Can you explain the role that you are moving into?
In 2009, Sister Mary Christopher Moore, Provincial of the newly formed Our Lady of Hope Province of the Felician Sisters of North America, began an initiative to transfer all of the sisters’ archives, dating back to 1874, to Madonna University’s Welcome Center. The Heritage Center was created to share the charism of the Felician Sisters and their mission to cooperate with Christ in the spiritual renewal of the world.
Shortly before the ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 21, 2025, I was asked to consider serving as director of the Heritage Center. This July, I will move to Livonia and live at the main convent at Madonna University. At the same time, I have also been appointed one of the vicars (counselors) to the local minister in the service of the community of sisters.
When did you first recognize God’s calling?
Early Sense of Calling
I always wanted to be a sister. Even as early as second grade, I imagined myself in religious life. At that time, faith and Catholic school life were deeply woven into the neighborhood, so the idea of becoming a sister felt natural and familiar to me.
I was also inspired by the sisters I knew personally. I had two great-aunts who were Felician Sisters in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, and when they came home to Detroit to visit, I loved being around them. I was taught by the Adrian Dominicans at Saint Augustine, and I admired them greatly. Even then, I did not know exactly what kind of ministry I wanted to pursue—I simply knew that I wanted to be a sister.
Leaving Home for School
In eighth grade, I left home to attend school in Pennsylvania. My parents had already enrolled me at Saint Augustine High School in Detroit, and a down payment had even been made. Still, I told my father that I truly wanted to go. He reassured me that the money did not matter and gave me his blessing. Only years later did I learn how hard it was for my mother to let me go.
I was 13 years old when I left for Pennsylvania. I was the oldest of four children—three girls and a boy—and my family remained very involved in my life. Because we had relatives connected to the convent, my family visited often for festivals, events, and summer trips. My father would bring me home during the summer, and I would also return home for Christmas.
Formation and Religious Life
I attended a girls’ high school connected to the convent, where some of the girls were preparing to enter religious life. The academy, chapel, and convent were all connected, and being in that environment confirmed what I already felt in my heart. I still did not have a specific ministry in mind; I simply wanted to follow that path.
After graduating at 18, I entered religious life. Our class had 30 girls, and 15 of us wanted to become sisters. We were eager to begin and finally entered on August 16, 1960. As postulants, we wore simple religious dress and began both prayer and coursework. Later, as novices, we entered a much more structured and secluded period of formation.
A Time of Sacrifice and Grace
One of the most difficult parts of those early years was the strict separation from family. During my novitiate, contact with home was extremely limited. That was also the year my mother died. I was allowed to go home for her funeral, which was very unusual at the time (before Vatican II). Looking back, I can see both the sorrow of that period and the grace that carried me through it.
Even in that hardship, I was supported by the sisters around me and by the large group of women who entered with me. We shared the experience, and that community was a great source of strength.
Growing Into Ministry
Over time, religious formation changed, especially after Vatican II. In those earlier years, assignments were often made for you, and you followed where you were sent. Eventually, that process became more thoughtful and flexible, allowing sisters to explore different ministries and discover their gifts more fully.
For me, the call began very simply: I wanted to belong to God and live the life I saw in the sisters around me. Everything else unfolded from that first desire to say “yes.”
What is your favorite way to pray?
My favorite way to pray is centering prayer. Because I am not living in community with my sisters, I have a prayer space where I spend time with prayers I am obligated to say, those that are my favorites, and all the intentions I’ve promised to pray for. Centering prayer is a form of reflection that I love most. It is a quiet prayer of silence and attention to God. I recommend reading Open Mind, Open Heart by Thomas Keating, a Trappist monk, who offers a helpful introduction to centering prayer.
Final Reflections
I would like to thank the parishioners and all the wonderful people I have met for their example and their inspiration. Their witness has deeply supported me in my ministry.
It has been a joy to minister at St. Therese and to build such wonderful relationships and inspiring friendships here.
Looking back, I never would have imagined that a little girl from Ryan Road would have had all of these opportunities—to teach, to minister in other countries, to study, to serve in administration, and to form relationships with those interested in our way of life.
For me, saying a simple “yes” has made my life exciting and abundantly graced.
