Sisters who changed my life at the Institute for Religious
Sr. Mary Kathleen Roth, SCMC, Sister of Charity of Our Lady Mother of the Church

My Second Grade teacher, Mrs. Allard, had instilled in me a deep Faith in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. When I received Jesus in my First Holy Communion, I experienced an inward Call from Him to be His, but I didn’t know at the time that He would one day call me to be His bride in religious life.

It wasn’t until after college that I found I was yearning for “something more” in my life. I started praying fervently to Our Lady to direct my life and help me to find God’s peace. Shortly after my novenas to her, I attended the Life in the Spirit Seminar (a weekend retreat for young adults). This retreat had a profound effect on me and changed my life completely. I had finally found the One whom I had been searching for. I started attending daily Mass and eventually became a member of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites.

My life as a lay Carmelite led me deeper into prayer and a desire to belong to Jesus Christ as His spouse. This “transformation” did not occur over night however! I had thought for a long time that I was supposed to be married and had dated very good Catholic men who actually lead me to my true vocation.

My desire to belong totally to Christ continued to strengthen and deepen. I had the great blessing of having good spiritual direction through holy priests in our diocese during my years of discernment. Finally, one day I “announced” to Father that I thought Jesus was calling me to religious life. (At that point, I only knew one Sister, who was a friend of mine in an order in California!) Father said he had been waiting for me to announce this “revelation” for some time.

Thus my journey began. I started visiting communities and for a summer lived with other young women who were discerning their vocations. At times, it had felt like a long journey in finding the community to which God was calling me to. He definitely allowed me to experience the Cross and some of the hours felt quite dark in my time of waiting and praying for God to reveal His Will to me.

In 1995, I traveled with some friends to Mundelein, IL, to attend the Conference for Religious there. I really thought it would just be a great retreat weekend. That weekend, I met two Sisters who would change my life forever: Mother M. Anthony and Mother Mary Luke. They were Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Mother of the Church. I was really attracted to them and felt like I knew them. Mother Mary Luke wrote to me and called me in the following few months. Then I went to visit the Sisters for a week at their Motherhouse in Baltic, CT. I can’t really explain it, but the moment I walked through the door (and it was almost midnight when I arrived!) I knew I was home. I still everyday praise God for this deep down Peace that only He can give.

My visit had gone very well. Of course, I looked for my “signs” which the Lord very generously provided that this was truly His Will for me. Mainly though, He assured me that I was making the right decision to enter through prayer, my family and spiritual director, and through the Superiors of the Congregation.

On August 22, 2004, I made perpetual vows as a Sister of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of the Church. It was truly the happiest day of my life. Everyday is a new call from Jesus to be His bride. Each day He asks: “Do you love me? Will you follow Me?” Each day I pray to be totally His in my life as a Sister of Charity.

As I reflect on my vocation, I am filled with a deep gratitude to Our Lord and Our Lady. A vocation is truly a gift from God; it is unmerited and the very thought that He has called me to be His in this intimate call to religious life is profoundly humbling.

My vocation story is truly just beginning. On my Profession Day, one of our elderly Sisters shared with me: “Now, Sister, the ascent begins.” I will never forget her words to me that day. In daily struggles and trials, her voice is an echo in my heart to belong totally to Christ and to strive to embrace with love the crosses sent to me. In living the vows of chastity, poverty, obedience, and in performing the works of charity, I have found my vocation. To be a Sister of Charity of Our Lady Mother of the Church has been His plan for me from all Eternity. It is for this that I was born. May Jesus Christ be praised now and forever!