Meet ‘one fun nun’ on the Web
Sr. Katy LaFond blogs about religious life

By Karen Mahoney
Special to your Catholic Herald

While becoming a nun might not be every little girl’s dream, it is for Waukesha native Katy LaFond. At a time when other women are becoming doctors, senators, lawyers and CEOs, Sr. Katy, wants to be a bride of Christ.

At 27 years old, Sr. Katy not only joined the small army of young women who are replenishing the ranks of women religious, sparking a resurgence in religious life not seen for decades, she is also the youngest in her order in the entire country. On Aug. 11, she professed her first vows as a School Sister of St. Francis at the order’s headquarters on South Layton Blvd.

From average teen to religious life

Deciding to join the order was easy for Sr. Katy, who became friends with the sisters while attending Alverno College, sponsored by the School Sisters of St. Francis.

“It was when I got to know our sisters at a deeper level that I started being ‘tugged by God’ and some of the sisters into the direction of religious life,” she said. “Their ministry, lifestyle, and spirituality really connected with me at a deep level. My discernment was bumpy at times, I’d waver between ‘Yes, this is it’ and ‘absolutely not’ often. But something inside of me wouldn’t go away.... I had the definite feeling that God was calling me ‘home’ to be with my sisters and the SSSF congregation.”

Sr. Katy, whose direct manner and ready laughter are disarming, would have you believe that her transformation from attractive, athletic and average teen to the religious life was anything but dramatic.

“I have always felt a connection to God, even when I was quite young,” she said. “I knew that a relationship with God and my faith and spirituality was important. I was the student in class who wouldn’t take ‘because I said so’ or ‘that’s what our faith teaches us’ for an answer. I was inquisitive and interested in this God presence in my life. At a very young age, I was aware of justice issues and people in need. I knew I wanted to serve in some capacity and often would converse with God when I was struggling with something and like most adolescents; I struggled with my faith and did some exploring. I had a profound experience on my confirmation retreat in which I made a conscious commitment to the Catholic faith.”

The eldest of three children, Sr. Katy attended the school of her home parish, St. William, Waukesha, through fifth grade, and continued with St. Joseph School through eighth grade. In high school, she served on the youth board for the parish and became involved as a cantor and youth leader. Following confirmation, she taught religious education and was a confirmation youth leader, and later, an adult leader.

While working toward her education degree at Alverno College, Sr. Katy began discerning the call to becoming a School Sister of St. Francis. Their mission, charisms and spirituality drew her to the international order.

“We have provinces in the United States, Latin America, Europe, North India and South India,” Sr. Katy said. “I have had a relationship with this community since I was 10 years old — it is a perfect fit for me and where I am being called.”

Decision surprised family, friends

Family and friends were taken aback at Sr. Katy’s revelation that she was planning to become a nun; Sr. Katy diffused the initial skepticism with ease.

“They said, ‘You’re gonna be a what?’” laughed Sr. Katy, as she explained overcoming the Pre-Vatican II stereotypes. “I remind people that I am choosing religious life because I feel called and committed as an expression of myself. I can be most fully me and most fully alive when I am with my sisters and following my mission in life as a School Sister. I think some of the apprehension was that I would be stifled and or asked to compromise my energy and spirit, but that is the exact opposite of my experiences as a woman religious and School Sister of St. Francis.”

Young women discerning their life journey might be surprised to learn that today’s sisters have more freedom to choose how they live out their vocation than nuns of earlier generations. While Sr. Katy serves as the principal of Holy Trinity School in Kewaskum; she is also active in sports, reading, cooking, dancing, singing, games and loves to attend movies. She also loves to blog.

One Fun Nun shares life, humor

Sr. Katy’s blogsite, “The Adventures of ‘One Fun Nun’ gives day-to-day insight into aspects of religious life. Considered from the beginning as “the fun nun,” her seventh grade class at Holy Family School provided her with the official title. Because of Sr. Katy’s enthusiasm and sense of humor, her congregation suggested the blogsite.

“I have three primary objectives for blogging,” she said. “To share my story, the day-to-day realities, answer questions and help with stereotypes. As a young woman religious in the 21st century with a diverse audience. I want to promote the discernment of religious life in general and more specifically invite people to consider joining the School Sisters of St. Francis in mission or vowed membership. And to help other women religious, especially my sisters, see religious life, formation, discernment through my eyes and experiences, as it is significantly different from most of their formation experiences.”

Initial reactions to the blogsite are positive and affirming for Sr. Katy, who has received messages from all over the world. Most positive for her, are the inquiries regarding religious life.

Blog conveys her passion, energy

“I think being a young woman in my 20s and having high energy, commitment and passion shows a different perspective to lifestyle choices for women,” she said. “I encourage people to find avenues for discovering themselves and their relationship with God and make sure that at the heart of any call or vocation is the invitation to being the best person they are created to be. We are all called in different ways, and being the ‘fun nun’ and sharing normal interests connects with young people and allows people to see service in a broader context.”

As part of Sr. Katy’s mission to encourage other young religious, she is involved in Giving Voice, an 8-year-old national group for nuns under 50. The group is a source of affirmation for young nuns as well as a venue for coming together and finding their place in religious life in the 21st century.

“We have an annual gathering of women in their 20s and 30s every year,” said Sr. Katy, who serves on the coordinating team for the 2008 gathering. “Because many of us in this demographic are entering our congregations ‘alone,’ this organization provides support and collaboration among congregations. It is a space for us to dream, share, and ‘give voice’ to our passion and vision for religious life.”

Making a life commitment to Christ by professing her first vows has given Sr. Katy new insight into her own calling and personal life, and she admitted that although it has been a learning process, she has grown and changed because of it.

“As I grow and change, my discernment process has affirmed and deepened my commitment,” she said. “I anticipate this time of temporary vowed commitment will also be a time of learning and growing, deepening my vowed commitment to prepare me for a more public expression of my life commitment. Saying yes to the vocation of religious life has strengthened my relationship with God.” Captions:

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