"Receive this Veil"

A sign of hope for a home-grown order - from the Baltimore Sun:

As incense smoke danced in the sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows, Anthonia Nwoga knelt in the hushed chapel for the long-awaited moment. It took but a few seconds. Off came the white veil she had worn for the past year. On went a black one that she may keep for life.

Taking the black veil Wednesday signified Nwoga's first profession of vows - a key step toward a permanent commitment to the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the nation's oldest religious order of African-American women, founded in Baltimore 180 years ago.

For this Catholic congregation, based since 1961 in Catonsville, Nwoga's decision brings a fresh dose of hope at a time of declining numbers at religious orders. In the past year and a half, 10 elderly sisters have died. But Nwoga is one of only a few to don the black veil in recent years.

"Our newly professed sister," declared the order's superior general, Sister Annette Beecham, to about 80 applauding guests, including a few women wearing vibrantly colored Nigerian head scarves.

See the whole story here. Sister Anthonia's acceptance of the habit and the life that it entails is a reminder to us that Jesus continues to call us all to follow Him - some in dramatic ways, some in very ordinary ways. But however He calls, our response can make for an extraordinary life.