June 12, 2009
‘Picnic with the Bishop’ opportunity for vocation talk
Benedictine Sister Jill Reuber, Benedictine Father Anthony Vinson and Brian Emmick, a diocesan seminarian, pose for a photo before meeting with young people curious about vocations, at the “Picnic with the Bishop” June 3. (Message photo by Paul R. Leingang) Click for a larger version.
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
What she really wanted from God was a “lightening bolt,” said Sister Jill Marie Reuber. She wanted a calling, clear and unmistakable.
One day she heard a priest say that there would be no lightening bolts along the way to discerning a vocation — and that realization became a sudden inspiration — a lightning bolt, if you will.
She had left her home in Celestine to complete a bachelor’s degree in education from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College. Then she discovered her calling while working at the Outpost, the former camp operated by the Diocese of Evansville for servers and scouts and youth groups.
She said that, while working at the camp with other staffmembers, she came to love living in community. In August 2003, she went to find out more about such a life with the Sisters of St. Benedict at Ferdinand. She made her first profession in 2006.
She teaches fourth grade at St. Bernard School in Rockport, and according to the monastery website, she also enjoys reading, playing cards, knitting and crocheting, and having fun.
What attracted her to the Benedictine community: “I felt like I could be myself when I visited. I really felt relaxed and at home with the size and dynamics of the community.”
Sister Jill was one of the speakers at the “Picnic with the Bishop,” where young people were invited to spend time in casual conversation with priests, seminarians, vowed religious and dedicated lay persons.
The presenters were in two groups — men and women. They shared their vocation stories and then answered any questions the young people had. All in all, about 50 people attended the event, held at St. John Church in Daylight June 3.
Youth ministers in the diocese were also present at the event, including Jen Blackstone, Jonna O’Bryan, Angie Fleck, Sister “T”Gunter, Abraham Brown and Julie Verkamp.
“Our youth ministers are often the first ones to know that a youth is considering a vocation, said Steve Dabrowski, diocesan director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, “and the presence of six youth ministers was a great show of support for the work done by our Vocations Office.”