A life of service, solitude, and scripture

 As an Apostolic Religious Sister, my life is a combination of prayer, communal life with the Sisters and service to God’s people. Every day has its routine but because of a life of service, it has variations as well. Presently, I am the leader of the United States group of Sisters of Mary of the Presentation, and I am also a General Councilor for our International Religious Community. My home and office is at Maryvale, Valley City, and I travel periodically to meet with the Superior General and other General Councilors in France. I also travel occasionally to see our Sisters in Quebec, Canada; Democratic Republic of Congo, and Cameroon, Africa; and Belgium. 

Typically, we pray Lauds (Morning Prayer), attend daily Mass, pray Vespers (Evening Prayer) and eat meals together if possible. We also take time daily for personal meditation/contemplation prayer, spiritual reading and praying the Rosary. To stay physically healthy, we try to eat simple nutritious meals and get daily exercise. Currently, I swim for exercise. As a college athlete, I played basketball and participated in track and softball. When I get my ankle joint replaced next month I hope to start walking and biking again.  

We Sisters have regular community meetings in which we discuss uplifting spiritual reading, topics of Religious Life, and make decisions together that affect our lives. We strive to discern God’s will by listening to one another, discussing and reaching a consensus, seldom using voting to reach collective decisions. This process is a means of living our vow of Obedience. 

My Religious Congregation assisted me in completing my Bachelor’s degree in Theology and Psychology and in getting my Master’s degree in Social Work to better serve the unmet needs of the people who are vulnerable and marginalized. I have served: 

• as a certified nursing assistant 
• in parish ministry 
• as a liturgist and musician 
• in domestic violence shelters 
• as a chaplain in our health care ministries 
• as a mental health therapist in rural areas with no other mental health services 
• in administration 
• as a Board of Director for Catholic Charities and SMP Health Ministries 
• 19 years in leadership of our Congregation 

I love to assist others and create environments in which other workers may flourish. In this way, I cooperate with God in enlivening the Body of Christ. 

I love people but also relish solitude. It is in solitude that I feel the most balanced and close to God. God speaks to me through Scripture, the Sacraments, my Superiors, my Sisters, and in the stillness of my soul. Thus, solitude and times of extended prayer are essential to maintain my living of the vows of poverty, obedience, and consecrated chastity. Each year we are blessed to have a silent retreat that’s five to eight days alone with God guided by a Spiritual Director. It is in those times that God has deeply healed and molded me into the daughter and lover God desires me to be. I surrender more of my life to God and walk more closely with Jesus our Savior as I continue to grow, which is a life-long journey.