Reflection from Sister Joanne Kollasch
Being a Benedictine sister suits me well. In my family, becoming a sister was not surprising. Aunts, cousins and siblings had followed their own calls to become priests and sisters.
I believed nursing was my vocation, only I was feeling a strong call to teach. Even stronger, I felt a pull toward entering an order. And so, I came to our community with a strong conviction of God’s call to this way of life.
At the same time, I thought the sisters could use my help. Now, 50 years later, it’s clear to me that the sisters thought I could use their help!
The community and I need each other. Together we form a life-giving, life-long relationship that nurtures and sustains us and sends out of ourselves in love and service to God’s people. Neither the community nor I imagined that one day we would create an ecumenical community. This was beyond our Catholic imagination. But we have done it.
As Benedictine Women of Madison, we are a Christ-centered community of women from different church affiliations. Who would have imagined that we would share among us the 1,500-year-old Benedictine life of prayer, hospitality, justice and care for the earth?! We are eager for other women to join us.
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