We often think that the Gospel story narrates the graced encounter of two women, Mary and Elizabeth - rightly so. But are they the main or the only protagonists? In reality, however,the main characters in the visitation are the unborn infants, Jesus and John, and their mothers' primary function is to articulate the significance of their pre-natal encounter. Therefore,it is a story of more than one encounter - the two expectant mothers' visible encounter; the encounter between the two unborn children; and conversely, the different characters with each other - encounters that will have a definitive bearing on the rest of their lives. Let us never underestimate the significance of an encounter. We could never anticipate or know with certainty whom we would actually meet - God, His angels or Christ in the other person. An encounter does not merely imply a physical presence - it means a presence of our entire being. We are present to one another by listening, by observing, by sharing or by our silence. Pastoral presence means attentive and loving presence. We are present to each other in self-giving. And because of this, authentic encounters always involve transformation.