Sister Amy continues the journey in her vocation to religious life

Carrying the lard light she created as an associate—in the bowl she designed—Sister Amy Taylor processed into Mary of the Angels Chapel on June 4 to profess her first vows. The lard light was just one of many personal touches that Sister Amy had prepared for the day.

During a recent retreat she weaved the basket used to present the bread. She also handcrafted the wine cruet from clay, and then had it fired at a local pottery shop. “Before today’s ceremony, my local group blessed the basket as we shared a meal together,” said Sister Amy. “I will use the bread basket in my home, to keep the symbolism.”

Joining Sister Amy in her celebration were friends from her former ministry at Mary, Mother of the Church parish in La Crosse, Wis. Father Douglas Robertson, pastor at the church, presided, and members of the Mary, Mother of the Church Singers Group served as music ministers. Sister Amy was also joined by her family, friends and several FSPA, including Sisters Ronalda Hophan and Fran Browning, her companion sisters.

FSPA President Sister Linda Mershon offered the ceremony welcome and recognized the congregation’s incorporation team, the Chiara house community and all FSPA and affiliates who have journeyed with Sister Amy to this day. She also acknowledged the FSPA membership team, saying “the purpose of our membership office is not necessarily recruitment. Our goal is to help women discern the best choices for their lives. Amy, we are so glad and proud that your discernment process has led you to this community and to this day.” Sister Linda closed by rejoicing on behalf of the entire community, “We are thrilled to participate with Sister Amy in this important next step in the journey.”

Following the Gospel, Matthew 13:44-46, Father Doug addressed Sister Amy saying “you have found the pearl of great price, but just as you have found it, to hold on to it you’re going to need pearls of wisdom.” He then invited Sister Catherine Kaiser to offer a reflection stating that “there is somebody far more equipped to share pearls of wisdom for religious life than I and so I step aside and ask her to step forward.”

Sister Catherine’s reflection was celebratory. “We are privileged to share with you and all present, and all the people you will touch, this eucharistic charism,” she said. Looking back at the women who have gone before Sister Amy, Sister Catherine expressed joy that “they have gone before us and have been our mentors; however, today, Sister Amy, you are blessed with many mentors in this Franciscan community.”

And it was words from some of Sister Amy’s mentors that inspired her to create an image of the FSPA medal that she included in her ceremony liturgy guide. The sisters’ words, describing FSPA, outlined the medal and included: joyful, musical, simple, educated, artist, faithful, dedicated, focused, genuine, international, prayerful and more. “For me,” said Sister Amy, “it represents both the individual members and the community as a whole. I pray that I can grow into all the history and tradition that our medal stands for and all that it will stand for in the years to come.”

Sister Amy recently began her new ministry as a pastoral associate at St. John Catholic Church in Spring Green, Wis., and St. Luke Catholic Church in Plain, Wis.