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Karen Grochowski and Laura Nettles received into novitiate

Sisters Karen Grochowski and Laura Nettles were received into the novitiate on FSPA Founders' Day May 28. Read their combined response to the congregation.

For each of us there are significant moments when we are given the opportunity to respond to Jesus' invitation in a momentous way. Every day, of course, we are given the opportunity to respond to Jesus, but, there are those few, special times when our response, our call to step out of the boat, will change our lives forever.

	New FSPA novices Karen Grochowski, left, and Laura Nettles.

For our six foundresses, the moment they had to say "yes," to step out of their own boats literally meant stepping onto a ship. What went on in their hearts when they decided to leave their families and country to come to a place they couldn't imagine? Could they have ever known that their love and faith in Jesus would be the foundation for three communities? That their willingness to help Francis rebuild the church would bring us here today?

History has shown us that life was not always kind to these women. Challenges, disappointments and disillusionment were a real part of their lives. Just as Francis, they discovered that their undertaking was far different than what they had planned. No doubt, they felt as though they were drowning. But just as he had done for Peter, Jesus extended his hand to our foundresses. Maybe it was not so biblically grand, but we know they felt Jesus holding them because they were able to accomplish what Jesus had called them to do.

We now turn to this community, the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. For nearly 127 years you have shown a profound faith in Jesus. You have had your struggles and doubts, but your faith in Jesus has given you a joy far greater than any difficulty. It does not take much looking around to see how Jesus had held this community.

There were times when we thought this day would never arrive. Not because of the length of our associate time, but because of the confusion and detours of our own life journeys. Yes, there were times we thought we would drown. It was in you, the Franciscan Sisters, that we found the courage to answer Jesus' call. It was in you that we found the faith to step out into the fluid unknown, and it was in you that we found the outstretched hand of Christ.

It is our honor and privilege to stand here before you today in this our moment, or opportunity to say "yes," to respond to Jesus' invitation. There is a poem by David Whyte that we can best express our thoughts and feelings. We would like to share it with you now.

Excerpts from
The Truelove
by D. Whyte

There is a faith in loving fiercely
the one who is rightfully yours,
especially if you have
waited years and especially
is part of you never believed
you could deserve this
loved and beckoning hand
held out to you this way.

I think of the story
of the storm and everyone
waking and seeing
the distant
yet familiar figure
far across the water
calling to them,

and how we are all
waiting for that
abrupt waking,
and that calling,
and that moment
we have to say yes,
except it will
not come so grandly
so Biblically,
but more subtly
an intimately in the face
of the one you know
you have to love,

so that when
we finally step out of the boat
toward them, we find
everything holds
us, and everything confirms
our courage, and if you wanted
to drown, you could,
but you don't

because finally
after all this struggle
and all these years,
you don't want to any more
you've simply had enough
of drowning,
and you want to live and you
want to love and you will
walk across any territory
and any darkness,
however fluid and however
dangerous, to take the
one hand you know
belongs in yours.

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