My path to Mercy wasn't about a clear desire to become a nun, at least not at first. I had no direct role models; I had never met a Hispanic woman who was a sister. It was more the result of trying to find a way to deepen my prayer life and to discover how other people prayed.
During my time at St. Catharine Academy I became close to Sr. Gwen Coté, my teacher, and Sr. Pat Vetrano. Sr. Pat became my spiritual director and was very faithful to me. I went off to college, I dated, I did all the things that college kids do, and Pat always stayed in touch with calls and visits.

The Sisters of Mercy had always impressed me as forward-thinking, visionary, gifted women of the Church. As a young adult, I began to notice these things in a new way. I also became more aware of the fourth vow that Mercies take, the vow of service to the poor, the sick, and the uneducated. That was a real attraction for me. I was also feeling the need to live with women who valued the same things that I did. I knew I could give service as a single or married woman and be successful. But I wanted to share my life in community and prayer with women who would also be part of a support structure. So in 1988 I entered the convent.

My training is as a teacher. I have degrees in education and religious education, and right now I am going back to school for a degree in clinical social work. I work as a pastoral associate at Sacred Heart Parish and my main responsibility is serving young people. We have a variety of programs. We have a series on non-violence, we have sports nights, retreats, preparation for the sacraments, and I teach religion at our school to children in grades 2, 3, and 6. The reason I'm studying for another degree is because of my newest responsibility as school counselor, which requires me to deal with discipline issues. A degree in counseling will be very helpful.

Everything I do is centered in prayer. I begin each day with a meditation in my room sometime before 6:00 am. Then we have morning adoration from 7:00 am to 8:00 am in our Church. It's open to everyone. We kneel before the Blessed Sacrament as a parish. For me, our ministry includes our prayer life. When we encounter the difficulties of the day, we return to what keeps us centered, and that's our prayer life. I recognize that God is present in each of the people I meet, in each child, and that faithfulness to God keeps me centered.

When days are difficult, I especially have to remind myself that our way of life comes out of prayer and the sense that we are called to be merciful. We are not here to put a band-aid on the suffering of others, but to make a difference. I know each person I meet makes a difference in my life. I hope I do that for them.