Interview with Director of Vocations, Sr. Susan Marie Krupp

Professed Sister since 1979

As a child I never really thought much about religious life. Being taught by sisters in grade school, I had frequent contact with religious, but never thought religious life was an option for me personally. What I didn't know was that God had already planted the seed of my vocation in my heart, which would be nurtured over the years to come. As a young child I used to go to Mass before school each morning. Our bus would arrive at school early and I would go into the church to escape the cold. Though my motives of going to Mass were not pure at the time, I now realize that even then God was helping me to develop a great love for the Eucharist. It wasn't until high school when someone I knew entered the convent that I realized people actually joined religious life! She entered the group of sisters that taught in my school- the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Something about this group of sisters really impressed me. Their love of the Sacred Heart was evident as they shared God's love with us. The sisters had a peace and happiness that I desired to have and share.

I felt called to serve the Lord and His people

~ Sr. Susan Marie Krupp

As a high school student I was very active. I was involved in Student Council as well as many clubs and service organizations, and also held a part-time job. I wanted to pursue careers ranging from the Peace Corps to becoming a medical technician. At one point I walked into the high school guidance counselor's office to tell her of the nine different careers that I wanted to choose. There were so many things I felt I needed to do, and so many ways I felt I could accomplish them. During this time, I also came to realize how important God was in my life. And, I realized that I had the desire to share my love for God with others. Feeling a very strong call to serve God's people, I felt that the best way to do this was to dedicate my life to the Lord as a religious sister. Even as it is today, entering the convent at that time was counter-cultural, yet I knew that I would have no peace until I followed my heart's desire to become an Apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Two weeks after turning eighteen years old, I entered the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Becoming a religious sister did not happen without overcoming several obstacles. I had to let go of scholarships and my desire to raise a family of my own. While this was not easy, God continued to nurture my vocation as I sought to follow what I believed to be His will in my life. I chose the Apostles of the Sacred Heart because of their love of the Sacred Heart and their strong, caring service.

Over the years, my love of God and his people has deepened. I have discovered that my strength and support comes from the Lord through prayer and my community. A strong prayer life and a community who supports each member in prayer and ministry are very important to me. These lifelines give me the strength to continue to follow Jesus' call to serve Him as a religious. Over the years I have served in several ministries from teaching junior high and high school students to educational administration to youth ministry to campus ministry to being a pioneer in Catholic high school education in Tallahassee, Florida to my present position as Vocation Director for the U.S. Province of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. These experiences have renewed my zeal to love God and to share His love with His people. Religious life is exciting and I feel very blessed by the people I have journeyed with throughout the years. When I entered the convent I thought I was giving up so much in order to become a religious sister; I realize now that I have gained much more through the blessings I have received.

If I could give one piece of advice to a woman discerning a call to religious life, it would be to make sure to keep your heart open to God's call. Be willing to listen! So often the many distractions of life drown out the voice of God that can be heard only in the stillness of our hearts. Don't be afraid to walk in faith.

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