Sister Rejane Cytacki’s schoolteacher nickname reveals something deeper about the way she lives out her vocation. Host: Sister Maxine Kollasch.
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Sister Réjane Cytacki, SCL, is a 
member of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth (SCL) of Leavenworth, Kansas. She has a bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of Notre Dame and master's degrees in education and in earth literacy. Prior to joining A Nun's Life Ministry, she served as the executive director of the Racine Dominican Eco-Justice Center, and recently served on the Core Team for Giving Voice. Other previous ministries include being a campus minister at her community's University of Saint Mary, and an elementary school teacher for ten years. Currently she volunteers for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline and enjoys gardening, cooking, hiking, biking, reading, and karaoke.
Sister Rejane
This Random Nun Clip is brought to you by A Nun's Life Ministry.
Sister Maxine
I'm Sister Maxine, and my guest is Sister Rejane Cytacki. In August 2021, Sister Rejane joined A Nun's Life as executive director, succeeding me in that role. And we've been working together on the transition of leadership for the ministry. Maybe you've already read her blogs at A Nun's Life or interacted with her on social media, or at Facebook Live praying with the sisters. But today, it's something new. This is Sister Rejane's podcast debut, and I am delighted to introduce her to you.
You've also got a background as a teacher, as well. How do you find that that helps you in your life here at A Nun's Life?
Sister Rejane
I was an elementary education teacher for 10 years. I think the one of the things that I was known for when I first started--I did second or third grade--is I love teaching reading and writing. And, of course, we had to do little groups. And you read books together in these groups, and then I would always want to go deeper with what we were reading. And I would always ask, "Well, why did the character do this?" And, and they'll give me an answer. And I'm like, "But why? Why? Tell me more. Tell me!" So the kids started calling me Miss Why-tacki. My name my last name is Cytacki.
Sister Maxine
Those kids think they're so clever!
Sister Rejane
They are! It rhymes! I mean, you have to give them credit. I chuckled. You know, some people would have been upset. I was not, because it was true. I was constantly asking why. And, you know, "why" is one of those questions that takes you deeper, and I think with A Nun's Life, it is a lot about living the questions. The answers change as you have life experience, but you explore them in a community, a supportive community, as you said, and that's how you grow: living into the questions and being okay if you don't have a concrete answer at this moment in time. That you're really trusting in God: you will get an answer eventually, but not necessarily the way you thought it was gonna be. But anyway, the deeper questions that I was constantly asking the kids, I think, have served me in good stead with this new adventure for me with A Nun's Life.
To hear full episodes of A Nun's Life podcasts, visit the podcast page, at anunslife.org/podcasts.
This transcript has been lightly edited for readability.
