Pilgrim of Hope: 65 Years of Religious Life Vocation

This year I am celebrating 65 years since I made the step of faith of saying “YES,” to God in living a life of Religious Consecration as a Sister of Mary of the Presentation. 

This pilgrimage journey has taken me on many paths of faith, trust, and of denying myself. This has led me to new life in Christ and service to God’s people. The pathway has had many rough roads in obedience to God’s will and many smooth roads through prayer and grace. God has given me the strength to never turn back on this pilgrimage. It has and is grace-filled because of the abundant life God has given and continues to give to me, through my saying, “YES.” I am assured by St. Paul’s words: “...hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.” Romans 5:5 

The seed of my vocation was planted by my parents through their deep faith, prayer, service in the Church and the love they showed to the Sisters of Mary of the Presentation at Notre Dame Academy in Willow City. I met the Sisters at the Academy and observed their life of Consecration to God as educators of us students. Some Sisters used to talk to me about becoming one of them, but I fought my call for a long time. Nonetheless, I continued my pilgrimage with God as I prayed for vision and courage to walk the pathway of God and not my own desires. One day, after we students had a retreat day at school, the road became clear to me when a Sister walked up to me and invited me to become one of them. This time I was obedient, and a “YES” broke forth within me. I left my home farm near Dunseith when I was 16 years old and went to Spring Valley, Ill. for formation studies to become a Sister.  

My positive response to God’s call has never changed. God has been the guide on my journey through prayer, self-sacrifice and going where there was and is a need of me. Walking with God has given me unceasing strength to be a witness of love and mercy through the various ministries that have been part of my journey as a Woman Religious. I have walked many paths of ministry through my vow of obedience. Some of them have been: X-ray technologist, Vocation and Formation Director, Newman ministry at the University of North Dakota, Pastoral care in health care (hospital, nursing home and hospice) and presently, parish ministry. 

I deeply love my vocation as a consecrated woman in today’s world. I give thanks to God for His enduring grace. This pathway of HOPE is my daily pilgrimage and has been these 65 years of God’s grace. 

With Mary, the patron of our Religious congregation, I say, I “treasured up all these things and pondered them in [my] heart” (Luke 2:19).