The heavenly sounds of Sister of Life Maria Emmanuel singing acapella hymns invited the faithful to enter into the liturgies during 10 weekend Masses in St. Michael Church, Long Branch, April 2-3. Her voice could also be heard in nearby Monmouth University during Mass celebrated for Catholic Campus Ministry the evening of April 3, all part of a weekend mission to call awareness to their order and their pro-life work.

Sister Magdalene, superior of the New York-based order, as well as mission coordinator, addressed the congregants gathered for noon Mass, saying, “Our lives matter! That’s why our community exists … so that every person can encounter their own goodness, and the goodness of their own life, and the life of every person.”

The Sisters of Life invitation to St. Michael Parish came at the behest of Father John Butler, pastor.

Sharing highlights about the Sisters of Life community founded in 1991 by Cardinal John O’Connor, Sister Magdalene Teresa said her community members assist between 600-900 pregnant women and new mothers each year in their Manhattan location alone. The sisters also have convents in Philadelphia, Denver, Phoenix and Toronto. Their work includes hosting weekend retreats and traveling regularly to speak about the dignity of the human person. They also offer a mission of hope and healing for women who are suffering after an abortion.

Sister Magdalene Teresa explained that Sisters of Life offer help through various channels, including their website, a specialized text number for those in crisis, local parish priests, and sidewalk counselors outside of abortion facilities. The Sisters’ work is not limited to women. They have resources for men who are struggling because of a crisis pregnancy situation, including mentorship and help finding employment.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in New York, the sisters continued their mission to pregnant women and new mothers through donations, and by delivering food, diapers, clothing and other basic needs directly to their apartments. They passed the goods through the car window, while adhering to safety protocols.

Sister Magadalene explained that the faithful may assist in their ministry by becoming “Co-workers of Life,” which allows for a variety of service opportunities: working directly at the convent in either Philadelphia or New York, participating in the Sisters’ phone ministry, or volunteering to keep a pregnant woman company or provide her with meals. For those who would like to donate to the ministry, the Sisters are always collecting items for women and babies, such as strollers, cribs, diapers, new or gently used baby clothes and maternity clothes.

“Baby booties are a good, hot item,” Sister Magdalene said. “Sometimes when we have put the baby booties on the top of a gift bag, that has saved a life.” Donations are regularly accepted at St. Andrew Center (Crisis Pregnancy Mission), at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge, across from City Hall in Manhattan.

Father Mark Nillo, parochial vicar of St. Michael Parish, and chaplain of the Catholic Center at Monmouth University, expressed his hope that the Sisters’ visit “will inspire more students to consider vocations and consecrated life,” noting, also, “I hope their visit will help spread the Gospel in our college community and foster a greater appreciation for the sanctity of life from conception to natural death.”

Sister Gianna Maria acknowledged that if a woman believes she has a vocation to religious life, the Sisters of Life have several channels to help with discernment

“It is always our desire for people to hear the Lord’s voice, wherever they are meant to be,” explained Sister Gianna Maria. Their website has a video series to help women learn to listen, how to pray, and how to be open. There is also a form online that can be filled out to gain more information. 

Sister Magdalene emphasized that the Sisters of Life believe it is important for the faithful to develop a deeper appreciation of the value of motherhood. She emphasized that women are now raised to be doctors, lawyers and worldly successful, but maternity is not considered a special achievement. “If we revere motherhood, what would happen to change the culture?” she considered.

For those who are interested in learning more about the order, Sister Maria Regina is in charge of vocations at the motherhouse in New York. To learn more about the Sisters of Life and their work, visit sistersoflife.org