Open Seat: A Holy Family Podcast
Welcome to Open Seat, the podcast where we create a space for authentic conversations about faith—unfiltered and unapologetic. With each episode, we invite guests from all walks of life to share their personal journeys, struggles, and revelations moments of doubt, discovery, and everything in between. Here, we believe that every story matters, and in the open seat, there’s room for honesty, vulnerability, and community. Whether you’re questioning, seeking, or steadfast in your beliefs, you’ll find something relatable in these heartfelt discussions. So grab your seat, get comfortable, and let’s dive in to today’s story here - at the Open Seat.
Open Seat: A Holy Family Podcast
Gratitude in Every Calling with Ivelisse Auffant
In this episode of Open Seat, we delve into the inspiring journey of Ivelisse Auffant. Ivelisse shares her path from growing up in Puerto Rico to dedicating her life to the Adrian Dominican Sisters, her academic endeavors, and her extensive travel experiences around the globe. Her narrative also explores the challenges and transitions that led her to eventually leave the Adrian Dominican Sisters after 30 years, and her continued commitment to faith and community. If you listen carefully, you will hear Ivelisse express gratitude when each chapter of her life comes to a close. Through a heartfelt conversation with Katie Love, we learn about her reflections on suffering, gratitude, and the guiding presence of God in her life.
This is a podcast of Holy Family Parish, located in Adrian MI. We are a Catholic people, not a place, striving to Live Jesus through celebrating the sacraments and forming disciples in Adrian and beyond.
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Open Seat es un podcast Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia ubicada en Adrian, Michigan. Somos un pueblo católico, no un lugar, que se esfuerza por vivir a Jesús celebrando los sacramentos y formando discípulos en Adrian y más allá.
I have learned a lot about seeing how people respond to faith. My experience with the sisters, in growing up and being taught by them, I always had a gratefulness because I thought, gosh, these people, they left their family they left their culture, they left their friends so that I could learn about Jesus. I could learn about God.
Katie:Welcome to Open Seat, the podcast where we create a space for authentic conversations about faith, unfiltered and unapologetic. Here, we believe that every story matters. Whether you're questioning, seeking, or steadfast in your beliefs, you'll find something relatable in these heartfelt discussions. So grab your seat, get comfortable, and let's dive into today's story here at Open Seat. So today in the Open seat, we have the chief nun spy, also known as Ivelisse Auffant.
Ivelisse:Yes.
Katie:Oh man, I've been practicing your name, so this is good. I first want to tell you that you were such a good sport to have that conversation to launch Open Seat. I mean, I'm not sure how many people know this, but you were the voice behind the original launch of Open Seat. So thank you so much.
Ivelisse:You're welcome. It was a surprise for me. It really was a surprise. I didn't really know all that it was going to entail, but I'm glad I did it, and you found it helpful. We did find it very helpful, and I think people enjoyed it. Well, you know, I've been thinking about my life and how God has been present since I was little. Beginning with my baptism, my godparents are my maternal grandfather and his wife My grandfather married three times, but he was a real straightforward guy Okay, and he just was not a good experience But yet the woman that he might last became my godmother and she was just a wonderful person In fact, she was the one that chose my name So I owe it to her
Katie:How did she choose your name?
Ivelisse:My mother and her I understand that they talked about it and so my godmother said well, you know, the last name is French Let me see if I can find something that is also French and so that's how it happened
Katie:You are not only French But you're from Puerto Rico
Ivelisse:Oh, yes. My mother's side is from Spain. My great grandmother was, actually came from Spain and married a Puerto Rican guy. And my paternal side, they came from France through Corsica to, Guadeloupe in the, minor Antilles. huh. And then they came to Puerto Rico. Three brothers came from, all the way from France to Corsica to Guadeloupe And then two, moved over to Puerto Rico and one to Dominican Republic, so I have relatives in the Dominican Republic.
Katie:Ah, okay.
Ivelisse:And, they came because they were engineers for the train. At that time, Sugar Cane was really big. It's still big, but not as big as it was then. And so they were engineers, and so they came for that reason. So that's how it started. And, so here I am. I love sweets. And sugar cane is the best.
Katie:Sugar cane is the best. So from Puerto Rico, how did you come to the U. S.?
Ivelisse:Oh, my. My first trip to the United States was to New York when I was seven years old. So I took the first plane right then. And then, after I graduated from high school, I was able to go to University of Puerto Rico. had previously been educated in Catholic schools. We had American sisters teach us. In grade school, I had the sisters of St. Joseph from Albany, New York. huh. And I was there for the eight years. And then for high school, I went to the Adrian Dominican School that is in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Academia Sagrado Corazón, the Academy of Sacred Heart.
Katie:Sacred Heart, yeah.
Ivelisse:And, so when I graduated, I went to, the University of Puerto Rico, and that was a marvelous experience. Because at the University of Puerto Rico, I learned a lot about Puerto Rico that I did not know. And when I was in high school, I chose that I wanted to be a social worker. And so, as a social worker, I wanted to work with the poor. And I'm giving you a long story here.
Katie:I'm sure that people are willing to listen for hours. This is not a problem.
Ivelisse:Well, in order for me to find out if I could work and do social work, I wanted to experience the poor. Because it, it was not that my family was rich or anything, we were not, we were low middle class. But I wanted, I was, how would I say, I grew up in a parochial school, not parochial, they were Catholic schools. And so as such, I was not exposed to a lot of poor people. So I chose to, when I came back, I decided that I wanted to, I signed up for the Legion of Mary. When I was a junior in high school.
Katie:The legion of Mary. Plot twist.
Ivelisse:Wow. So, I mean, the reason, the thing is.
Katie:That is not what I saw coming.
Ivelisse:Oh, it was really interesting because I only joined the Legion of Mary so I could go to the Fanguito. The Fanguito was the worst slum area in the metropolitan area in San Juan, Puerto Rico, okay? So that was my in to get to know some of the people.
Katie:This is not hard to believe you were the chief nun spy now. Some of this is just all making sense now.
Ivelisse:So I loved it. I loved the people. And, I did everything that the legion asked me to do. You know, say the rosary and pray and, you know. have a ministry. Well, they didn't call it ministry then, but you know, you have to have an apostolate. So, so that was my first experience. And I thought, Oh, this is, I love this. I really love this. My parents didn't like me going down there. But I went with the nuns and the nuns didn't know Spanish and we taught the Baltimore Catechism. That's what we taught.
Katie:huh. huh.
Ivelisse:So that was my first experience. And then from then, when summer came and we, you know, as a junior and then also as a senior, I went to, some friends of mine who are still friends of mine. They're wonderful people. And, we went to, a Puerto Rican order called the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. And they're not the same as the Sisters of the Good Shepherd here in the United States. It's a local, canonical, religious congregation. Like the Adrians. Just in Puerto Rico. Just in Puerto Rico. Okay. Just like the Adrians, a canonical congregation.
Katie:So you've done a little hopping. Oh, yes. Religious hopping.
Ivelisse:I have. And I have kept hopping.[laughter]. So from there, I volunteered to work with the pharmacist, the one of the nuns was a pharmacist and I work at the dispensary and I loved it also. I also loved it. Anyway, so I went to the university, finally I'm going back to the university. And then this friend of mine, who is my bestest friend from Puerto Rico. Her name is Lucy. She and another friend of mine, who also was close, we decided to make a retreat, a weekend retreat. Oh my gosh. I walk in there on a Friday night and I said, what in the heck am I doing here on a Friday night? And I looked out the window. the room is very bare, you know?. And I look out the light and all the lights of the city. What am I doing here? Okay, well, so when I went, when I finished the retreat on Sunday, that was Friday night when I finished the retreat on Sunday. The priest that led the retreat, who was a Jesuit, And a well known Jesuit priest, said, well, what are you going to do with your life? Because part of the retreat, or the big part of the retreat, was to discern what you were called to be in your life. And so, you know, we reflected on the single life, we reflected on religious life, and married life. And so I decided it's going to be religious life.
Katie:Well, out of the Baltimore catechism, it's the highest vocation.
Ivelisse:Well, it's the perfect,
Katie:yeah,
Ivelisse:it's the perfect lifestyle,
Katie:It sure is.
Ivelisse:Supposedly. So, so, you know, being obsessive compulsive that I am perfect just fit me really good.
Katie:It would, you're right.
Ivelisse:So I decided, after a little while, and of course my parents were not very happy when I told them that I wanted to be a, religious. So they would not give me permission. I chose to, you know, I, I wanted to, I wrote the prioress, right? Yeah.
Katie:Of which congregation now?
Ivelisse:The Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Katie:Okay, now we're going to a different one. Okay.
Ivelisse:No, that was just some experience to get acquainted with the poor and how to, you Work with the poor.
Katie:Right, right, right, right.
Ivelisse:So then now I'm choosing to go to the Adrian Dominican sisters. And, I get on this plane. I entered February 2nd coming from the tropics, Puerto Rico. I had no idea
Katie:presentation of the Lord, right?
Ivelisse:Yes. I had no idea where I was going. I just knew he was Adrian, Michigan, and they were going to take me. So some people, the nuns arranged for me to be taken into Adrian from Detroit. So, here I come on the 2nd of February to enter the Adrian Dominican Sisters, and the group had already entered in September. I was late. Oh, so I have a reputation for being late. Well, I was, so I was late to enter.
Katie:So your crowd entered in September and you came in February,
Ivelisse:Right. Because my parents did not give me permission. And I just thought this doesn't make sense. How could I join a religious order without the blessing of my parents? Because blessing in Puerto Rico is shared a lot. You know, we bless people when we come into the house. We bless people when they leave the house. And I thought, it doesn't make sense. So I thought, well, I'll just wait, and I'm going to pray. And I prayed, and one day, I used to go to Mass at the the Carmelite Cloister, from my home. I could walk to it. And I loved it. It was really, it was at six o'clock in the morning, and I loved it. Come back, we're quiet, you know. And I come, and I have this envelope on the dining room table, it's a letter from my dad giving me permission on behalf of him and my mother. And it was in November. So then I wrote to Adrian, to the mother house, to the prioress, and she said, we'll come in February. So that's what happened.
Katie:And when you arrived in Adrian, the booming metropolis met you, right? I mean,
Ivelisse:well, anyway, it was.
Katie:What year did you come?
Ivelisse:1964.
Katie:Yeah, so Adrian would have definitely had all that it has to offer today and more, I'm sure, at that point.
Ivelisse:Well, you know what? It didn't matter to me because I was in. I could not, I didn't know the city. We didn't, I didn't go out.
Katie:In all seriousness, though, wasn't the motherhouse, pretty disconnected from the actual community?
Ivelisse:Mm hmm. Oh, yes. And, I mean, I just went to the doctor. I went to maybe get some shoes or something like that. Right. But it was, I was confined to living at the mother house.
Katie:To the hill. Right. The hill.
Ivelisse:But anyway, and then we don't talk, so it was hard to even get to know the people.
Katie:Oh, you mean once you entered, you couldn't talk. Sacred silence. Yep.
Ivelisse:And the following day from my entrance, I went to, to class at Siena Heights. I went to a class.
Katie:So you entered and the next day you were in classes at Siena Heights.
Ivelisse:My bachelor was going to be in Spanish and English. And so the first class I attended at Siena Heights was English literature.
Katie:Spanish and English, but you're a native Spanish speaker? Okay.
Ivelisse:Well, that was interesting. That was interesting because they gave me, I went to the Spanish class and they gave me this tape so that I could record and practice.
Katie:Well, 1964 was very different. So let's just.
Ivelisse:The book that we were reading, it was on this, on the left was English on the right was Spanish. And I was supposed to practice every day and tape what I practice. I did it for a little while. But so then the congregation decided to help me with majoring in Spanish and made arrangements for a professor from the university in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to teach Spanish. And he taught three of us that were majoring in Spanish.
Katie:Oh. Were any, were anybody else who was majoring in Spanish a native Spanish speaker?
Ivelisse:Actually, yes. The three of us were. The three of us were.
Katie:The irony of this whole thing.
Ivelisse:And it took place on two summers and the classes were superb. I mean, this was a real professor.
Katie:Oh, good.
Ivelisse:So I majored in Spanish, I graduated, didn't attend my graduation. I haven't attended any graduations except the high school graduation because I was at a distance, you know.
Katie:Well, how long were you in the congregation?
Ivelisse:30 years.
Katie:You're no longer in the congregation. How long have you been out?
Ivelisse:I was in for 30 years and I've been out for 30 years.
Katie:We're not going to do the math on your age. That's just mean. But
Ivelisse:well, I was 19 when I entered.
Katie:Yeah.
Ivelisse:You know, so 20 years, I'm 80 now.
Katie:Yes. So you've been out almost as long as you were in. But my question is like, after 30 years, What makes you decide to leave what you've always known?
Ivelisse:My experience as a religious, I was very happy. I did not leave because I didn't like it or it was too hard. That was not the reason. I left it because I had questions about the institution. I have been a member of the institution of the church since I was baptized, And so to belong to another institution didn't make too much sense to me. And there were a few Puerto Ricans in the congregation, although that doesn't, none of that stuff matters. Ultimately, Katie, and people can believe it or not. I know the truth is within me. it was a choice of faith. I only had one brother, my, he was my brother, but also my best friend. And he became ill with multiple sclerosis, and I saw how his life evolved with his condition. And the congregation was wonderful to me. They let me come and visit him two or three times a year for several years. I will always be grateful for that because, I just loved him. He's one of the people in my life that He will always be with me and I'm looking forward to, to embrace him at some point in my life or my afterlife. So anyway, I saw how he lived his life and what happened in his life and how he lost everything. He was married, had two sons. He lost everything. he ended up by not being able to speak, not able to move, not able to feed himself. He depended for everything in his life. And, in the end. I saw during those years that he ended up in a nursing home at some point because taking care of him was very difficult for his wife with two children. And so I even went to Puerto Rico at that time and went with her for that decision. It was not easy, very difficult, very painful. but he was very brave and he, he understood and he was willing to do that because he loved his wife. He was the love of his life and, the two sons, he did that for them. When he died, and even during the time that he was in the nursing home, I met some of his friends and, and what they did for him and how they were with him and how many people he touched, even from a deathbed. Remember I said I, I was always happy in the congregation. I had wonderful, beautiful experiences, very powerful experiences of the church itself. But I thought, my brother didn't have any of that. When he passed, I knew that he was going to die. I could tell. I just saw him a week before he died. But being me, I had to go back to my job in Grand Rapids at that time. And so I left and just within one week I got a call. I had not even emptied my suitcase yet because I went right into work when I came back. And they called me and they said he was probably going to pass that day. And I was able to speak with him. He couldn't talk, but he could listen to me. And I was able to to speak with him. So I'm very grateful for that. And so I just thought, God loves me. And I want to grow in God's love. Why not? I mean, if I have faith, I know that God will take care of me and God will not abandon me. So that has always been part of me and I have had difficult situations, but I have also have some very meaningful experiences. When I said some of the experiences have been, I was able to visit Africa and get to know people that had just been Catholic for maybe 35, 50 years, brand new Christians in Africa. And, that was powerful. That was a powerful experience for me. And I visited, four countries. I was in the Ivory Coast, I was in Zambia, Malawi, and Ghana. I have learned a lot about seeing how people respond to faith. My experience with the sisters, in growing up and being taught by them, I always had a, gratefulness because I thought, gosh, these people, they left their family, they left their culture, they left their friends so that I could learn about Jesus. I could learn about God. So, that was always something that, that I considered a very special gift that I had received from these people. And one of the reasons I wanted to be a nun was because I wanted to not have them do that. But then I didn't end up working in Puerto Rico. So I worked elsewhere. I worked in the Dominican Republic. I went to also the Bahamas, that we had sisters in the Bahamas I worked with the sisters that were in the Philippines at a distance, And now, why did I come to Adrian? I mean, after all this year, after 30 years, I mean, I'm out and I come back to Adrian.
Katie:Yeah. There's some irony in this, right? Like, I don't want to be a part of the community, but I am.
Ivelisse:Well. And what happened was I lost one of my closest friends through that. I thought, well now what, because this person really helped me grow as a human person. And she was not a nun, but she was a believer. She was very much aware of God in her life. And so I learned a lot from her about, she's not a nun, she's not, you know, but she had a love for scripture. And she got, she, she studied theology and then when she did that, she didn't want to be a pastor or a minister in a church, so then she went to study social work. And that's how we met, because we were social workers.
Katie:Okay.
Ivelisse:after she passed, I thought, now where do I go? So my first thought was, I'll return to Puerto Rico. And it didn't seem like I could do it there, financially, I just couldn't do it. So I came back. I lived in Flushing for 20 years and I lived there for a year trying to figure out what to do with myself. And two sisters found me, two sisters found me. And actually, it was interesting how I met them because it was my friend's brother who told me he had a good friend. So he said, my friend told me that there's a sister in Flushing and I joined Dominican sister in Flushing and, that there are two of them. He said, you can call them. I said, well, I don't know them. I really, the names didn't ring, you know? So, so then on a Thanksgiving of 2021. Pat McGee calls me and she called me and she said, you know, Theresa Mayran. We'd like to invite you for Thanksgiving. I said, oh, okay. I still don't know who Pat McGee is. So, so I said, oh, that would be nice. That would be really nice. Then there had been some time passed and so I found out that Pat McGee and I were in the same crowd.
Katie:Ooh! But she had entered in September, you in February.
Ivelisse:Right. So I didn't know her well, but I remember. her name. Anyway, they kept saying, you know, what do you think about Adrian? And I thought, no. Once there, I keep moving. I don't move back. You know, we're like, that's not true. I have moved back.
Katie:Yeah.
Ivelisse:But you know what? I know so many of the sisters and so many of the sisters know me and they're wonderful. They're very loving, they have received me, they have welcomed me in the community, you know, in the broad community. So I visit them on and off, and they're there for me if I want to or need them. And then I also remember that I had a wonderful experience here at St. Mary's.
Katie:Right. So
Ivelisse:because I worked here.
Katie:Yes. So, Victor Solis.
Ivelisse:Yes.
Katie:Will talk about Sister Ivie all the time. And I'm just like, no, I don't know who you're talking about, Victor. I'm not that old. And, and really that's what it is. But he talks about this. Oh, Sister Ivie in meetings, you know, and then all of a sudden Sister Ivie pops up and I'm like, wait, but I don't think so. And, then it's still Sister Ivie in his world. But, yeah, you're not, no.
Ivelisse:Well, you know, I never, during my whole life growing up, my family and I did not belong to a parish. St. Mary's was my first experience as a parish. And then I worked here as an Pastoral Associate with three Oblates.
Katie:And ironically, you're back here working, in many capacities, as a volunteer, at Holy Family.
Ivelisse:And actually, this place, this new building, there used to be a convent here, and I used to live there.
Katie:Oh, well, we could arrange so you live here again.
Ivelisse:The building that was destroyed. I used to live there.
Katie:we could arrange for you to live here again. There's plenty of things to do.
Ivelisse:Anyway, I am very happy. And I know that I tell my family that they may not understand, because I have a very small family. I have two nephews. I have one cousin, one aunt, and that's about it as far as family is concerned. So they may not understand, but, I feel like I have come home because I left my home for another home and I'm back. So that makes me feel like I have come around full circle. So I don't know how long I'll be here until the Lord lets me know that I need to be elsewhere. I'm here, open ended. And it might not be too long because I'm 80 years old, but for whatever length it is, it'll be my home. And I love the people. I really, I love, I think the culture, the similarities in culture has really, has helped me integrate.
Katie:One thing that, I think is very interesting is that you have had a lot of connections to help guide you through your transition. You have your family in Puerto Rico, but then when you left Adrian, you still kept in contact with some Adrian. And when you left St. Mary of Good Counsel, you still kept in contact with people from St. Mary of Good Counsel. So connection has been a very integral part of your life. So my question is, why?
Ivelisse:And I think I may have told you one day, if you become my friend and I become your friend, you're my friend for life. And so, you know, I have a chat group with my high school graduates. I'm in contact with them. I don't participate a lot, but I know what's going on. And that connects me with Puerto Rico. And they are a very special group of people, and we think so. We're very
Katie:Humility is not a virtue we're practicing. Okay, got it.
Ivelisse:Well, the people in my class are really special. They really are. It's unbelievable how Christ centered they are. And that's something that I share. That is my connection. I think I meet people that are Christ centered, they love God. These people, they help with prayers and otherwise continually in the chats, they share what, how they're sharing and helping other people that need prayers. Whether it's illnesses or job seeking or whatever, they're there for them.
Katie:Was that instrumental in your decision to leave the congregation because your baptismal promise that was made is, as a laywoman, nearly the same as your community in a religious community? You take vows, right, but everything that's instituted by the church occurs at baptism.
Ivelisse:That's right. To me, having been baptized was it. And I think that religious life, or even now, my single life, is an addition. It's an addition to help you grow in faith and community. when I left, I was clear about not wanting to get married because I just thought if I get married, I'm going to be, which is not true because I have friends that have a wonderful ministerial life along with their marriage life, you know? But at that time, that's what I thought, that I would just concentrate on my family. And I would be limited in how I can reach out to others. And so this has freed me. My life has freed me to relate to whoever. I go down the street and I think, pay attention because this person is, is another Jesus.
Katie:There's freedom within not being called to a specific vocation.
Ivelisse:And I don't have a middle name either. You know, so, but I am confirmed. I think I have a simple life. I don't have vows, but I live as if I did.
Katie:I think the number one vow would just be obedience, right? Those others, I think, flow from obedience.
Ivelisse:Exactly.
Katie:The vow of poverty is like where you spend your time and money. And that is certainly who's number one? And that's all obedience is. And so that's what I think is important is that we remember that we've all have that call to obedience by virtue of baptism and strengthened in confirmation.
Ivelisse:And I love that. When I made vows, I thought, this is brilliant. Because I have been able to continue that. It's God's will. Where is God's will for me? What is it that God wants me to do? That I consider that as part of decision making.
Katie:You can't do a good discernment without considering, right? I think you can in terms of what you want, but discernment should be what God wants and then how that fits into my plan. It's interesting that the institutions that we talk about, they're almost like silos. And the better question is how do they interact better than just being individual silos.
Ivelisse:To tell you the truth, I just don't see that much difference between the sisters that I befriend now. Even though I'm not part of the community, but I don't know that much difference. I mean we suffer, we laugh, we dance, we, we go places, we have fun. Different interests. I just don't see that there's that much difference. They see it from their perspective. They do see that there's a difference, but I don't. And so, that helps me to be free relating to them.
Katie:What difference do they see?
Ivelisse:Well, I think it's their commitment to community.
Katie:Although, I think you've proven commitment to your community in terms of your people that you relate to By coming back to Adrian and reuniting with some of them and keeping your chat group going all of these different things, there's the commitment to community. It's just a different community. It's not a structured community, but I think it's your community. And I think that there are still vows taken within that. If something happened, you would be right there to do whatever you could to assist them. And that's essentially what is called upon.
Ivelisse:That's well-stated.
Katie:Well, it's fascinating, right? When you talk about different vocations, I equally think the vocation of singlehood is not really spoken about well. And one of the things you kept saying repeatedly today, which I appreciate is the freedom to do what God's calling you to do. And sometimes there can be constraints on that, whether that be a religious community or marriage and children. And so you are free to literally say, when you said, I walked down the street and say, okay, God, because there's not a constraint on where your money can go or your time and talent.
Ivelisse:that is so very true. There's a freedom connected to God and how God manifests God's presence through the Holy Spirit in our lives. And so it's not that I don't get lonely and it's not that I don't sometimes I get sad. I mean, it's not like I'm happy go lucky the whole, my whole life, every single day, but it's a life that I'm following God. It's Jesus. I walk behind Jesus. Jesus leads me where I go.
Katie:It's that divine mercy thing, Jesus, I trust in you. And for those moments when it's not a bed of roses, let's say. What gets you through those moments?
Ivelisse:Well, gratefulness. Gratefulness. And I'm growing in that and I'm beginning to grow in gratefulness, understanding that, even in suffering, there's a purpose to suffering and something that I can learn from it. And if I focus on gratefulness, I may learn what the suffering is trying to teach me. And so I find that as a source of growth within me that sustains me and it just changes my whole attitude to suffering. I used to feel that, oh, and I have had this terrible experience. My mother died suddenly. That was a terrible loss when it happened. At that time I was blessed with knowing that God allowed it because it would have been worse for her to stay alive. She died of, she died suddenly of a malignant brain tumor. So, now looking back, I think, well, I was grateful at the time, and I didn't even know that it was called gratefulness. So, we learn even from the difficulties and the hardships, I can learn, and I have learned, and I would continue to learn. Not that it's going to be easy when it happens, it's never easy, but the word gratefulness has just expanded my heart like. Mmm.
Katie:Well, and joy. Joy is not happiness, but it's being able to embrace what comes and still be content with that. I just want to thank you for joining us today. I know, you're the original nun chief spy and we are forever grateful for that one. But, for really coming today and really sharing your heart with us.
Ivelisse:Thank you, Katie. it's been a wonderful experience and I'm happy that I can share this with the other parishioners that may be able to listen to it and help me grow. You know, we're together. We're together on this and we need each other.
Katie:Forward Together. That's the name of the discipleship plan for the parish. Forward Together. Forward Together. Amen. Praise the Lord. Once again, we thank you for joining us today. We hope that wherever you find an open seat in your life, you will invite someone to join you.
