Welcoming women to religious life: New vocations team takes up the challenge

Springfield, Ill.—The Dominican Sisters of Springfield are pleased to announce a newly appointed ministry team to welcome those discerning a call to Catholic sisterhood, consecrated religious life. 

Sister Mary Jo Sobieck, OP, assumes the role of Minister of Vocation Animation and Sister Denise Glazik, OP, serves as Minister of Vocation Accompaniment. 

Most recently Sister Mary Jo has been immersed in learning Spanish language and culture through a series of experiences learning, living, and ministering in Spanish-language contexts. She taught theology at Marian Catholic High School, Chicago Heights, Ill., 2007-2020, and as an adjunct instructor in theology at Calumet College of St. Joseph, Whiting, Ind., 2022-2024, where she also served on the campus ministry team. 

In August 2018 Sister Mary Jo was invited to toss out the first pitch at a Chicago White Sox game, part of a celebration of Marian Catholic’s 60th anniversary observances. The flawless pitch wowed baseball fans the world over, bringing her international notoriety and a platform from which to inspire young people to give God their all. 

Now Sister Mary Jo is using that fame for a new pitch: God’s call to consecrated religious life. Using the social media handles #lovetravels, @srmaryjo, and the website srmaryjo.com, her goal now is to bring Catholic women to an awareness of God’s call. 

“If you feel the call of God on your heart, take it seriously and pray for the grace to hear and respond with openness and trust,” she said. “Don’t underestimate the activity of the Holy Spirit working in and through you to make the difference our world needs. You’ll experience no greater adventure than with God growing in ways beyond your imagining.”  

As an experienced vocation director with decades of service as a pastoral minister in Bradley and Springfield, Ill., and in the Diocese of Green Bay, Sister Denise’s role will be to accompany through the discernment process those interested in exploring religious life more deeply.  

“Vowed Religious life is a gift to our Church and world, she says. “I’m here to welcome and accompany those who are exploring that gift which comes from God. 

“While there are fewer women exploring religious life, there are still women who are exploring.” She added. “They are generous, creative, and courageous—ready to embrace the new future of consecrated life, for the life of the world.” 

Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois Prioress Sister M. Paul McCaughey was hopeful about the future. 

“In committing two energetic Dominican Sisters to this work, we trust God to send generous and talented women who wish to share a life of living the Gospel and preaching it together,” she wrote in an email.  

Sister Mary Jo and Sister Denise collaborate with the 18 other congregations of Dominican Sisters based in the U.S. which belong to the Dominican Sisters Conference. For example, this past summer Sister Denise worked with eight other Dominican congregations to host seven women for an urban service immersion experience in the Chicago metro region.