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FEATURE: THE CONSECRATED LIFE
KMHS proudly celebrates three alumni who have dedicated themselves to living the consecrated life: Bro. Daniel Griffin, S.M. (Class of 2002), Sr. Ann Thomas (Caroline) Bamburek, O.P. (Class of 2009), and Br. Pierre Touissant (Alan) Guiteau, C.F.R. (Class of 2004).
By Mrs. Trista Harnisch, Director of KMHS Retreats
THE CONSECRATED LIFE
IN 2013, Pope Francis declared that the coming year would be the Year of Consecrated Life, dedicated to the courageous lives of our holy religious and consecrated brothers and sisters in the Church. The Holy Father’s intention for this year is for consecrated men and women to show how their lives are witnesses of communion, of joy, and of the Gospel. In his letter calling for this special year, Pope Francis says, “I am counting on you to ‘wake up the world,’ since the distinctive sign of consecrated life is prophecy. This is the priority that is needed right now.” The Year of Consecrated Life began November 30, 2014, the First Sunday of Advent, and it will close on the World Day of Consecrated Life, February 2, 2016.
Kellenberg Memorial High School proudly recognizes three alumni who have been called to live the consecrated life as either a brother or sister: SR. ANN THOMAS (CAROLINE) BAMBUREK, O.P. ’09, BR. PIERRE TOUISSANT (ALAN) GUITEAU, C.F.R. ’04, and BRO. DANIEL GRIFFIN, S.M. ’02.
Sr. Ann Thomas, in this Year of Consecrated Life, how would you say you are living out your vocation?
I am living out my vocation to follow Christ more closely as a consecrated woman as a Dominican Sister of St. Cecilia. Having publicly professed the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, I am dedicated to God and His Church. Our congregation, the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, is a contemplative-active religious community with the apostolate of education. So right now I am living out my obedience as I study in preparation for teaching in the apostolate. I lived at our Motherhouse in Nashville, TN and study at Aquinas College working toward a B.S. in History in the School of Education.
What are some aspects that you really enjoy about your vocation that some people may not know about?
There are many aspects that I love about my vocation. When you’re living according to God’s
plan for you, you’re going to be filled with deep peace and joy even during the difficult times. That being said, when I was discerning religious life I thought that following the same horarium (schedule) every day, with fixed times for prayer, study, recreation, meals etc. would be boring. But actually, it provides a rhythm with God always at the center. Even though the horarium is the same, no day is the same. Each day is an adventure with Christ. Another aspect of our life that I enjoy is the silence. We spend parts of our day in silence so that we can be in communion with God and pray always. I thought this would be difficult, and it was at first, coming from our very “noisy” world, but I quickly grew to love it. One of the mottoes of Dominican life is “to contemplate and to share with others the fruits of our contemplation.” The silence fosters this contemplation of God.
Did your time at Kellenberg play a role in your vocation story?
Kellenberg played a big role in my ability to recognize and follow God’s call. I’m very grateful to Kellenberg because it was there that I developed a real personal relationship with Christ and grew in faith. It was also at Kellenberg where I was encouraged to discern a religious vocation. There were several teachers who recognized that I might have a vocation to the Religious Life and helped me to grow in the spiritual life and discern my vocation. The support and advice I received from the Brothers and the faculty were indispensable. As the students know, there are many religious activities at Kellenberg. While they all positively impacted my spiritual life, it was XLT that had the greatest impact. Before coming to Kellenberg, I had not really been exposed to Eucharistic Adoration. So, praying in front of our Eucharistic Lord during XLT really changed my life. It was during those encounters with Jesus in the Eucharist that I developed a deeper prayer life that led me to know the truth of God’s unconditional love for us. This further disposed me to listen to what God was whispering in my heart.
Turning to Bro. Daniel, how would you say you are living out your vocation? I am living out my vocation by bringing young people closer to Jesus Christ through his Blessed Mother Mary. I hope that young people see in my vocation that this life is not where we find fulfillment, but rather it is in a relationship with Jesus Christ that we will find fulfillment. I am currently teaching History of Salvation I, or Scripture, as we call it at KMHS. A big part of my ministry is also in pastoral and guidance counseling.
And what are some aspects that you really enjoy about your vocation that some people may not know about?
I love being around young people and being a part of their life at such a vital point of their religious and spiritual formation. There is not a day that goes by without a young person bringing a smile to my face! I try my best to see the face of Jesus in all of our students.
Did your time at Kellenberg play a role in your vocation story?
Kellenberg was a very special place and an integral part of my vocation story. I really grew as a person when I attended Kellenberg. I joined a lot of activities and loved growing in my spirituality. My religion classes were very formative, but even more important were the relationships that grew between my teachers, staff, and fellow students. I learned what community was all about by living and growing in the Kellenberg Community. Since I was a little boy, I wanted to become a priest or a teacher, and when I met the Brothers at KMHS, I felt like they had the best of both worlds!
Finally, Br. Pierre Touissant, how would you say you are living out your vocation?
I’m living out my vocation to poverty, chastity, and obedience just by being faithful to the rule and the constitutions that we have. St. Francis says very beautifully our primary rule is the Gospels, and so I’m just trying my best to be a good Christian, giving food to the poor, loving my brothers in whatever context I can. Really trying to fulfill His commandment, “Love one another as I have loved you.”
And what are some aspects that you really enjoy about your vocation that some people may not know about?
An aspect of my vocation that I enjoy that might be a little bit of a secret is the public witness, which is twofold. First of all, since I am wearing full habit, people look at me very funny, so you just get into weird conversations. But, I love walking down the streets, knowing that everybody is going to be looking at me, turning around really quickly to catch them staring at me, but then that starts a real conversation. Secondly, by my sincere public witness in habit, people know that you’re different, and so they tend to trust you with things. Sometimes they’ll walk up to me, “Hey Brother, I’ve got this and that going on in my life, can you pray for me?” It’s those aspects that I really enjoy.
Did your time at Kellenberg play a role in your vocation story? Kellenberg is o en known as the school that never sleeps. And, o entimes having practices for basketball or baseball, whatever it was, looking back on it, I was asked to give a lot of myself. I found I was being fulfilled in giving of myself, whether it be to my team or to PREP or whatever. It helped me realize that I like giving myself to other people in that respect. And also too, in regards to the sports, it’s kind of like a communal life, and that has helped me with living in community.
As we continue in this Year of Consecrated Life, Pope Francis asks us to “look to the past with gratitude, to live the present with passion, and to embrace the future with hope.” Sr. Ann Thomas, Bro. Daniel, and Br. Pierre Touissant would like to
