In this Random Nun Clip, Sister Subha Clare Ramesh, OSF, describes her unexpected turn from corporate life to the convent. Hear the full Ask Sister podcast AS215 at aNunsLife.org.
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L: Sister Kathleen Ann Mourisse is President of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception in West Peoria, Illinois. She is from a farm family in East Moline, Illinois. A vowed religious for 47 years, she has ministered in education as a teacher for grades 5-8 and as a principal for elementary schools. She has also been involved with coordinating RCIA programs and adult spirituality. Sister Kathleen Ann has a bachelor's degree in Education master's in Liturgy, and is a certified spiritual and retreat director. She loves being a Franciscan Sister because of the emphasis on simplicity and joy, essential elements of Franciscan spirituality and life.
R: Sister Subha Clare Ramesh was received as a novice with the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception in November 2018. She was born in Chennai, India, to Hindu parents and has spent most of her life in New York. Sister Subha Clare first felt the call to religious life in 2015, shortly after receiving the Sacraments and becoming Catholic. With the grace of God and A Nun's Life Ministry, she has journeyed to the novitiate. Prior to religious life, she spent 30 years in corporate retail. Sister Subha Clare has advanced degrees in political science.
SISTER MAXINE: I am Sister Maxine and we are here in Peoria, Illinois, home of the Sisters of Saint Francis of the Immaculate Conception. With us today are 2 amazing sisters. Sister Kathleen Ann Mourisse.
SISTER KATHLEEN: Good morning. Glad to be with you this day. So looking forward to our conversation together.
SISTER MAXINE: And Sister Subha Clare Ramesh.
SISTER SUBHA: Welcome. Very happy to have you here Sister Max. Glad to be on this show. I was born in India. We moved to the U.S. when I was 3, hence, lack of an accent. We lived all over the country, but I grew up Hindu, a very devout Hindu family. When I was in college, went through a tough time, became baptized in the Episcopal Church. It wasn’t until 2015 that I took….I went through RCIA in 2014 and took the sacraments in 2015. About three weeks later, I am driving through Boston for work. I spent 30 years in corporate America. I’m listening to a podcast that I had never heard before, called A Nun’s Life Ministry. And listening to Sister Maxine, and thinking, “I hear God saying to me, ‘This is what I want you to do next.’” This makes no sense. (laughter) First of all, I know no sisters. I have just been Catholic for about three weeks and how? This makes no sense. But here I am, three years later. I have now been a sister for a month. You know, when God calls you, you just have to respond. You can fight that. I tried to fight it. It just was not in my game plan. My game plan was to be retired on a beach (laughter) at this point in my life (laughter) and here I am. And I have to say I have never been happier. This congregation—and A Nun’s Life Ministry was just been with me the entire journey to get me to this point. I am very grateful to all of you.
SISTER MAXINE: It was an honor to walk with you on that journey. It was like a light for us, being part of that wonderful journey.
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.
