March 8, 2017 I Got All My Sisters With Me

Today, March 8th, marks the beginning of National Catholic Sisters Week (NCSW). Per the NCSW website, “NCSW is an annual celebration that takes place from March 8–14. Created to honor women religious, it is a series of events that instruct, enlighten, and bring greater focus to the lives of these incredible women. It’s our chance…

February 28, 2017 Practice Makes Perfect

Tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning of Lent. For many years, I had the opportunity to be a catechist (teacher of the Catholic faith) for the Faith Formation program at St. Stephen Cathedral. The Sunday before Ash Wednesday was reserved for teaching about the season of Lent. We discussed how Lent is a time for…

February 22, 2017 A Day in the Religious Life

“What does a sister do all day?” This question often comes up when I am giving vocation talks. It is as though a great mystery is to be revealed as all ears are attentive to the words I will speak next. Why wouldn’t it be something intriguing? After all, if one is not living that…

February 15, 2017 Sodas and Sisters

Have you ever gone to a restaurant and ordered a Coke only to be asked if Pepsi was ok instead? How about ordering a Dr Pepper and being told they have Mr. Pibb? It is like a built-in disclaimer to make sure the consumer knows what he or she is getting. When growing up I…

February 7, 2017 Perseverance

Over the weekend, two sports teams I was pulling for came up short and did not leave with the “W”.  One of those teams, MY team, the University of Kentucky men’s basketball, lost to rival University of Florida on Saturday night.  I wasn’t able to catch the game on TV so I listened on the radio.  My…

February 1, 2017 Consecrated Life

In my blog, last week, I gave an explanation about how the ring I wear is symbolically tied to the vows I profess as a religious sister. As a religious, I am consecrated to God by vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and instruction. When I visit a school or parish to give a vocation talk,…

January 23, 2017 With This Ring

On several different occasions, I have been approached and asked why I wear a simple gold band on the ring finger of my left hand since I am a Catholic sister. The question is usually followed with another question, “Nuns aren’t supposed to get married, are they?” (The difference between a sister and nun will…

January 16, 2017 Bear Great Fruit

On the wall of my office hangs one of my most cherished gifts…a framed picture of a hand drawn tree, the leaves of the tree were created using the thumbprints of the students, faculty, and staff at Saint Patrick Catholic School in Memphis, TN. Inscribed on the trunk of the tree are these words: “The…

January 10, 2017: Sharing the light

Last week was my first attempt at writing a blog entry. I liked it so much I thought I would write a second one. (Anyone who knows me understands that this is a tongue in cheek comment). Well, actually, I did like it, I just happened to fret over it for what seemed like an…

January 3, 2017 Vineyard of Hope Blog

Happy New Year!  For as long as I can remember, each year after Christmas, my Mom would start talking about going to go the grocery to get a can of black eyed peas to eat on New Year’s Day.  The purpose for eating the black eyed peas is to bring prosperity and luck for the…