Blog

Sister Cathy Galaskiewicz, OP, a member of the Dominican Sisters of Peace recently shared her story with SOAR! I am now celebrating 66 years of vowed religious life as a Dominican Sister! I was drawn to this life by the Dominican Sisters of St. Catharine, Kentucky who taught me in grade school in Chicago. When…

Sister John Joseph is a member of the Sisters of Life. SOAR! recently had the opportunity to interview her.  1) What attracted you to become a religious Sister?  The Sisters of Life are a religious community of women founded in 1991 in New York by John Cardinal O’Connor. We profess the three traditional vows of…

The 40-year story of SOAR!  In 2026, SOAR! celebrates a milestone: 40 years of caring for aging Catholic Sisters, Brothers and Priests. The story of SOAR! begins with a question. In the mid-1980s, Wall Street Journal reporter John Fialka found himself wondering what had become of the Sisters who had taught him in Catholic school….

A Treasure of the Church I have had deep respect and affection for our Catholic religious throughout my life. I was blessed to be educated in Catholic grade school and high school by the Sisters of Charity. It became clear as time went on that support would be needed for them as they advanced in…

Sister Gloria Mar is a member of the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco in San Antonio, TX.  SOAR! recently had the opportunity to interview her.  “I’ve always been very ambitious. I wanted to chase the stars…to be the best” says Sister Gloria with a smile.   Sister Gloria entered the convent in 1954 and professed her vows in 1961. She recently celebrated her…

SOAR! recently spoke with Sister Pat Louise Langan, a member of the Missionary Sisters of the Most Blessed Trinity. She shares her story below.    1) What attracted you to become a religious Sister? (And when did you enter?) I grew up in an Army family; six grade schools, three high schools and grades 8 through…

SOAR! recently had the opportunity to meet Sister Clare and interview her via Zoom. Sister Clare entered the order in 1974. She says, “God led me here. I did not want to be a nun. I had been engaged. But my love for God drew me to become a Benedictine Sister.” Sister Clare worked with…

SOAR! recently had an opportunity to interview Sister Jean Marie, OP, a Dominican Sister of Nashville. “I wanted to be a Sister since I was in first grade,” says Sister Jean Marie. “In fact, when I was in elementary school in the late 1950s, every little girl wanted to be a Sister.” While Sister Jean…

Sister Judith Frederick grew up with Sisters of Notre Dame in her school and parish in Fremont, OH, so when she heard the call, there was no question where she belonged. She entered Sisters of Notre Dame in Toledo, OH after high school. “I was familiar with the Sisters of Notre Dame and admired the…

Sister Bernadette Schafer’s oldest sister was a Sister of Notre Dame. With a 10-year age difference, however, Sister Bernadette says she didn’t know her very well. She was only three when her sister left for the convent. When Sister Bernadette was in the eighth grade, her teacher asked her if she wanted to be a…