One of my favorite things about being a young sister-in-formation is allowing people to ask me their burning (and sometimes silly) questions about religious life. Questions like: Do nuns have jobs? Can you still go dancing and swimming? You mean you get to keep that nose ring? Becoming a sister right now is an interesting thing: religious life has changed drastically in the past fifty years, but many people’s stereotypes about it haven’t. Many of these stereotypes seem superficial (ie- all nuns wear habits; nuns don’t dance) but they may reflect deeper misconceptions about religious life… like the idea that sisters are somehow more holy or less human than “normal” people. For a long time, my own misconceptions kept me from really considering religious life. And so I enjoy the questions. I love making people feel free to ask them, and I love surprising them with the answers. After all, they aren’t really asking about my nose ring;...
When Sisters began composing reflections for the Vocation Blog, those of us who volunteered to write were challenged to tell the story of what is happening in our everyday lives as Sisters. So, here is what is going on with me now. On June 30, I retired from my ministry of providing administrative support for the Prioress and Leadership Council. In addition, sometime in August, I will be moving from my current residence in East Dubuque to be in community with a group of our Sisters at Chapel Garden in Milwaukee. There have been some gatherings of Sisters and our staff at the Mound to mark the events for which I am very grateful. However, needless to say, the angst I am feeling in the midst of two rather significant changes in my everyday life is quite daunting. God and I are conversing about this whole scenario, and I’ve also found having dialogues with other Sisters has been very helpful, reassuring, and comforting. I am so grat...
This month I traveled to Memphis, TN, to attend a special ceremony honoring Sister Janet Delperdang, OP, and others of the Memphis diocese who have served the People of God faithfully and well. What a joy it was to gather with our sisters from KY, TN and MS to celebrate Janet’s 14 years of service in Tennessee. While in Memphis I also visited the National Civil Rights Museum at the site of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination. King gave his life for the cause of justice. One of our Sinsinawa Direction Statements for 2011-2016 is to “Speak courageously and risk for justice.” How can we do that in our day-to-day lives? Every time we refuse to laugh at a racist joke, or educate ourselves on the real issues confronting us, or do anything that treats another person with the dignity that they deserve, we “risk for justice.” Today we honor Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican and great seeker of truth. Today also my community viewe...
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