Sister Mary Thomas’ First Profession of Vows

Please join us in celebrating with great joy and gratitude, Sister Mary Thomas’ First Profession of Religious Vows! Sister was blessed to take this new step in Religious Life on August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption. Many friends and family were able to be with us for the beautiful day.

As she herself summarized her vocation story:

My name is Sister Mary Thomas Mattingly, and I am from Kentucky. I am number 3 of 5 children. I grew up learning to love the Faith that was taught by my father, to be generous with others as exemplified by my mother, and to enjoy family time with all its craziness. I went to a Catholic school most of my life and worked in the kitchen at a Catholic nursing home that was run by Carmelite sisters all throughout high school. It was there that my vocation to the religious life became clear due to the perpetual adoration they had, daily Mass and confessions, and good priests. Their chaplain convinced me to visit Casa Maria by telling me I could skip school, and when I arrived I felt very much at home. I entered a little over a year later in January 2021. After a few years of formation, I am ready and determined to continue to give my life to Christ and see what His will has in store for me.

A Sister’s First Profession is a significant step in her vocational journey, as she commits herself to the vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, as well as the Rule and Constitutions of the Community, for a limited time while her formation continues. It is with this profession of vows that the veil is changed from white to brown.

Mother Mary Gabriel always spoke of our families as our “greatest benefactors”, because Christian families are the “seedbed of vocations” (Pope St John Paul II). We daily pray with gratitude for our families, that the Lord reward their sacrifices; and we welcome them into their now extended family of the Sister Servants!