“I am a sister because of Notre Dame,” said Sister Karolynrose, a 2008 NDA graduate, who had attended public school in her years leading up to high school.
In Green Bay for a family reunion, Sister shared her story and love of Christ with the Journalism I class.
In referring to her decision to do high school at NDA, Christine Ertl said, “ I thought there would be something more at NDA for me.”
While attending Notre Dame, Sister was very involved. She attended multiple mission trips, played volleyball, competed in track, managed the girls basketball team, served one year as an advocate and two years as a class president in Student Government.
In a way she was always open to being a nun, especially when the kids in her French class said she would end up being one in the future.
After graduating, she attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. They had a seminary on campus, so Sister said she “began to see priests who were just like her interest-wise.”
While on a mission trip in Denver, Colorado, she heard God say “be my bride” when praying for her call in adoration.
She then attended a “Come and See” retreat that helps people learn about sisterhood. There she found joy she couldn’t explain.
She felt like she was being called, but she wasn’t sure, so she went to God in prayer. “Lord, if you’re calling me, I need a sign,” she prayed.
Later in daily mass, the reading basically said, “Why do you ask for signs, you stiff-necked people.” Sister stayed after worship and prayed to God again: “I’m not asking out of lack of faith, I just don’t know what you’re calling me for.”
Later that week, the front desk worker came down to her and said, “The sisters are here for you.” Ertl then knew that was her sign, and that she was being called to sisterhood.
She signed up for another retreat, a silent retreat, and after her mom almost filed a missing person report on her because she didn’t know where her daughter was, Ertl shared with her mom that she wanted to be a nun.
Since 2014, Sister has been in Los Angeles, California.
She had some hard times finding her call, and she had to say a lot of different “yes’s” along the way, but, as she told the class, “I’ve always wanted to help people and give back.”