FIRST VOWS MADE
Diocese of Wichita, Kansas
By Teresa Pauls, A.O.
At a formal Mass on Saturday, May 3, 2008, Teresa Pauls, Parishioner of The Church of the Blessed Sacrament, professed her first formal vows in the Secular Institute of The Institute of Apostolic Oblates for women, which is part of the Pro Sanctity Family (which includes the Pro Sanctity Movement open to all, the Apostolic Sodales for priests and the Social Animators for men). At the Mary, First Disciple Chapel, in the Spiritual Life Center, Teresa answered the call to promote Holiness in everyday life. Mass was con-celebrated by Fr. John Lanzrath, Fr. Dan Lorimer, and Father Pat Malone.
Teresa welcomed the opportunity to make her first profession of vows, including poverty, chastity and obedience and the promise of the Apostolate to The Institute of Apostolic Oblates, a part of the Pro Sanctity Family, which embraces a mission to live and promote the universal call to holiness in everyday life. After four years of formation, and prayerful consideration, Teresa was unanimously and joyously approved to enter into the Institute.
During the celebration of the Mass, Teresa Pauls was invited forward by Teresa Monaghen, the Moderator of Pro Sanctity, to commit to her vows. She was asked, “What is your desire?’” and she responded, “To enter into The Institute of the Apostolic Oblates. Her First profession of vows was made in the presence of Teresa Monaghen, National Moderator, and other members of the Pro Sanctity Family, who traveled from Omaha, NE., as well as Teresa’s father, Gerald Pauls, her brothers and other family members. \
Teresa will continue her Master’s degree studies at Ave Maria University in Pastoral Theology and complete a chaplain residency the following year. Now that she is fully accepted into The Institute, her mission as an External Oblate is to live in her own home, to promote holiness in everyday life. She will renew her vows annually for the next five years, and at the completion of ten years she will profess her final vows.
Her journey towards a vocation began at the age of seventeen, but did not fully mature until she reached the age of thirty eight, when she finally decided to answer the call. In her words, “I discovered that God was bigger then me and no matter how hard I tried to ignore the call, God was ever vigilant in pursuing His desire for my vocation, so I finally decided to fulfill it and have come to discover the meaning of true joy.”
If you feel an interest in promoting the mission of The Pro Sanctity Family, please visit the web site at http://www.prosanctity.org/.
By Teresa Pauls, A.O.
At a formal Mass on Saturday, May 3, 2008, Teresa Pauls, Parishioner of The Church of the Blessed Sacrament, professed her first formal vows in the Secular Institute of The Institute of Apostolic Oblates for women, which is part of the Pro Sanctity Family (which includes the Pro Sanctity Movement open to all, the Apostolic Sodales for priests and the Social Animators for men). At the Mary, First Disciple Chapel, in the Spiritual Life Center, Teresa answered the call to promote Holiness in everyday life. Mass was con-celebrated by Fr. John Lanzrath, Fr. Dan Lorimer, and Father Pat Malone.
Teresa welcomed the opportunity to make her first profession of vows, including poverty, chastity and obedience and the promise of the Apostolate to The Institute of Apostolic Oblates, a part of the Pro Sanctity Family, which embraces a mission to live and promote the universal call to holiness in everyday life. After four years of formation, and prayerful consideration, Teresa was unanimously and joyously approved to enter into the Institute.
During the celebration of the Mass, Teresa Pauls was invited forward by Teresa Monaghen, the Moderator of Pro Sanctity, to commit to her vows. She was asked, “What is your desire?’” and she responded, “To enter into The Institute of the Apostolic Oblates. Her First profession of vows was made in the presence of Teresa Monaghen, National Moderator, and other members of the Pro Sanctity Family, who traveled from Omaha, NE., as well as Teresa’s father, Gerald Pauls, her brothers and other family members. \
Teresa will continue her Master’s degree studies at Ave Maria University in Pastoral Theology and complete a chaplain residency the following year. Now that she is fully accepted into The Institute, her mission as an External Oblate is to live in her own home, to promote holiness in everyday life. She will renew her vows annually for the next five years, and at the completion of ten years she will profess her final vows.
Her journey towards a vocation began at the age of seventeen, but did not fully mature until she reached the age of thirty eight, when she finally decided to answer the call. In her words, “I discovered that God was bigger then me and no matter how hard I tried to ignore the call, God was ever vigilant in pursuing His desire for my vocation, so I finally decided to fulfill it and have come to discover the meaning of true joy.”
If you feel an interest in promoting the mission of The Pro Sanctity Family, please visit the web site at http://www.prosanctity.org/.
Notes from Fr. John Lanzrath’s Homily
A disciple is a follower who listens, trusts, lives, is called. Recall the example of Mary, the First Disciple, pondering the Word of God and Mary’s “yes” to God’s plan. Remember when Mary visited Elizabeth who said, “Blessed are you who trusted that the Lord’s words to you would be fulfilled.” Trust that where God has led you, to this point, and that He will continue to lead you. St. Augustine said, “Trust the past to God’s mercy, trust the present to God’s love, and trust the future to God’s providence.” Live in the present moment. The vows you have made for this year are in the present moment.
Teresa, you are consecrated even when you don’t feel like it; day after day, time after time. Remember what Elizabeth s
aid to Mary: “Blessed are you who trusted that the Lord’s words to you would be fulfilled.” Let this be a beautiful reflection for you the whole year. Do you trust in God? Do we in our country or do we trust in what we have? Mary trusted. We gather that Teresa and all of us will place our trust in God. Mary trusted and followed and we honor her, Holy Mary, Our Blessed Mother. As the First Disciple, recall her last recorded words: “Do whatever He tells you.” She led more by example than by words. This is the call to discipleship and gives us hope. Let us pray that we, like Mary, will believe that the Lord’s words to us will be fulfilled.
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