wrote in an essay on Dominican life.
The difficulty of leaving her
career has lessened over time for
Melissa. “There are still days I see a
teenager and think, ‘Oh, I’d love to
go be in a classroom for a while,’”
she says. Yet at the same time she
is very conscious that this period
in formation as a novice is a special
time in her life, a gift she won’t have
again. She tries to immerse herself
fully in this opportunity to grow in
relationship with God, herself, and
her community.
She notes that the challenges of
adapting to religious life are different
for each person. For her, it felt natural to go from being independent to
interdependent. And she sees relating to people of all ages as one of her
strengths. It was simply not an issue
for her that most of the sisters at the
motherhouse are more than twice
her age. Her personal hurdle is the
constant challenge of living simply,
of discerning want from need.
The road ahead
Yet each day that passes is another
day that Melissa faces these challenges, sees the water below, and steps
forward to Jesus.
The path ahead is long. Her
transition to full-fledged religious life
will take several years and require
ongoing mutual discernment. In August 2007 she made the next level of
commitment to the Dominicans, and
they in turn affirmed their support
for her. “It is our commitment, not
just mine,” Melissa says. Now she
has a new title, novice, and a new
name: Sister Melissa.
EARLY in the morning Melissa has her personal prayer
time (left). This time alone
with God is part of a balanced life of prayer, study,
and work.
AT 31, SISTER MELISSA is
the newest and youngest
Springfield Dominican. The
community’s oldest member, former mother general
Sister M. Imelda Suddes,
100, congratulates her on
becoming a novice (below).
VISION 2009
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