Victoria Sabisch, a 2011 graduate of Swansboro High School, has entered into the Novitiate with the Sister SErvants of the Eternal Word in Birmingham, Alabama.

In February 2011, Victoria was accepted into the Postulancy. On July 16, the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Sister Victoria entered the Novitiate and received the name, Sister Mary Patrick of the Blessed Trinity. She received her vhite veil, signifying her novice state, and her brown and white habit.

The Sister Servants of the Eternal Word have a dual heritage of Franciscan and Dominican charism. This is reflected in the habit. The brown cape and scapular, white-corded rope around their waist reflect the Franciscan heritage. The white tunic and 15-decade rosary reflects the Dominican heritage.

Sister Mary Patrick will spend two years in the Noivitiate, learning more deeply about the Catholic Faith, about the consecrated life, and specifically, life within a religious community.

The first year is cloistered which means the Sister Mary Patrick and her fellow novitiates will stay within the convent and not interact with the outside world. At the end of the second year, the brown veil is instituted. And after eight years, the final vows of profession are made.

Sister Mary Patrick realized in the fall of her sophomore year in high school that she had been called to serve Our Lord. She attended a youth retreat, Disciples on a Journey, sponsored by the Diocese of Raleigh where she met a young nun named Sister Laura. This meeting was life-changing, as Sister Mary Patrick's life changed focus to enter religious life.

She acknowledges that there were many people along the way who helped her on the journey to enter religious life. Most of them were from her home church, St. Mildred Church, including Fr. Donald baribeau, Deacon Jerry Fatica, the Women's Guild, and the Knights of Columbus, who financially support her on her continuing formation.

Sister Mary Patrick is grateful for all the prayers and Masses offered on her behalf.

~Photo courtesy of Francine Sabisch.

Ms. Siggins said she first felt the call to religious life when she was a high school freshman. “I felt a call in my heart,” she said, “asking, ‘Will you be Mine?’ but I pushed it away for about two years. I was scared, and really torn because I wanted to follow it, but I also wanted to be married and have children.”

A change came last year, when Ms. Siggins attended the Steubenville High School Youth Conference in Atlanta. “The conference opened my heart to the call,” she said. “It set me free from everything I was afraid of.”

Asked why she chose the Ann Arbor Congregation, Ms. Siggins said, “Well, I’m kind of a bookworm, I love to study, and I come from a large family [She has five siblings.], so I love kids. And the charism of the Sisters I’m joining is teaching from kindergarten through eighth grade, so it was a good fit for me.”

The most difficult part of her decision, she said, will be being away from her family: “I’ve never been away from them for more than a week.” The most exciting part? “Having the opportunity to give myself totally to Jesus, after all He’s done for me.”

Ms. Siggins attended St. Thomas More Academy and was also home schooled. Her favorite saints are St. Catherine of Siena and St. Gemma Galgani.

In his homily, Bishop Burbidge spoke of the call to religious life or Priesthood, and called Ms. Siggins’ openness to her vocation a blessing for her parish and for the Diocese. Speaking to students in attendance from St. Thomas More Academy and from St. Catherine School, he said, “The question to ask is never, ‘What am I going to do with my life?’ but ‘What does God want me to do?’ If you are open to His answer, nothing is impossible.”

Click HERE to download the 2010-2011 Diocese of Raleigh Vocation Celebrations for Young Women.

Click HERE to download a current list of men and women from the Diocese of Raleigh who are currently in formation for religious life.  (PDF)

Click HERE to continue to a listing of Women's Religious Communities currently serving in the Diocese of Raleigh.