THE CUP OF LIFE

A Look into the Life of a Sister
 

            “When I was in high school and boys wouldn’t date me I would joke about becoming a nun,” stated Sister Lorraine Aucoin.

            Sister Lorraine Aucoin walks through her spacious kitchen - that has white walls and blue accents- onto the porch.  One’s eyes cannot find a visible speck of dirt in the main living quarters of the Emmaus Convent in Manchester, New Hampshire.  Her slender body settles into one of four rocking chairs residing on a four season’s porch.  The 13” television in front of the chairs remains off.  Adjacent to the TV stand an oversized wicker book shelf rests empty except for Scrabble, a deck of cards, and some books.  Behind her is a round dining table with a colorful table cloth, one of the few sources of color aside from the three scattered plants in the room. 

She is a lively 37-year-old whose face is young and only shows creases from the warm smile she shares constantly.  Sister Lorraine crosses her long legs under her habit, the dress code her community follows.  Today’s choice is a navy blue jumper and a white blouse.  Picking out the day’s habit has become an easy task because the main colors she can wear are blue, black, and gray.  The alterative to jumpers would be skirts and dresses.  Covering half of her short brown curly hair is a matching navy blue veil.  The outfit is accessorized with a silver ring on the left hand and cross that falls to her mid-torso. 

A shuttle in resemblance of a small fish with a bobbin wedged in the middle keeps her fingers busy.  The art of tatting, using thread to make lace-like designs, is a hobby Sister Lorraine practices occasionally. 

Sister Lorraine’s profession is not one many choose to enter into.  It is believed God calls on one to enter the religious life.  By receiving and accepting His call, or vocation, Lorraine Aucoin has become a Sister of the Presentation of Mary.

In 1796 Marie Rivier founded the community, Presentation of Mary, in a French village.  The first Sisters arrived in the United States in 1873.  Today there are eighteen countries all over the world with Sisters representing of the Presentation of Mary.  The main focus of the community is to provide religious education to youth and adults.  Anne Marie Rivier, the woman who started this life journey of giving all you have to those in need, is remembered here in New Hampshire, not only by her community of followers but also those in higher education.  Rivier College in Nashua was named after her and is a product of the importance education carries for these Sisters and how dedicated they are to share their knowledge with others.

Sister Lorraine has devoted her life to God.  “I believe it is God who called me to be a Sister.  I didn’t always think so, I thought I would get married and have a family like all of my brothers and sisters did.  However, I felt more and more drawn to seek for more than a family and job.  I needed more of God in my life and I am so happy that I chose to follow His call.”  The decision was not made overnight, rather only after years of soul searching and prayer.  

After graduating from Bishop Brady high school in 1987, Lorraine Aucoin left her home town of Henniker, New Hampshire and said goodbye to her parents and eight brothers and sisters.  With her bags packed she reached the destination of Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont.

Lorraine worked hard to earn dual majors in math and secondary education, with a minor in computer science. 

When she wasn’t studying for tests and completing assignments Lorraine, “did everything college students do: joined clubs, partied, and dated.”  At St. Michael’s she volunteered for Crown & Sword.  The club set up fundraisers such as dance-a-thons at local high schools and raised money for different school and community events.  She was also a member of the college’s choir that performed for the entire school weekly during church sessions.  As a member of the Alcohol Awareness Team, she helped provided fellow students alternatives to drinking alcohol like dry parties and fun chem.-free activities. 

Between juggling heavy course loads and extra curricular activities Lorraine found the time to have a boyfriend. The bad luck she faced in high school with dating did not follow her to college.  She was in a serious relationship with the same man on and off during her four years at St. Michael’s. 

Upon graduating in 1991 Lorraine decided to move back home to find a teaching job.  Fresh out of college and ready to start her life, Lorraine soon realized that New Hampshire did not have any available positions she wanted to pursue.  The opportunity to move back to Colchester, Vermont came about when a friend needed someone to split the rent with.  Lorraine took advantage of the offer and decided to spend the entire year substitute teaching and rekindling her relationship with her former boyfriend who was now working at St. Michael’s. 

            Lorraine was pleased with life but felt something was missing and was destined to become whole.  She used this lack of fulfillment to search for her faith and true happiness.  The college choir invited her to continue to perform with them and a local church offered a religious group she joined.  The opportunity the group gave her to learn about religion and God left her wanting more. 

            A glance into her past brought the memory of an annual summer guest she used to spend time with, her aunt, Sister Christine Marie.  A letter seeking information about the life of Sisters and the role they have in the community was mailed.  The response was a request for Lorraine to spend the weekend with her Aunt at the House of Formation in Hudson, New Hampshire.

            The experience was life changing.  Lorraine returned to Vermont and soon after made the decision to move into the House of Discernment in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.  There was no commitment to suddenly become a Sister, it simply provided a look into the life of a Sister while remaining independent.  This choice was devastating for her boyfriend.  He was unable to understand that Lorraine was not fully satisfied.  Once she arrived in Rhode Island, the communication between them had ended.

            She resided in the House of Discernment where she taught Religion at Bishop Keough High School before leaving to teach at Good Shepherd Junior High.  The two years spent in Rhode Island provided Lorraine a chance to experience life in a religious community, a group of Sisters. 

The decision to become a Postulant in 1994 brought Lorraine to the House of Formation in Hudson, New Hampshire.  During the summer of 1995 she began her Canonical year, a year to focus on the Rule of Life of the Community.  She recalls, “I could have monthly visits from family or friends, but I spent most of my time learning and praying about the way of life and spirit of the community.”  Lorraine did make time to meet with one visitor though. 

Over the winter she received a letter from someone she had lost contact with over the past few years.  Her boyfriend from Vermont had written to persuade Lorraine to reconsider her choice.  The confession stated he wanted to marry her and spend the rest of his life with her.  Lorraine responded, “After taking some time to think and pray I called him and asked him to come and talk with me.  We spent the day together and finally decided that it was best for both of us if we went our separate ways.” 

The following year she was a Missionary Novice, a chance to apply the lessons learned to real life.  During the first six months Lorraine worked two part time jobs in her community: a member of the business office and the activities director for the elderly Sisters.

Just shy of turning twenty-nine, Lorraine officially entered the community life by making her Profession in August of 1997.  The Temporary Vows: poverty, chastity, and obedience, were delivered in front of her family, friends, and patrons of the Chapel of Presentation of Mary Academy in Hudson, New Hampshire.  A solid silver cross was placed over her head and she was given a veil and the Official Rule of Life.  The reception continued over a lovely meal provided by the Community.

In September Lorraine began teaching math and religion at the academy in Hudson, New Hampshire.  Her career continued over the years before she was ready to take her Final Vows.  Eager and ready to take the last step, Lorraine took the 2001-2002 school year off to prepare.

Lorraine used the uninterrupted time to consider the final vows.  During the fall she retreated to Ontario, Canada for forty days.  The retreat was a spiritual exercise of praying independently through the whole life of Jesus for five hours each day.

In February of 2002 Lorraine went to the Generalate, or Mother House of the Congregation in Castel-Grandolfo, a small town outside of Rome, Italy.  The convent was walking distance away from the Pope’s summer home, which rested on a mountain edge of a volcano crater.  The three-month trip was focused on preparation of her Final Vows.  To take advantage of the scenery and culture Lorraine and ten others studying to take their Final Vows, went on a pilgrimage to Rome to experience the religious ambiance, the churches and beautiful architecture offered.  From there, Lorraine went to France to the roots and foundation of her Congregation for one month.  Upon returning to Hudson, New Hampshire the remaining months were used to pray and prepare for the final vows.

At age thirty-two Lorraine made her Final Vows at St. Kathryn’s Parish in Hudson, New Hampshire; family, friends, and Sisters gathered to witness the ceremony in July 2002.  During the mass Bishop Francis Christian presented Lorraine with a silver ring, a symbol of her marriage to God. 

            The next step in life was to go back to school, so in 2003, after one more year of teaching, Lorraine attended Boston College and stayed with Sisters in the Boston area.  In the spring of 2005 she graduated with her Masters in Theology with a concentration in Ethics. 

Today, Sister Lorraine lives in a convent with three other sisters.  The brick house is a backdrop for the fresh cut green grass.  The garden is carpeted with pink, purple, and yellow tulips.  In the driveway is a parked 1997 blue Chevy Lumina that was purchased used by the community and is shared between Lorraine and her roommates.  Up-keep and gas for the car is paid for with the yearly allowance the Sisters are given.  The money that is divided amongst all the sisters in the community for their allowance is received from the Sisters who work outside of the community and earn a salary.  That is about twenty-eight Sister’s salaries right now.  The money that is given to Lorraine is budgeted to last her for the entire year for: toiletries, new clothes, postage, phone calls, leisure activities and anything else necessary.

Her journey is nowhere near over.  She is a fulltime vocation director for the Presentation of Mary, receiving no salary.  The job is done right in the comforts of her convent living room.  The computer desk gives her ample amount of working surface with the phone stationed on it.  A picture of Marie Rivier, the community’s foundress, hangs to the right of the desk offering “inspiration and help.”  The Presentation of Mary will be providing Sister Lorraine with an office later this year.  Her duties involve visiting different churches and schools several times a month to introduce the audience to the concept of vocations.  The main vocations that are expressed are married life, single life, priesthood, religious life for men (brothers), and religious life for women (sisters).  She preaches, “The main message is that everyone has a vocation, a call from God, a purpose in the Kingdom of God so we need to pray about that and develop our relationship with God and learn to listen to him to find out what our call is and to follow it.”

Sister Lorraine dedicates her life to her vocation, profession, and God.  “There are so many benefits that I would be hard pressed to name the greatest among them,” explained Sister Lorraine.  “I am very happy as a Sister of the Presentation of Mary.  I feel fulfilled in a way that my jobs, money, cars, friends, etc. could not fulfill me.  I feel I am doing what God wants me to do.”