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Sister Constance professes temporary vows 'With all my heart'

Sister Constance Walton places roses, representing the communities which comprise her Franciscan identity, into a vase.

Sister Constance Walton professed temporary vows with eagerness that poured through every ounce of her being. As she stood in front of the congregation on Nov. 11, 2006, and recited the words that would give her the identity of a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, her happiness was infectious, lighting up the faces of sisters, family and friends looking on. Rather than simply stating, "I am," at the Examination of Profession, she belted out, "I am with all my heart."

Sister Constance explained, "This response-that came so suddenly and spontaneously-carried powerful energy." Diagnosed with a heart attack on May 6, 2006, Sister Constance says her biggest concern then wasn't the pain or thought of death, but how this change would affect her FSPA transfer and vows. "'With all my heart' literally-loudly proclaimed that I was ready to reaffirm the vows previously made in another community to God-the church-Franciscan spirituality; and place these into the context of the FSPA charism."

Every moment of the ceremony was richly dressed in equal parts reverence and joy. During the prelude, three women, Sister Alexine Nii of the TSSF, Sister Karen Grochowski and associate Julia Walsh carried a total of six pink roses to the altar, representing six communities Sister Constance considers part of her Franciscan identity. "Of the entire service and all the planning that I put into it," Sister Constance explained, "the ritual of the roses was the most powerful experience." She placed each rose, one by one, into a shared vase. They represented the Franciscan Sisters of Dillingen, Germany; the Tertiary foundresses in Ettenbeuren, Germany; the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Hankinson, N.D.; the FSPA Milwaukee ancestors; the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the community from which she transferred, and one for the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration.

As she placed the last two roses into the vase, Sister Constance said she noticed one rose was shorter than the other. "A tingling feeling exploded within me and the world seemed to stop. I was suspended in space. Each rose began to speak to me. One seemed to say: 'Goodbye.' The other beckoned me: 'Welcome.' I placed the shortest rose in the vase first and bid my former community farewell. As I placed the longer rose in the vase it spoke to me: 'Yes, you are now finally home.'"

As the opening song was sung, the lard light was carried in by affiliate Elizabeth Bungard. The lard light was made during the affiliate Founding Energies Retreat last summer, and was the last lard light to be made on the site of Mother Antonia Herb's promise to establish perpetual adoration.

The joy of the occasion was also obvious during Sister Fran Sulzer's reflection. She drew a number of parallels between Sister Constance and Mother Aemiliana. "Connie, your search for God has led you in and out of denominations," explained Sister Fran, "God has both followed you and beckoned you onward." Similarly, Mother Aemiliana was also led in multiple directions, into the life of the Lay Tertiaries in Ettenbeuren, into marriage, and eventually back to religious life. "Connie, you, too, were led into religious life. Like Mother Aemiliana, you also departed from religious life and now are led back again."

Sister Lucy Ann Meyer places the FSPA medal on Sister Constance Walton.

The similarities don't end there, explained Sister Fran. Both women valued an active, contemplative life. This rang especially true in Sister Constance's chosen theme, Every Moment Thine.

"She pulled together what I was feeling in my heart, but just did not have the words for at that time," said Sister Constance. "There was something wonderful and chilling in the way Sister Fran worked the parallels in Mother Ameliana's life and mine. Parallels like our desire for God . . . our wandering search for God . . . our marriages . . . and ultimately how we were led to religious life."

In closing, Sister Fran blessed for Sister Constance, with words from Syrach, "May the Creator of all things instruct you. Let wisdom who speaks your praises bless you in your soul's delight."

For Sister Constance, "With FSPA, I can be the woman God created me to be; I can continue the journey to be the whole person God calls me to be; and I can be FSPA for FSPA's charism is a charism that fosters and honors each of us as a unique, beautiful creation of God."

In her ministry, Sister Constance serves as pastoral associate for the Northwoods Catholic Cluster, which includes teaching religious education and serving as an advisor to students, among other responsibilities.

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