Mary Connor

As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a sister. I grew up on the southside of Chicago in a large Catholic family. There were aunts and cousins that were sisters and often I would see the sister from the Catholic school when we did some shopping in our neighborhood. I knew I wanted to be one of them before I had any understanding of what that even meant. I didn’t know about different ministries, or the variety of communities. The happiness and dedication and the desire to follow Jesus was strong. At least for my early years!

I went to a Catholic college and when it was time to graduate I didn’t feel quite ready. My father died when I was five and my mother was left to raise five children. I was the oldest. Perhaps homesickness held me back. After my graduation, I did social work with the Department of Public Aid in the city for several years. This was a time of learning for me. I met women my own age who had families that they were supporting on small incomes and often with serious disabilities. There were other individuals who were unemployed, losing homes because of financial problems. There were also the elderly who faced multiple challenges. The work was beyond me and the only thing I could do was turn increasingly to the Lord in prayer. I prayed for those I met each day but I also prayed that God would show me how I could help alleviate some of the pain that I saw all around me. One winter I decided to come south, visit a friend at the monastery, and spend some time discerning where God was leading me in all of this. I was in the chapel one cold and snowy day and the answer seemed so clear, God was calling me to serve the poor in a life of prayer as a Poor Clare. At first, I felt that I must have “heard wrong” but after talking to my spiritual director and others who knew me, it did seem that this could be a genuine call. I asked the community if I could return and make a vocation discernment visit. I came back Easter week of that year and on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, I entered the community as a postulant. Six years later, I professed my solemn vows.

Easter week of 2004, I celebrated twenty five years of religious life. As I look back on these years, I am grateful for all of God’s gifts. Each day I have the opportunity to praise God as we gather to worship at Eucharist and throughout the day at the Liturgy of the Hours. There have been opportunities to learn more about Scripture, Franciscan spirituality, Liturgy, Theology, even art. I have sisters to share my life and who enrich me by their faith filled lives. I have had the grace of working: helping in the yard, helping with the maintenance of the building, cooking, cleaning, library work, and sacristan. I have learned to see more of the beauty in nature and in all of God’s people. I can say with St. Clare, “God has blessed me with a tender love, blessed be God for creating me.”