Sr. Michele taking the plunge then...
Sr. Michele Denton, IHM has taken the plunge. On Saturday, October 10, she professed vows of celibacy, poverty and obedience in a powerfully beautiful Profession Mass. A packed congregation included family, gobs of IHMs, faculty, parents, students and former students (one who even traveled from Arizona) of Marian High School where Michele teaches, as well as longtime friends and friends from the World Community of Christian Meditation. Many facets of the ceremony were quite remarkable. Father Kevin Maksym, a friend since college, presided at the liturgy. In an introduction before Mass he spoke of Michele as his best friend and a tremendous support for his vocation to the priesthood. The Marian high school choir directed by Rachel Creech led the music and began with a prelude that Sr. Michele loves. In the Entrance procession Michele walked up the aisle arm in arm with her parents Doug and Rev. Gretchen Denton. Yes, Michele’s mother is a Presbyterian pastor. It cannot have been easy for either of them when Michele converted to Catholicism — and, of all things, decided to enter religious life. IHM President Sr. Mary Fran Gilleran mentioned that Michele had made a very serious, well thought out discernment about making final Vows, and I was struck by the emphasis Michele gave to the words “for the rest of my life” as she spoke the words of profession. Her joy radiated through the chapel and was met by spontaneous affirming applause from the congregation. In each Profession we see a different face of God, a unique way that God has spoken in this woman’s heart. We all left chapel on Saturday awed at God’s work in Michele and grateful for the gift of vocation. In the next few days I hope to post a video of Sr. Michele’s actual vow ceremony. Keep posted.
...and now!
