I had never wanted to be a Sister when I was growing up. I was too interested in thoroughbreds—training, racing and breeding them. As a child, I spent many hours at the stables near my home in Louisiana. Before I ever figured out which pages to flip to in the Sunday missalette, I was able to read a racing form, check the horse’s bloodline and speed rating, and place my own bets!

It excited me to work with these beautiful animals, and yet I found myself wondering about the God who had created them. At the same time, I was preparing for my Confirmation and coming to understand my Catholic faith more deeply.

When I was 14, my mother died and I started to attend daily Mass whenever I could. All of these things played a part in my asking myself, "Well, what is life all about? What’s the point of it all?"

I gradually started to think more deeply about my relationship with Christ and the Church. It started with little things and then, before I knew it, I felt myself intensely drawn to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and unable to resist the invitation he was extending to me. Believe me, I thought this idea of giving my life to God would go away. After all, I liked my freedom, my sports car, and the "power" that went along with a credit card! But the Lord touched my heart and although I knew that I could be happy doing other things, I would not find the same joy and meaning in life that he wanted to give me. I couldn’t not be con-secrated—I had to belong to him totally. That was it, I had to go to check out life in the convent.

I remember my last night at home before I left for the convent. My best friends were staying with me since they would be accompanying my family to the airport the next morning for those teary and final goodbyes.

There was a knock on the door and I answered it...Jamie, a friend of mine and my brother’s, was looking for him. Realizing I would be going the next day, Jamie said goodbye and remarked, looking over at my friends, "You won’t find friends like yours in the convent." I knew what he meant and nodded pensively. We had grown up together and were so very close. We had done so many zany things together! I envisioned good friendships as a Sister, but then, I had never really lived in a convent. What would it be like?

Almost twenty years later, I think of that night and smile. Yes, I didn’t know what to expect...but what a beautiful gift the Lord had in store for me! I would be able to keep my old friends and make marvelous new friendships with terrific, fun-loving and deeply committed women. They would be my own Sisters and something inside of all of us made us know that our calling—to belong completely to Jesus and to bring him to all people—was worth giving our lives for, completely. It would require courage and spunk. It would make us laugh and cry. It would give us a joy like we never dreamed of.

I found joy because I found the Lord living among the Sisters, burning in their hearts and being recreated in their apostolate. The apostolic work of the community attracted me. We Daughters of St. Paul are called to radiate Jesus Christ with our lives first, and then through the modern means of communication.

We evangelize through our Pauline Book & Media Centers, outreach to parishes, homes and libraries, media seminars, multi-media seminars for youth, soft-ware, books, CDs, Web site, music, audio tapes and in so many other ways. We feel challenged to bring the Good News of Christ’s love and mercy to all people everywhere. Like St. Paul, we want people to realize how much they need Jesus and how much real peace and happiness only he has the power to give them.

We rejoice because we help each other deepen our precious call so as to be more effective in our evangelization. At times we challenge each other to live the vows we profess even more authentically. It’s beautiful, but it can be difficult. And I think to myself, "Jesus, you are worth it!"

So...I’m happy and I’m grateful to the Lord for all the good things he has given me in my life. I know that he will be with me every day at every step I take in the future. I know too, that he calls young women today. He calls and he makes his voice heard in their hearts. He is calling them to a beautiful adventure that requires a loving heart, a deep faith, courage to grow personally and to give their all for God’s people. He is calling today. Don’t miss it.