Hearing the Call: The Road to Religious Life with the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia
BY SAMI BURR
06/17/2020
On the feast of Pentecost this year I received a very exciting phone call. The vocations director at the
Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia called to tell me that I had been accepted as a postulant in their community! She confirmed that I will be able to enter the convent this fall. I smiled. I cried. I hugged my dad and sister, who were with me at the time. All told, discerning religious life has been something that’s been on my heart for the last five years. During that time the Lord has led me to many different places, including the parish of Saint Thomas More.
It has been such a wonderful gift to be a parishioner here. The Advent and Lent retreats gave me a beautiful opportunity to deepen my relationship with Christ and learn to listen to His voice through imaginative and contemplative prayer. The young adult group has been a wonderful source of fellowship and encouragement. The various social justice initiatives our parishioners are involved with have helped inspire me to help build the kingdom of God here on earth, although we know we will not experience the perfect kingdom of God until we reach heaven. I’ve come closer to God through beautiful music and liturgies. I’ve had lots of quiet moments spent with Christ in the tabernacle. These last two years as a parishioner have been a wonderful time where God has taught me how to listen to His voice, be in His presence, and live out His will.
Now, I believe the Lord is calling me to live out my faith by joining a community of religious sisters who are passionate about learning and preaching. With the Dominican Sisters, I will continue to grow in my faith and introduce young people to our Lord as a teacher. I will also be consecrating myself to the Lord and to prayer in a special way through the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. I hope I will continue to find ways to make Christ present to others, the same way I see my fellow parishioners doing all the time.
This summer I’m saying a lot of goodbyes—goodbye to (most of) my things, goodbye to my family, goodbye to Saint Thomas More, goodbye to Minnesota. At times it’s sad to think of all the things I will be leaving behind. I find more often, though, that I’m excited for what’s ahead. I’m excited to be able to dedicate my life to prayer in a new way. I’m excited to see how God will use my gifts in the teaching apostolate of the Dominican sisters of Saint Cecilia. I’m excited to start a new chapter of my journey in Nashville! If vocational discernment has taught me anything, it's that God is good and He will be faithful.
I will certainly miss this vibrant, faith-filled community. Please keep me in your prayers, and know that you will be in mine!
About Sami Burr
Sami Burr has been a parishioner since August 2018. Until recently, she taught middle school religion at Saint Agnes Catholic School. She has been involved at Saint Thomas More in the young adult group, adult choir, lector and EM ministries, and the worship committee.