Listening to God's Call

Each year we celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week in January, beginning the new year by focusing on the gift of God’s personal call. One’s vocation to the single life, consecrated life in community, or marriage is unwrapped each day.

For Sister Karen Vollmer, the joy of being vocation director for the Racine Dominicans is listening with others to God’s call and supporting a response which is life-giving for each person and for those she encounters.

S. Karen reflects on her experience of coming to the Racine Dominican Community and what it means to be a “sister” today. As a young woman in college, her life was full of friendships and possibilities for the future, but she did not feel complete. “I was searching for something more,” recalls S. Karen.

800 years after St. Dominic's death, S. Karen and all other Dominicans continue to follow in his footsteps

“I wanted to be part of a big, worldwide community and put my boundless, rambunctious energy into the work of making the world a brighter, more alive, and happier place for all people. I wanted to be a partner with God in creating a world in God’s original design.” That’s been her gift and her challenge for living faithful to God’s call and to the Gospel.

Surrounded by sisters in communion with one another, she found that it was in community that she learned best how to “act justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with God.” S. Karen believes that creating community involves radical activity in this day and age when there is so much alienation, estrangement, and broken relationships.

She has seen many changes in religious life and has great hope for the future. She views the present as an exciting time with abundant possibilities because “all things are possible with God.” The scripture account of Elizabeth and Mary supporting one another in the birthing process speaks a message of God’s marvelous work. In our day, the “Elizabeths” with decades of experience and the “Marys” coming with enthusiasm are the carriers of holiness and nurturers of new life in community living. God does great things when we are open and receptive.

Eight hundred years ago, St. Dominic gathered nine women in Prouille, France to form community and pray for the work of the preaching friars. This has been called the cradle of the Dominican Order. The birthplace of Dominican life founded on prayer, community, study, preaching.

Understanding the impact of wholesome community living, S. Karen stresses the importance of reaching out and being responsive to the needs of people in our society. She is intentional about inviting other women to join the Racine Dominican community and be part of the creative struggle to build a just and peace-filled world. Being “sister” expands relationships and stretches concern for the human family and for all of creation. Listening to God’s call is an ongoing quest which engages us in “being on call” and responsive to the Caller.

To read about other Racine Dominican Sisters, click here.