Kristen Lukowski, Michigan Catholic News
"It was very difficult for my family, but we had faith," she said. "We understood that her suffering did have meaning."

Her mother's death started her thinking about God and a possible call to religious life. She attended Marygrove College to study English and arts, and to take a few religion courses. She loved her religious studies so much she changed her major.

 

As a sister, I have seen 'little miracles'
Sr. Felicity Marie Madigan, CSSF
My name is Sr. Felicity Marie Madigan and I am a Felician sister. I first began discerning a call to religious life when I was in the ninth grade at Catholic Central High School in Grand Rapids. I was particularly fond of the religion classes that I had taken there, and I thoroughly enjoyed the presence of the religious sisters and priests that were in our high school. I didn't realize at the time that indirectly a seed was being planted within me — a religious vocation.

 

Sr. Theresa Sullivan, FDC, director of Community Health & Mission Integration, Providence Hospital

"Being called." I'm often asked, how I knew I was "called." This makes being called seem like a great mystery. Is it a mystery or a fact of life? My parents told my 11 siblings and me that we were special, we were called. God had a plan to use our unique gifts.

 

Renewed faith leads to a new life
Fran Bozzo, Special to The Michigan Catholic
I was raised in a Catholic family but as I approached the teen-age years I soon fell away from my faith. I lived in sin and darkness and ignored Christ for many years. I spent most of my life without Christ. After my mom had open-heart surgery I wanted to pray for her. But I realized I didn't even remember the words to the Hail Mary.

 

Albert de Zutter, Catholic News Service

While much emphasis is placed on the decline in numbers, religious orders today are creatively engaged in ministries for a new millennium, said the president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.