Adela-Iuliana Langa
Dominican Sisters of Adrian, MI
Dominican Sisters of Adrian, MI
Place of Birth: Romania
Education: Bachelor of Arts in
French and English; Master of Arts in English
Previous Ministry: Working
with women coming out of prison
After meeting one of our sisters on a Megabus
ride, I continued visiting Adrian for a couple of years before I decided to
explore religious life. At first I was intrigued by how much I had in common
with these women, especially in their commitment to social justice and prayerful
living. But as an immigrant it was not easy to enter the process of
discernment. While I had been in the U.S. for several years and had started to
feel at home, the call to religious life was another invitation to leave the
familiar and trust that the journey would bring me to a life-giving place. I
now think of discernment itself as a source of nourishment, one that continues
to enrich my life and draws me deeper in my commitment to follow Jesus
Christ. My hope for the year is that we will grow roots in God and stay
open to that which unfolds as our calling.
Alexa Chipman
Dominican Sisters of San Rafael
Dominican Sisters of San Rafael
Place of Birth: California
Education: Bachelor of Fine Art
Previous Ministry: Web
Editor at San Domenico School
While there were many factors that led me to
consider religious life, what actively started my research into practically
pursuing it came through reading a history book by W.H. Lewis (C.S. Lewis’
brother). As a side note while discussing education, he mentioned a convent of
nuns that had a belief which clashed with the prevailing theology of the king
of France. Together their voice was so powerful that he felt threatened enough
to send the army in to disband the convent at arrow point. The only way the king
could silence the women was to separate them, and that impressed me—I remember
crying out, “Oh! If only we had that today!” It did not take long before I
realized we do still have that in the religious women of modern times. I began
several years of researching different ways of living in community and after
talking with nuns and sisters from all over the world I realized the cloister
was not a good fit for me. I wanted to find women who were compassionate yet
strong and willing to stand up for the truth while being open to preaching in
keeping with our era. I found them in the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael.
Jennifer (Jenn) Schaaf
Sisters of St. Dominic, Blauvelt,
NY
Place of Birth: Washington
State
Education: Bachelor of Music
Education;
Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry
Previous Ministry: Director
of Communications,
Sisters of St. Dominic, Blauvelt, NY
I first encountered the Dominicans at the
University of Portland. My undergraduate dean and two of my graduate professors
were Dominican Sisters—all from different Congregations in the East. At the
time, religious life wasn’t something I was considering. I was focused on
teaching and school work, singing in my church choir, shopping and spending
time with friends. The closest I had come to religious life was singing songs
from the soundtrack of The Sound of Music with my roommates. Who didn’t want to
be Fraulein Maria? However, what I saw in the women at the University of
Portland resonated with my own life. These were bright women, fully engaged in
Church life, but not afraid to question the Church either. They were passionate
about bringing about peace and justice in a way that was both gentle and
strong. In doing volunteer work with Dominicans in Chicago, then working in
Campus Ministry at Ohio Dominican, I continued to find the same qualities in
other Dominican women from across the country. I am grateful for finding a home
among the Dominican Sisters in Blauvelt and look forward to continuing the
Dominican journey with my sisters.
