I guess I kind of knew God was leading me somewhere… but as I got to know the Sisters - Irene, Lucy, Carol Jean, and later Mildred and Rita as well, I came to understand, hey, this is something I could be doing . . .  This is how I could be being.  I didn’t know any sisters, really, as a kid.  I went to public school, and so as I lived with these women, and saw how they lived honestly, deeply, and faithfully, I gained the courage to listen to my own heart and move along on my own journey.

Before I became a Salvatorian, I ministered as a special education teacher.  After I became a sister, I continued in that ministry, though more recently, I’ve been in administration in the nonprofit sector, have taught at our local university, and am deeply involved in our Salvatorian response to the issue of human trafficking and slavery. (Here's the website I've helped create!)

My search and my discovery that God was calling me to become a Salvatorian included a lot of “you’ve got to be kidding, God!” and a little bit of awe as well.  Just before I met the Sisters of the Divine Savior, I spent a good deal of time checking out a wide variety of religious communities.  I knew I needed to be in a place where my gifts - as an educator, as a leader, as a woman of faith - were honored.  And, I deeply wanted, at that time, to minister in a Native American location.

Over time, as I got to know more and more Sisters, and as I got to know myself, I recognized that my deepest need and desire was to minister in a way that connected with those in our world who are marginalized. The years I spent in Milwaukee becoming a sister, and then taking First Vows, and years later, Perpetual Vows, were all part of that journey.

One challenge I faced was finding out how to talk with my family about my life.  At first, I think they didn’t believe me.  Eventually, though, they’ve seen that I am happy as a Sister of the Divine Savior, and they recognize that as a critical indicator that I am “in the right place.”

The time I spent, initially, with Sisters was really valuable.  It taught me how diverse the Salvatorians are.  It taught me that the Sisters are women of deep faith - and yet, are very, very human.  It moved the concept of “sister” from one of idealism to one of nitty-gritty realism, lived out in a shelter for the homeless, a reservation elderly housing unit, a nursing home, or a Central City urban neighborhood.  I learned to pray, to reflect more deeply, and to share more openly.  Over time, I discovered that being Salvatorian felt like being “home.”  That’s a good sign for me!

Today, I am a perpetually professed sister, having made a life commitment through “Final Vows.”  At first, it was scary to think that I was standing before God and before my community saying “I will live this commitment forever.”  Today, I understand, in my heart and in my mind, that it’s truly God’s grace, and the love and support of my sisters that let’s me do so.