Since 2002, I have done vocation work for our community.  And, if I've learned anything during this time, it's that each and every vocational journey is unique.  And my own journey attests to this fact.

I am blessed with very loving parents and one older brother who is also the dearest of friends.  I was born in rural Pennsylvania and lived there until my dad was transferred to Birmingham, AL.  I was 16 years old at the time.  Moving to Birmingham was the last thing I wanted to do.  Perhaps in my heart of hearts I knew the Lord had something up His sleeve.  "You did not choose Me.  I chose you."

I was a junior in high school when we moved.  And I found myself, for the first time, thinking a lot about God.  Though I grew up "Catholic", I did not live my faith.  Even more than that, I did not know my faith or my Lord.  But here I was, 16 years old and far from everything I knew and loved, and I found very quickly that I needed the Lord.  So I started praying.  "You did not choose Me.  I chose you."

At this time as well, my mom began to have a 'reversion' to the faith.  She returned to the Sacraments and began taking Eucharistic Adoration and volunteering at a local monastery gift shop.  The monastery is none other than Our Lady of the Angels Monastery - the one I would eventually enter!  During Spring Break of my junior year, she coerced me into volunteering some of my time in the monastery gift shop.  I did so grudgingly.  During this time I found myself drawn to the Chapel like a moth to a flame.  In the Chapel, Our Eucharist King was solemnly exposed.  Shyly, I would watch the others who came to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament and I would attempt to imitate them.  I had no idea why I genuflected, knelt, stared at the monstrance, or piously recited all the prayers I could think of over and over again - for at this point I believed only that what appeared to be a small piece of bread was a only symbol of some kind.  Eventually I discovered the truth about the matter.  I came to know and believe that Jesus was truly Present in the Most Blessed Sacrament - Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.  And the day I found that out, is the day I knew I would be a nun.  "You did not choose Me.  I chose you."

I can remember the day very distinctly.  I came home from school and asked mom about the Blessed Sacrament.  There had been discussion on this matter among some of my Catholic friends, and I wanted to know the truth.  So mom told me.  And I could only respond: "So He gave Himself TOTALLY for us?"  When mom said: "Yes", in the silence of my heart I said to the Lord: "Then I must give myself TOTALLY for You."  It took about 3 years for that to come to begin to come to fruition.  "You did not choose Me.  I chose you."

Though I tried to hide it, the remainder of my high school years saw me growing in the desire to serve Jesus and His Church.  And after one year of college, the desire was reaching a peak.  Something had to be done.  Yet, the desire of my youth to marry and have lots of children was not going away, but neither was the desire to be a bride of Jesus.  Being a 'mama's girl' through and through, I turned to the Mother of Jesus and entrusted my vocation to her maternal care.  She calmed every fear, dispelled every doubt, led me to Jesus in a new way, and taught me what it means to be His bride.  "You did not choose Me.  I chose you."

At the end of August 1995, at the age of 19, I took the first step toward fulfilling JESUS' call as I visited Our Lady of the Angels Monastery.  It was a memorable day...speaking with Mother Angelica for the first time.  She encouraged my vocation and arranged for a visit.  Then only 2 weeks later on September 8, 1995, I entered as a postulant.  On August 2, 2003, I professed Solemn Vows and was irrevocably espoused to my first Love.  And I've never regretted it.

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