1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: Welcome. You are now listening to the Professional Professional. Hey, 2 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,360 Speaker 1: Professional home Girls is the kid of a name from 3 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: the PSD podcast, the only place where you would hear 4 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,320 Speaker 1: interviews from black women an honestly on stories that will 5 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:48,320 Speaker 1: enlightened and expand on taboo topics. Now, if you hear 6 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: someone that sounds familiar, mind the business that pays you child. 7 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: If you like the PhD podcast, please rate, review and 8 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 1: subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Please five star reviews only. Hold 9 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: me Down, Don't Hold me Up. Merch is now available 10 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: on the site as well as my book list, so 11 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: please make sure you visit the link in the show 12 00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: notes below. You can connect with the kid on Instagram 13 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: at the Professional home Girl and at the PSD podcast. 14 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 1: If you are on Twitter, please follow me at the 15 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:17,400 Speaker 1: PhD podcast now. If you are all caught up with episode, 16 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 1: listen to the bonus episodes by supporting the PSD podcast 17 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: Patreon account. To support, please visit www dot Patreon dot com. 18 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:29,559 Speaker 1: Forward slash the PSD podcast now. Please keep in mind 19 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:31,679 Speaker 1: that all of my guests are nonness, so listen again 20 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:34,760 Speaker 1: this week's episode. So I am super excited to speak 21 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:38,399 Speaker 1: with my guests today on her journey on becoming a nun. 22 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: So to my guests, how are you doing? I'm doing well, 23 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:44,600 Speaker 1: thank you. How are you all as well? I'm like 24 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 1: super excited to speak to you. I never spoke to 25 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: a number for that friend. So since you are a 26 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: woman of faith, I'm gonna make sure I watch my vocabulary. Hey, 27 00:01:55,600 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: you be you one and you too, so thank you. 28 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: So before we begin, it's just start. None the same 29 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 1: thing doesn't mean the same thing. It's actually not. So 30 00:02:08,240 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: a lot of people, including sisters and nuns, use that 31 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:16,920 Speaker 1: word interchangeably, but sisters are more like um, so it's similar. 32 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,480 Speaker 1: So we all, like sisters and nuns, make vows and 33 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: dedicate their lives to God into service and prayer, and 34 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: typically we live in community with each other. But sisters 35 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:30,959 Speaker 1: have like a ministry where they will go out. Maybe 36 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: they teach, or they are social workers, or they work 37 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,639 Speaker 1: in a hospital. But nuns normally do not, so they 38 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:42,119 Speaker 1: would live only at the monastery and work at the monastery. Um. 39 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: And so you really actually wouldn't normally see nuns. So 40 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:50,079 Speaker 1: what do you prefer to go by? Um? Sister would 41 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: be the more accurate term. Yeah, okay, perfect. So there 42 00:02:56,200 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: are some roles and responsibilities that you have to do 43 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: on a daily basis, because I feel like we just 44 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: think that you just party all day. A lot of 45 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:07,960 Speaker 1: people think that. And actually that's when when I will 46 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: go around and talk with schools or churches, a lot 47 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: of people will be like, so what do you even 48 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 1: do all day? Um? Yeah, So my my ministry is 49 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:20,360 Speaker 1: considered like it's for the community. So I do a 50 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: lot of like education on behalf of the community. So 51 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 1: I will I do a lot of traveling. Um right now, 52 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: I'm in an airport, so uh um And like I 53 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: visit with different groups, different anyone who wants to learn 54 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: more about sisters or nuns or religious life and and 55 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: what it is we do and um how we got here, 56 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 1: what our journey is like and uh so like school 57 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: groups or church groups or just groups of individuals who 58 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 1: want to know more, um and normal, Like I don't 59 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 1: really get paid for that. Sometimes I get a stipend, 60 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: sometimes I don't. Sometimes they can pay for the travel, 61 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: sometimes they can't. Um. So the community supports me a 62 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 1: lot in that, but um so, And that's but it's 63 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: because it's something our community believes in. It's like sharing 64 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: who we are and what we do, and so they 65 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: support me on that and um, yeah, but then I 66 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 1: do pray during the day as well. Um. That kind 67 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 1: of depends every day what my prayer life looks like. 68 00:04:21,760 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: But on a regular basis, it's, Um, we pray in 69 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: the morning together, and then we'll go to Mass or 70 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 1: like church services together, and then in the evening pray 71 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 1: again together. Um. And depending on our ministry, sometimes we 72 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 1: eat every mail together or maybe we'll only eat like 73 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 1: in the evenings together. Um. And then we will sometimes 74 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 1: have like do something together, maybe watch a movie at home, 75 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:48,159 Speaker 1: or we'll go out to the movies, or we'll go 76 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: out and get ice cream, or we'll make our own 77 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,160 Speaker 1: ice cream Sundays at home something like that, just to 78 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:57,479 Speaker 1: also like engage with one another on another level, um, 79 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 1: in both just like the fun and the spiritual life 80 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:03,720 Speaker 1: and all the things. Yeah, because I feel like people 81 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:09,840 Speaker 1: think that sisters and nuns you can't do anything right 82 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: religious lifestyle, right, Yeah, And and that is some communities. 83 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 1: So maybe like some communities of nuns, they don't they're 84 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: not allowed to go out and see movies. But like 85 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: when you're um starting this journey, like you learn about 86 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,480 Speaker 1: those things, you learn what kind of communities are out 87 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:31,719 Speaker 1: there and you learn what would be a good fit 88 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,720 Speaker 1: or not. And so I knew that I loved being 89 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,239 Speaker 1: out and about I love being with people, but also 90 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 1: wanted to dedicate my time in my life to God. 91 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 1: And so this was a way to still be me 92 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:48,120 Speaker 1: and still have a very dedicated and intentional prayer life 93 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 1: and life of service. Yeah, we gotta get into anywhere 94 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:03,360 Speaker 1: to talk to welly, So do you feel like there's 95 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 1: any miscams? I mean, obviously, but what are some other 96 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: misconceptions about being the sister? Um? Sometimes people think that 97 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 1: we all like we all have to wear the same pajamas, um, 98 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: and things like that we all wear the same kind 99 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 1: of issues. But that also and maybe like maybe there 100 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: are still some communities that do that, but a lot 101 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 1: of us do not. Like even nuns can wear whatever, 102 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:32,760 Speaker 1: you know, pajamas or shoes that work. But um, another 103 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 1: one I would say is that like we're all old. Yeah, yeah, 104 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:41,680 Speaker 1: we're all old, and we're all white and I am not. 105 00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: So listen, was about to take you literally took the 106 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 1: words of my mouth, and we all talk about speak 107 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: on that later. Because a lot of people think that 108 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: sisters or in or nuns are white, and I'm like, no, 109 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:56,480 Speaker 1: the history of we're black women in this re licial 110 00:06:56,520 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: lifestyle is like amazing, which I didn't know nothing about, right, Yeah, 111 00:07:01,720 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 1: it is incredible. It's an incredible history, and I just 112 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 1: like I feel really blessed to be a part of 113 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: that legacy. Yeah, for sure, I feel like they passed 114 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:13,240 Speaker 1: the Bretons to you, because yeah, that's what it feels like, 115 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: like they helped pave the way. Yeah, climb this. So 116 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 1: I'm becoming or does it depend on what order you join? Um? Yeah, 117 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 1: like a lot of them are basically the same. It 118 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: does depend on what order you join, um, But pretty 119 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 1: much like you would come not with a lot um. 120 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: So like I mean, I didn't own a car, but 121 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:40,360 Speaker 1: my dad had bought a car for me, so I 122 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 1: didn't come with it. I let my dad keep it. 123 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 1: And then um, like I didn't come with furniture and stuff. 124 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: I couldn't have any sort of debt um And yeah, 125 00:07:51,520 --> 00:07:54,680 Speaker 1: and that's actually like that's every community. You can't really 126 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,120 Speaker 1: enter unless all of your debts are paid off. So 127 00:07:57,240 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 1: that could be like student loans or you know, like 128 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:06,400 Speaker 1: car payments and things like that. Why it Um, that's Actually, 129 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: that's a really good question, and everyone asked that every 130 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: Because I didn't have a lot of students debt, I 131 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 1: was able to get scholarships and so I paid everything 132 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: off easily. But um, I think that might be because 133 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:23,240 Speaker 1: they don't want the financial responsibility to land on the community, 134 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: so and they want for for women who join to 135 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 1: be able to take care of things that they have 136 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:33,679 Speaker 1: taken on for themselves. Maybe that they would show a 137 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: sense of responsibility, like with with the things that they've pursued. 138 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: But at the same time, there are programs for women 139 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: who want to enter religious life and who do have 140 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: a significant amount of debt, and there are programs that 141 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: help women to pay off those those debts so that 142 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 1: they can enter. And it's not always a percent of it, 143 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:53,679 Speaker 1: but sometimes maybe it's a portion of it. And then 144 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:57,280 Speaker 1: the community promised to give a portion of it. So, um, yeah, 145 00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: different sorts of ways to like work. They say, oh, well, 146 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:13,439 Speaker 1: too bad for you, right next time. Imagine come back 147 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:19,079 Speaker 1: in ten years when it's all gone right and you 148 00:09:20,400 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: can have children. But you can have children at a 149 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: certain age just depending on you. Yes, why you did 150 00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: your research, Yes I did. This is an important interview 151 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 1: because I am like I'm telling you, I really did 152 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 1: my research on just black women and um the Catholic 153 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:39,079 Speaker 1: lifestyle because I didn't see or hear anything about this 154 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 1: growing up or even so now until I saw you. Yes, yeah, 155 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: so you are correct? Is that? Um? So you can 156 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: a woman can have children, but she like they have 157 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 1: to be at least eighteen but also preferably UM independent, 158 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:00,920 Speaker 1: that they're able to live on their own and like 159 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:03,839 Speaker 1: take care of their own selves. Because again, like the 160 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: community can't step up and be like, oh, we'll take 161 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: care of your children, you know when you come into community, 162 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:12,400 Speaker 1: but to make sure that um, as a mother, you've 163 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 1: done what you need to do and that your child 164 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 1: or children are able to care for themselves. And then yeah, 165 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 1: so uh there are women in community or in the 166 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: convent who are mothers and grandmothers um. And again depends 167 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 1: on what community you join, but it's not like they're 168 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: cut off from their children or grandchildren. Like there is 169 00:10:32,520 --> 00:10:36,040 Speaker 1: a lot of room and flexibility for visiting and keeping 170 00:10:36,080 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: in touch before a journey. Who are you before? Who 171 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:49,839 Speaker 1: was I before? I know you like it? Well you 172 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 1: I don't know if you like hip hop now, but 173 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 1: I know you used to dance the hipps. I'm like, okay, yeah, 174 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:59,599 Speaker 1: I still love to dance. Um. But yeah, before I 175 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 1: was well, I was a college student. I um studied 176 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: and obtained my degree in secondary education. I was a 177 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:15,199 Speaker 1: semi professional dancer. Um I was. Yeah, I was just 178 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: enjoying my young adult life and um like I wasn't 179 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,440 Speaker 1: having you know, it wasn't like I had some sort 180 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 1: of existential crisis or awakening and was like I need 181 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 1: to change my ways. It was just like, you know what, 182 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: there's some deeper meaning to life, and and it feels 183 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:36,839 Speaker 1: like this might be where I'll find that. Um hm. 184 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 1: So all some of the events that led up to 185 00:11:39,840 --> 00:11:44,839 Speaker 1: you wanted to start this journey, um, well, one was 186 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:48,640 Speaker 1: being able to I met and got like with you 187 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 1: was like wow, I never ever spoke with a sister 188 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 1: or met a sister. And that was part of it. 189 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:55,559 Speaker 1: Is when I was in high school, I got to 190 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 1: know some nuns and so they were nuns because they 191 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,319 Speaker 1: were cloistered means that they didn't leave their monastery and 192 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 1: really only one of them was allowed to like interact 193 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:09,640 Speaker 1: with visitors. Um. And then I met some sisters on 194 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:14,559 Speaker 1: a like a religious trip and it was at that 195 00:12:14,760 --> 00:12:16,599 Speaker 1: point that it was like when I got to know 196 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: them and too, because they weren't cloistered and so they 197 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 1: were able to go out and do things and be 198 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:23,959 Speaker 1: involved in the community around them, that it was like, 199 00:12:24,320 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: maybe that's something I would want to do. You know, 200 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 1: is um be like that and still be connected, but 201 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 1: at a level that is of service and not um 202 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 1: not just like you know, hanging out with people, but 203 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 1: hanging out and getting to know and support people. Mm 204 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:46,439 Speaker 1: hm m hm. So when did you decided you want 205 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: to move forward with it? Um? Pretty much when I 206 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:54,959 Speaker 1: finished college. I it was like the right time to 207 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: just start thinking about what I wanted for my future 208 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: and um, what I wanted to do with my life, 209 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:05,720 Speaker 1: and I was dating, but I also just again felt 210 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:09,599 Speaker 1: like this just seems so meaningful, and I just I 211 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 1: also just wanted to know. I was like, I want 212 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: to know if this is for me or not, and 213 00:13:15,679 --> 00:13:17,719 Speaker 1: maybe one day I'll get married, but I'll have to 214 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 1: make like I want to make sure first. I want 215 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: to give this a chance. I don't want to just 216 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:28,720 Speaker 1: say like, well, you know, I just keep dating. But UM, yeah, yeah, 217 00:13:28,840 --> 00:13:31,439 Speaker 1: it did feel it was like I thought that just 218 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: wouldn't go away, like it just kept coming back to me, 219 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:36,839 Speaker 1: and I was like, well, there's got to be a 220 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 1: reason for this. And um, the sisters even like even 221 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:44,520 Speaker 1: just the way they encouraged me to be myself and 222 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:48,319 Speaker 1: to use my gifts and again at a level that 223 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 1: I I really didn't know how to, just like I 224 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:54,720 Speaker 1: never considered before. It's you know, like dance becoming prayer 225 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,200 Speaker 1: and art becoming prayer. And it was like I never 226 00:13:57,280 --> 00:13:59,920 Speaker 1: made those connections, and that is what I want. I 227 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 1: want everything I do to to be connected to God 228 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,640 Speaker 1: and to other people into a deeper place within myself. 229 00:14:07,040 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 1: So why wouldn't I pursue something like this? So I 230 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 1: just went for it. So then you think more about 231 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:16,719 Speaker 1: the process and it stelf because I've read that it 232 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: can last up to like several years, right yeah, so um, 233 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 1: again depends on the community, but it could be at 234 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:29,080 Speaker 1: least six years and up to like twelve years mhm, 235 00:14:29,720 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: So most on average is like nine years. Um. So 236 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 1: the process of the beginning, um, which is like what 237 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 1: I did. I was living at home still and working, 238 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:44,680 Speaker 1: but like staying in touch with the community. So it 239 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:47,080 Speaker 1: was like once a month I would maybe go pray 240 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: with them, or they assigned me a director and she 241 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: and I would talk on a regular basis, you know, 242 00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 1: not like every day, but um, just to see how 243 00:14:54,880 --> 00:14:57,840 Speaker 1: I was doing or if I had any questions. And 244 00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: so that was a year. UM. But that that step 245 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: which is like the just the very beginning of saying 246 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 1: like I'm interested in you, You're thinking it could work 247 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: for me, so let's keep in touch kind of like that, UM, 248 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 1: And that can last up to two years, but for me, UM, 249 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 1: I just felt like one was good. UM. And then 250 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: after that year is when you would move in with 251 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 1: the community and again kind of saying like, okay, I'm 252 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: still interested in you. You're still thinking this could be 253 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 1: a good fit for me, so let's you know, keep 254 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 1: getting to know each other. And so during that year, UM, 255 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 1: I learned a lot about the history of the community, 256 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:39,320 Speaker 1: the different saints that are associated with the community, and 257 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: got to meet a lot of sisters around uh the 258 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:45,800 Speaker 1: country and see what they did, what kind of ministries 259 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:49,160 Speaker 1: they had, UM, maybe ministries that they had started or 260 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 1: just ministries that they were involved in. And then after 261 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 1: that year, which again that one also could last up 262 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: to two years. But mostly it's just a year, um, 263 00:15:58,520 --> 00:16:01,280 Speaker 1: and I feel like he wasn't playing. Yeah yeah. I 264 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 1: was like, yeah, exactly, you know all I need in 265 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 1: a year, we're gonna go to the neck. Yeah so 266 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:20,520 Speaker 1: because I'm ready, Yeah, I don't need twelve years. Yeah yeah. So. 267 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: Um then after that I moved to another location and 268 00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 1: um then that like those next years because that was 269 00:16:31,120 --> 00:16:33,720 Speaker 1: too and like everyone does too pretty much, no matter 270 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:36,560 Speaker 1: what of this phase, and this phase was more of 271 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: a spiritual level, so it was getting to know like 272 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 1: the prayer life of the community and the spirituality of 273 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 1: the community, and getting even to know your own prayer 274 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: life and prayer rhythm and prayer preferences like you know, 275 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,120 Speaker 1: some people like a very scheduled, regular prayer day and 276 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 1: other people like myself, needs something a little bit more 277 00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:05,359 Speaker 1: fluid and flexible. And the life routine yeah, which is 278 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 1: so funny because I thought, I was like, oh, I'll 279 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:09,680 Speaker 1: enter and routine will be great. It will help me 280 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:12,760 Speaker 1: stay focused. And then I was like, no, this is terrible, 281 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 1: but you know, I chose it, and then there was 282 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:18,960 Speaker 1: like space for me to find my own rhythm within 283 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:23,800 Speaker 1: the routine too. Um So yeah. So we spent two 284 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:28,639 Speaker 1: years mostly focused on our prayer, life, cultivating um, quiet 285 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 1: time and you know, like learning to be comfortable with 286 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 1: quiet and and staying still. And after those two years 287 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:42,640 Speaker 1: is when a woman would make what's called like fine 288 00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 1: or first vows. And first vows just means that for 289 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:49,440 Speaker 1: the first time, she's professing the vows of poverty, chastity, 290 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:53,920 Speaker 1: and obedience, which almost every religious community professes, but some 291 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 1: like maybe add a vow, UM, but those are like 292 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:01,920 Speaker 1: the three everyone and and then and that's when she 293 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:06,240 Speaker 1: would like go out and live in a convent like 294 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 1: and and do some sort of full time industry for 295 00:18:08,560 --> 00:18:14,320 Speaker 1: the first time as a sister. UM. And so I 296 00:18:14,720 --> 00:18:16,440 Speaker 1: was I mean, I like I said, I'd gotten my 297 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:20,040 Speaker 1: degree in secondary education, so I went into teaching UM. 298 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:24,680 Speaker 1: And I think people don't realize how and especially because 299 00:18:24,720 --> 00:18:28,080 Speaker 1: I was younger. I was only like twenty four and 300 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:33,359 Speaker 1: you know, so I hadn't ever I had never been 301 00:18:33,400 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 1: a teacher. I had just gotten my degree, and then 302 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:38,760 Speaker 1: I entered the convent and so I was learning to 303 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:40,920 Speaker 1: be a teacher at the same time that I was 304 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 1: learning to be a sister. And then it was like 305 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:48,359 Speaker 1: and I was young and I was like this, um, 306 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: you know, as a woman of color, and so there 307 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: were a lot of things like people wanted from me 308 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:55,639 Speaker 1: in that school setting because they were like, oh, we 309 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:58,560 Speaker 1: have this sister, and she's young, and she's a woman 310 00:18:58,640 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 1: of color and she and it was just like all 311 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:02,440 Speaker 1: the things. And so that I come to this event, 312 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:04,320 Speaker 1: come to this spounders and to be a part of 313 00:19:04,400 --> 00:19:06,120 Speaker 1: this club and run this and I was like, oh 314 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:10,920 Speaker 1: my gosh, and yeah, and I was just learning to 315 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:14,119 Speaker 1: be a sister and people to everyone else it was like, oh, well, 316 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:16,440 Speaker 1: this is sister, and so it was like to them, 317 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:19,120 Speaker 1: I had been a sister like my whole life. Right, 318 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:22,680 Speaker 1: It's like I'm just taking baby steps here. But um 319 00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 1: but the school I was in, it was like like 320 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 1: God placed me in the perfect environment for me, like 321 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:31,600 Speaker 1: the perfect place for me to grow just even just 322 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:35,640 Speaker 1: as a woman, as a young woman, and um, yeah, 323 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:37,440 Speaker 1: it was just like a safe space for me. And 324 00:19:37,520 --> 00:19:39,920 Speaker 1: it was a safe yeah, like it encouraged me to 325 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:41,920 Speaker 1: make a safe space for my students for them to 326 00:19:42,160 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 1: grow and and love and be themselves. And so yeah, 327 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 1: I was I was very happy to be there. What 328 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: do you feel you learned about yourself doing this process? 329 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:56,840 Speaker 1: Because I felt like I read somewhere where you said 330 00:19:56,920 --> 00:20:01,120 Speaker 1: that you had to work on a few rough patches. Okay, yeah, 331 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:03,920 Speaker 1: Well I think one of them was the routine piece 332 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 1: is um because especially once I got into teaching, because 333 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 1: not only was my life in the convent structured, but 334 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:15,159 Speaker 1: then so was my daily life in ministry, and so 335 00:20:15,240 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: it was like everything was on a schedule, and I 336 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 1: didn't have the like when I was in that two 337 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:24,240 Speaker 1: years of developing my spirituality in my prayer life, which 338 00:20:24,320 --> 00:20:27,040 Speaker 1: we call the novitiate. So two years and the novitiate, 339 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 1: I was not in the ministry, so I didn't have 340 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:32,159 Speaker 1: that space all filled up throughout the day so I 341 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: could find my own rhythm for prayer. And you know, 342 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: but then it was like every day from six thirty 343 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:44,159 Speaker 1: in the morning until like five thirty in the evening, 344 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:47,000 Speaker 1: my day was all decided for me and it was 345 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: all structured. And I was like, no, but I think 346 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 1: that was that was the hardest and so I UM, 347 00:20:57,040 --> 00:21:01,040 Speaker 1: after a handful of years in education, and I was like, 348 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:03,479 Speaker 1: I can't, I can't do this. I needed I need 349 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 1: to do some other sort of ministry. I loved that school, 350 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:10,400 Speaker 1: I love my students, but I and I still wanted 351 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:13,440 Speaker 1: to work with young people, but I couldn't do it 352 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:16,520 Speaker 1: in that capacity anymore. And so I was grateful because 353 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:20,400 Speaker 1: my community heard that, and so we found a ministry 354 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:23,240 Speaker 1: that was a little bit more tailored to me and 355 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:27,120 Speaker 1: what what my passions were and what my gifts were. Um, 356 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 1: and that, yeah, that was a gift too for my 357 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:32,800 Speaker 1: community to be able to say, Okay, well this isn't working. 358 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:35,120 Speaker 1: What can we do instead not just be like, well 359 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 1: deal with it or you know what, we'll just movie 360 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: to the school or you know, but that they would 361 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: hear me and an act of m your final vows, 362 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:50,119 Speaker 1: how did you feel? Well, It's funny because at first 363 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:55,960 Speaker 1: I was like, well, it's just another ceremony, because every 364 00:21:56,920 --> 00:21:59,159 Speaker 1: every well, and that's like the rest of the process. 365 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 1: So after you make first vows, then you repeat like 366 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: every year you would renew those vows or like you 367 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 1: would say, you know what, this isn't for me after all, 368 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 1: and I'm going to pursue something else and then you 369 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:14,200 Speaker 1: can leave. But if you continue, then every year for 370 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:17,800 Speaker 1: at least three years, but up to six years, you 371 00:22:17,880 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: renew your vows until you make final bows. And so 372 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 1: that's why I was but you you ben leave the 373 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 1: religious lifestyle in time that you feel Yeah, any time 374 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:34,119 Speaker 1: in the process you can say, you know what, I 375 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 1: don't think this is for me after all, and you know, 376 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:41,200 Speaker 1: like and you would be in conversation with like the leadership, um, 377 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:43,680 Speaker 1: and you would have you know, maybe a spiritual director, 378 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:47,640 Speaker 1: maybe even a therapist if you felt like that was needed. Um. 379 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:50,080 Speaker 1: And through the course of those conversations in your own prayer, 380 00:22:50,720 --> 00:22:52,440 Speaker 1: if it felt like, you know what, God has drawing 381 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:56,119 Speaker 1: me somewhere else, then yeah, you're free to have the 382 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 1: conversations you need to figure out how to leave and 383 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:04,200 Speaker 1: and pursue different lifestyle, um, which which even happens, so 384 00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:07,119 Speaker 1: like then you make final vows, you can still do that, 385 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:09,879 Speaker 1: but it it takes a little bit more of a 386 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 1: process because then you've made this commitment that's meant to 387 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:17,000 Speaker 1: be for life. But even after even after final vows, 388 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 1: women are allowed to leave religious life. It just yeah, 389 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:24,119 Speaker 1: it's just more it's like more official paperwork and stuff 390 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 1: because of all the official paperwork that happened when you 391 00:23:27,359 --> 00:23:31,639 Speaker 1: made final vows, right, and if you go back you 392 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 1: can actually so if you left like on good terms, um, 393 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:38,520 Speaker 1: and you weren't just like I hate this, you know, 394 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:41,480 Speaker 1: but you just said, you know, I don't think this 395 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:43,719 Speaker 1: is for me, or I think I want to pursue 396 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 1: something else, or you know, something else feels right, and 397 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:49,880 Speaker 1: you leave even after final vows. Let's say like ten 398 00:23:50,000 --> 00:23:52,720 Speaker 1: years later, you're like, actually, you know, I lived the 399 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:54,639 Speaker 1: life that I thought I was called to instead and 400 00:23:54,760 --> 00:23:57,720 Speaker 1: I I've realized or you know, maybe I've matured in 401 00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:00,560 Speaker 1: certain ways. I've realized that religious it was for me 402 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:03,440 Speaker 1: after all. And you can go back to your same community, 403 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:06,160 Speaker 1: or you could even go to a different community. Um. 404 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:08,720 Speaker 1: So it's just I think it's amazing that there are 405 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 1: so many options and that the church offers like this, because, 406 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:17,200 Speaker 1: like I said, it's a process to leave after final vows. 407 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:20,120 Speaker 1: But it's even even that they have that process to say, Yeah, 408 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:22,960 Speaker 1: people like they changed their minds or they realized that 409 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 1: they entered and it wasn't necessarily what they wanted. They 410 00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:29,159 Speaker 1: just thought it was what they were called to, and 411 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:31,840 Speaker 1: you know, to allow room for that and room for 412 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 1: the spontaneity of God and how how things can develop 413 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:40,760 Speaker 1: over time. What were your family and friends reactions, especially 414 00:24:40,800 --> 00:24:43,920 Speaker 1: your friends, because I can only imagine, like I'm sure 415 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 1: he was like low key poplar in college. So what 416 00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 1: was everyone's reactions? Yeah, it was so pretty much everybody 417 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:56,439 Speaker 1: was supportive in including my family. My family was all 418 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:59,639 Speaker 1: really supportive. Um. Some of my friends were like, I 419 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:03,439 Speaker 1: didn't even though that still existing because yeah, not all 420 00:25:03,520 --> 00:25:05,679 Speaker 1: my friends were Catholics, so they were like, oh, okay, 421 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 1: that's cool, but I didn't even think that was still 422 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:17,640 Speaker 1: a thing. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah, he wasn't too Yeah, 423 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:23,080 Speaker 1: he wasn't too happy about that. Um. And it was 424 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:25,520 Speaker 1: still like it was on good terms too. So we 425 00:25:25,920 --> 00:25:28,000 Speaker 1: stayed in touch for a little while, and even every 426 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:31,400 Speaker 1: now and then we'll text or something and just see 427 00:25:31,400 --> 00:25:33,560 Speaker 1: how each other is doing. Or he'll say like, you know, 428 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:37,720 Speaker 1: how proud he is, or you know, it's very thoughtful. M. 429 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:44,440 Speaker 1: So what are some challenges huge places being this sister? Um? 430 00:25:44,960 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 1: Some challenges, I would say, Well, one actually that I 431 00:25:51,600 --> 00:25:56,680 Speaker 1: feel is most challenging for me is like trying to 432 00:25:56,840 --> 00:26:01,879 Speaker 1: convince myself not to live up to everybody's expectations. Um. 433 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:04,359 Speaker 1: And I mean I say everybody, but that's just like 434 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:08,119 Speaker 1: it's over a generalization, but not to live up to 435 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 1: what I perceive as people's some people's expectations of what 436 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:16,159 Speaker 1: a sister should be or how she should act, or 437 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:18,399 Speaker 1: what we should do or say, or how we should 438 00:26:18,440 --> 00:26:21,639 Speaker 1: even pray, you know, and like at the very beginning, 439 00:26:21,680 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 1: it was like, Okay, well I should kneel the longest 440 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:26,200 Speaker 1: when I'm praying because I'm a sister and you know, 441 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:28,119 Speaker 1: or I like I should pray with my hands like this, 442 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:31,160 Speaker 1: and so those were all just like, you know, little things, 443 00:26:31,240 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 1: but even the way that I should behave and like, oh, 444 00:26:34,200 --> 00:26:36,640 Speaker 1: sisters should always be really nice and always be really 445 00:26:36,720 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 1: happy and always peaceful. And I'm like, um, you know, 446 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:42,120 Speaker 1: at some point I realized I'm still a human being, 447 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: and so I'm still going to be grumpy sometimes, or 448 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:49,280 Speaker 1: I'm still gonna have bad days, or there are still 449 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:51,359 Speaker 1: going to be things that I have to apologize for 450 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,240 Speaker 1: because I may be spoken away that I shouldn't have 451 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:56,400 Speaker 1: and guess what, like that will still happen because I'm 452 00:26:56,440 --> 00:27:02,720 Speaker 1: still human and yeah, don't worry, I don't go that far. 453 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:07,159 Speaker 1: But I was like, there were there are times I 454 00:27:07,280 --> 00:27:10,159 Speaker 1: know I've had an attitude and I'm like, okay, go 455 00:27:10,400 --> 00:27:14,000 Speaker 1: back and say you're sorry. And so that's what I 456 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:16,639 Speaker 1: realize is that is what I'm called to is not 457 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 1: just is not being perfect and always being nice. But 458 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:25,639 Speaker 1: I'm called to be real and I'm called to be vulnerable, 459 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:28,880 Speaker 1: and I'm called to say sorry, what I need to write, 460 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:32,920 Speaker 1: and to yeah, reconcile like that. That's what we're called 461 00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:38,159 Speaker 1: to everybody and so um, but especially as someone who 462 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:40,440 Speaker 1: is seen as a role model in the Catholic Church, 463 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:44,840 Speaker 1: that is my that's my call is to show people 464 00:27:44,960 --> 00:27:47,959 Speaker 1: this is what we're all called to, is like reconciliation 465 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 1: and humility and vulnerability. Um, not to being perfect. Right. Yeah, 466 00:27:56,960 --> 00:27:59,639 Speaker 1: an extreme difficult year for all of us, especially for 467 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:03,639 Speaker 1: of color. So please correct me if I'm wrong, But 468 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:05,520 Speaker 1: I feel like during this time is when you became 469 00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:08,560 Speaker 1: more vocal and really use your voice to speak more 470 00:28:08,600 --> 00:28:14,679 Speaker 1: on racial injustice. Yeah. I would definitely agree with that. Um. 471 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:20,880 Speaker 1: I've always been pretty quiet person even before religious life, 472 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:24,240 Speaker 1: like I got along well with people. UM, But I 473 00:28:24,359 --> 00:28:27,480 Speaker 1: also I just never really spoke my mind about the 474 00:28:27,560 --> 00:28:32,280 Speaker 1: things that I was passionate about. And it just seemed 475 00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:35,480 Speaker 1: like especially and kind of like I was saying even earlier. 476 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:39,800 Speaker 1: The other question is that I feel like as someone 477 00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:42,640 Speaker 1: who's seen as a role model, especially within the Catholic Church, 478 00:28:42,880 --> 00:28:46,240 Speaker 1: I knew it was important not just to me, but 479 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:49,560 Speaker 1: to other people of color that I don't stay quiet, 480 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 1: that I that I did speak my mind and um, 481 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:56,120 Speaker 1: you know, and then with social media, I was able 482 00:28:56,160 --> 00:28:58,800 Speaker 1: to speak my mind on a level where a lot 483 00:28:58,840 --> 00:29:00,520 Speaker 1: of people heard me. And I didn't really expect that. 484 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 1: So it just it felt and really important to other 485 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:12,080 Speaker 1: people that I didn't stay quiet. And actually, I mean 486 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:14,720 Speaker 1: in addition to social media, because I started even using 487 00:29:14,800 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 1: like Instagram as a place as a platform, and my 488 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:22,360 Speaker 1: blog is a platform. Um, but even just in my 489 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:25,760 Speaker 1: own daily life, like I started changing the way that 490 00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:29,560 Speaker 1: I dressed, and like, different religious communities have different rules, 491 00:29:29,600 --> 00:29:32,600 Speaker 1: but in my community, we could sort of within guidelines 492 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:35,680 Speaker 1: choose what we wanted to wear, and I had been 493 00:29:35,760 --> 00:29:39,640 Speaker 1: wearing a veil for most of my time in the convent. 494 00:29:39,760 --> 00:29:42,640 Speaker 1: Then I just decided, like I wanted to own all 495 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:45,640 Speaker 1: of my cultural identity and part of that is my 496 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:49,840 Speaker 1: hair and um, and I even like I didn't realize 497 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:51,560 Speaker 1: how much of an impact that was going to make 498 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:54,800 Speaker 1: any for other people. And then you know, like even 499 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:57,400 Speaker 1: for my students, or when I started traveling and speaking 500 00:29:58,360 --> 00:30:02,200 Speaker 1: and was at pools, or even on zoom, because then 501 00:30:02,600 --> 00:30:05,000 Speaker 1: you know, then we had to mostly move to zoom 502 00:30:05,080 --> 00:30:07,880 Speaker 1: for things. And then I was speaking with schools that 503 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:12,760 Speaker 1: were predominantly African American, and like all a lot of 504 00:30:12,800 --> 00:30:14,680 Speaker 1: the little girls would comment on my hair and they 505 00:30:14,800 --> 00:30:17,880 Speaker 1: just played love my hair or whatever. And how much 506 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:21,840 Speaker 1: I realized that mattered to them, that I was still 507 00:30:21,960 --> 00:30:24,920 Speaker 1: a part of their world, like their world was also 508 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:29,520 Speaker 1: mine and we were in it together. And that's that's 509 00:30:29,560 --> 00:30:32,560 Speaker 1: why I started saying, like, this is something I do 510 00:30:32,720 --> 00:30:36,720 Speaker 1: need to continue talking about and and sharing about and um, 511 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:39,480 Speaker 1: even in the context of religious life, you know, because 512 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 1: like we said at the beginning, a lot of people 513 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:45,239 Speaker 1: assume that all sisters and nuns are white and um, 514 00:30:45,440 --> 00:30:49,520 Speaker 1: showing the world that that we are also like not 515 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:53,680 Speaker 1: as diverse as you know, maybe some places or some organizations, 516 00:30:53,760 --> 00:30:58,880 Speaker 1: but we are still diverse, like we're not um yeah, 517 00:30:59,000 --> 00:31:03,200 Speaker 1: like we're not set from the mix of this world, 518 00:31:03,360 --> 00:31:08,520 Speaker 1: like we're part of it too. And I yeah, it 519 00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:11,520 Speaker 1: was scary because then it was like it left me 520 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 1: open to um negative comments and yeah yeah, but ironically 521 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:25,920 Speaker 1: it was it was actually a place that I experienced privilege, 522 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:27,680 Speaker 1: I feel like, on a real level for the first 523 00:31:27,720 --> 00:31:32,720 Speaker 1: time because I am a sister and so people wouldn't 524 00:31:32,800 --> 00:31:36,640 Speaker 1: be really unkind because they're like, well, the sister, so 525 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:44,160 Speaker 1: I'll like sort of cheap my mind. They're like people, Yeah, 526 00:31:44,840 --> 00:31:46,560 Speaker 1: they're like, I'm gonna tell her that I disagree, but 527 00:31:46,600 --> 00:31:56,920 Speaker 1: I'm gonna say it really nice, so I know, and 528 00:31:57,040 --> 00:31:59,600 Speaker 1: I was really scared about that. I was like, I'm 529 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:02,120 Speaker 1: gonna myself out there. I don't know that I'm ready 530 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:07,560 Speaker 1: for that. But then yeah, mostly people were disagreeing with 531 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:11,960 Speaker 1: kindness and so um. But again that was like also 532 00:32:12,120 --> 00:32:15,120 Speaker 1: understanding the place of privilege that I had because I 533 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 1: am a Catholic sister and so knowing that not everybody 534 00:32:19,160 --> 00:32:22,800 Speaker 1: could afford that sort of like risk taking, and so 535 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:26,960 Speaker 1: knowing also then that meant I had a greater responsibility 536 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:31,320 Speaker 1: because I could afford that risk. You know, do you 537 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:35,040 Speaker 1: feel like Black Catholic women are sometimes forgotten? Because I 538 00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:38,280 Speaker 1: felt like until I found you, I didn't hear see 539 00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:43,760 Speaker 1: much about Black Catholic women. Yeah, that's actually I would 540 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:49,160 Speaker 1: agree with that because even I, like, as a Black 541 00:32:49,240 --> 00:32:53,520 Speaker 1: Catholic woman, wasn't really connected to other Black Catholic women 542 00:32:54,120 --> 00:32:57,720 Speaker 1: until I met sisters through the National Black Sisters Conference 543 00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:01,560 Speaker 1: and was like, oh, yeah, there are other Black Catholic 544 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:04,240 Speaker 1: women and other Black Catholic women who have been called 545 00:33:04,280 --> 00:33:08,480 Speaker 1: to religious life and you know, so yeah, I feel 546 00:33:08,560 --> 00:33:11,320 Speaker 1: like I feel like in general, not just religious life, 547 00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:14,200 Speaker 1: but the Catholic Church, like priesthood is seen as just 548 00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:19,120 Speaker 1: like white. And yes, there is a lot of like 549 00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:25,160 Speaker 1: predominantly European and Eurocentric like spirituality and art, and but 550 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:29,000 Speaker 1: it's not a dent of the Catholic Church in the 551 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:33,400 Speaker 1: United States. And because the Catholic Church extends much further 552 00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:37,080 Speaker 1: than the United States, there are so many different kinds 553 00:33:37,080 --> 00:33:43,000 Speaker 1: of Catholics, like yeah, and in every country. So yeah, 554 00:33:43,080 --> 00:33:46,880 Speaker 1: it's just um, yeah, I don't know how to like 555 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:50,440 Speaker 1: bring black Catholic women and even just black Catholics in general, 556 00:33:51,040 --> 00:33:54,440 Speaker 1: like to the stage with everybody else, because it is 557 00:33:54,680 --> 00:33:56,680 Speaker 1: it does seem like they're just kind of left in, 558 00:33:56,880 --> 00:33:58,600 Speaker 1: you know, in our minds, like left in the in 559 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:03,320 Speaker 1: the wings. Yeah. The history is self rich. Yes, yeah, 560 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:09,000 Speaker 1: it's true. Yeah, maybe next we could talk I was 561 00:34:09,040 --> 00:34:10,960 Speaker 1: just the same. Maybe next you could talk to Father 562 00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:15,160 Speaker 1: Josh Johnson. He's a did you come acro your research 563 00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:18,840 Speaker 1: at all? No? I did? He so he has a 564 00:34:18,920 --> 00:34:23,320 Speaker 1: podcast to actually and um, I forget oh no, I 565 00:34:23,360 --> 00:34:26,879 Speaker 1: think it's like asked Father Josh, and he's a Black 566 00:34:26,920 --> 00:34:30,399 Speaker 1: Catholic priest. He and he's young. He's actually a little 567 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:33,800 Speaker 1: bit younger than I am. And um, he had a 568 00:34:33,880 --> 00:34:36,279 Speaker 1: book come out and he's gonna have another one come 569 00:34:36,320 --> 00:34:42,560 Speaker 1: out about like, um, racial injustice and working towards reconciliation 570 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:46,640 Speaker 1: within the United States and the American Catholic Church, which 571 00:34:46,640 --> 00:34:51,040 Speaker 1: I'm were really excited about. Um. But yeah, he's he's 572 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:53,480 Speaker 1: a little firecracker. I love him. But he's also just 573 00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:56,719 Speaker 1: so gentle and loving and just, but also energetic. I 574 00:34:56,760 --> 00:35:02,640 Speaker 1: don't know how he does it all, but yeah, So 575 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:05,160 Speaker 1: you also speak about another thing I want to touch 576 00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:07,560 Speaker 1: on about the images that are depicted in religion and 577 00:35:07,640 --> 00:35:10,200 Speaker 1: how it lacks some diversity. Do you think that would 578 00:35:10,239 --> 00:35:14,320 Speaker 1: ever change? Um? I do. And actually it's funny that 579 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:17,600 Speaker 1: I just mentioned Father Josh because he's he's very intentional 580 00:35:17,640 --> 00:35:20,520 Speaker 1: about things like that. Like in his parish, he made 581 00:35:20,560 --> 00:35:24,000 Speaker 1: sure to have artwork up of a variety of saints, 582 00:35:24,239 --> 00:35:28,560 Speaker 1: like from all sorts of cultures, you know, to show 583 00:35:28,680 --> 00:35:34,080 Speaker 1: people like everyone can achieve like holiness and the stepth 584 00:35:34,120 --> 00:35:36,880 Speaker 1: of life, whatever state of life you choose or whatever 585 00:35:37,480 --> 00:35:40,960 Speaker 1: culture you are like, we are all in this together, 586 00:35:41,160 --> 00:35:46,600 Speaker 1: and yes, because representation matters. Yes. Yeah, So I feel 587 00:35:46,640 --> 00:35:49,920 Speaker 1: like people are at least more mindful of that. And 588 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:53,480 Speaker 1: some um Catholic churches are trying. Like there's a Catholic 589 00:35:53,600 --> 00:35:57,359 Speaker 1: church I visited in Detroit that, because most of its 590 00:35:57,480 --> 00:36:01,160 Speaker 1: membership is African American, they decided to put up a 591 00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:05,080 Speaker 1: display of the African American saints in the Catholic church, 592 00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:09,800 Speaker 1: um like on their outer wall. So yeah, And and 593 00:36:09,840 --> 00:36:12,239 Speaker 1: the priest there isn't He's not African American, but he's 594 00:36:12,320 --> 00:36:16,239 Speaker 1: mindful of that, you know. And I feel like, yeah, 595 00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:19,520 Speaker 1: just just the more that we can talk about it 596 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:22,840 Speaker 1: and be intentional about it and remind each other, I 597 00:36:22,920 --> 00:36:27,000 Speaker 1: think that will help to continue the the movement forward. 598 00:36:27,880 --> 00:36:32,879 Speaker 1: H Do you ever feel like you're missing out on things? Um? 599 00:36:33,760 --> 00:36:38,480 Speaker 1: I not not really, Actually, I don't know, because I 600 00:36:38,560 --> 00:36:42,719 Speaker 1: still feel like I get to be me and I 601 00:36:42,800 --> 00:36:47,040 Speaker 1: get to and like the I feel like the awareness 602 00:36:47,080 --> 00:36:50,759 Speaker 1: that I came to, even for myself about being a 603 00:36:50,840 --> 00:36:56,480 Speaker 1: black Catholic and um like being more vocal about racial 604 00:36:56,560 --> 00:37:00,960 Speaker 1: injustice came from opportunities that I have as a Catholic 605 00:37:01,040 --> 00:37:04,320 Speaker 1: sister in my community that I wouldn't have had otherwise, 606 00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:07,160 Speaker 1: like going to conferences or like I said, even getting 607 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:10,319 Speaker 1: to know the sisters who are members of the Black 608 00:37:10,400 --> 00:37:16,160 Speaker 1: Catholic Sisters Black Catholic Conference, Um, yeah, or travel that 609 00:37:16,200 --> 00:37:19,120 Speaker 1: I've done and people that I've met who again I 610 00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:21,800 Speaker 1: would have never met her spoken with if I wasn't 611 00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:26,200 Speaker 1: doing this work for my community. So yeah, I feel 612 00:37:26,239 --> 00:37:30,160 Speaker 1: like I've actually gotten to experience and do um and 613 00:37:30,320 --> 00:37:35,560 Speaker 1: see a lot because I am a religious sister. Was 614 00:37:35,600 --> 00:37:42,320 Speaker 1: it hard for you and having a family, Um, I 615 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:47,000 Speaker 1: don't know that it was really hard, and it's it's ironic, 616 00:37:47,920 --> 00:37:49,160 Speaker 1: Like to me, I feel like it's a little bit 617 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:51,319 Speaker 1: ironic because a lot of people are like, Wow, thank 618 00:37:51,360 --> 00:37:54,040 Speaker 1: you for your sacrifice, and that's mostly what they have 619 00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:57,520 Speaker 1: in mind. Like right, like I gave up, you know, 620 00:37:57,719 --> 00:38:00,480 Speaker 1: having a family of my own, and I'm like a 621 00:38:00,560 --> 00:38:03,520 Speaker 1: lot of married people. I feel like they're the ones 622 00:38:03,560 --> 00:38:06,720 Speaker 1: who live a daily giving of self to their spouse 623 00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:11,360 Speaker 1: and maybe their kids if they have children. Like I 624 00:38:11,840 --> 00:38:14,719 Speaker 1: get to do things that a lot of married people 625 00:38:14,719 --> 00:38:16,759 Speaker 1: will never be able to do because I have like 626 00:38:16,920 --> 00:38:19,120 Speaker 1: the freedom to say, all right, I'm going to get 627 00:38:19,200 --> 00:38:21,719 Speaker 1: up and go I'm going to travel today, and then 628 00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:26,320 Speaker 1: I'm gonna get another plane tomorrow. So yeah, I I 629 00:38:26,360 --> 00:38:28,719 Speaker 1: don't know. I feel like I actually and and not 630 00:38:28,880 --> 00:38:31,279 Speaker 1: to compare the two different like there are gifts and 631 00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:36,839 Speaker 1: challenges for both both vocations. But yeah, no, I don't 632 00:38:37,520 --> 00:38:40,000 Speaker 1: don't really feel like I've missed out. Well, okay, I'm 633 00:38:40,040 --> 00:38:47,960 Speaker 1: missing out. She's a little. So what do you have 634 00:38:48,080 --> 00:38:52,759 Speaker 1: for women who want to become a sister? I kind 635 00:38:52,800 --> 00:38:56,799 Speaker 1: of like, like I did, just like give it a chance, Um, 636 00:38:57,560 --> 00:38:59,360 Speaker 1: get to know some sisters and if you don't know 637 00:38:59,400 --> 00:39:03,240 Speaker 1: where to start, maybe you could even google Catholic sisters 638 00:39:03,520 --> 00:39:08,160 Speaker 1: in the area and start with that, or or even like, um, 639 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:12,520 Speaker 1: what are they called, like the vicar for religious there's 640 00:39:12,560 --> 00:39:16,799 Speaker 1: usually somebody in each like area called diocese or archdiocese 641 00:39:17,360 --> 00:39:20,800 Speaker 1: who is connected with sisters and religious in the area. 642 00:39:21,719 --> 00:39:25,400 Speaker 1: Um yeah, or or even just even if they're not 643 00:39:25,480 --> 00:39:27,799 Speaker 1: in your area, Like it's easy enough. You know, people 644 00:39:27,880 --> 00:39:30,520 Speaker 1: can do zoom calls these days, so to just look 645 00:39:30,640 --> 00:39:34,240 Speaker 1: up like a vocation director, you know, Catholic vocation directors 646 00:39:34,360 --> 00:39:37,920 Speaker 1: or Catholic sisters who are vocation directors, and I'm sure 647 00:39:37,960 --> 00:39:42,800 Speaker 1: a lot will pop up. And last not least, what 648 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:44,920 Speaker 1: does the future hold for you because I feel like 649 00:39:44,960 --> 00:39:49,359 Speaker 1: you have so much to offer, and not just right now, 650 00:39:49,520 --> 00:39:52,000 Speaker 1: but I just feel like you just have a lot 651 00:39:52,120 --> 00:39:55,879 Speaker 1: of gifts and I feel like you really matter. Two 652 00:39:55,960 --> 00:39:57,920 Speaker 1: young girls who want to pursue if they want to 653 00:39:57,960 --> 00:40:03,239 Speaker 1: pursue his lifestyle, well I really appreciate that. Um, I 654 00:40:04,000 --> 00:40:06,839 Speaker 1: I don't know. I actually something that I would love 655 00:40:06,920 --> 00:40:10,600 Speaker 1: to do is write a book and just yeah, I 656 00:40:10,719 --> 00:40:14,040 Speaker 1: love to write, so I think I need to do that. 657 00:40:14,200 --> 00:40:17,320 Speaker 1: But um, and it's sort of about this kind of 658 00:40:17,360 --> 00:40:21,920 Speaker 1: like what I'm sharing, this experience of be like learning 659 00:40:22,000 --> 00:40:26,120 Speaker 1: more about who I am culturally and just like getting 660 00:40:26,200 --> 00:40:30,680 Speaker 1: to know myself more to depth because of um like 661 00:40:30,760 --> 00:40:34,480 Speaker 1: opportunities that I've had, but that journey and how important 662 00:40:34,560 --> 00:40:39,239 Speaker 1: that is, because I like, there were so many parts 663 00:40:39,280 --> 00:40:41,880 Speaker 1: of me that I just felt like, you know, I 664 00:40:41,920 --> 00:40:44,239 Speaker 1: don't know how to embrace that or I don't even 665 00:40:44,360 --> 00:40:47,560 Speaker 1: like as a ballerina, you know, and being a woman 666 00:40:47,640 --> 00:40:50,960 Speaker 1: with turves and and sick the eyes and you know, 667 00:40:52,440 --> 00:40:55,840 Speaker 1: like how to embrace even just my body. And so 668 00:40:56,000 --> 00:40:58,759 Speaker 1: I feel like, yeah, that's, um that's something I would 669 00:40:58,760 --> 00:41:02,279 Speaker 1: love to write about, is just loving yourself and living that. 670 00:41:03,040 --> 00:41:05,680 Speaker 1: Mm hmm. Are you do you think you haven't wasn't 671 00:41:06,560 --> 00:41:09,040 Speaker 1: I don't know, just trying to understand was it difficult 672 00:41:09,040 --> 00:41:11,040 Speaker 1: for you love yourself more because of my style or 673 00:41:11,160 --> 00:41:13,160 Speaker 1: just like just overall as you've grown as a woman, 674 00:41:14,239 --> 00:41:17,680 Speaker 1: I think, just and growing as a woman, like uncertain 675 00:41:17,800 --> 00:41:21,880 Speaker 1: of how, um, how I felt as a black woman 676 00:41:22,120 --> 00:41:26,160 Speaker 1: or as as hispanic, because that's also part of my identity, 677 00:41:26,280 --> 00:41:30,840 Speaker 1: and um and because like and in the world of dance, 678 00:41:31,000 --> 00:41:35,560 Speaker 1: like my skin color and my body shape wasn't the default, 679 00:41:35,800 --> 00:41:38,200 Speaker 1: and so it's like, yeah, just the world of beauty 680 00:41:38,280 --> 00:41:41,040 Speaker 1: and the world of dance and all these spaces that 681 00:41:41,160 --> 00:41:44,960 Speaker 1: told me like, while you're not like the rest of us, 682 00:41:45,160 --> 00:41:50,480 Speaker 1: and so having to fight those messages within my own 683 00:41:50,520 --> 00:41:52,759 Speaker 1: self and be like, you know, it doesn't matter how 684 00:41:52,880 --> 00:41:55,160 Speaker 1: much I'm like anyone or not. I can love and 685 00:41:55,280 --> 00:41:58,120 Speaker 1: be myself no matter what and live that how I 686 00:41:58,280 --> 00:42:01,200 Speaker 1: choose because the possible m as real, because I can 687 00:42:01,239 --> 00:42:06,120 Speaker 1: only imagine. Yeah, yeah, well, I think this was a 688 00:42:06,239 --> 00:42:11,080 Speaker 1: beautiful conversation. I'm so happy that we finally got to connect. 689 00:42:11,200 --> 00:42:16,880 Speaker 1: This has been like a working process. Y'all harassing her, please, 690 00:42:19,280 --> 00:42:21,920 Speaker 1: we have technical difficulties, but here we are. I know, 691 00:42:23,600 --> 00:42:30,319 Speaker 1: answered the same question like four times before. We say, 692 00:42:30,480 --> 00:42:34,560 Speaker 1: normally I asked people from a spiritual religious lifestyle and 693 00:42:34,680 --> 00:42:39,560 Speaker 1: then just give us a small prayer. Sure, um, that's 694 00:42:39,680 --> 00:42:42,040 Speaker 1: I love that all right. So because I know you're praying, 695 00:42:42,080 --> 00:42:45,960 Speaker 1: go on, get us close as a God child. We 696 00:42:46,080 --> 00:42:48,160 Speaker 1: are all as close to God as we want to be, 697 00:42:48,400 --> 00:42:50,200 Speaker 1: but God is always close to us. But you might 698 00:42:50,239 --> 00:43:02,919 Speaker 1: got the direct line. Sure okay Um, Dear Lord, thank 699 00:43:02,960 --> 00:43:08,000 Speaker 1: you for this day, Thank you for this conversation. May 700 00:43:08,040 --> 00:43:11,680 Speaker 1: it reached the ears and the hearts and minds of 701 00:43:11,760 --> 00:43:15,640 Speaker 1: those it was meant to reach. May each of us 702 00:43:16,560 --> 00:43:21,600 Speaker 1: live whatever it is we are called to with courage 703 00:43:22,280 --> 00:43:29,719 Speaker 1: and vulnerability and love and maybe learned to love one 704 00:43:29,760 --> 00:43:41,120 Speaker 1: another and most importantly learned to love ourselves. Amen. Amen, Well, 705 00:43:41,120 --> 00:43:42,919 Speaker 1: I'm gonna say thank you so much to my guest 706 00:43:42,960 --> 00:43:46,960 Speaker 1: for being a part of the PD podcast. Thank you 707 00:43:47,080 --> 00:43:49,920 Speaker 1: so much for having me of course, and to the listeners. 708 00:43:49,960 --> 00:43:52,200 Speaker 1: If you have any questions, comments, concerns, please make sure 709 00:43:52,239 --> 00:43:55,000 Speaker 1: to email me at hello at the PC podcast dot com. 710 00:43:55,640 --> 00:43:59,560 Speaker 1: And until later, everyone, I mean until next time chat 711 00:44:01,040 --> 00:44:02,760 Speaker 1: next out everyone, Lady