VIRIDITAS: SOUL GREENING
Interviewed by Sister Vandana Narayan, SSCC
Special to the Herald
Before going to Sacred Hearts Academy, Sister Katherine Francis attended public school. Once a week after school, she and her sister Leah would walk about 30 minutes to and from St. Theresa Church for religious instruction. Whenever they went to morning Mass on a holy day of obligation, they got to school late and the other children would laugh at them. But they were proud to be “little martyrs.” The whole experience of preparing for and making her First Communion left a profound religious impression on her.
Sister Vandana: Sister, can you tell me how your vocation began?
Sister Katherine Francis: After we transferred to the Academy, my sister and I caught the bus early to join the sisters for the daily 6:30 a.m. Mass. The beauty of the chapel, the prayer and singing of the sisters enthralled us along with the sisters in red mantles replacing each other at adoration. When my parents asked what I wanted for Christmas, I asked for the book that the sisters had — a missal. They bought me a beautiful Saint Andrew Daily Missal. I loved saying the Mass prayers and reading the short stories about the saints on feast days. My relationship with Jesus began to grow. In my senior year, Sister Mary Rose asked me if I had ever thought about becoming a sister. I confidently answered her, “Yes, I want to become a Sacred Hearts Sister.”
What are some events that stand out for you in your early formation?
Regina Pacis House of Studies was opened for sisters of temporary vows going to Chaminade College for their studies. A Sacred Hearts Sister from the East Coast, Sister Maureen, joined our community for studies. At that time, it was customary that sisters from the East Coast would go to Paris for the year of preparation for perpetual vows. Sister Mary Gertrude asked the superior general if I could go along with Sister Maureen. After graduation, we joined 14 other international junior sisters at our motherhouse in Paris. I fell more deeply in love with the congregation’s history, spirit, heroes and heroines.
What changes have you experienced in living religious life from the time you first entered until now?
The way I live religious life today is different from the way I lived it when I first entered. The emphasis prior to Vatican II was on “regularity,” living out the letter of the Rule emphasized in being on time for prayer, meals, duties, etc. Today, religious life is much more about spirit and “the Spirit.” It’s much more about people and pastoral needs. Prayer is much more important than the schedule of prayer; relationships are more important than being on time. There is a greater freedom of spirit so we can follow the Spirit’s lead more faithfully.
As a religious, what is your dream for the people of Hawaii?
My dream for the people of Hawaii is that we may truly live our motto: “Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono,” that is, “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness,” and that we embody the aloha spirit as Queen Liliuokalani beautifully explained:
“‘Aloha’ was a recognition of life in another. If there was life, there was mana, goodness and wisdom; and if there was goodness and wisdom, there was a God-quality. One had to recognize the ‘God of life’ in another before saying ‘Aloha,’ but this was easy. Life was everywhere — in the trees, the flowers, the ocean, the fish, the birds, the pili grass, the rainbow, the rock — in all the world was life — was God — was aloha.” (Helena G. Allen)
Sister Katherine Francis Miller is a Sister of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and of Perpetual Adoration. She was born in Honolulu. Although retired, she continues to teach theology classes at Sacred Hearts Academy. Sister Catherine Francis is over 50 years professed and resides at Regina Pacis Convent.
