Commentary

At a Mass recently, I sat behind a young family with a three-year-old girl. She wore a pink princess dress, white tights and sparkly pink shoes.

Many years ago, when I was in college, I went to Mass on a Wednesday night at a Catholic lay community called Berakah. This was a group of lay men and women, one Franciscan priest, and a Sister of Charity who lived in the community.

Not too long ago, as I was sharing my vocation story, I was asked by a young adult, “What is the most wonderful thing about being a Sister?”

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11 As we begin National Vocations Awareness Week, celebrated November 5th-11th, these words remind us that all people have a call, a vocation, from God.

Let me begin by sharing part of a story I wrote that was first printed in The Witness back in April, 2014. “During retreat one year, the Holy Spirit asked me to ask Him for a sign of His love for me.

A few years ago, I was reading somewhere on the internet a post about mystical experiences of saints.

The parish I attended as a child was St. Anthony of Padua in Butler, New Jersey. The Franciscans of the Holy Name Province served the parish, along with several of their retired friars.

Growing up in northeast New Jersey, I surrendered to the fact that I was the only “German-looking” person in my family.

Before I was born, my mom was an executive administrative assistant to one of the vice presidents of the Boy Scouts of America. Part of the perk of that position was the ability to go on vacation during the summer to one of the Boy Scout camps located in New Jersey. The camp would close for three weeks, allowing the organization’s staff to enjoy some rest and relaxation.

I grew up in a somewhat rural area of northeast New Jersey. Down the block from my parents’ home was a watershed called Butler Reservoir with hundreds of acres of forest area surrounding this body of water.