We invite you to pray with us, from wherever you are in the world, as we celebrate a vow renewal and a perpetual vow profession in the FSPA community!
Sister Kristin shares reflection as she prepares to make a pilgrimage to Santiago, Spain.
Sister Laurie serves as a eucharistic minister in a local parish (photo courtesy of Sister Laurie Sullivan).
Photo courtesy of FSPA
There is power in our words and when our actions match, our lives are witness to others. “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words,” reads a quote attributed to St. Francis of Assisi. Recently, Sister Kristin renewed her FSPA vows of poverty, consecrated celibacy and obedience. The words she spoke in her vow formula are worth much more than surface value; they personify public commitment to the way she lives her life in the context of community and the world each day.
Making religious vows is a statement of belief of the providence of God. Psalm 16:11 is a wonderful resource for meditation. The words placed on the lips of the psalmist are familiar. We are reminded in all the moments of our life God is there. God is with us on the celebratory days such as profession of vows and also the challenging days when we struggle with the circumstances of life. With the grace God provides, each person is enabled to remain faithful to their life commitments.
What commitments does your life call you to? How do you live them out? How does your life preach the Gospel today?
We continue introducing you to Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration who share the joys and struggles they experienced in personal relationships as they walked their own pathway of discernment.
You met Sister Lucy and Sister Sarah.
“Just because you’re a sister doesn’t mean your whole life changes,” explains Sister Dawn. “You’re still human. You enter into a deep relationship with your religious sisters … it’s a whole new family. And, initially it’s important to balance that time between your family and religious community.”
Are you discerning religious life? Walking with someone who is? Connect with membership@fspa.org to be added to our future premiere list. You’ll receive a sneak peek of our future Show me a sign video premieres.
Like Sisters Lucy, Sarah and Dawn, Sister Jacinta shares her joys and struggles she experienced in family relationships as she walked her own path of discernment.
“The time that I decided to join the convent … father thought I’d finally lost it. They were not exactly thrilled. Now, my father tells his friends ‘guess who my son-in-law is? The great Jesus Christ himself.’” And about her relationships with family around the globe, Sister Jacinta says, “There’s an ocean between my family and me so it’s important I don’t lose touch. I know week by week what is happening … I am up to date. I don’t feel disconnected from my family at all.”
Are you discerning religious life? Walking with someone who is? Connect with membership@fspa.org to be added to our future premiere list. You’ll receive a sneak peek of our future Show me a sign video premieres.
Today I celebrate my one-year anniversary of the profession of my first vows. I revisited that special day in my memory and was transported back to Wisconsin and the convent in La Crosse. There were sisters, family and friends, joy and love that was overflowing all that day. There was nature inside - and a spectacular summer storm outside. I have so many happy memories of that day, but in the center of it all, my vows, those were my greatest joy.
As I considered how I might honor this special day, I decided spending time with my sisters in community with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration would be just the perfect way to celebrate! There was great conversation, laughter and questions about my time here in Bolivia. Stories of eating (including armadillo!), cooking, traditions, and the real and sometimes hard work that is part of life here, capture some of the things we talked about. Most importantly, seeing the religious sisters that I am blessed to share life with was, indeed, the best possible celebration! Thanks sisters for being a part of my life!
Someone asked me to share wisdom from the first year of my vowed religious life. Although I didn't have a quick answer, I found some wisdom after a bit of reflection. I think I would say that my greatest learning this year has been how much less religious life is about what you are doing and more about who you are being. As I have transitioned to new places and experienced life in ways I have not expected, I have the gift of focusing my energy on being my "God-self" or the person God has created me to be. Before religious life, this came second to career, family, friends and other things that were higher on my priority list than they should have been. It seems a luxury to be able to bring "me" to this world, but such a joy as well! Muchas gracias, FSPA, por la alegra y honor de esta vida! Bediciones!
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"You have called me," declared Sister Michele Pettit (beginning at 32:30), making her first vows as a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration at Viterbo University's San Damiano Chapel in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Joy permeated San Damiano Chapel in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on Saturday, July 25, 2020, as Sister Michele Pettit professed her first vows as a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration. In a confident, clear voice that could not be silenced by a COVID-19 mask, Sister Michele boldly declared poverty, consecrated celibacy and obedience for three years as an FSPA.
From left, Sisters Corrina Thomas, Michele Pettit and Eileen McKenzie
Those who gathered to witness Sister Michele’s declaration of these vows (following social distancing guidelines) read words of support and acceptance from behind their own masks. Thunderous applause erupted and smiling eyes beamed around the chapel as Sister Michele walked back to her seat. Like Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi before her, Sister Michele offers light and life to a world encountering darkness, this time in the shadows of the COVID-19 pandemic, racial divides and economic disparity. She will be here when humanity celebrates the joys of life, sorrows and even the mundane. Life in God and with God will always be an adventure.
Nourished by the Word of God and at the table of the Eucharist, we exited through the chapel doors, renewed and filled with hope, ready to encounter the reality of life outside.
A virtual reception met Sister Michele as many sisters logged onto Zoom and offered words of encouragement for her new life as a vowed FSPA. They shared with her a traditional greeting for newly-professed sisters: “May God give you the grace of perseverance.” And while Michele is making community history as the first person to make first vows during the COVID-19 pandemic — a true test of this sentiment — she is in good company. Twenty-two FSPA made first vows during the flu pandemic of 1918. They too knew that their call from God to religious life would find a way, even in the midst of human trials. Sister Michele now becomes the connection to future generations of FSPA.
Is God calling you to join the next generation, to discern religious life?
Are you discerning religious life? Walking with someone who is? We invite you to share this link, fspa.org/showmeasign, and join the conversation.
Welcome to another Show me a sign video premiere! And, World Day for Consecrated Life greetings to you (a day early).
We promised to introduce you to five Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration who share the joys and struggles they experienced in personal relationships as they walked their own pathway of discernment.
You met Sister Lucy.
Today, meet Sister Sarah and her parents, Mary Kay and Thomas. Together, they discuss the common religious life discernment question, “What if my family isn’t Catholic?” Sister Sarah introduces you to her own eclectic family — from Methodist to Quaker and Catholic to Hindu (mix in a little Buddhism, too).
Are you discerning religious life? Walking with someone who is? Connect with membership@fspa.org to be added to our future premiere list. You’ll receive a sneak peek of our future Show me a sign video premieres.
As we gather around the table this day, may we call to mind and heart all the reasons to be thankful.
Image courtesy of pixabay.com
Are you discerning religious life? Walking with someone who is? Connect with membership@fspa.org to be added to our future premiere list. You’ll receive a sneak peek of our future Show me a sign video premieres.
Last week, we kicked off our Show me a sign video series premiere with the story "Sister Lucy, 'What if my family doesn't agree with my choice?'"
There's much more to Sister Lucy's discernment story including "Growing a strong foundation of faith," in which she says, "Being a part of community has clearly amplified what I can do with my life in ways that I could never do as a single Catholic woman. Being an FSPA enlarges, enables and enhances, as well as supports and encourages, my work for the cosmic, common good. As an FSPA, I continue the tradition started by St. Francis of Assisi and continued by Pope Francis to care for creation. What a blessing and grace-filled way of life that I’ve grown to know.” Click here to read more.
And, in case you missed it -- or the discernment story is calling to you again -- here is the video "Show me a sign: Sister Lucy, "What if my family doesn't agree with my choice?
Are you discerning religious life? Walking with someone who is? Connect with membership@fspa.org to be added to our future premiere list. You’ll receive a sneak peek of our future Show me a sign video premieres.
Welcome to the Show me a sign series premiere! Throughout the next several months, you will meet five Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration who share the joys and struggles they experienced in personal relationships as they walked their own pathway of discernment.
Today, meet Sister Lucy Slinger and her sibling Eileen. About the family relationship, Sister Lucy admits, “I don’t always go and get to see her … because I have responsibilities. It’s no different than when I was a professional woman and a university professor. But if someone needs something—it’s kind of fascinating—I think I have more support in community than I would have had in the flexibility and freedom to do as a single professional woman.”
Are you discerning religious life? Walking with someone who is? Connect with membership@fspa.org to be added to our future premiere list. You’ll receive a sneak peek of our future Show me a sign video premieres.
Over the course of the last several weeks our congregation has celebrated the commitment of “yes” to God with the vow renewal of Sister Laurie Sullivan, profession of perpetual vows by Sister Kristin Peters, and Golden Jubilee celebration for Sisters Romana Klaubauf and Esther Leis. We all experienced religious life unfolding before our very eyes; witnessed what it means to walk on the Gospel-centered journey of life as a religious sister—all on different stepping stones marking the way.
Sister Karen Lueck (left) calls forth Laurie Sister Sullivan (right) to renew her vows.
Sister Laurie opened our season of celebration by renewing her vows for three years at Villa St. Joseph surrounded by FSPA community members, many of whom she ministered among during her early formation days volunteering in spiritual care. For her prayer service she chose a Gospel reading about love. Sister Laurie has shown love to others guided by the spiritual and corporal works of mercy by accompanying patients in hospital rooms, feeding the hungry at food pantries, visiting the elderly in their homes, and nurturing spirituality as the coordinator of youth in a parish—each new place and ministry a reflection of her deepening commitment to religious life and her “yes” to God. Sister Laurie is following in the footprints of Jesus and St. Francis, moving to serve where she is needed. For her the Franciscan Gospel life has been eyes and ears open for the call to where God invites; feet ready to move.
Sister Laurie, pictured here serving those in need at a food pantry.
From left to right, Sisters Laura Nettles, Eileen McKenzie, Katie Mitchell, Kristin Peters and Julia Walsh stand together on their Camino pilgrimage (photo courtesy of Sister Katie Mitchell).
The open road has also been a call to Sister Kristin Peters who just returned from a pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in Spain. As on some legs of her journey she was accompanied by her FSPA companions and on others she hiked alone, she discovered that her Camino experience mirrored religious life: you may walk with others but you also have to walk your own journey. Each step reveals insight. No one can walk for you, live for you. Sister Kristin's “yes” to religious life over the past 10 years has taken her to discover diverse paths to serve those with substance addiction and mental illness; to deliver, in ministry, help and compassion. She has ministered to many who others step over, walk past. It is no surprise that the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd inspires her and is what she chose to guide her final vow liturgy. Sister Kristin listens and reflects the knowledge each person gains as they find their own way back into the sheepfold of our civic communities.
Sister Kristin receives her FSPA ring from Sister Blanche Klein.
Sister Romana Klaubauf receives her 50th Jubilee celebration corsage from Sister Karen Kappell.
A bit further down the road of religious life, Sisters Romana Klaubauf and Ester Leis shared their travel stories—their individual ministries—at a pre-jubilee pizza party. We watched a slide presentation of the sights they saw along their professions of 50 years, glimpsing decades of serving God's people and meeting new challenges in the changing landscapes of religious life. Mary of the Angels was filled to capacity as community members, family and friends gathered to witness their ongoing commitment. The readings they chose (Isaiah 43:1-10, Micah 6:8 and John 10) tell their stories of faithfulness to God.
Sister Esther Leis processes into Mass held in honor of her Golden Jubilee.
These three celebrations were each unique in time and experience yet all pointed to the goodness revealed through the faithfulness of “yes.” The song “I Say ‘Yes’ Lord/Digo ‘Sí’ Señor” by Donna Peña and Marty Haugen has been moving in my heart and mind as I ponder the blessing each of these celebrations have been. They are witnesses to our world of faithfulness and commitment in good times and challenges. We all walk terrain smooth and bumpy; mountainous and flat. God is with us in each step, and every breath of life.
This week as you consider your own location in discernment ask yourself ...
What are the celebrations marking my journey?
Is there a theme to my experience so far?
How am I relying on God?
Called to religious life and FSPA 50, 60 and even 70 years ago, our 2018 jubilarians are celebrating and contemplating. Show Me a Sign asked Sister Cormarie Wernimont — who embodies 60 years of ministry in dietetics, pastoral care and finance — to reflect on her discernment journey.
During a gathering at St. Rose Convent, Sister Cormarie (right) is congratulated for her jubilee by Sister Esther Leis.
SMAS: How old were you when you first thought about becoming a sister?
Sister Cormarie: I was in the second grade. My teacher, Sister Charity, FSPA, asked if I was going to become a sister. I had not thought of it, but this idea remained in the back of my mind all through elementary and high school. I prayed about it for a long time, and gradually became aware that this was my calling.
SMAS: What attracted you to religious life?
Sister Cormarie: It was the belief that this is my calling.
Sister Cormarie Wernimont, 1958
SMAS: What do you recall about making your final vows and realizing that you were making a life commitment?
Sister Cormarie: I most remember my acceptance into the novitiate program, receiving a new name and the religious habit, and also my first vows. In my heart, my vows were final the first time I spoke them.
SMAS: What has been the most unexpected part of your life as an FSPA?
Sister Cormarie: My first mission was at Sacred Heart Hospital (now known as Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center) in Idaho Falls, Idaho. This was an area where, as a Catholic, I learned what it felt like to be a minority. There were many challenges. There were also blessings: we experienced the beauty of the mountains, rivers and Meadow Lake. Nothing ever tasted as good as pancakes cooked over an open fire up in the mountains.
SMAS: What wisdom do you share with a woman discerning religious life today?
Sister Cormarie: Pray. Try to be open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Trust in God’s love and care.
*Do you know someone experiencing discernment of religious life? We invite you to share this link, www.fspa.org/showmeasign, and join the conversation.
