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Sister Emily TeKolste
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Jesus, our model for breaking boundaries
Whenever Jesus crossed the cultural expectations of his time, healing happened. This is exactly what we are called to do today.
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“Racial Justice and the Catholic Church” book review
There is so much more Massingale offers for conversation in “Racial Justice in the Catholic Church.” It is worth reading — and perhaps inviting others to join you in a book discussion.
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Join the conversation: systemic racism and wealth, discussing across divides
When I started at NETWORK and had the opportunity to participate in the Racial Wealth and Income Gap workshop, my initial reaction was “This is what I’ve been searching for for years to explain systemic racism.”
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Let us be the people Jesus describes, as he sends his disciples out on Mission
Sister Emily TeKolste renewed her vows as a Sister of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods on Sunday, June 28, 2020. This was her reflection on the readings: Romans 6:3-4, 8-11 and Matthew 10:40-42. View her photo album here. This is an unusual time to be alive – and an unusual time to be renewing vows as…
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Sister Emily TeKolste: What does it mean to you to be a Catholic Sister today?
‘… my life as a Sister of Providence is a gift to me …’
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Saying yes to the vows
As I say “Yes!” to these great unknowns, I am excited to see the ways that Providence will draw these vows into my life. I’m excited to see the way they will shape me into my most authentic self. I’m excited to see what religious life will come to be as we navigate this time of transition.
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A sister remembers working to racially integrate schools
“We were treated just like the black people were treated because we were recognized as ‘Oh, those are the sisters who teach the black kids.’ And so they treated us like black people, and it was a wonderful experience for me,” Sister Laurine Haley says of her time helping to integrate the Catholic schools in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
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Fresh eyes on Sisters of Providence Annual Meeting
Though specific forms have varied throughout the history of the Sisters of Providence, the annual coming together of all sisters has been an important tradition for the community. Last week, I got to participate in my first annual meeting.
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Holy and profane
It’s not often that I spend time with my extended family in public. Sometimes, these interactions remind me how differently much of the world views Catholic sisters compared to my experience.
This weekend, I went to my cousin’s high school graduation party. Partway through the party, one of my uncles started asking me to bless him. Another made a comment about spending time with me to become holy by association.
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What can you do? Staying engaged in divisive times
Do something concrete. Trust in your power to make change, even if the results aren’t immediately obvious.
Create beauty. Sing, dance, paint, draw, garden, play an instrument or write.
Ask questions of others who have different views.
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Disrupting apathy and injustice: Sister Tracey Horan and World Meeting of Popular Movements
“Now, we must all become disruptors.” Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego addressed a crowd of nearly 600 clergy, women religious, and grassroots activists at the first regional meeting of the World Meeting of Popular Movements. Bishop McElroy called on them to disrupt apathy and injustice, racism and rejection of the stranger.
“This is not a moment for us to stay on the sidelines,” Sister Tracey Horan said. “The gospel calls us to step up.”
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Dear Discerner: live the questions now
In my discernment process, Sister Tracey Horan would refer me to the quote of poet Rainer Maria Rilke: “Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps, then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.”
Sister Emily TeKolste is in formation with the Sisters of Providence. She is a native of Indianapolis and has a degree in sociology from Xavier University in Cincinnati. Emily is passionate about justice with special interest in environmentalism and sustainability. You can follow her blog at solongstatusquoblog.wordpress.com. She currently ministers with the NETWORK lobby for Catholic social justice.
Sister profile
To learn more about Sister Emily, view her sister profile page.