The Year of Consecrated Life begins

The ‘Year of Consecrated Life’ proclaimed by Pope Francis began on Nov. 30, 2014 and will extend until February 2, 2016.
There are three goals: Looking to the past with gratitude, living the present with passion, and embracing the future with ope.
Sister dePorres Polk is an Erath native who was born Barbara L. Polk to the late Henry and Dorothy Polk on July 23, 1943. She has two siblings, Judith P. Lightfoot of New Iberia, La. and Preston R. Polk of Abbeville.
She attended the Holy Angels Convent in Jonesborro, Arkansas and received her vows on July 11, 1969. She has worked in Little Rock Arkansas as an assistant liaison to the Diocesan Council for Black Catholics. She is presently the Sub Prioress at the Holy Angels Convent, now in ther 45th year of consecrated life.
Sr. dePorres Polk shared her reflection on the blessings of her consecrated life in the Holy Angels Echo magazine.
When I was 14 years old, I felt the call of God on my life. I knew I had to finish school before I could even think about entering a convent.
I graduated from high school and was working at the rectory for Father Emery Labbe of Blessed Memory.
He told me one day, “Barbara, I’m going to send you to a nunnery.” I replied, “You, and who else”.
I couldn’t get the idea out of my head. I visited Holy Rosary School in Lafayette, Louisiana with the Holy Family Sisters, but I realized they were not the ones I wanted to join.
The Sisters from Holy Angels Convent were my religious education teachers. They were so jovial and joyful. I felt a drawing to their way of life. Sr. Mary John Seylor told me, “You know, Barbara, when someone invited you to a banquet, you don’t refuse!” That got me to thinking.
Ten one day, Fr. Labbe was speaking on vocations as Mass. I avoided eye contact with him, but when I did make eye contact, it was not he who was speaking to me, it was Jesus himself. I knew then that I could not delay my decision any longer.
I entered Holy Angels Convent on Aug. 6, 1967, and I have now been in this beautiful family for 47 years. I love every minute of it. I am so grateful that the Lord continued to pursue me and did not give up on me.