By Sallie Bachar
Catholic Herald Correspondent
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MERRILL -- As far back as she can remember, Pam Hodgson always wanted to be a nun. "It has been something in the back of my mind all my life," she said. On Sunday, June 29, that dream became a reality when she made her final profession as a Sister of Mercy of the Holy Cross at the Holy Cross Chapel in Merrill. At 58 years of age, she is part of a growing trend of women entering the religious life in their later years.
Hodgson grew up in Merrill and attended St. Francis Xavier Catholic School. She wanted to enter the convent after graduating from eighth grade, but her pastor at the time advised her to wait a few years. She agreed. She attended Our Lady of the Holy Cross High School, which was run by the Sisters of Mercy, and then went on to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where she graduated with a degree in elementary education. Hodgson returned to Merrill and spent the next 27 years teaching second grade at St. Francis Xavier. "I reasoned that since I was teaching in a Catholic school, that was almost like being a nun," she said. The turning point came when she became involved in the development program for the sisters. After responding favorably to the same questionnaire that prospective candidates were given, Hodgson realized that being a sister was what she really wanted.
At a time when most women are looking forward to retirement, she made her final profession firmly and with conviction because "I feel called by God to the vision and spirit of this community," she said. "When I made my first profession that was my final profession," she added. "That is not the same for everyone, but quite a few of us who have entered the convent at a later age have already discerned and know what we want." Hodgson took her final vows to live celibate, poor and obedient for the rest of her life at a special eucharistic celebration that also marked the jubilees of six other members of the Holy Cross Sisters Ð Sr. Stanislaus Poehnelt, celebrating 75 years as a sister, and Srs. Jeanne Marie Braun, Mary Thomas Reichl, Mary Angela Sackmann, Mary Michael Smits and Anita Wolf, all celebrating their 60th jubilees.
The homily was given by Sr. Linda Songy, currently a chaplain at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women. Her advice to Hodgson came from the six jubilarians when she asked them how they were able to remain faithful to their commitments for 60-plus years. She summed it up in 10 succinct, but important points: love God, self and others; lean on others for support; learn; let go of whatever gets in the way of love and growth; laugh; trust; serve; be grateful; pray always; and risk saying yes to all that might be an invitation from God. "Do all this as faithfully as you can," she added, "one day at a time with grace and guts." Hodgson will return to New Orleans, in the fall where she has been teaching third grade at St. Benedict the Moor School for the past five years. For her, "formation is a never-ending process," and she looks forward to continuing her own education and growth in faith.
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2008