From Associate Adorer to Vowed Sister By Sr. Trish McConnell, ASC I’m now old enough to belong to the Red Hat Society. I’m also old enough to have worn hats of many colors in my life: “Grandma Trish,” “medical transcriptionist,” “music director,” “pastoral associate.” One of my favorite “hats”? “Adorer of the Blood of Christ”! For me, being an ASC (Adorer of the Blood of Christ) is a deeply meaningful, treasured way of life, my deeply felt response to God’s call to holiness (wholeness). How grateful I am for my call to religious life! In 1989, as a new convert to the Catholic faith, I met my first Adorers, Sr. Paulette and Sr. Ursula. One day, they invited me to become an Associate Adorer. Thrilled by the invitation, the more I learned about the adoring, redeeming love of Jesus and St. Maria, the more strength and hope I gained. I joined an Associate Covenant Community at Corpus Christ parish in Oklahoma City, led by Sr. Elizabeth. Upon reading Mother Clementine Zerr’s [first American superior’s] words, “Heaven will be worth it all,” I wanted to make the second half of my life really count. The dream of religious life never faded during my personal discernment so I contacted the Vocation Office, thinking they’d surely decline me due to my age and life experience. Instead, Sr. Diana said, “Let’s talk!” I entered the novitiate in August, 2002, and professed first vows on September 25, 2004. Every day is a gift of celebrating the fullness of life promised by Jesus. I am so grateful and so blessed to share life in this vocation, though I continue to enjoy being a mother and grandmother as well. Every baptized person has a vocation – to follow Jesus. I consider being an Associate was my apprenticeship as an Adorer. The Associate program planted the seed and opened the door for me to hear the call to “something more,” a call to religious life when the time was right. For me, that was after my children were grown. All I know is that if we just follow Jesus in the footsteps of St. Maria, living out of a prayerful stance that is grounded in Scripture, we will fulfill our personal vocations, and the Spirit will put us in the right place at the right time. The best thing any Adorer can do to promote vocations is to simply live his/her own baptismal call, trusting all to the love of Jesus! Sister Trish ministers at Villa Maria in Mulvane, KS, an ASC sponsored nursing home practicing resident-centered care where she serves residents, families and staff as a Life Enrichment Coach.
US Mission Center, 4233 Sulphur Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109, 877-272-1870 Vocation Office, 1400 South Sheridan Rd., Wichita, KS 67213 - Telephone: 877-ADORERS (877-236-7377)(Copyright 2005 Adorers of the Blood of Christ)
