The vocation of religious life has opened our life to so much more of God’s goodness than we have ever imagined. 

As a parent, what do you appreciate about having a daughter in the convent?

Watching her grow in her love of the Lord by being a daily witness in her prayer and being a visible reminder wearing the habit for everyone she encounters. Being able to be a member of the IHM family and getting to know all of the Sisters.  We lost our daughter to the convent but gained 30 more daughters, sisters, mother; all holding a special place in our heart. We are gaining a whole family, consisting of the most devoted, loving, true people that we could ever imagine.

 What were the struggles you had to work through when your daughter entered the convent?

The hardest part for me as a mother was the reduced worldly communication. The sisters do not carry a cell phone. I can’t just call my daughter like most other mothers can do. Learning to understand that it is part of the journey that a family has to endure was challenging but necessary.  The intentional monthly conversations allow you to look forward to the time you do have for communication that is meaningful and special. 

 How do you think your role as parent influenced your daughter’s vocation?

Experiencing a family unit of two parents and three siblings, supporting the traditional family foundation, and placing a priority on prayer influenced our daughter’s vocation.

As a parent who has given your daughter back to the Lord, how do you see her vocation benefiting you?

The vocation of religious life has opened our life to so much more of God’s goodness than we have ever imagined. We have made friends with the families of the other sisters in the convent that are priceless. There are so many resources and positive influences that have supported our Catholic faith because of our daughter’s vocation.  We are always learning about the faith and how to live out that faith by sharing it with others.

What do you like about the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary?

It is evident that all of the Sisters truly love each other.  They are a unique family that stand together for the love of the Lord and the Church.

What are some words of encouragement to other families?

A religious vocation is a true gift from God and is something that is different from the ways of the world but is so beautiful.  We are forever grateful that God chose our daughter to be set apart for Him and to be a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.