Sister Emily TeKolste: Continuing to grow spiritually

More than eight years ago, Indianapolis native Sister Emily TeKolste became a woman religious with the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

“I became a Sister of Providence because I found a community whose spirit matched mine,” she recalled. “They are rooted in love, mercy and justice, both contemplative and action-oriented. I wanted to be a part of justice-making in the world and to do it in community.”

A Period of Growth

Since September 2016, Sister Emily admitted she has grown exponentially in her spirituality.

“I have learned to embrace people who express their Catholicism, Christianity and spirituality in many different ways,” she said. “I have been able to find my authentic self in new ways and embrace more of who I am without the shame that was taught to me when I was younger.

“I have grown to see all of who I am as a gift, even the harder parts.”

And yet, Sister Emily admits the growth has been mildly difficult. She continues to move forward.

“Sometimes, it’s still hard to work through some parts of what I feel and express. I’m learning to listen for what others are telling me, trusting that God gave them to me for a reason,” she said. “I’ve learned to be in more authentic relationship, meeting people where they are and being more honest about my own needs and boundaries in many situations.”

A Variety of Ministries

Upon entering the Sisters of Providence, Sister Emily volunteered in the Congregation’s Mission Advancement Department as well as at Providence Health Care and White Violet Center for Eco-Justice.

In her third year with the Congregation, she began a ministry as a high school teacher of theology and sociology at Bishop McNamara Catholic School in Kankakee, Illinois.

There, she was able to utilize her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Xavier University in Cincinnati.

Advocacy for All

Following her profession of first vows, Sister Emily started ministering as a Grassroots Mobilization Coordinator for NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, where she remains to this day.

“My ministry is to work with citizen advocates, everyday people across six states who want to fulfill the call of Catholic Social Teaching to participate in creating the world we want to live in,” Sister Emily said, “a world that values human dignity and puts policies in place to honor that human dignity.”

She and other advocates meet with senators and representatives, write letters to the newspaper editors, elicit phone calls and host community education programs.

She explained how NETWORK is currently advocating for a return to the 2021 Child Tax Credit, which cut the child poverty rate in half.

“We continue to advocate for returning to that expanded Child Tax Credit since we know it works to significantly reduce child poverty,” she said.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Sister of Providence, contact Sister Joni Luna at 361-500-9505 or jluna@spsmw.org.