Profession: June 19, 1968

Current Ministry: Clinical psychologist and Director of Counseling Services, Central DuPage Pastoral Counseling Center, Carol Stream, Ill.; spiritual direction and pastoral care for hearing and Deaf People.

Birthplace: Chicago

Home parish: Christ the King, Springfield, Ill.

Previous ministries: Elementary school teacher Our Saviour, Jacksonville, Ill.; Our Lady Queen of Peace, Bethalto, Ill.; St. Dominic, Quincy, Ill; St. Joseph, Bradley, Ill. Director, Office for the Deaf/Office for Persons with Disabilities Springfield, Ill.; Counselor Catholic Charities, Springfield, Ill. Campus minister Sacred Heart Griffin, Springfield, Ill; Pastoral Counseling Central DuPage Pastoral Counseling Center Director of Marriage and Family Services, Director of Counseling Services, Clinical and Training Director, spiritual direction. Post-secondary education adjunct professors of pastoral studies, St. Thomas University, Miami, Fla.

Musings: The Holy Spirit is the one who called or inspired me to consider religious life. My parents and family are the ones who nurtured my faith to listen and respond to that call and the Sisters who taught me attracted me to religious life. Both my family and the sisters lived Gospel values. I was attracted by the sisters’ joy, their spirit of community and commitment to ministry, and their way of life. I came to religious life to deepen the relationship with God that I already experienced since childhood. While I believe I could have nurtured that relationship through marriage or the single life, I joined the Dominicans of Springfield because I felt that was the best way for me to respond to the call I felt in prayer, with the community, and in ministry. Living the Holy Preaching as a Dominican has been both a challenge and a blessing for me. I hope it has been a blessing for those I served.

Young people have the idealism and energy to live the Gospel mission. They seek authenticity and integrity in their life and expect it from other people and institutions. Many yearn for community. Religious life provides the structure and interpersonal support to engage in prayer and reflection, to seek truth and justice, to be community, and to serve with compassion. Without the discernment and support of my Community, I would never have had the opportunities and freedom to serve in the ministries to which I was called to be the Holy Preaching. These ministries have been life-giving experiences of relationships, collaboration, creativity and service. Considering a religious vocation is a grace, a gift, that requires a bit of risk, a lot of courage, trust, and much openness to the Holy Spirit.