Responding to God's Call /Sister Catherine Kamphaus, CSC

Intermountain Catholic

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Editor’s note: This is one in a series of personal vocations stories from seminarians, religious women, deacons and priests in the Diocese of Salt Lake City.

“Even more important for me was my parents’ positive attitude and encouragement about being a religious.”

I grew up in southeastern Idaho.  My grandparents on both sides and all my aunts and uncles lived there. We were all Catholic in a culture dominated by Mormons. I attended the Catholic boarding school. It was there that I first thought of being a sister. I loved the Franciscan sisters who taught us and ran the school. In 4th and 5th grades I began to talk about this with Sister Mary Ralph and Sister Noreen.  I also talked to my parents, who were very affirming of a possible religious vocation.  

When I was in the 6th grade we left the potato farm and moved to Boise. It was there that I met the Sisters of the Holy Cross at St. Therese’s Academy. I continued to speak about a religious vocation as a possibility but my seven sisters thought I was crazy not to want to get married. My parents continued to be supportive of my religious vocation.  Then we moved to Mountain Home, where there were no Catholic schools.

When I was in high school, I decided to write to three different groups of religious sisters. The only group that sent a person instead of a brochure was the Sisters of the Holy Cross. Their vocation director came to see me a few times before I made the decision to enter the Sisters of the Holy Cross. I felt they were interested enough in me to send someone and tried to build a relationship with me.

My vocation was fostered by knowing sisters and developing relationships with them. Even more important for me was my parents’ positive attitude and encouragement about being a religious.

I have been a Sister of the Holy Cross for 55 years. I have been blessed in serving God and the Church. I have loved ministering in Catholic schools and education for the last 50 years and hope to continue for a few more years. I loved being in parishes that gave me other ways of serving. Every day I answer the call by saying “yes” to God for the ministry I am in and the relationships I have.

If someone is discerning a vocation to religious life I would encourage her or him to pray daily for their vocation and to be open to all options – religious, married, single. A call is not usually a loud yes but a tiny whisper. Enter a religious life if the call is strong – you will have time to decide if it is right for you after you enter.

PARENTS — be open to your children being a priest, brother or sister. Talk with them about this option. Pray for your children to choose a vocation that God is calling them to – married, single or religious life.  Parents always want what is best for their children. What is God calling your children to be?  How open are you to ALL vocations?

Holy Cross Sister Catherine Kamphaus is the assistant superintendent of Utah Catholic Schools.