After 61 years in religious life, Sister Carolyn Puccio, a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet, told “Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley, “I can’t understand why there isn’t a line all the way around the block to join the Sisters of St. Joseph. It’s been a wonderful life.”
Sister Carolyn serves as delegate for consecrated life in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. She said Catholic Sisters Week, celebrated March 8-14, raises awareness of the presence and ministry of women religious and invites people to “join us in our mission.”
Conley recently interviewed Sister Carolyn for an upcoming “Practicing Catholic” episode, along with Allison Spies, archives manager for the archdiocese. Spies said about 450 sisters representing at least 35 religious orders are active in the archdiocese. “And they’ve really been a fundamental part of the life of the archdiocese since its very beginning,” she said, including the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet arriving in St. Paul in 1851, one year after the diocese was founded.
Sister Carolyn Puccio
“They and the many sisters who quickly followed them founded many of our oldest institutions, our earliest schools and colleges, hospitals, our charitable organizations,” Spies said, and conservatories of art and music as well as the first institute for the deaf and mute.
And the sisters are meeting the diverse needs of the present time, Spies said, including involvement in “critical social services, health care, ecological and social justice.” Spies said their work in various ministries is inspiring, both as individuals and as communities.
Responding to the call to religious life is a very unique and individual journey, Sister Carolyn said. Every story is different, she said, but her advice to any woman considering the call is “don’t be afraid.” “I really never thought I would be this happy,” she said.
To hear how Sister Carolyn decided to follow the call to religious life, listen to this episode of “Practicing Catholic,” which debuts 9 p.m. March 25 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM. It also airs at 1 p.m. March 26 and 2 p.m. March 27.
And to learn more about vocations in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, visit 10000vocations.org.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes interviews with Father Jonathan Kelly, who provides pointers on fraternal connection; and Maribel Laguna, who discusses the value of psychotherapy and the Catholic Psychotherapy Association’s upcoming conference in Minneapolis, “Grace Transforms Nature.”
Listen to all of the interviews after they have aired at:
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