Six women walk religious road alongside professed sisters

By Ambria Hammel, The Catholic Sun
May 17, 2007

AVONDALE — Teachers often hope they can light a spark that empowers students to chase their dreams and leave a legacy.

For five teachers at St. Thomas Aquinas School and one Sun City woman, the role was reversed. It was the first-graders who encouraged all six elders to light up the world.

The adults, all women, committed themselves to associate membership with the Sisters of St. Joseph-Third Order of St. Francis during a school-wide Mass May 3. The order is for men and women who connect themselves with the life, mission and spirituality of the vowed congregation and want to embark on a similar, non-vowed religious journey.

They faced the students from the steps of the altar as they promised to devote themselves to a year of prayer and service while modeling the Gospel values and Franciscan lifestyle. Then the new associates approached the altar to add their signature to the list of nearly 100 other members around the world.

They received a wooden cross from Franciscan Sister Mary Alice Jarosz, vice president of the professed congregation. Their families gave them a candle colored in a marbled springtime shade.

“Receive this candle as a reminder of the light and the life you received in baptism,” Sr. Mary Alice told each member during the presentation.

Franciscan Sister Fran Grzeslo, a first-grade teacher and the women’s inspiration for committing themselves to the order, lit their candles. Then they stood before the congregation as the first-graders sang “Go Light Your World.”

Many of the new associates couldn’t hold back tears. Eighth-grade teacher Pat DeVito was one of them.

“I always had a wanting to become a part of an order when I was very young,” she said. Now a wife and mother of four boys, DeVito saw becoming an associate as an alternative to entering the convent.

The commitment ceremony wrapped up a yearlong formation process. They grew closer through prayer, discussion and reflection on St. Francis of Assisi’s work at monthly meetings. They also built adoration and song into the formation process.

All of the women saw how Sr. Fran lived and shared Franciscan values in her ministry and desired to do the same.

“This is the first of a step forward in a relationship with the religious community,” said Sr. Fran.

They will spend the next year continuing their spiritual journey with each other and the professed sisters. Perpetual prayer, encouragement and study will enable them to serve more effectively.

Sr. Fran said some of the new associates are already inspiring others. Three St. Thomas Aquinas parishioners expressed interest in becoming associates.

For more information about the order, visit www.ssj-tosf.org.