Following Her Heart:
S. Andrea Koverman professes final vows By Erin Reder
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s she stood in front of Community members, Associates and family on Aug. 14, 2021, preparing to profess her final vows as a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati, S. Andrea Koverman’s heart overflowed with gratitude and joy. Looking out into the eyes of so many people who have loved and walked with her through the years, and remembering all those who came before her and their continued presence in her life, she felt their connections, heart to heart.
the connection. The intelligence to recognize an entanglement lies not in one’s brain but in one’s heart, and the field of heart intelligence is making incredible discoveries about just how that works. The thin white lines connecting all the hearts in the image by Gibson depict heart intelligence and Quantum Entanglement.
S. Andrea’s own cloud of witnesses is full of hearts entangled with hers, those she has loved in her lifetime, as well as ancestors, saints, foundresses and guides from way before her time. She explains, A piece of artwork, created by “That is how you know my mother or Grace Gibson and visibly present father when you know me, and how we on the altar on Aug. 14, beautifully know God when we know Jesus. That frames S. Andrea’s journey to that is why Elizabeth [Seton] or Blandina moment. Gibson, a good friend [Segale] can speak to me as clearly of her housemate S. Carol Wirtz, as Sisters Kateri Koverman or Janet This piece of artwork, created by Grace Gibson, had the opportunity to meet with Gildea, and how the words of my Great S. Andrea and capture her experience was visibly present on the altar during S. Andrea Aunt, S. Mary Walburga Koverman, Koverman’s final vows on Aug. 14 and beautifully to religious life. S. Andrea calls it rang true in my 9-year-old heart when frames her journey to that moment. her own sacred icon, and uses it she said, ‘Don’t worry about a thing, to further explain her life and growth into becoming a fully darling. You are going to make a fine Sister. Welcome to the vested member of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. Community.’ She knew that someday I would continue our century-old family tradition.” At the center of this artwork, is her tree of life. “I practically grew up in trees, attracted to their strength, beauty and protection,” she explained. “Cradled in their arms far above my earthly cares and closer to the heavens, I would sway day or night consoled in the knowing that we are both in the world and not of it, finite and infinite, human and indwelt with divinity, individualized but inherently interconnected beyond time and space. I could feel and intuit these perennial truths though I wouldn’t have the words, theology or science to express them until much later.” In addition to very personal quotes, Scripture verses and phrases framing the artwork, are her personal cloud of witnesses, those who have had a deep personal influence in her life. She is guided by the principle of Quantum Entanglement, which states that two entities become entangled through a deep and personal exchange of energy, and once that happens, there is nothing that can ever sever 6
(From left) younger members of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Whitney Schieltz, Annie Klapheke, Andrea Koverman, Romina Sapinoso and Tracy Kemme gathered for S. Andrea’s vows. I n t e rcom
