Maxine Kollasch

Sr. Maxine Kollasch co-founded A Nuns Life Ministry, a vibrant online community where Catholic sisters engage with people worldwide around faith, vocation and finding joy in everyday life. Founded on the Internet in 2006 with Sr. Julie Vieira, the ministry is present online and in many social media. A Nun's Life is a pioneer in the use of Internet technologies and social networking to bring the centuries-old tradition of religious life in areas such as discernment and vocation into conversation with everyday life in the 21st century. Kollasch is a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Monroe, Michigan, and has master's degrees in theology and in advertising.

By this Author

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If cats can go to heaven, can they go to purgatory, too?

From A Nun's Life podcasts – A mom asks about the possible fate of her son’s moody cat, and Sister Maxine and guest Franciscan Sr. Shannon Schrein talk about heaven, hell, animals and moral choices.

Determining which Scripture becomes liturgy

From A Nun's Life podcasts - Who decides which Bible passages make it into the Mass readings?

Close up of a microphone (Unsplash/Robinson Recalde)

A Nun's Life Ministry celebrates 15 years with a new series of issue-based podcasts

A Nun's Life Ministry - The new episode series focuses on social issues being addressed by Catholic sisters, such as human trafficking, homelessness, poverty, food insecurity, climate and education.

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Working miracles alone

From A Nun's Life podcasts - Did Jesus do miracles alone or did other people help?

 

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Who is the holiest person you know?

From A Nun's Life podcasts - Sister Maxine talks with Franciscan Sr. Shannon Schrein about saints, what it means to be holy, and how we express holiness in our ordinary, day-to-day lives.

A silhouetted sailboat in the night under the stars (Unsplash/Johannes Plenio)

Why should I try to be so good? What's the reward?

From A Nun's Life podcasts - "Grace is what enables us to seek forgiveness when we've fallen short of the mark."

Heart-shaped waffles

Making decisions is tough; here's help

From A Nun's Life podcasts - Can you do "reverse discernment" if you doubt the choice you've already made?

Detail of Bible made in Paris, France, around 1250 to 1275, of tempera and gold on parchment, bound in leather (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

I want to start reading the Bible, but where should I begin?

From A Nun's Life podcasts - Think of biblical text as an anthology, with a rough chronology. And its purpose is to tell the journey of a people and to explore the dimensions of their faith.

People at a Melbourne refugee and asylum seeker rights rally July 27, 2013, protest both the Rudd Labor Government new proposal for assessment and resettlement of asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea, and the Liberal Party's hard line stand to use the milit

Gaps in Australia's asylum program for people fleeing oppression

From A Nun's Life podcasts - In this Random Nun Clip, Sr. Rita Malavisi talks about the Asylum Seeker Resource Center in Australia, where she has served as a volunteer for 17 years.

Photo of a reel of movie film (Unsplahs/Denise Jans)

What would nuns watch on Netflix?

From A Nun's Life podcasts - In this Random Nun Clip, a listener in Covid quarantine with her friends ask for nun Netflix suggestions. 

Darwin Airport Immigration Detention Centre, Australia (Flickr/Ken Hodge)

Encounter is real education

From A Nun's Life Ministry podcasts - In Australia, asylum seekers' real stories influenced college students to think outside of the talking points they hear in the news.

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Is there ever drama among nuns in a convent?

From A Nun's Life podcasts - A listener wonders if there's ever drama among the nuns in a convent. The short answer is yes, but there are upsides to recognizing each other's imperfections.

How do you encounter Christ in the people around you?

From A Nun's Life podcasts - Experiences with people always lead this sister back to Jesus as she lets his light shine in everything she does.

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Singing compassion into the world

From A Nun's Life podcasts - "The gift of music has allowed me to be with people at the most profound and significant moments of their lives," songwriter Sr. Kathy Sherman shares.

If I don't stop to help someone who is homeless, is it a sin?

From A Nun's Life podcasts - A listener asks: Is it a mortal sin when I do not help homeless people I see on the street?

Whose house? Nuns' house!

From A Nun's Life podcasts - What makes a convent a convent? Is a convent a very serious place, or do you have fun?

Looking for the perfect greeting card, for sisters

From A Nun's Life podcasts - Have you ever had this problem, what to write in a card for profession of vocation for your friend becoming a sister?

 

Creativity and kindness shine during pandemic

From a Nun's Life podcasts - A Nun's Life returns to GSR with this Random Nun Clip. Sister Maxine and Sister Shannon reflect on the creative ways that people are connecting while maintaining a safe distance.

Angela's charism lasted four centuries: It will continue!

From a Nun's Life podcasts - The Ursuline Sisters of Louisville, Kentucky, talk with the students of Sacred Heart Academy about how values affect all of a person's life.

An unexpected decision in the search for something more

From A Nun's Life podcasts - In this Random Nun Clip, Notre Dame Sr. Jenny Zimmerman talks about how career questioning led to the unexpected choice to join religious life.