You have been associated with the Missionary Sisters for a number of years, first as a Cabrini Mission Corps missioner living in community with the Sisters, and now as a Campus Minister working at Mother Cabrini High School. When you were initially considering a volunteer experience what drew you to Cabrini Mission Corps and the Missionary Sisters?

The first time I encountered a fellow Cabrinian, the Director of Cabrini Mission Corps, I received such great warmth and encouragement. At the time I had little knowledge of the Cabrini Charism, especially the aspect of hospitality, but in reflecting back to my days of discerning volunteer opportunities, the hospitality shown to me surely won me over and was my sign of God drawing me to Cabrini. I also knew in my heart that I wanted an experience of community, living with sisters, and an opportunity to work with teens. Cabrini Mission Corps offered me both, which was further affirmation that this was the place for me.

What have you learned about community, prayer and mission as a result of your time with the MSCs?
The intense feeling of gratitude surrounding what I learned about these three areas is challenging to convey in written form. When I came to Cabrini, my faith was a companion on my life journey; now I feel as though my faith is no longer companioning with me, but is woven into my being. Community taught me how to give of myself, beyond what I thought I was capable of. I have a regular prayer life, in season with the liturgical life of the Church, and more attuned to God’s promptings and gifts. And I have learned the gift of serving others for a cause bigger than me. All of these have led to a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. It is hard to imagine how I survived before being led to this place on my journey!

How have your Cabrini experiences deepened your relationship with God and God's people?
Simply by teaching me that my life is for God and from God. I am so much more aware of God’s presence in my life….from God’s gifts given to me, to God’s challenge to give back to others. Before coming to Cabrini, I knew my heart longed for something; however, I was unaware of what that longing actually was. My Cabrini experience helped me realize that my longing was exactly this….to serve God by serving others. What an amazing feeling to finally align one’s life with a burning desire. I believe everyone should be bold and not settle for anything less than this!

How do you continue to discern the call of God in your life?
I continue to discern God’s call for me by trying to trust more deeply and by being true to my internal voice and desires in my heart. I have a tendency to rely heavily on external voices, so this new challenge of listening more to the internal me is a major shift in my discernment journey. Finding my internal voice has been a recent source of greater joy and peace that others have noticed and this gives me encouragement to trust further in God’s guiding hands.

What advice would you have for young people who are seeking their particular path in life?
Find what fills you with joy, so much so that when you are doing it, you lose track of time, and then settle for nothing less than that! God has amazing plans for each one of us. Is it not worth the risk to wait and enjoy His journey, versus settling less for what others tell us we should be doing? Pray. Pray, pray and surround yourself with love and friends who will support you on this challenging journey. Pray, pray, pray! Money, fame, riches, cars, houses, Ipods, and everything else in this world tells you they will fill you, but these are nothing compared to how God can fill you. Pray, pray, pray!

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