the poor people in the mountains of Chiriqui, Panama. Although Chiriqui was 8 hours from Palo Seco, when she got the chance to go to Panama City she visited Juan who continued to challenge her. It is hard to put into a few words how Barbara lived out Juan’s challenges. The 70’s found Barbara working as part of a Pastoral Team, the only Sister of Mercy, with the Vincentians in mountainous Chiriqui. Her immersion in the lives of the people brought about the evangelization that Juan had spoken of. She involved herself in Leadership Formation and ‘conscientization’, among the villagers who came to the Center in the Volcan on assigned weekends. Some of the young women who were part of that process stayed with Barbara, sharing community and pastoral experiences. From that experience grew a desire on their part to become Sisters of Mercy. On December 12, 1980 Barbara received permission from the Brooklyn Leadership Team to begin a House of Formation/Novitiate. Juan’s challenge, “that maybe some (women) will become Sisters and help the poor in the future”, now took on life!
Sr. Barbara also became involved with the poor from Nicaragua in 1978-79, as they fled the tyranny of Samoza and came to Panama. Along with a solidarity group from Panama she aided the Sandanistas by providing housing and food at a parish center, while they prepared themselves to defend the poor who could not fight Samoza’s regime. Daily Barbara risked her own life in living out an ‘option for the poor.’
The social, economic and political reality worsened in the 80’s and along with Fr. Al and other Pastoral Team members Barbara was labeled a “communist” because of her work in consciousness-raising with the poor. The wealthy, who oppressed the poor, influenced the Bishop and Fr. Al, a Vincentian, and Barbara became targets. Fr. Al was forced out of the diocese and if not for the support of Bishop Ariz of Colon, Barbara would have been too. The Mercy Formation Program was moved to Colon. This move, the CROSS, brought new life to Mercy…vocations and eventually the formation of a Women’s Center in Colon.
Sr. Barbara, along with Sr. Dina (Panamanian) lived through the USA backed invasion of Panama and walked with the people as they rebuilt their lives, trying to ease the memory of losing family members and the sounds of bombs, bullets and military planes that flew overhead during that time. Barbara, an American, had to decide what to do when all Americans were told to evacuate Panama. “What about the people? Do I leave them while there’s danger? Where can they run to? Is this what mission means?” thought Barbara. Of course, she stayed and eventually, with Sr. Dina was able to get the government to donate land in Colon on which they had the Women’s Center built. The program continues to evolve and is holistic in its approach. Their motto is “si podemos…yes, we can!”
Sr. Barbara was honored with two awards from the American Embassy for her dedication to the people of Panama for the last 49 years. Her courage in meeting Juan’s challenges and her life among the people tells the story. Barbara has lived Catherine McAuley’s words, “God can change, mold, form and reform us for God’s purpose.” Sr. Barbara says, “I believe that God does this through others. I always pray that I can touch others the way Juan touched my life.” No question…she has.” (Note, this was taken from the 2002 LI Catholic article, but the years of Sr. Barbara’s service to Panama were updated to today.)
If you want to learn more about Sr. Barbara and her work, feel free to write to her directly at barbara@mucec.org (noting that she often does not have electricity, and so can only respond sporadically), or through our webpage (www.drvc.org/mission.html) or at mission@drvc.org. And if you are interested in her work, her ministry or her outreach programs seen in the attached photos, you can contact us on how to assist Sr. Barbara in her work!
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Ministries 
We begin this new chapter by introducing Sister Barbara Ozelski, RSM, who has worked in the country of Panama since 1964.