Little did I know that my discernment was not finished.
Sister Katy LaFond

My story reflects a bit of resistance!  I was in fourth grade when my principal, Sister Toni Gradisnik, SSSF, invited me to consider being a sister someday. I thought she was crazy and I told her so, over and over again.  She didn’t listen to me and instead she kept inviting me.  I didn’t listen to her either and I kept resisting. Well…God had other plans!

I attended Alverno College in Milwaukee to study to become a teacher.  It was through campus ministry there that I began to meet many of the School Sisters who worked at Alverno.  These women amazed me!  I admired their commitment to their ministries at the college; I felt a closeness with their radiating spirituality and was intrigued by their willingness to serve people in all walks of life. Service was something I wanted to do with my life too.  I definitely felt a connection and I began to form relationships with the sisters.     

Working with them and being an involved student led to more invitations to consider religious life.  I knew I felt differently when I was with them. I knew I related to this dynamic group of women on a spiritual level and as I learned about their mission and lifestyle, I felt as though I shared it with them.  Even though I still resisted the invitations, I knew inside that God was nudging me in this direction.   I began to listen more and resist less, but not with the openness needed to make a life decision.

As I continued in college I also dated. I wasn’t totally sure about religious life, nor was I sure that I wanted to be married.  I acknowledged an interest in religious life and began my discernment process.  I was discerning seriously with the School Sisters of St. Francis and fell in love with the person I was dating!  I tried to figure out if what attracted me to becoming a sister could be present in a marriage and vice versa, and finally one day I made the decision to get married and I told myself I would not look back.  It was the hardest decision I ever made!

Little did I know that my discernment was not finished. I couldn’t get religious life out of my head. During that time I learned three important things about myself and what I needed, then and now, in order to live to be true to who I am. The first was related to service. I knew I needed to be committed to service and mission in my life.  I wanted to be committed to many people, wholeheartedly, serving in ways my gifts would allow and where the needs of people were.  The second was spirituality; I needed to have a closeness to God and faith; I needed to practice it actively and in varying ways.  The final lesson I learned, was that I did not want to do any of these things alone.  When I opened my ears and heart to these lessons, I was more open to wisdom from others, from my experiences. 

One of the Sisters asked me to reflect on where “home” was for me.  Instantly, in my heart, mind, and soul I knew the answer to that question.  I recalled all of the feelings and experiences I had in college.  I recalled those important three lessons I learned in my discernment of married life.  I stopped resisting and began really listening.  I realized that God was calling me home to the School Sisters of St. Francis to choose religious life.

Now, as a new member of the School Sisters, I am continually being reminded of being “home” as a School Sister of St. Francis.  There is a deep contentment knowing that I am living in a way which is authentic to me.  My sisters energize me and I energize them as we collaborate to further our mission, serve others, pray together, play together, and most importantly share LIFE with one another. 

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