Support Kristen's Entrance to Religious Life!

What joy it brings me to announce that I have been received as a candidate with the Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Province out of Justice, Illinois with an entrance date for aspirancy on November 7th, 2023. This initial stage of candidacy over these next three months is a period of spiritual preparation, a physical shoring up of my affairs, and an opportunity to fundraise and overcome the last barrier preventing my full and free entrance into my religious vocation: student loans.

I'm a convert to the faith and was received into full communion with the Church almost six years ago (October 28, 2017 - the feast of Ss. Simon and Jude!). Throughout my life, the Lord has been a good and gracious shepherd, keeping me close to Him and fostering a greater desire to know and love Him more deeply and to offer myself in service to Him and to His Church. Growing up as a Protestant in the Lutheran Church, I found a second home with my church family, who fostered in me a great love for God through His Word and encouraged of me a habit of daily personal prayer. As I prayed about what the Lord could be calling me to after high school, I felt drawn to pursue a ministry and theology degree that would equip me to serve families in and around the church. This time of study allowed me the opportunity to uncover the foundation of my faith which later paved the way for my conversion to Catholicism and discernment of my vocation.

Prior to my conversion to Catholicism and discernment of a religious vocation, I obtained a Bachelor’s in Family Ministry and a Master’s in Nonprofit Administration. Over the last eight years, these degrees have helped me minister to numerous families through parish ministry and service in Christian nonprofits. The gifts of my education and experience will continue to be of use to me, my religious community, and all those I will continue to serve. Under the Dominican charism and through the apostolates I will continue using my gifts and education in providing aid to the suffering, participating in the spiritual and human growth of students through education, as well as offering catechesis and service to all on parish and Diocesan levels.

While every religious institution and community is grateful for the knowledge and education that we as individuals bring with us, the cost of our education is typically more than can be absorbed by the community, whose vows call us as individuals to greater freedom through chastity, poverty, and obedience. In God’s providence, through your prayers and support, you become an integral piece to the mission in which God is calling me. Your generosity helps to further God’s mission beyond what each of our independent efforts could normally reach.

Would you consider supporting me prayerfully and financially as I make these final preparations for entrance?

Ways to Give Now:

Donations through this Go Fund Me: No gift is too small! Every gift helps me to inch that much closer to my goal and supports me in entering freely into the fullness of my vocation. Whether you can give $5, $10, $25, or more, you are helping to remove the obstacle of these student loans one gift at a time.

Benefactor of the Day: Is there a special date, birthday, anniversary, confirmation date, feast day, etc that you’d like to honor? Choose a day that is meaningful to you and sponsor the day as a benefactor! The sponsored amount correlates to what day of the year is. For example, February 2 is the 33rd day of 365 days, so the sponsor amount is $33. April 29th is the 119th day of 365 days and is $119, and so on and so forth. On your sponsored day, I commit to pray for you and all your intentions for the rest of my life. You can name your sponsored date(s) and intentions when you donate through this platform in the comment section as you checkout or can email me your sponsored date(s) and intentions at [email redacted].

Additional ways to give and offer support:

Tax-Exempt Financial Gifts: Tax-exempt gifts can be made to the Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Province with a notation that the gift is designated for payment toward Kristen Chenoweth’s student loans. This can be a one-time gift or can be set up online as a monthly gift. The sisters are happy to provide you with a donation receipt for your personal records!

Support My Etsy Shop: Support my vocation through purchases made through my Etsy shop containing decade rosaries, sacrifice beads, and other Catholic gifts under the shop titled: MightyMomentCreation. I hoping to add some downloadable prints and liturgical living items to the shop over the next couple of weeks! :)

Thank you for your prayers and for your consideration in supporting me financially as I make the final preparations before entrance in a few short months! May the Lord continue to bless you and draw you ever closer to Himself!

Yours in Christ,

Kristen Chenoweth