Sister Anne Elizabeth Eder Growing up with strong religious and family values paved the way for me during various stages in my life. My parents encouraged each of us to consider service to Christ and his Church as we began making decisions in our lives. We were often challenged to find a vocation and career and to be the best we could in whatever we chose.

Parish life was a focal point for our family, especially the reception of the sacraments. Daily Mass during Lent, the recitation of the rosary in October, liturgical celebrations and processions were mainstays for us. The pain and suffering of my Mom during her illness and ultimate death at a young age both challenged and strengthened my faith.

As a child I shared the dreams of many others, a family with lots of children. During high school this dream led me to the decision to become a kindergarten teacher. The years I spent in college earning a degree in Early Childhood Education strengthened this desire to work with children; however, I began to have the feeling that my ultimate life decision concerning marriage and a family of my own was taking a different form. I had a strong conviction that I was going to spend my life with children. I also began to understand that God had other plans for my life.

As wonderful as marriage is, I realized that God wanted me to do something more radical and far reaching with my life. This feeling pursued me during my last two years of college. I consciously put aside the search for what the 'something more radical' meant and began making plans for a teaching career.

The summer following graduation was a decisive one for me. My younger sister had entered the Congregation after high school graduation so I had close contact with the Sisters. The peace that I felt whenever I was with the Sisters became a moving force in my life. As I considered the options open to me at the time, the desire to be with the Sisters always seemed stronger and more fulfilling than any other. Since I had never felt a strong call to the religious life I never considered this 'feeling of peace' as a push from Christ that would direct my life. With some encouragement from the Sisters, I decided that it was time to seriously consider Christ's call to follow Him.

After a time of prayer and reflection I knew that this was where Christ was directing me, where I would 'find peace and fulfillment' in my life. The choice was radical, but the support from my family and the Sisters helped me. During the fall of this same year I 'left all to follow Christ' and began an adventure that has filled my life with joy and peace beyond measure. The joy in my life increased as we welcomed another sibling into our Congregation and eventually celebrated her first and my perpetual profession the same weekend.