Sister Mary Teresita Richards, S.N.D.

What roles do you play in vocation ministry?

I'm vocation director for the Sisters of Notre Dame, and I am also a coordinator for the NRVC Lake Erie/Ohio River member area.

How long have you been involved in vocation ministry?

Four years. 

How is your vocation team set up?

Five of us are in vocation ministry across the four SND provinces in the United States.

Has being a member of NRVC been helpful?

It has been helpful to be able to collaborate with many different types of religious communities and to learn from their experiences. The workshops have also been very helpful and have given me the confidence and skills needed to do my ministry. 

What ideas have you used in vocation ministry lately that excite you?

Currently I am excited by the possibilities of social media as we try to connect with young adults.

Do you have any words of wisdom to those who are new to this ministry?

Don't get overly excited when someone expresses interest in religious life. Warmly welcome their questions and provide opportunities for them to engage with religious, but always be alert and vigilant in assessing if they have the skills and inner freedom needed to live religious life.

What do you find most rewarding in this ministry?

It is rewarding to meet so many who are attuned to the Holy Spirit's working in their life.