Sr. Rita Cheong, O.S.C. made her Solemn Profession as a Poor Clare on Saturday, December 9. Sister entered the Church filled with Poor Clares, Friars, and friends from around the world dressed in Korean wedding garments (see picture on the left). She then switched to her simple Poor Clare habit (see right) and processed in with her Abbess, Sr, Doris, O.S.C. who would later receive her permanent commitment during the liturgy (see left).

Sr. Rita has a beautiful life story. She began her adult life married and is a mother and grand mother. Her daughter, Theresa, sang a beautiful tribute at the end of Mass while her son-in-law, Luke, proclaimed the second Reading. One of the symbols used in a Poor Clare Solemn Profession is a crown of thorns signifying a sharing in the passion of Jesus. In the second picture on the left, Sr. Doris is seen removing the crown after the ceremony as Sr. Rita stands with her proud daughter and grand daughter, Eleanor. Sr. Rita also received a ring as a symbol of her commitment to the Lord. No Profession Ceremony is complete without the signing of the canonical documents testifying that the Religious did, indeed, pronounced the vows--in this case the vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and enclosure. (Because the Poor Clares are a cloistered community dedicated to a life of prayer, they take the added vow of enclosure.) In the picture on the right Sr. Rita signs the document as Srs. Doris, Ann Marie (middle) and Ann (behind on right) look on.

The Franciscans in the Cincinnati area have witnessed two Solemn Profession ceremonies this year. In an earlier post I covered the profession of our own friars, Brothers Al and Chris. Now we rejoice in the life-long commitment of our sister, Sr. Rita. Saint Francis held Saint Clare and her Sisters dear to his heart and promised, in the name of all Friars to come, to always see to the Sisters' needs. I have the privilege, along with many other Friars in the area, of celebrating Eucharist for the Nuns occasionally. It is always good to pray with them--and they feed us as well. :-)