Just two weekends ago, I professed first vows with the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati, along with my dear Sr. Andrea Koverman. It was a day of indescribable joy! I was humbled by the presence of the hundreds of people - family, friends, sisters, and associates – who gathered to celebrate with us from near and far. And now, this week, I am traveling back to the place where it all started. The first inklings of a call to religious life emerged in the fall of 2008 when I was a long-term international volunteer.

Notes from the Field - When was the last time you participated in a donation effort? Gave some money? Cleaned out your closet or pantry? Volunteered? Bought an item whose proceeds went toward donations? When I was younger, I remember raiding our pantry during food drives at school – usually just clearing out the things that I didn’t really want to ever have to eat.

“I don’t shine if you don’t shine.”

Sisters Adorers, Handmaids of the Blessed Sacrament and of Charity began rescue work at Kalighat brothel, one of the oldest red-light areas of Kolkata, India, in 1998. They work to rescue minor girls sold or otherwise illegally forced into the sex trade and to offer love, support and education to such women who are not respected by society. Nazareth Villa Superior Mariette Sebastian said they work in red-light areas because their founder, Maria Micaela, began her apostolate among such fallen women. “To work for the sex workers is part of our charism."

See for Yourself - I’m on my third car GPS unit. The first unit died a natural death after almost two years of non-stop use. The second unit died an unnatural death after six months, being deemed a defective product and promptly replaced by the manufacturer. I’m now on unit #3 and so far it works perfectly.

Franciscan Sr. Christina Neumann wears many hats at St. Anne’s Guest Home, the assisted living health care facility her community runs in Grand Forks, N.D. She’s a receptionist, the editor of the resident newsletter, the main sacristan in the chapel, and – from time to time – she’s also a personal care aide. But when she’s not doing all of that, she’s thinking about things like search engine optimization and what that means for future vocations. That’s part of the reason why, in the last eight months, she’s started two new blogs, including one for her community. 

From A Nun's Life podcasts - Would you join religious life at a young age, if you had your druthers?

“If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end."

Notes from the Field - It is hard to believe that this will be my final week of living in community with the 14 Mission San Jose Dominican sisters whom I have come to care for and respect so deeply this past year. Last week, a new sister moved into the convent, and her arrival got me thinking about one impressive and invaluable aspect of the community at Immaculate Conception Priory.