Victory Noll Sisters
1900 W. Park Dr.
P.O. Box 109,
Huntington, IN 46750-0109
phone
260-356-0628 - fax
260-358-1504

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Outgoing OLVM President, Sister Lucy Regalado, presented a reflection during the ceremony of Sister Leora Linnenkugel's taking of First Vows.

As women begin to discern their vocation in life, whether that ends up being marriage, the single life, or religious life, they have many questions. Among those are the deeper meaning of taking the vows of celibacy, poverty and obedience. We hope you will find this excerpt from Sister Lucy's reflection helpful.

“In the Constitutions of Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, the following of Jesus through the vow of celibacy is a sign of our trust in God's life-giving love. In the spirit of Mary we share ultimately in the mission of Jesus and give witness to God's universal love in the daily struggle and challenge of authentic sexual and relational growth. In this time when relationships seem shallow and short-lived we are to be signposts, mirror images of the love all humankind longs for.²

"The following of Jesus in vowed poverty is a sign of our faith in God's presence and providence. In the spirit of Mary we seek to be in solidarity with the lowly and powerless by exercising stewardship over the goods of creation according to the quality and integrity of the gospel.² To be good stewards, to be mirror images of deep human yearnings, we must listen to Jesus. By listening to the one who gives to all, we can know when enough is enough. We can point to the real value of all of creation.

"The following of Jesus in vowed obedience is a sign of our faithful participation in God's plan for all creation. In the spirit of Mary we listen and respond generously to God's call too in the mission entrusted to us.² Obedience today is about exploring and proffering ever new ways to engage responsibly, collaboratively and creatively with the issues of power and powerlessness that we encounter in daily life.¹ By obedience we mirror image the human yearning of working together for the good of all. We are signposts that in God all are one, all are beautiful, all are worthy of our love and respect, and all of creation is the beloved of God."

1 Diarmuid O'Murchu. Poverty, Celibacy, and Obedience: A Radical Option for Life. Crossroads, New York, 1999, pgs. 14-28.

2 1990 Constitutions of Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, pgs. 4-8.

graphic by Sister Jean Morningstar, snjm