A Truly Divine Proposal

by Paula McEneany

Love Serves, Vol. 4, Issue 1, Eastertide 2009

Last September I had the opportunity to meet with Bishop Robert Baker, the new bishop of our diocese. I had been eagerly awaiting this meeting for three years. First, our diocese waited two years for the appointment of a new bishop while the diocese was administered by the retired bishop. Then, of course, the new bishop had much to claim his time. At last our meeting concerning the proposed Franciscan Sisters of Mary, Queen of Families took place on September 16, 2008. Before recounting the outcome of this meeting, I offer a little history for those of you who are new friends of this work.

A Long Path Lighted with God’s Grace

Having been raised in a Catholic homeschooling family, in which Mass and other prayers were basic to life, my first thought of being a nun came when I was seven years old. We had just started viewing EWTN, and I liked Mother Angelica and simply wanted to be a nun--but specifically, one of hers. I expressed my desire to be a nun to the elderly priest from whom I received First Communion in 1988. Over the ensuing years I wrote to many communities and visited a few in my home area and elsewhere.

Besides thinking about religious life through the years, I also thought about marriage quite a bit, especially when I was 17 or 18. A religious brother said that I’d just stay “on the fence” if I didn’t move toward either marriage or religious life--and it is easier to look at religious life first. So I picked up correspondence with a particular community and worked towards that possibility. A great blessing was attending the Institute on Religious Life National Meeting in 2001! I’d really begun to feel again that God was calling me to the religious life but had not been excited about it. The meeting changed that!

Though I completed preliminary forms for the community just mentioned, they didn’t have room for visitors at the time. My interest in them died out but re-awakened in another community. In this pursuing, some incredible things happened…people unknowingly confirmed others’ advice. It became clear that it might be God’s will to start a new congregation dedicated to the sanctification of the family. At first I greatly dragged my feet, as I had long been opposed to starting something new; but as I tried to remain open, it came together more in my own mind and heart, especially through spiritual direction. I became more enthusiastic, particularly in 2003 when I began slowly entering into the proposed apostolate.

Since then I have continued living this life of prayer and work for families. The work is done in homes and by offering and assisting with group activities. In 2005 I met with Bishop David Foley, our now-retired bishop, regarding the possibility of the new community and he was very encouraging. He retired soon after, though, so I continued praying, working, sharing with others about my hopes…and waiting.

An Important Step

And here we return to my meeting with Bishop Baker. I shared my hopes for the future, also recounting for him the history of my vocation, apostolate, and meeting with Bishop Foley: God, I believe, has led me toward founding a community to pray for and work with families, especially homeschoolers. With some assistance from others, I am already engaged in the apostolate; but it is difficult to gather a community without some official backing. Since it is also difficult to obtain official status without a small community already gathered, it is a case of the proverbial chicken and egg.

A wise friend had told me, “Trust the bishop. He is the one to whom God has given the anointing to handle your situation.” Now, during this meeting, I waited to hear what Bishop Baker would decide, having some idea from previous informal conversations.

His recommendation to fulfill my personal desire to belong more completely to Christ is to become a consecrated virgin(1). As such, I will be able to wear a habit, and this step will also help toward my future hopes. If what I believe God is calling me to is a charism not just for me but also for others whom He sends to join me, they, too, can become consecrated virgins and we can form a private association. Then, if God sends enough members (5-10), we can become a public association and add the vows of religious life--forming the Franciscan Sisters of Mary, Queen of Families.

Into Our Lord’s Arms

As the bishop spoke, offering this possibility of becoming a consecrated virgin, it was really Our Lord speaking through Him to propose to me! It was with great joy that I agreed to begin the process toward becoming a consecrated virgin--­that I answered “Yes!” This day was one of the happiest of my life.

In God’s providence, on the same day a dear friend, who had considered joining me before God led her to holy matrimony, gave birth to her first child. When we spoke that evening we marveled at the beautiful ways of God­ in bringing to birth a little girl and in bringing closer to fruition my long-held hopes.

Please remember in your prayers that, if God so wills, all the paperwork may go well and I may at last be wedded to “Him whom my heart loves.” To remind me of this wonderful hope, I decided to wear a crucifix ring like an engagement ring. Christ is my Treasure--my Pearl of great price!

There’s Room for More

I strongly desire, also, to share this vocation with other young women. Soon I will be able to use a small house for the apostolate headquarters and also­--God willing­--for receiving women who may come to join. Already Our Lord is providing furnishings for the house, and I await His providence in continuing to send benefactors to assist this growing work. He it is, too, who I trust will call young women to join me in being consecrated to Him alone and being spiritual mothers of all--especially the families served by the apostolate. Borrowing a poet’s phrase about priests and applying it to this vocation, it is a call to “be a part of each family yet [belong] to none”­--belonging only to Christ. Do you hear His voice proposing?

(1) A consecrated virgin living in the world, as stated in Canon 604, is irrevocably "consecrated to God, mystically espoused to Christ and dedicated to the service of the Church, when the diocesan bishop consecrates [her] according to the approved liturgical rite."