Here is where the charism of Pastoring comes in. It is defined as the charism which empowers a Christian to be a channel of God’s grace by building community and by nurturing relationships and long time spiritual growth in a group. Such groups may take the form of a religious community, a prayer group, a scriptural or theological study group, Rite of Christian Initiation, small Christian communities, and others. The aim is always to nurture faith and spiritual maturity and to assist others in the service of Christ. Those who participate and those who lead such groups come to enjoy taking personal responsibility for the spiritual health and growth of a group.

All those with the gift of Pastoring must beware of certain detours they may encounter in establishing such groups. Do the groups become too large and unmanageable, making it difficult for everyone to participate? Does the group have irregular attendance? Are arguments solved with "Win-Win" or "Win-Lose" results? Can difficulties be handled with charity? Is everyone’s input important? If the group is intent on spiritual growth and not just intellectual growth, how can this best be established? As with every risk the Christian takes, there may be obstacles and impediments, but if the participants are truly pursuing the spiritual growth of the group, this can be accomplished with the help of the Spirit Who initiated the beginnings.

What kind of people are called to transmit religious truths, religious traditions? Saints? Scholars? Someone other than the people in the pews on Sunday? Paul answered the call even though he thought of himself as the least of the apostles. Even Peter admitted that he was a sinful man. The transmission of truth is entrusted to the weak, the limited, sinful people, the only kind of people there are, those whom God has gifted with the call to Pastoring. These are ready to say to God, "Here I am, Lord. Send me. ..to teach, to preach, to bring Good News, to write, to publish, to lead a growth-seeking group. Send me to show that the tradition that was handed down to me is indeed alive in me and does present a challenge."

Sister Mary Stella and ten other Sisters formed a religious community, the Holy Family of Nazareth, in eastern Poland at the time of the Nazi regime. In the spirit of the charism of Pastoring, the Sisters tried to be a source of assistance and hope to the townspeople as they endured first the invasion of Russian troops, and then of Nazi troops. When one hundred twenty townspeople were arrested by the Nazis and threatened with execution, the Sisters told the local pastor that their prayer had been: "God, if sacrifice of life is needed, let them kill us rather than those who have families." The offer of the Sisters was accepted. The Nazis released some of the townspeople and sent the others to work in camps; none were executed.

On July 31, 1943, the Sisters prayed their Evening Prayer and then reported to the German commissar. They were taken to a wooded area, shot, and buried in a common grave. One of their drunken executioners was heard to say when he came back to his camp, "How they went! How those Sisters went to their deaths."

When their bodies were exhumed in 1945, the body of a 15 year old lad was also found in the grave. Evidently he must have been a witness who got caught. Although there were twelve members in the community, somehow one Sister escaped. She remained in the convent until her death in 1966, keeping the Sisters’ memory alive and caring for their common grave.

On March 5, 2000, the Sisters were beatified by Pope John Paul II. The price of Pastoring can mean persecution and death. It always takes the form of individual sacrifice, and the price may be the Cross.