LEFT TO RIGHT: Sister Chilee Okoko, D.M.M.M.; Father Francisco Gomez, S.T.; Sister Solimar Aniuska Ruiz, H.M.S.P; Fr. Duong Nguyen, S.V.D.; Sister Rosaline O’Connor, R.S.M.
Sister Chilee Okoko, D.M.M.M. (The Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy), Director of the Department of Life, Dignity and Justice
How long have you been a religious sister?
I have been a religious sister for 35 years.
What is your favorite thing about being a religious sister?
My favorite thing is being able to interact with and impact the lives of people of all cultures, languages, traditions and religion. Also, the freedom to engage in compassionate outreach to the less privileged, engage in social justice activities and also work as a medical professional.
Who is someone that inspires you in your journey of holiness, whether that is a saint or a person you know?
I am greatly inspired by the lives of three women saints whom I see as my role models. These are St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Teresa of Avila and St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
What is your favorite Bible verse or quote from a saint?
My favorite quote is from St. Thérèse of Lisieux: “Doing little things in extraordinary ways.” Also from her, “God does not look for our successes, but rather looks at our effort.”
What would you say to any young people discerning a vocation to the consecrated life?
My suggestion for any young one wanting to embrace the religious life is to keep close to Jesus in prayer, remain focused on the desire to love God through service to people and completely abandon yourself to the will of God.
Father Francisco Gomez, S.T. (Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity), Pastor at Our Lady of Soledad, Coachella
How long have you been a religious priest?
I made my first vows as a religious in 1979 and final vows in 1982, before being ordained to the priesthood in 1983. I have been under vows now going on 44 years.
A religious is someone who has been called by the Lord to a way of life characterized by a shared discipleship. The single absolute in this way of life is the Lord. Together in community we follow the Lord in accordance with the evangelical councils of poverty, chastity and obedience.
My congregation is of both brothers and priests and they share a radical equality. Some of us are called to be brothers and exercise our apostolate in multiple disciplines: the medical field, social work, missionary formation, etc. They are not men who “did not make it all the way”; the vocation of a brother is as unique as the call to be a priest.
Our discipleship will take us to diverse settings where we respond with apostolic zeal to the best of our ability, with and for those who are most vulnerable.
What is your favorite thing about being a religious priest?
What I find most “favorable” is that discipleship constantly takes me to the threshold ... to those places that only make sense as the reality of God becomes more and more absolute. This is both external and internal. The limits of humanity where death in its most scandalous form questions the very existence of God is where God will truly be discovered. Hence the reality of Christ crucified.
In the interior journey, the call to leave all behind and enter the desert landscape of the soul calls for silence, solitude and a level of intimacy that grants access to God’s mercy, healing and trust. It is here that solidarity is born and the possibility of community life that longs to be ever inclusive.
Who is someone that inspires you in your journey of holiness, whether that is a saint or a person you know?
Women and men who have encouraged my journey include my nuclear family. Together we have cherished the gift of culture as truly a gift to be shared with delight.
From this starting point, the founder of my Congregation, a Vincentian Priest, Thomas Augustine Judge, CM, has mediated through his own life experience a sense of mission also based on the gift of culture that is grounded in faith nurtured at the foot of the cross.
And there are any number of women and men from across the centuries and into the present that continually awaken in me a sense of God: Tolstoy, Hesse, Endo, Marx, Gutierrez, Sobrino, Rahner, Lonergran, Arbukle, Arendt, Day.
What is your favorite Bible verse or quote from a saint?
“The day will come when worship will be in spirit and truth” (John 4:23).
What would you say to any young people discerning a vocation to the consecrated life?
Don’t consider a part time job, look for a 24/7 vocation that will take your breath away and give you life even as you give yours away. Look into your heart and allow yourself to be amazed by the fire of God’s love that is already there unconditionally.
Sister Solimar Aniuska Ruiz, H.M.S.P (Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Word), Director of Religious Education, St. John XXIII Parish, Fontana/Rialto
How long have you been a religious sister?
Since Oct. 23, 2016. I professed my perpetual vows on Nov. 12, 2022.
What is your favorite thing about being a religious sister?
Being Jesus Christ’s wife (laughs). OK, I would say knowing that we are in some way called to be the walking presence of God in this world.
Who is someone that inspires you in your journey of holiness, whether that is a saint or a person you know?
I have a couple of people but I’ll mention two of them. First is St. Angela of Merici, she would help young girls with their education. This motivated me a lot because my first assignment as a sister was to be a formation director. This meant I had to live with other young girls and teach them not only with books but with my life. She has a letter that is in the office of readings for her feast day and it says: “We must do all corrections moved by love and only in love. For those in religious life know that we must always be seeking the way of perfection. Not only ours but our sisters as well.”
The other person is the founder of my religious community, Father Luigi Butera Vullo. He is a man inspired by God and determined to do the will of God. I admire all he has done and the impact he has had in the evangelization field. Like most saints, he went through so many hardships when founding our community, yet he stayed faithful to the will of God and never gave up. I see him as a spiritual father, looking out for the spiritual welfare of his daughters.
What is your favorite Bible verse or quote from a saint?
“I have found the one whom my soul loves” (Song of Salomon 3:4).
What would you say to any young people discerning a vocation to the consecrated life?
Seek a spiritual director, be attentive to the word of God in silence and trust the movements of the spirit. Don’t be afraid.
Father Duong Nguyen, S.V.D. (The Society of the Divine Word), Pastor/Rector at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, San Bernardino
How long have you been a religious priest?
I have lived a consecrated life of chastity, poverty and obedience for 25 years. I professed my first vows in August 1997 and perpetual vows on September 18, 2004, with the Society of the Divine Word. I was ordained as a religious priest on May 28, 2005, with now Cardinal Timothy Dolan for my religious congregation. Looking over these 25 years, I have more years living a consecrated religious than as a religious priest.
What is your favorite thing about being a religious priest?
My favorite thing being a religious priest is being with the people of God. Through my priesthood, God has opened many doors for me to enter the lives of people of God under many circumstances.
When people come to Church for the Eucharist, I am in the midst of people giving thanks and praise to God. When a family celebrates a baptism of a child or a couple celebrates their wedding, I am in the presence of joy and love. When people are sick in the hospital or at home, I am with the people in their pain and suffering. When people die, I can accompany them to eternal life. Life offers people so many rich experiences, and I have the honor and privilege as a religious priest to be with people.
Who is someone that inspires you in your journey of holiness, whether that is a saint or a person you know?
A person that inspires me on my journey to holiness is Brother Bernie Scherger.
I met Brother Bernie many years ago when I was at Divine Word High School Seminary at East Troy, Wisconsin. He was my physics teacher. He was also a groundskeeper for the seminary, a caretaker for all the vehicles for the community, and a cook for the community when the regular cooks needed a day off. I saw in Brother Bernie a missionary life filled with faith, devotion and hard work. He lived a religious life by responding always to the needs of other people and putting the needs of others ahead of his own. Through the simple life of Brother Bernie, his holiness was very transparent to me at a young age. I saw in Brother Bernie an example of living a missionary life and an inspiration of living a holy life.
What is your favorite Bible verse or quote from a saint?
My favorite Bible verse is John 13:34: “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘This is my new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, you also should love one another.’”
I love this verse because I always look back at Jesus to see how I am loving other people. Have I been kind and gracious to them? Have my words and actions expressed the love that Jesus has for me personally? The new commandment of love echoes in my heart as I live my life of service to the people of God.
What would you say to any young people discerning a vocation to the consecrated life?
I would say these words: “Share your life and love with people.” God calls everyone to a life of love and service. God calls everyone to a life of holiness. A consecrated life is a very special dedicated path of life, love and service within the Catholic Church. I can realize God’s calling for me and be fully alive in the world for others through the consecrated life of chastity, poverty and obedience.
Sister Rosaline O’Connor, R.S.M. (Sisters of Mercy), Coordinator of Victim Assistance
How long have you been a religious sister?
I joined the Sisters of Mercy in Sligo, Ireland, in 1966. I came to California in 1971 and was missioned to Kenya from 1981 to 1987.
What is your favorite thing about being a religious sister?
Continually, over the years I have come to know Catherine McAuley who founded the Sisters of Mercy. Thinking about her today I am amazed by her courage and ability to connect two worlds that might seem very far apart. Her roots were in upper class Dublin and her whole desire was to work with and for the people who were poor and destitute; and that she did when she received a valuable inheritance.
Catherine never intended to found a Religious Congregation and yet the complexities of life and of church life in particular influenced her in that direction. She had a deep trust in the providence of God and that is the call that inspires and challenges me today.
Who is someone that inspires you in your journey of holiness, whether that is a saint or a person you know?
Catherine McAuley, our foundress, and the Little Way of St. Thérèse have both had lasting impacts on my life.
Nowadays I enjoy the writings of Brian Swimme, Thomas Berry and Wendell Berry as they have brought expansive new insights to my understanding of our universe. Also, Mary Oliver’s poetry is very enriching.
I am greatly inspired by a number of people who are giving their whole lives to work on addressing the pain and suffering associated with human trafficking.
What is your favorite Bible verse or quote from a saint?
My favorite scripture verses have changed over the years moving from “Do not be afraid, I am with you” to “Act justly, love tenderly, walk humbly with your God.” Just now the one that seems to be speaking to me most is “For I know the plans I have for you ... plans to give you a hope and a future.”
What would you say to any young people discerning a vocation to the consecrated life?
I would invite them to find friends who are experienced in discernment to walk this road with them. Spend time in prayer, reflection, waiting and sharing. Listen to the draws and the stirrings in your heart and don’t be afraid to try whatever seems to be calling you. Blessings on the journey!
Sister Pauline Siesegh, C.P.P.S., (Sisters of the Precious Blood), Coordinator of Victim Assistance
How long have you been a religious sister?
Two years. I am a first-year Novice.
What is your favorite thing about being a religious sister?
My favorite thing is that in every stage l am called to walk with God and to walk with people in my community and outside of my community. I love the community and the prayer life.
Who is someone that inspires you in your journey of holiness, whether that is a saint or a person you know?
St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa).
What is your favorite Bible verse or quote from a saint?
“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your Word” (Luke 1:38).
What would you say to any young people discerning a vocation to the consecrated life?
Come and join share the love of Christ in our fractured world.