2008 - 2009 Professions   [Back to Jubilees & Professions]

NOVICE KATIE COOPER
A Profession Story ~ November 15, 2008

"How does one explain the mysteries of God? From the first day I visited the monastery, I felt like I was home. Each time I returned, the Divine Office and Eucharist would have phrases or words saying “Come follow me."
~ Novice Katie Cooper

How does one explain the mysteries of God? Thanks to my parents, I’ve known about God, Christ and the Holy Spirit all my life. Little did I realize as a child or young adult that I would become a Benedictine Sister. Yet, throughout my life, I believe God was calling my name.

I attended the Methodist Church during my childhood and my mom would come to our programs, suppers, etc. even though she attended her own services at a neighboring town’s Catholic Church. One day I asked Mom if I could go to church with her. When we arrived at Our Lady of Victory Church, I truly felt the presence of God was there and knew that someday I would join the Church, which I did while in college.

SLIDESHOW ~ Novice Katie Cooper Please enjoy the images and recollections below. (There are 3 slides in the show.)

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.