"I am proud of my Sisters; they serve the people of God in health care, social services, and education."

Hi! I'm Sister Mariah. I am a member of Annunciation Monastery. That means that I belong to a community of women who have dedicated their lives to the service of God. We have chosen to follow the guidelines set forth by St. Benedict and have dedicated their lives to the service of God. We have chosen to follow the guidelines set forth by St. Benedict and so are called Benedictines.

You don't have to do or be any special thing to be a Benedictine. Basically you just have to be called to serve in that way. It is that call that so many people find challenging and kind of scary. I was about 19 years old when I began to think seriously about being a Sister. It certainly wasn't in my plans because I wanted to get married and have children. But there was that "pull" toward this way of life and it seemed vital that I should pursue it.

With each year I feel an even greater commitment to the value of this way of life. Living in community has offered me opportunities to grow in the knowledge of who I am and who I can be. My Sisters have provided many opportunities for me to learn more about God. They have given me wonderful examples of active prayer lives. Working together has given me the impetus to find new and creative ways to serve the people of this region. I like who I am becoming and what we as a community are able to do to serve others.

I am proud of my Sisters and what they do for the People of God. They make up a powerful storehouse of prayer for the Church. They serve the people of God in health care, social services, and education. We live together, pray together and love together. It is a good life for me, one which called and continues to call me to a greater relationship with Jesus and the Church. I am grateful.