Sr Mary Beth Hackley OSB

Holy Angels Convent
Final Profession Date 2011

In May 2004, I graduated from a three year Spiritual Christian Living Course wherein I explored my personal relationship with the Lord through different forms of prayer. From that experience, I felt that the Lord was calling me to him through Scripture. I put the Lord off for a year, and during that time I had a longing that I could not satisfy.

In Spring 2005, my sister and mother asked me what I was going to do with my life. I knew that the Lord was speaking to me through them.  This was the turning point for me. I knew than that I would make the step to enter religious life.

While I was looking at different communities, the vocation directress from Holy Angels Convent called me and told me that she was born in Cranston, Rhode Island, which was where I was living.  I knew right then that Holy Angels was
where God wanted me.

On August 1st, 2005, I entered Holy Angels Convent at the age of 48. My picture above was on my 1st Profession Day. August 6, 2007.

Sr. Mary Clare Bezner, OSB

Holy Angels Convent
Final Profession Date 2011

It took me about 10 years to accept the Lord’s call.  My first clue was when I was 18.  The next time I remember thinking about it was when I got out of the Air Force. I was in college and teaching high school Bible study in Lindsay, Texas. I kept telling the kids that they needed to give religious life some thought if they really loved the Lord.  Of course, I didn’t want to believe that I was being called.

After graduation, my sister and I went on a mission trip to Honduras for one year.  One night, I was reading a spiritual Catholic novel, and suddenly knew God was calling me. The feeling was so strong that I started crying and jumped out of bed and told God I wasn’t ready for that.

Two years later, when I was 27, the women in my rosary prayer group kept praying for vocations and then looking at me (at least that’s what it felt like). I finally got the courage to ask questions to find out if you are really called. Within a few weeks, I had to tell my family which was very hard.  I was very close to them and never wanted to leave North Texas. But my mother said she had been telling people that I was her little nun for years. I wish she had let me in on the secret.

After visiting many communities, I entered the Olivetan Benedictines in 2005, at the age of 29, because I felt that is where God wants me to be. 

Sister Maria Christi Cavanaugh

Holy Angels Convent
Final Profession Date 2012

In 1988, I began to sense the Holy Spirit calling me, and this call continued to intensify.  In 1997, during a weekend in prayer, I felt that God spoke to me that my ministry call would be in my late 40’s.  So I was content to wait.  In 2003, I felt an increased thirst and hunger for prayer and God, along with a growing dissatisfaction of my job and possessions.

During the Mass on Corpus Christi Sunday in 2005, I experienced an overwhelming sense of passionate desire to serve the Lord, and told God I was even ready to die for him. When I met with my parish priest, he suggested I consider religious life and visit some communities. When I attended a discernment retreat in September 2005, I was praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament when I felt a burning shaft of Jesus’ love come through my head and into my heart.  I asked Jesus and he said “I am giving you the gift of religious life, it is yours if you want it.” I said yes.

In November 2005, after a 30-day discernment visit at Holy Angels Convent, I felt for the first time in my life great happiness and a holy contentment like a great void that was being filled. I went back to Texas and did what Jesus instructed in the Gospel. “Go sell what you have, give to the poor and follow me.”  I sold my house, gave away my car and possessions and entered the convent in January 2006. 

Sister Gloria Knaggs

Holy Angels Convent
Final Profession Date: 2013

Over the last ten years I have found myself wondering “What does God want for my life?”.  With my wide range of interests and desires I remained open to many possibilities. During High School, I was interested in pursuing missionary work or some kind of music ministry. In college, I studied Theology and discovered my great passion for it, as well as a desire to know God more.

As a result of this “ discovery” within myself, I began to seriously consider the religious life.  I visited several religious communities, prayed and spoke with several religious and my spiritual director.

In March 2007, during my fourth visit to Holy Angels Convent in Jonesboro, God gave me peace about entering this particular community.

On August 3, I arrived from my home in Jackson, Michigan to take the next step in discerning a vocation to the religious life.

Postulant Michelle Keller

Holy Angels Convent

Hello, My name is Michelle Keller. I am from Owensboro, Kentucky. Ever since I was a little girl and visited my two great aunts who were Sisters I felt very comfortable in the convent and thought that my home could be the convent as well. I ignored the feeling for many years.

While watching Mass on TV in September of 2009 I received my wake-up call as the priest was reading the Gospel of St. Mathew: "Jesus told him: If you seek perfection go, sell your possessions and give to the poor. You will then have treasure in Heaven. Afterward come back and follow me." After looking at a few communities, I decided on Holy Angels and entered as a postulant in August of 2010.