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Help Zoe Enter the Convent

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"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it." - Matthew 13:46

It is with a full heart that I tell you I have been accepted for entrance into the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist! I will be entering on August 28th, the feast of St. Augustine. This community of sisters has been a part of my life for many years, and I am so excited to fully live the beauty of religious life with them. 

My story is really just a story of Christ's love that never gives up.  I was born and raised Catholic, went to St. Ann School and St. Ambrose Academy, said my prayers and had a picture of Jesus in my room. But I didn't always understand what it meant to love  God. Spending time as a high-schooler in front of the Eucharist, I started to see that love means sacrifice and self-gift. I was so ready to give everything for Love, to gain that pearl of great price, and I began to seriously discern religious life as a way to radically follow my call to love. I lived and discerned with the Dominican Sisters after I graduated from high school, but the Lord was calling me back to the world to continue to learn what it means to love with my whole heart.

The Christian life is nothing if not an adventure, and I spent the next 4 years going to school, working in an office, and learning how to love my family, my coworkers, and my faith. I was still restless, however, and it seemed that God was calling me on to a bigger love. Then I discovered Maggie's Place, a nonprofit that provides houses of hospitality for pregnant and parenting women. I have spent the past 2 years learning how to love fiercely alongside these women who the world has deemed unworthy of love or incapable of giving it. But that couldn't be further from the truth! The beautiful women of Maggie's Place have taught me truly what it means to give all that you have in the name of love. Love was not going to give up on me, but in the quiet of my heart I knew that there was still more that He was calling me to give.

Amidst all the chaos of life in the world, Christ has been calling me to continue to learn what it means to love and to now learn how to love him in the religious life. Christ has been standing in front of me my whole life, with His arms open wide and endless love in His Heart; I want to live my whole life surrounded by that love! 

Religious Life 101 - If you have never met a sister, or don't know how religious life 'works', this ones for you!

Discernment for religious life begins in earnest after entrance. The first 3 years of living in the convent are called Formation, and are all about continuing to grow in relationship with God and in understanding of His call. The first year is postulancy, where I will be called "Sr. Zoe", and will wear a simple blue and white outfit. The next 2 years are spent as a novice, learning about the vows and the community. As a novice I will receive a new name to symbolize taking on this new life, and will wear the white habit of the Dominicans. After 3 years of formation I will, God willing, make first vows, and pledge to live poverty, chastity and obedience for 2 years then renew the vows for 3 more years. Finally, after 8 years I will make final vows and dedicate my life to God for all eternity!

As a religious sister, the primary focus of life is communion with God. The sisters spend many hours a day in the chapel, praying the Liturgy of the Hours, the rosary, and the Mass together and sitting in silent meditation. In addition to the contemplative life of prayer, the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist are also teachers. They work all over the US (and Rome), teaching and preaching Truth!

You may not know, but there are some costs associated with entering a religious community. In addition to being debt-free (as I won't have money in the convent to make loan payments) I also need to bring funds to help the sisters cover my living expenses for the 3 years until first vows. Below is a general breakdown of what the money raised will cover.

Costs:
$6,200 - Student Loans
$1,500 - to help cover living expenses for 3 years in the convent
$800 - materials/items needed for entrance (shoes, clothing, aprons, bedding, books, etc.)

If you feel moved to help me in my pursuit of this vocation, I thank you from the bottom of my heart! If you aren't able to help financially, I would love your prayers for myself and all young women who are discerning religious life.

May the Lord bless you!
- Zoe

Donations 

  • Jaedeniah Martz
    • $500
    • 6 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $40 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $20 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $50 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $400 (Offline)
    • 6 yrs

Organizer

Zoe Apel
Organizer
Stoughton, WI

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