Changing Habits by Debbie Macomber

Author:Debbie Macomber [Macomber, Debbie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 2003-11-10T23:00:00+00:00

21

SISTER ANGELINA

Late Wednesday afternoon, as she left the school, Angie saw Sister Kathleen walking from the rectory to the convent house. She sped up to join her friend. Angie was worried about Sister Kathleen and had been for some weeks. Apparently her work at the church wouldn’t last much longer, which was a blessing in Angie’s opinion.

The normally good-natured, fun-loving Kathleen had become introspective and subdued in the last little while. Twice now, Angie had seen her in conversation with Father Doyle. Angie hadn’t been close enough to hear what was being said, and even if she had been, she would’ve moved away. Whatever the topic, it appeared to be of deep concern to them both. Their body language said as much—their heads were lowered and their voices had dropped to a whisper. Father Doyle stood with his hands behind his back and Sister Kathleen was leaning toward him, hands clasped in front of her.

Father Doyle hadn’t been himself lately, either. It seemed that he, too, was preoccupied by some serious matter. Angie’s thoughts came to an abrupt halt. No, it couldn’t be—but stranger things had happened. Could Father Doyle and Sister Kathleen have fallen in love? That would make sense, since Sister Kathleen was at the rectory three afternoons a week and it would only be natural for the two of them to talk and get to know each other. They shared a love of God, and well…oh dear, this could be trouble. Angie swallowed hard and considered all the difficulties such a relationship would bring to both the diocese and the convent.

These were trying times for the Church. Nuns, and priests, too, were leaving the religious life in record numbers. Already five nuns had left the Minneapolis convent that year. Five! Unfortunately, there weren’t any replacements, and the school had been forced to hire lay teachers, which automatically raised tuition. Many families were already burdened by the expense of private school. Angie feared that these added costs might threaten the very existence of the parochial school system.

Angie worried about the nuns who’d chosen to reject their vows. They were walking into an uncertain future without savings and without jobs. She prayed that God would direct their lives.

“You look a little troubled,” Sister Kathleen said as they walked side by side toward the convent.

“Me?” Angie asked with a short laugh. “I was just thinking the same thing about you. Is everything all right?” She hoped Kathleen would be honest with her—not that there was anything Angie could do to help.

Sister Kathleen took so long to reply that Angie wanted to stop and grab her by the shoulders and look her full in the face. Finally the other nun said, “Everything will work itself out soon.”

Soon, Angie repeated mentally. Then, risking Sister Kathleen’s rebuke, she said, “These things sometimes happen when a man and a woman work together.” She took a deep breath, hoping she wasn’t embarrassing them both as she broached the uncomfortable subject. “Through no fault of their own, of course.

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