(Vol. 30-5 page three)

June, 1981

Soundings Volume 3, Number 10

Vocation Awareness Day

The Call to be Women of Promise

By Maryann Enright, CSJ

On May 16, some forty women gathered at Aquinas Junior College, Newton to listen, pray, reflect, and share around the Call to be Women of Promise. The group consisted of Sisters, initial candidates, and women from surrounding colleges.

The LCWR slide presentation of the Story of Women Religious in America challenged us, personally and corporately. This slide show presented a history of women heroines who dared to dream dreams, who responded to needs not serviced by others; who challenged the Church to walk with the people and who struggled for equality directly.

This history was carried into the present by four women who shared their own vocation story: Janice Callucci (pre-candidate), Barbara McHugh (Associate), Sister Anna Marie Edge (Novice), and Sister Jacqueline Damoiseau.

Each woman responded to three questions:

1. When did she first consider Religious Life a possibility?

2. What attracted her to the Sisters of St. Joseph?

3. What hopes did she have for the future of Religious Life?

The marvelous and mysterious way the Lord invites was evident in each presentation. Equally obvious was the fact that these women were praying prior to their awareness of God’s calling them to something more.

What they saw and experienced in the Sisters of St. Joseph was very revealing:

- “quietude, depth and obvious prayerfulness, women of peace.”

- “their lives were centered in the Lord and they knew how to communicate His love and concern.”

- “a diversified community in personality and ministry with a common bond in the Lord.”

- “a willingness to welcome me in and to share their reflections and experiences with me.”

- “the joy they expressed, their attitude toward life was strong attraction.”

The future could be full of adventure if the dreams of these women dared:

- to be women of global vision, to bond and respond to the needs of the times by being women of reconciliation – healing those whose lives we touch.

- to be among God’s materially and spiritually poor.

- To be engaged in ministry for the sake of the Kingdom.

Each participant left challenged to take another step in pursuit of the Promise – a promise that will be realized if we can move with faith, trust, and courage – continuing “to act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with our God.”