Sister Amy Westphal made a profession of temporary vows on Saturday, September 24, at St. Agnes Catholic Church in San Francisco, California. Sister Priscilla Moreno opened the Mass with a welcome message to those assembled by noting that the ceremony took place on Mercy Day, the 195th anniversary of the date that Catherine McAuley opened the House of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland.
Sister Celeste Nuttman offered the Instruction on the Vows, holding a mobile with objects representing the vows and other symbols of Amy’s life. Describing the movement of the mobile, Celeste said, “The wind, the breath of the Spirit, Yahweh, makes this happen, makes this animated, makes it sparkle.”
“Coming to my first profession of vows was a discernment led by the spirit that invited me to enter as freely as possible as my full being,” Amy said. “The ceremony itself was that expression through ritual which opened up what I call ‘my inner swirl of God’s sparkle’ for the community. People commented after that, ‘this was just so you, Amy,’ and it felt like it. It was a union in fullness through the love and mercy of God in the presence of others who have also desired to live just as fully. It was truly a moment of embodiment through public profession. As we sang in the communion song , ‘I am for you, we are one.'”
Watch Sister Amy’s vow ceremony: