WELCOME

This afternoon, Kelly Smock entered our congregation. Kelly is a young woman who has been an associate of our congregation for six years, therefore she is no stranger to our sisters. She has lived our charism and has brought it to those with whom she works. As has been our tradition, we held the service at the house where she will be living during her Pre-Novitiate stage. Leadership, a few friends, her family, and formation personnel were present. It was a joyous occasion for all of us. During the ceremony Kelly was presented with a basket which held welcoming notes from many of our sisters in the community. I will continue walking with Kelly during this stage of formation.
Kelly is the first young woman I have had the pleasure to journey with through the Pre-Entrance stage of formation. Sometimes it seemed as if everything took so long, however, it was worth it. The day finally came.

It is a blessing when new people come to a community. They bring gifts to share, enthusiasm, and a willingness to serve God. When a new person enters it changes the whole community. I look around at all the women in our congregation and know that each one of us makes a difference in her own way. I cannot imagine the community without any one of them.