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Local News
Sept. 7, 2006
Poor Clares’ newest addition faced uncertainty in religious calling
By Claudia I. Provencio
The Catholic Sun
BLACK CANYON CITY — For 19-year-old Mary McDonald, entering into a contemplative way of life with the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration was a day of celebration, especially as she had recently overcome her uncertainty of God’s calling to embrace a life of solitude and prayer.
“I have never felt so much joy in my life, I can’t even explain it,” said the teenager amidst tears following her entrance ceremony into the cloistered order Aug. 11. “It’s just beautiful.”
For her supportive parents, Merle and Linda McDonald, joy was mingled with sadness. They watched another of their seven children choose God over traditional family life. Their son, Cody, is a seminarian for the Diocese of Phoenix.
While happy their children have followed their hearts, the McDonalds said most difficult of all is parting with Mary, their oldest daughter and one of only two girls in their bustling, testosterone-driven household.
Mary was the child they’d always dreamed would give them an abundance of grandchildren. She’s the one kids gravitate to and the one, Merle proudly boasts, who knows how to hunt and fish.
“One thing to consider is it’s an eight-year process… She loves children and that’s one of my concerns whether she can cope with that kind of a (contemplative) lifestyle,” he said. “We always thought she would be a teacher of young kids. But if it works out this way, that’s what it’s meant to be.”
For the Poor Clares, Mary’s entry into their order just one year after the “Desert Five” came to Arizona is a positive sign that they will fulfill their mission in building a monastery in Black Canyon City.
“After establishing ourselves in the diocese, the next step was to have somebody join the community and it’s apropos because she’s a native of the area,” said Sr. Marie André, mother superior of the Arizona sisters. “So, to me, it is a sign of hope and fruition of our life here in the desert.”
Before entering the Poor Clares as a postulant, a yearlong preliminary stage of religious life, Mary lived with the sisters, testing the waters.
“There is just such a profound joy I found in the peace and the quietness of just being with the Lord all the time and having your day revolve around Mass and adoration,” Mary said. “Even though it’s incredibly different than my normal atmosphere and the chaos of all my brothers.”
But Mary admits it wasn’t always this easy. She recalls numerous times growing up where “I’d break down and cry, and cry, and cry to a priest or a sister that I ran into about having a vocation and not wanting to take it.”
While brother Cody always talked about the priesthood, Mary buried her feelings. It wasn’t until college at the Franciscan University of Steubenville that she gave in to her calling and began a relationship with the Poor Clares through Cody’s urging.
The McDonalds also invited the Poor Clares to a family barbeque where 9-year-old Diana, the youngest McDonald, answered the door dressed as a Poor Clare. But Merle is quick to point out Diana also likes to dress up as “waitresses, airline stewardesses and whatever is popular.”
While the family tries not to think about their youngest daughter following in Mary’s footsteps, spending time with the “Desert Five” spoke deeply to Mary.
“Something just moved inside me where I just fell in love. Every night for weeks, I’d have dreams about being a nun, not just any nun, but being with them,” Mary said.
While Mary’s calling was a shock, the McDonalds, who took their children to daily Mass, have always promoted a devout prayer life.
“It’s selfish to want to keep her if this is what God is calling her to, because then she would be the one who would be unhappy,” Linda said. “Yes, it’s hard, but it’s just part of that cross that you have to embrace.”
After her year of postulancy Mary will receive a habit, a new religious name and the white veil of a novice for two years. She would then make temporary vows for five years and receive a black veil. After a total of eight years of discernment, she would make Solemn Vows and receive a wedding band, sealing her to Christ.
“It’s such a serious commitment and such a drastic commitment,” said Sr. Jean Steffes, CSA, diocesan chancellor and director for the Office of Religious.
“She will have the sisters to help her. Even though she is young, we can’t tell God when to call someone.”
About the Poor Clares
The sisters are in the process of raising the $11 million needed to build their monastery, including the $1.2 million needed to purchase the land on which it will be built.
Once the monastery is built, the sisters will resume their cloistered lifestyle and won’t leave the monastery grounds except for things like voting and going to the doctor.
To ensure the Eucharist is perpetually adored, every sister has a scheduled hour of eucharistic adoration daily and 90 minutes of nightly adoration twice weekly. The sisters also pray for any intentions they receive.
To learn more about the Poor Clares, visit the Web at www.desertnuns.com.
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