The question came in various ways from various people over the course of three years. “Are you called to be a sister?” It was the question God was asking me one summer day in Charleston, South Carolina. I was speaking with a local seminarian when he casually asked, “Have you ever considered a religious vocation?”

 Having had minimal exposure to religious life and no idea what my life was in for by my response, I said, “Well, sure; I’m open to it.” I was soon gazing starry-eyed at a Veritas newsletter of the Nashville Dominicans. The approach was casual and non-threatening as I was encouraged to “just look it over.” With this advice, the seminarian, who was also my Religion teacher at Bishop England High School in the Diocese of Charleston, had started me on the adventure to my life’s vocation.

 Since that pivotal summer day, the Dominicans had been in my thoughts and prayers, but in college my heart’s inclinations began to sway. When I left for Franciscan University of Steubenville, I determined not to complicate my life with another focus. By December, however, I had met a Catholic gentleman who reminded me of the beauties of a married vocation. Although months earlier I had eagerly registered for the January vocation retreat to be held at the Dominican Motherhouse, I reluctantly dragged myself to Nashville.

 The second day of retreat I met with the Novice Mistress and told her my dilemma: “Two days ago I was sure I wanted to be a married woman, but now that I’m here…!” Sister heard my whole story, from my conversation with the seminarian, through my eager searching of the Dominican website, hours spent asking God what he wanted from me, moments when I was sure he wanted all of me through a religious vocation, and my current college romance.

 Gently and sincerely Sister asked me, “Why wouldn’t you want to enter the convent in August?” I was dumbfounded. Had she not heard me? I had clearly said that I was preoccupied with a more immediate relationship, yet she still asked: “Are you being called to be a sister?” She assured me, “I am not here to recruit you; I am telling you I see in you what it takes to be a good religious. I hear the zeal, I see your love for Christ.” Seeing my questioning eyes, she offered, “Why don’t you spend the next few days listening to God in the Blessed Sacrament. He’ll let you know what he wants of you.”

 God spoke to me on that retreat, and I knew the answer to the question. It did not end so simply, however. When I returned to Steubenville I had to reveal my vocational decision to the young man awaiting my arrival on campus. Emotions soon held heavy sway, and I spent the month of January with a heart torn between a dating relationship and application to enter the Dominican Sisters.

 Are you called to be a sister? The haunting question came a third time when I unsuspectingly attended a weekday Mass, which happened to be on the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, a good Dominican. In his wonderful Nigerian accent, the visiting priest posed to the young women in the congregation, “Do you feel called to be a sister? Because you ARE! Is there a Mr. Right in your life? You need to look to THE Mr. Right! Look to Jesus!”

 A phone call soon came that solidified my answer to God’s recurring question. The seminarian with whom I had first discussed religious life two years prior listened to my vacillation. With his reply, I knew I could no longer ignore my vocation. “If God is calling you now, now is the only appropriate time to respond.”

 I presented myself before the Blessed Sacrament with those words echoing in my heart, and I left the chapel with tremendous peace. Now I smile when people ask how I discovered my vocation. I remember a conversation over ice cream, a confident Novice Mistress, a Nigerian preacher, and a prayerful seminarian, all sent by God to provide the strength by which I would eventually answer, “Yes, I am called to be a sister!”

 Recently I professed my vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and am now living the ultimate relationship with Jesus Christ and finding tremendous joy in this vocation that God has called me to live. The love found here at St. Cecilia’s has proven to be more enriching than I ever imagined. Living an intimate life of prayer with Jesus and sharing that love with my sisters in community is the blessed reality of this vocation. God has been so generous in inviting me to be a Dominican Sister of St. Cecilia, and I only want to respond with a generous living out of my religious consecration.

Sr. Maris Stella professed her first vows on August 10, 2006.