From my earliest memories I wanted to be a nun.  The path began on my First Holy Communion Day.   On returning to my seat after receiving the Body of Christ, an elderly woman seated in a wheel chair, touched my arm and said, “Pray for me.”  Not long after, I was up in the choir loft of our old church, listening to the Mass, still in Latin, hearing the beautiful music, gazing at the light-filled stained glass windows and thinking. “I could stay here forever.”  For Confirmation, I took the name Therese because her ‘Little Way’ seemed something I could do.
When in high school, all my friends were busy figuring out what college to go to, I was still thinking of being a nun but was too shy to follow that path.  I decided to study cosmetology – it seemed logical since I gave myself an asymmetrical haircut when I was about 4 and later had a Tressy doll.
I remember when I finally had the chutzpah to answer the call.  I turned 30.  I realized it was time to begin a new path in my life other than hairdressing.  After reading the New York Times ads from A-Z and not finding anything that fit, I sent up a prayer, “Lord, what am I going to do?”   And the answer came clear as a bell.  “Are you ready to be a nun?”  I actually looked behind me to see who spoke!  I said, “Yes,” and immediately felt at peace.
All along God was preparing the pathway to make it easier for me to follow:  I had bought a summer cottage four years earlier and spent many a weekend there by myself.  During that time I was inspired to write my novel on the life of John the Baptist.  John’s life stirred in me a desire to give my all to follow Jesus.   
On January 12, 2017, I celebrated my 25^th anniversary of profession as a Redemptoristine Nun.  Early on in my religious life I took as a motto, “JOY:  Jesus, Other, You.”  It is a joy for me to offer my life to Jesus, to use my gifts and talents for the good of community and to live the love of Christ the Redeemer for the world today.