We love God, we enjoy our lives of active service for God’s people throughout the world, and we are still making a difference.Toss a stick in the air in Springfield and chances are it will land on someone taught by — or in an institution run by — Catholic sisters. Same with health care. One in five people in the U.S. seeks health care in a hospital founded by sisters.Our vows are the essence of who we are. I think they’re more relevant now than ever. They are a prophetic witness against the abuse of money, sex and power, which are the source of the intrigue and conflict we see around us daily. They aren’t optional, but integral to who we are.My Dominican sisters and I hear stories every day from people who want to tell us what a difference we make in their lives… Imagine the impact we can have when more women join us!A quick lesson in the vows: Catholic sisters’ vows are public promises to God to live simply, chastely and obediently. With our vow of poverty, we promise to live interdependently (not in destitute poverty), and with reliance on God. Because we vow chastity we forego an exclusive relationship with a significant other to dedicate ourselves to prayerful contemplation of God’s desires and purposes for the sake of all creation. Obedience is about listening to God and to one another so that we use our power — not for personal gain, fame or prestige — but in support of people like those served by Jesus: Widows and orphans, the outcast and the immigrant, the sick, and the imprisoned.One in five people in the U.S. seeks health care in a hospital founded by sisters.
