The Spirit of Simple Obedience
The vocation call of Sister Christina Neumann
I grew up as the oldest of four children, in a middle-class suburban home. I was born with underdeveloped optic nerves, causing me to have no vision in my left eye and somewhat limited vision in the right. I still read regular print, but not with the same ease as most people. I attended public school for all but two of these years, benefiting from vision services readily available there. As a child, I attended religious education classes, prayed before meals and bed, etc., and always went to Mass on Sundays and holy days. For college, I attended a local private institution.
My mom had two aunts who were Benedictines, and she would ask, on occasion if I ever thought I might like to be a Sister; my answer was always no; it was not on my radar. I really did not have much experience of Religious Sisters, other than meeting one of her aunts on occasion and sometimes seeing Sisters when I came with her to her work at Little Sisters of the Poor, where she got a part-time job when I was in my teens.
Things changed, however, the summer after my first year of college.
The Visit that changed my life
My mom and I had decided to stop in at our church’s adoration chapel, as we sometimes did. My mom also had a weekly scheduled Holy Hour Tuesday mornings. We actually had recently returned from attending the funeral of her aunt, Sister Ann, out in western North Dakota. This little Visit with Jesus changed my life. I left with the conviction that He was asking me to be a Sister. What that meant, I really had very little idea. I didn’t know a lot about religious life. I didn’t know what kind of community I would enter, what I would do, or where I should turn. What I did have, after this initial “call,” was the conviction that “if this is what God is asking me to do, then I’ll do it.” As I have reflected back on this, years later, I thank my parents for helping instill this spirit of simple obedience to God in me in my early years, largely by their own example.
Early on in this journey, I was motivated, in my search, by this spirit rather than by much real desire for the religious life. I continued my college education, majoring in written communications. During these years, I also researched, filled out a postcard or two, and learned more about religious life and what I would want to see in a community. I came a long way as I explored different communities, honing in on what I believed would best fit me with my own personal interests, strengths, values, and limitations. I even visited a few communities.
To Fargo and my life’s mission
Shortly after finishing college, I spent five weeks with some Sisters a few hours away. It was a beautiful experience, and gave me good exposure to this life. The Sisters there suggested I check out the directory of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, which I did, finding it an invaluable resource. After doing some more searching, exploring and visiting, I finally arrived in North Dakota, coming into Fargo on a July morning, where I met the vocations director and rode with her down to Hankinson, about an hour away.
Fifteen years later, I am serving as a Franciscan Sister at a home for the elderly and disabled in Grand Forks, North Dakota. I serve as a receptionist, help with communications/PR, help take care of the chapel, and also fill in as a care aide when needed. On the side, I write a blog (called “Our Franciscan Fiat”) for my religious community, sharing thoughts, reflections and stories from daily life as a Sister. The link is ndfranciscans.org/fiat.
Sr. Christina M.Neumann serves at St. Anne’s Guest Home, an assisted living-type facility in Grand Forks, North Dakota. There, she helps in a variety of roles, including receptionist, sacristan, activities, and occasional personal care aide. Along with these duties, she also manages the web page for the facility, writes their weekly blog, and edits their resident newsletter. Sr. Christina also authors “Our Franciscan Fiat,” the blog for her religious community of Dillingen Franciscan Sisters in North Dakota. She also finds time for embroidery, baking, biking and liturgical music. Before entering religious life, she received a bachelor of arts in written communication, with some coursework also in graphic arts and theology.
