Even page template
July 12, 2013 Vol. 48, No. 15
Pope Francis’ first encyclical
Fortnight for Freedom closes
Page 5
Page 7
Sainthood for two popes Page 10 www.thedialog.org
Dialog wins Catholic Press awards Page 6
A sister’s final profession of vows
The Dialog/www.DonBlakePhotography.com
Sr. Audrey Frances Moran prostrates herself before the altar during the rite of perpetual profession at Immaculate Conception Church in Elkton, Md., June 29.
Sister Audrey saw the world, found home in religious life By Laura Fay For The Dialog
CHILDS, Md. — Audrey Frances Moran lived on four continents before entering the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales nine years ago, bringing with her a world of love for Christ. Sister Audrey Frances Moran professed her final vows as an Oblate Sister of St.
Francis de Sales June 29 during a Mass celebrated by Bishop Malooly at Immaculate Conception Church in Elkton. Sister Audrey, 30, was born in New York, but spent much of her childhood traveling the world with her family because her father worked with the U.S. State Department. They lived in Hong Kong, West Africa and France before settling near St. Louis Parish in Alexandria, Va., when Sister
Audrey was in high school. She felt like she belonged everywhere she lived, but is also grateful her parents made sure she and her sisters remained grounded in the Catholic faith, she said. When she was growing up, Sister Audrey said, she usually went to Mass because she had to go with her parents, but in college she found herself face-to-face with questions about the role faith would
play in her life.
“I always had a sense that faith was important,” Sister Audrey said, noting she turned toward God on her own terms as she became more independent during college. It was then, at Mary Washington College (now the University of Mary
A call to religious life
See Oblate Sister, page 8
8
• News: Diocese
www.thedialog.org
• July 12, 2013 • The Dialog
Oblate Sister: She had considered law, medicine, ballet and journalism Continued from page 1
Washington) in Fredericksburg, Va., she realized God was calling her to the religious life. She was just 19. Sister Audrey graduated from Mary Washington in May 2004 with a degree in social anthropology and entered Villa Aviat in Childs that August. Since then, she has progressed through the novitiate, spent time at the Oblates’ motherhouse in Troyes, France, earned a master’s degree in education at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pa., and started teaching at Mount Aviat Academy. Before deciding on religious life, Sister Audrey considered being a lawyer, doctor, ballerina and journalist. When she began to discern her vocation, the next step was to pray about the decision, as well as speak to the campus ministry department at her school, she said. Getting involved with campus ministry was a “game changer” because it gave her a community of friends who weren’t afraid to say they wanted relationships with God, she said. Sister Audrey also joined the Legion of Mary lay association in her hometown and spent time with the chapter in Fredericksburg during the school year. During a four-day vocations retreat, Sister Audrey said her life “took a turn,” and she knew she would take vows with a religious order. After the retreat, she began praying more often and attending daily Mass. “You couldn’t keep me away. All of a sudden I was seeing it as God’s expression of love for me, not just a ritual,” she said of the Eucharist. Sister Audrey also started meeting with congregations in search of her future home.
The Dialog/www.DonBlakePhotography.com
Sister Audrey (right) prays during her perpetual profession of vows as an Oblate Sister of St. Francis de Sales June 29 at Immaculate Conception Church in Elkton, Md. To Sister Audrey’s right is Sister Mary Elizabeth Socorso, who recently celebrated her 50th anniversary of religious life.
The Dialog/www.DonBlakePhotography.com
Bishop Malooly blesses Sister Audrey, who plans to continue teaching at Mount Aviat Academy in Childs, Md., where she has been for three years.
tional community of the Oblates and their spiritual dedication to charity. The story of St. Leonie Aviat, canonized in 2001, “clicked” with Sister Audrey and helped in her discernment. “As soon as I got to know her story I felt like she was becoming my friend, and I really wanted to follow in her way,” she said of the order’s founder, affectionately calling her “Mother Aviat.” One quotation from the founder stood out to Sister Audrey as she sought to discern her calling and listen to it: “The present moment contains the light to be followed.” For her, the quote is a reminder ‘The present moment’ that “God is right there in every She was drawn to the interna- moment and always providing the
Buying or Selling ... Call Philip for prompt, courteous, professional Real Estate service!
light we need,” she said. Sister Audrey also takes inspiration from Pope Benedict XVI and encourages other young people to heed his advice as well: “Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything.” Sister Audrey would later use her discernment experience to counsel students at DeSales about prayer and vocations. She has been teaching at Mount Aviat for three years and plans to continue there. She has taught sci-
ence, computers and religion to the middle school students. In the long run, Sister Audrey said, she is looking forward to growing in her union with God and following his plan for her, but most of all, going to heaven. Sister John Elizabeth Callaghan, the superior of the Oblate Sisters in Childs and principal of Mount Aviat Academy, said Sister Audrey has been a “blessing” to the community. “She is always open to exploring new ventures and committed to doing them well,” Sister John Elizabeth said. “Sister possesses a great desire to grow in her love of Christ and his church and to share that love with others.”
cision to enter the Villa, Sister said. After speaking with the sisters, Sister Audrey felt the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales was the right place for her, but convincing her family was difficult. “My family didn’t know what to make of it, so there were a lot of struggles with trying to help them understand and be sensitive to them, because it wasn’t something they had ever expected, or something I had ever expected,” she said of her decision to pursue life with the Oblates. Another struggle was persuading herself that it was her vocation, because Sister Audrey wondered whether she had what it would take to serve God as a religious sister, she said. Not perfect “I am not a perfect person, but I The hardest part of the journey am called to perfect union with thus far was making the final de- God.”
Pasta & Ravioli Dinners 2nd & 4th Sunday of every month 1pm-6pm
Let us cater your weddings, showers, anniversaries, funeral luncheons or any social and business function.
Prudential
PHILIP BERGER
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL — ST. PIUS X COUNCIL #4425 —
Fox & Roach, REALTORS©
1801 LANCASTER AVE. • WILMINGTON, DE
Office: 302-477-5500 Cell: 302-547-6883
Conveniently located off I-95
3513 Concord Pike • Wilmington, DE 19803.
J oin
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call 302-661-1010
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Pope Francis’ first encyclical
Fortnight for Freedom closes
Page 5
Page 7
Sainthood for two popes Page 10 www.thedialog.org
Dialog wins Catholic Press awards Page 6
A sister’s final profession of vows
The Dialog/www.DonBlakePhotography.com
Sr. Audrey Frances Moran prostrates herself before the altar during the rite of perpetual profession at Immaculate Conception Church in Elkton, Md., June 29.
Sister Audrey saw the world, found home in religious life By Laura Fay For The Dialog
CHILDS, Md. — Audrey Frances Moran lived on four continents before entering the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales nine years ago, bringing with her a world of love for Christ. Sister Audrey Frances Moran professed her final vows as an Oblate Sister of St.
Francis de Sales June 29 during a Mass celebrated by Bishop Malooly at Immaculate Conception Church in Elkton. Sister Audrey, 30, was born in New York, but spent much of her childhood traveling the world with her family because her father worked with the U.S. State Department. They lived in Hong Kong, West Africa and France before settling near St. Louis Parish in Alexandria, Va., when Sister
Audrey was in high school. She felt like she belonged everywhere she lived, but is also grateful her parents made sure she and her sisters remained grounded in the Catholic faith, she said. When she was growing up, Sister Audrey said, she usually went to Mass because she had to go with her parents, but in college she found herself face-to-face with questions about the role faith would
play in her life.
“I always had a sense that faith was important,” Sister Audrey said, noting she turned toward God on her own terms as she became more independent during college. It was then, at Mary Washington College (now the University of Mary
A call to religious life
See Oblate Sister, page 8
8
• News: Diocese
www.thedialog.org
• July 12, 2013 • The Dialog
Oblate Sister: She had considered law, medicine, ballet and journalism Continued from page 1
Washington) in Fredericksburg, Va., she realized God was calling her to the religious life. She was just 19. Sister Audrey graduated from Mary Washington in May 2004 with a degree in social anthropology and entered Villa Aviat in Childs that August. Since then, she has progressed through the novitiate, spent time at the Oblates’ motherhouse in Troyes, France, earned a master’s degree in education at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pa., and started teaching at Mount Aviat Academy. Before deciding on religious life, Sister Audrey considered being a lawyer, doctor, ballerina and journalist. When she began to discern her vocation, the next step was to pray about the decision, as well as speak to the campus ministry department at her school, she said. Getting involved with campus ministry was a “game changer” because it gave her a community of friends who weren’t afraid to say they wanted relationships with God, she said. Sister Audrey also joined the Legion of Mary lay association in her hometown and spent time with the chapter in Fredericksburg during the school year. During a four-day vocations retreat, Sister Audrey said her life “took a turn,” and she knew she would take vows with a religious order. After the retreat, she began praying more often and attending daily Mass. “You couldn’t keep me away. All of a sudden I was seeing it as God’s expression of love for me, not just a ritual,” she said of the Eucharist. Sister Audrey also started meeting with congregations in search of her future home.
The Dialog/www.DonBlakePhotography.com
Sister Audrey (right) prays during her perpetual profession of vows as an Oblate Sister of St. Francis de Sales June 29 at Immaculate Conception Church in Elkton, Md. To Sister Audrey’s right is Sister Mary Elizabeth Socorso, who recently celebrated her 50th anniversary of religious life.
The Dialog/www.DonBlakePhotography.com
Bishop Malooly blesses Sister Audrey, who plans to continue teaching at Mount Aviat Academy in Childs, Md., where she has been for three years.
tional community of the Oblates and their spiritual dedication to charity. The story of St. Leonie Aviat, canonized in 2001, “clicked” with Sister Audrey and helped in her discernment. “As soon as I got to know her story I felt like she was becoming my friend, and I really wanted to follow in her way,” she said of the order’s founder, affectionately calling her “Mother Aviat.” One quotation from the founder stood out to Sister Audrey as she sought to discern her calling and listen to it: “The present moment contains the light to be followed.” For her, the quote is a reminder ‘The present moment’ that “God is right there in every She was drawn to the interna- moment and always providing the
Buying or Selling ... Call Philip for prompt, courteous, professional Real Estate service!
light we need,” she said. Sister Audrey also takes inspiration from Pope Benedict XVI and encourages other young people to heed his advice as well: “Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything.” Sister Audrey would later use her discernment experience to counsel students at DeSales about prayer and vocations. She has been teaching at Mount Aviat for three years and plans to continue there. She has taught sci-
ence, computers and religion to the middle school students. In the long run, Sister Audrey said, she is looking forward to growing in her union with God and following his plan for her, but most of all, going to heaven. Sister John Elizabeth Callaghan, the superior of the Oblate Sisters in Childs and principal of Mount Aviat Academy, said Sister Audrey has been a “blessing” to the community. “She is always open to exploring new ventures and committed to doing them well,” Sister John Elizabeth said. “Sister possesses a great desire to grow in her love of Christ and his church and to share that love with others.”
cision to enter the Villa, Sister said. After speaking with the sisters, Sister Audrey felt the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales was the right place for her, but convincing her family was difficult. “My family didn’t know what to make of it, so there were a lot of struggles with trying to help them understand and be sensitive to them, because it wasn’t something they had ever expected, or something I had ever expected,” she said of her decision to pursue life with the Oblates. Another struggle was persuading herself that it was her vocation, because Sister Audrey wondered whether she had what it would take to serve God as a religious sister, she said. Not perfect “I am not a perfect person, but I The hardest part of the journey am called to perfect union with thus far was making the final de- God.”
Pasta & Ravioli Dinners 2nd & 4th Sunday of every month 1pm-6pm
Let us cater your weddings, showers, anniversaries, funeral luncheons or any social and business function.
Prudential
PHILIP BERGER
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL — ST. PIUS X COUNCIL #4425 —
Fox & Roach, REALTORS©
1801 LANCASTER AVE. • WILMINGTON, DE
Office: 302-477-5500 Cell: 302-547-6883
Conveniently located off I-95
3513 Concord Pike • Wilmington, DE 19803.
J oin
the
call 302-661-1010
K nightS S ocial c lub . a ll K nightS
of
c olumbuS m emberS W elcome !
