The Benedictine Sisters at Sacred Heart monastery in Cullman recently announced the news of the Perpetual Monastic Profession of Sister Gabriela Ramirez on May 2 during Vespers. Sister Ramirez’s journey to monastic life began when, as a teenager, she first encountered the Missionary Guadalupanas of the Holy Spirit. She entered the Missionary Guadalupanas as a postulant in 1988 and made her Perpetual Vows in 1998.

During her thirty-four years as a Missionary Guadalupana of the Holy Spirit, Sister Gabriela served in mission settings in both Mexico and the United States. She also served in formation work with the Guadulapanas. Her ministry assignments eventually led her to Birmingham where she served as director of La Casita for the Diocese of Birmingham, one of the diocesan Centers of Concern. Currently, Sister Ramirez serves as Director of Disaster and Emergency Services for the diocese. 

Several years ago, Sister Ramirez felt a call toward a new way of expressing her religious vocation -- that of monastic life. With the consent of her Guadalupana superiors and the Monastic Council at Sacred Heart Monastery, Sister Ramirez has spent the past four years living with the Benedictine Sisters, continuing her discernment while following the canonical requirements for transfer from one religious congregation to another. Having completed both the lengthy discernment process and the canonical requirements, Sister Ramirez finalized the transfer by making her perpetual monastic profession as a Benedictine Sister. 

Sister Ramirez expressed the heart of this commitment through the words of the profession document that she read aloud before the assembly and then signed upon the altar. In this document, she offered the ancient promises of monastic profession set down by St. Benedict himself – obedience, stability to the community, and fidelity to the monastic way of life, a way of life that pre-supposes chastity and monastic poverty.

As a Benedictine Sister, Sister Ramirez will continue in her role with the diocese. She will also continue to nurture the close connections she has made with several Hispanic communities within the diocese. Representatives of these communities were present at the profession, adding to the joyful atmosphere. Religious from several different congregations also attended. A festive meal followed the liturgy.