Sisters bring vocation message to WYD

Nuns on the run: Benedictine Sisters from Huntington are off to see the Pope in Toronto (TLIC photo by Chris Caputo)

By Chris Caputo

Huntington — Bishop William Murphy invited all the young adults in the diocese to join him on the pilgrimage to Toronto for World Youth Day 2002. Not only did high school and college students answer the call, so did priests and Religious. 
Two Dominican Sisters of Amityville, a handful of Little Sisters of the Poor, and 11 representatives of the Sisters of St. Benedict accompanied the Diocese of Rockville Centre as well. 
“Bishop Murphy encouraged us to go,” explained Sister Bernarda Krajewska, Mother Superior of the Benedictine Sisters in Huntington. She was joined by other Benedictine Sisters, novices and postulants in formation, and women discerning religious vocations.
At a time when new vocations are scarce, the Sisters of St. Benedict are flourishing. Three sisters recently professed their first vows and the congregation is in need of space to house all of the women here on Long Island.
“When Jesus calls you, you have to go,” said Marga Paparella, who at 29 is exploring the possibility of becoming a Benedictine Sister. 
On the bus ride to Toronto, the Benedictine Sisters got to know the young people in the diocese and vice versa. “It was amazing to hear how many people had questions about religious life,” said Sister Bernarda.
“They had questions about faith, not just religious life,” added Sister Bernadette Thompson, who recently professed her first vows.
“It was a good way to evangelization with the youth,” said Donna Crean, assistant director of the Life Center in Deer Park, who is discerning a call to a religious vocation as well. “We were able to get rid of any misconceptions.” 
When the Benedictine Sisters prayed the rosary together on the bus, the young people around them watched intently. “For some, it was the first time they saw Sisters in habits,” said postulant Kim Chiappino, 27. 
“They thanked the Sisters for wearing the habits and many of them wanted to take pictures with us,” said Ms. Paparella, who is from Mount Sinai.
Sister Catherine Katrus said she met a young boy on the bus who had been in a car accident and had a visible scar on his head. He hadn’t talked during most of the trip but he did ask her to pray for him. “He was losing his memory,” she said, “and he told me ‘People don’t understand me.’” Sister Catherine has prayed for him every day since. 

Staying young
People were happy to see religious Sisters, and one lady at WYD commented that she was especially happy to see “joyful, young” Religious, said Sister Therese Sanzone, 26, a novice.
Sixteen-year-old Crystal Recca of St. Patrick’s Church, Smithtown, has been considering a call to religious life for two years now and decided to travel with the Benedictine Sisters to Toronto. “I know the Lord is calling me right now and there are many ways I can serve him,” said Ms. Recca, who volunteers at the Life Center. 
“We are perfect witness to the fact that the Church is young. We’re not just old women in the pew,” said Sister Bernadette, 27.
One person on the bus pilgrimage asked the Sisters of St. Benedict if they were hot in their long robes, to which Sister Therese answered, “What wouldn’t you do for Christ?” 
United for the Pope
Sister Bernarda wanted the young Sisters to experience WYD and see the Pope in person, but “I couldn’t send my children alone.” Sister Bernarda has been a Benedictine for 30 years.
Ms. Chiappino met Bishop Murphy for the first time at the beginning of the week. “He knew my name at the end of the week,” she said. “I felt like I was really a member of the diocese.”
The Benedictine Sisters made the pilgrimage to Downsview Park to hear Pope John Paul II preside at the vigil Saturday evening, and they stayed for the Mass on Sunday. It was a long night, but the Sisters braved the inclement weather and lack of sleep for the chance to see and hear the Pope again. “We didn’t have cappuccino and we had some type Mexican chili for breakfast, but everything came alive during the Mass,” said Ms. Paparella.
“When the Holy Father sees young people, he gets younger,” said Sister Bernarda. “We saw how strongly he was addressing such important needs and issues of the Church.”
“Because of the Pope’s affection for the youth, the Church is stronger than ever,” added Ms. Paparella.