A group of us were chatting on Facebook that it would have been great if Oprah had shared the story of other ways of living religious life on her February 9th show. So, we decided to draft an Open Letter to Oprah from younger women religious.
An Open Letter to Oprah Winfrey
February 16, 2010
Dear Oprah,
We are younger Catholic Sisters and members of Giving Voice, an organization made up of Sisters in their 20s-40s from all over the United States. We would like to thank you for highlighting the lives of Catholic Sisters on your Tuesday, February 9, 2010 episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show. No doubt, this was the first exposure of many of your estimated 7.4 million viewers to the lives of Catholic Sisters.
We are pleased that you were able to share the story of the Dominican Sisters of Mary. It is clear that they are very happy in their religious lives. For this we rejoice! We too are happy in our religious lives. Like the Sisters featured on your show, we joyfully live out our vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. We are women who find numerous ways to follow Jesus’ call to serve others while fully engaged in the world. For example here is a sampling of what some of us Sisters were doing on Tuesday during your show:
- Working as an instructional consultant with teachers of children with special needs in Harlem, NY
- Collaborating with other Sisters on how to serve people who are poor in San Antonio, TX
- Joining 200+ Catholics at the State Capitol to lobby for social service programs in Olympia, WA
- Preparing to teach a class on human dignity to teenagers involved in gangs in Tyler, TX
- Reading applications for a volunteer program with underserved populations in Baltimore, MD
- Wrapping up after teaching school all day in cities around the country
Our lives of ministry and service are grounded in our experiences as members of our religious communities. Prayer is also an essential component of our way of life. The very nature of our lives is communal, not independent. For this reason, we were disappointed and concerned by how we, as Sisters who are engaged in active ministry in the community, were presented on The Oprah Winfrey Show and on your website:
“Some sisters choose an independent path, which means they live alone, go to college, pursue careers and don’t wear a habit.”
We live in community with our Sisters, often in small groupings close to where we minister. We go to college to develop the skills needed to be effective agents of loving service to God’s people. We do not pursue careers, but seek to educate and transform the world as Jesus would. Our clothing is the least significant part of our lives, yet receives so much attention. However, most of our religious communities choose to dress simply rather than wear habits. We are called to be prophetic, giving voice to God’s love in the world.
We would love the opportunity to share more about our lives of prayer, community and ministry on a future episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show. We would gladly speak with you, invite you to experience our daily service, or help broaden your viewers’ understanding of religious life in any way we can.
Visit the Giving Voice website to see the 40 signatures. I am glad to have had the opportunity to sign such a well articulated letter.
Archived Comments
Jeannie February 17, 2010 at 11:39 am
I am so proud of all the sisters for speaking up. You are an inspiration and your ministries and lives deserve to be seen as what they really are, and that is as widely varied as there are snowflakes. No two people share the same spirituality, therefore it goes without saying that every sister and every community will be different. Each will have their own views, their own strengths and their own gifts. I hope that Oprah will respond favorably to this. Stereotyping is not acceptable in today’s society. You have taken a stand to set the record straight. I am proud to call you my friend!
Lutheran Susan February 17, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Excellent letter! I didn’t see Oprah’s show (not being a huge fan) but I think your decision to address your concerns openly and in such a thoughtful and articulate way speaks volumes about what seems to have been missed on the show. It would be great if she’d take you up on it!
Katie February 17, 2010 at 4:28 pm
It became fairly obvious that Oprah knew nothing about Sisters. She should have at least read up on it. The fact that the nuns were on the same show as a geisha really made no sense. The life of a nun is not a secret. Well, unless you are cloistered, but even then their websites tell you what they do and what their life is like.
Sarah, RSM February 17, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Great letter, Julie – well thought out and wonderfully articulated. Thank you!
Another Sister Julie, CSSF February 17, 2010 at 4:39 pm
An awesome letter! I hope you get a response from Oprah. This was still a hot topic of discussion at our convents!
rosebud February 17, 2010 at 5:42 pm
That’s wonderful that you all put a letter together for Oprah. I hope you get a positive response. I understand that the topic at which you aim is the varying lifestyles and ministries of apostolic sisters.
I can’t help but think that, at some point, you all could also draw to Oprah’s attention, the stories of some extraordinary sisters that might touch her heart. From a historical point of view, she may be interested specifically in sisters that first educated and/or cared for African Americans – before any other Anglos did. You could also profile some inner city institutions today where particular sisters make a huge impact. Just a thought.
Joan O P (Australia) February 17, 2010 at 10:15 pm
Wonderful ! I was very glad to see signatories from two other Dominican Congregations. I do hope she takes you up on this. I was reading today of the Sisters’ work in Haiti; an inspiration.
Christine H February 18, 2010 at 3:51 am
Fabulous letter and a great response!
rosebud February 18, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Evidentally, this letter is getting around. A friend of mine who is a Protestant minister e-mailed it to me. She loved the distinction made between “calling” and “career”. rose
Sister Julie February 19, 2010 at 5:53 am
Cool, am glad to hear that it is getting around. Thanks, Rose.
Jan Soleau, IHM February 19, 2010 at 2:32 pm
Julie, I am so proud of you all and the well articulated letter to Oprah. I did see the broadcast and thought for a minute that I was back in the candidate time when I entered the community. The show took me through my whole life up to the 2nd Vatican Council. Now, being an octagenarian, I can only say how grateful I am to the Spirit who flew into the windows of the Church and brought in totally fresh air! Keep up your great ministry.
