"Do you sleep in that too?"

Young children are full of questions, and the third grade catechism class of St. Jude's parish in Wauwatosa was no exception. Sr. M. Carmelita and I, Sr. Anne Marie, were guests for one evening to speak about religious life. The children come from the parish, but are in the public school system, and must come for evening classes to be taught religion. I was surprised at how little they knew, but how eager they were to learn, and how quickly they understood.

All fourteen of them were full of questions. We were able to explain the vows quite easily, "Poverty- I have nothing but JESUS! Chastity- I have no one but JESUS! Obedience- I do nothing but what JESUS wants." Afterwards, whenever Sr. Carmelita or I referenced the vows they understood. The habit interested them, of course, and they wanted to know if we changed colors according to liturgical season, and if we could wear pajamas, or, as one little boy asked wide-eyed, "What would they DO to you if one day you decided to wear something else?"

We could have stayed much longer than we did, answering questions and talking to these bright kids. Afterwards we gave them all leaflets about our Mother Foundress, rosaries, scapulars, and leaflets of us, so that they could show their parents what they learned. Who knows? We think that the seed has been planted for some good religious vocations!