I was born and raised in Minnesota, but upon graduation I was eager to see the world and set out for the West Coast, taking a position as a medical technician in Portland Oregon. From there I moved to several other jobs in various parts of the country, making my way eventually to Berkeley, California. There one of my friends entered the Carmelite monastery. This friend suggested that I, too, might have a contemplative vocation and I began to explore the possibilities.
On a retreat at nearby Vallombrosa I made a visit to this monastery and listened to the superior tell about Dominican contemplative life. What she told me resonated with the call I was experiencing and I felt that I had found my place in the heart of the Church.
At that visit I met the future Sister Mary St. Joseph who would one day be my companion in the novitiate. We became part of a large group of novices and look forward to celebrating our Golden Jubilee together. Although I had no previous experience of monastic life, my intuition served me well. There were no real surprises. Life in the monastery was all that I had hoped for and I was not disappointed in any respect.
The best part of Dominican monastic life for me is the time alone for private prayer and contemplation.