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Sister
Katie Cooper|
SLIDESHOW ~ Novice Katie Cooper |
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In 1994, while living near Coeur
d’Alene, ID, I went back to school to finish my teaching degree. I
learned about St. Gertrude’s through my math instructor, Sr. Judith
Brower. After Sr. Judith left the college and returned to the monastery,
she sent out a notice about various retreat offerings at the monastery.
During Advent of 1999, she facilitated a retreat at my church in Post
Falls and gave me a brochure describing a "Come and See" weekend. During
the winter of 2000, I attended one of these weekends at the monastery.
From the first day I visited the monastery, for some reason, I felt like
I was home. Each time I returned, the Divine Office and Eucharist would
have phrases or words saying "Come follow me." I kept saying, "You don’t
mean me, do you Lord?" I spoke with Sr. Judith about these feelings
within me and she referred me to the Vocation Director, Sr. Janet. Janet
suggested I might want to learn more about the Benedictine way of life
through our Oblate Program, and my journey took me through the path of
becoming an Oblate of Saint Gertrude’s.
Being a teacher, I had time during the summer to serve as a volunteer at
the monastery. This helped me know the sisters better and allowed me to
participate in the daily Divine Office. These experiences were very
life-giving to me. As I prayed, I still desired to explore joining the
community and in 2004 I became an affiliate. In April, 2005, I was
accepted as a postulant and have been on the way to becoming a sister
ever since then.
My family has been very supportive of my decision to become a
Benedictine sister and their blessing and love has helped me during my
journey. I have two daughters, three grandsons, one granddaughter, and a
great granddaughter who will be one year old this month. They are all
gifts from God, and I thank God daily for them. I thank God also for the
wonderful women here who have dedicated their lives to seeking God and
serving others in many ministries. They are all wisdom figures to me,
and I am thankful for each of them because they help me grow in so many
ways.
I am grateful and filled with hope as I become a sister of St.
Gertrude’s community. My prayer is that I will be able to do the will of
God by helping others through our values of healing hospitality,
grateful simplicity and creative peacemaking.
