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Sr. Janet Keller, FMA

I did not know anything about being a Nun- I had never met any. I only knew what I had heard from others and had seen on TV. I went on the internet and Googled “Nun”. I entered my information into a vocational site and they sent my information out to many different Orders around The United States. I received lots of mail and some phone calls.

Sr. Colleen Clair, the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco Vocation Director, received my information. She mailed me information and when she was in Louisiana in March of 2007, she came to my house and visited with my family and me. I was very excited and she invited me to a “Come and See” in New Jersey that August.

I prayed and asked God for guidance. I was given the scripture John 1:35-42 to read and meditate on. The words “follow me” kept speaking to me.

I went to the “Come and See” week with the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco (also known as Daughters of Mary Help of Christians) in New Jersey and I felt at home. Their joy and cheerfulness was contagious. To see their love for the Lord and his Mother was very inspiring. The way they prayed, sang, and their love for the young touched my heart. Before leaving that week, I asked for an application.

I entered with the Salesian Sisters on January 8, 2008 as a Candidate and lived in New Jersey. Then from August 2008 to June 2009, I lived in Bellflower, CA as a Postulant. Returning to New Jersey July 2009 to 2011 as a Novice. I professed my vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience on August 5, 2011.

During these past few years in formation: I have deepened my relationship with Jesus and my desire to serve Him; my relationship with Mary, our Mother; and my relationship with the Holy Spirit asking for help and guidance. I have also learned a lot about being a Salesian Sister (a Daughter of Mary Help of Christians): our mission (youth), community life, prayer life, and about our Institute from the beginning to the present time. I have truly experienced God’s unconditional love.

Spending time with Jesus, real personal time helped me open my heart to him. Sometimes it was hard to have the courage to seek and follow the call I felt within me, but knowing that Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and Mary were and still are with me every step of the way, helps me to continue giving God my “Yes”. What challenges us makes us stronger and better able to love and help others. Remember Jesus does not call the perfect or the strongest people. He calls the weak and unqualified. By centering on him, he gives us what we need to follow and serve him.