Sister Laurie Sullivan, born in Lake Linden, a small village located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, professed her final vows as a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration on September 12, 2020 with her loving family and friends joining the celebration via Zoom. After living in Michigan for over 45 years, Sister Laurie thought that is where she would spend the rest of her life, but God had other plans for her. Holding a Certificate in Pastoral Studies
and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Sister Laurie currently ministers as an Office Manager at Marywood Franciscan Spirituality Center located in Arbor Vitae, Wisconsin.
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Sister Laurie's Michigan upbringing now places her in harmony with her love of God and the beauty of Wisconsin's Northwoods. When asked how she responds to the cries of the Earth and the cries of the poor in her ministry, she expressed "My spirit and heart have always been drawn to the marginalized and the poor, and they have both taught me a lot. I live simply so that both the Earth and the poor may live. I am conscious of how my day to day choices affect both and I always try to do no harm." For Sister Laurie, being a Catholic sister during this time in church history means "being a voice, as well as a presence, to those on the margins, even those to whom the church itself may have overlooked or ignored." "As Sisters, we assist people in learning to discern and accept the will of a loving and merciful God. Relying on God, Mary and our founders, we seek to follow Jesus' footsteps." |
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"Our vows have formed us into countercultural disciples. Hope is the foundation and fuel of this life. As people of prayer and service, we willingly go into dire circumstances and insist that God's goodness will be triumphant — all situations have potential. It may seem foolish, but that's the point. The hope we have is for realities beyond what may be obvious to others. We don't give up on anyone or any situation. We insist that evil never gets to have the last word. Our actions, attitudes and prayer life anticipate the arrival of the reign of God,"
Religious life is a life of hope! Will you join us?
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Messy Jesus Business Blog & Podcast |
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"I've been thinking a lot about my devotion to the Holy Spirit. As a vowed Franciscan Sister, I publicly committed to obeying the Spirit's nudges, whispers, pulls and invitations. This means I am committed to living life according to God's will, not my own. Like it or not, God's way is always better than my way.
I can reflect back on my life and see the patterns: the Spirit summons me to do something strange and I begin to feel consumed by the sense that I must obey. I trust and try: I pivot my life and start doing something new and drastic, something that surprises me along with everyone else. This is how I transferred colleges, how I became a Franciscan Sister, how I switched from teaching high school to ministering in spirituality, how I started writing and podcasting."
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Upcoming Events for Discerning Women |
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Friday Virtual Adoration and Mass
Every Friday | 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. CT via Zoom
Discerning women are invited to join FSPA for virtual adoration live from the Adoration Chapel located inside St. Rose Convent in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Virtual adoration will pause at 11 a.m. and Mass will stream live from Mary of the Angels Chapel. Virtual adoration will resume again after Mass.
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Unveiling Religious Life Panel Discussion
Saturday, Jan. 8, 2021 | 12 p.m. CT via Zoom
All are welcome to join us for the final of three Unveiling Religious Life Panel Discussions. Session three, "What's Next," will feature panelists from a variety of women's and men's religious orders that will discuss finding support in discernment.
This initiative is open to undergraduate students or recent college graduates who are open to exploring religious/consecrated life, but have not yet established a formal connection with a particular religious order.
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Praying with Clare
Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022 | 9 a.m. - noon CT via Zoom
Clare of Assisi is not only the co-founder of the Franciscan movement but a spiritual teacher in her own right. What do St. Clare's words of wisdom mean for us today personally? We will look at her life and her gifts as a woman to Franciscanism. Also, we will dive contemplatively into some of her writings, particularly her letters to Agnes of Prague. Clare's unique contributions have sometimes been overlooked, and so we will uncover her particular perspective through prayer, presentation and discussion.
All FSPA discerners are invited to join Sister Sarah Hennessy for this evening of prayer and exploration hosted by the Franciscan Spirituality Center.
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Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration | Formation | 888-683-3772 | discerning@fspa.org
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