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JUN 07 LBW
Sister Johanna Choi, OSB, came to Sacred Heart Monastery in
December of 1999. She grew up in Korea in a family with five
brothers and one sister. After a period of twenty-three years
in a cloistered monastery in Korea, she traveled to Avila,
Spain, to study spirituality. It was during this period that
Sister Johanna decided to make a change. She was encouraged by
a priest to move to the United States. Sister believes that our
lives are a mystery, always in the hands of God. And so, she
moved to a position in a New Jersey parish.
While Sister Johanna was is Chicago she read an article about
Sacred Heart Monastery and their stained glass windows. She
spoke to a community member, Sister Christine Kouba, OSB, and
learned more about Benedictine life, and their spirituality and
core values. This was the place where she could be involved and
minister to the elderly religious. Sister Christine invited her
to come to Lisle and help out in the infirmary.
Sister Johanna has had a rich life here since then, often the
last to sit with a dying Sister and able to share the peaceful
journey to eternal life.
Sister Johanna made her first profession in 2002 and her final
profession on December 9, 2006. She spends time at the
monastery sewing and helping with housework. She also assists
in the sacristy and works on various liturgy responsibilities.
Sister Johanna loves the opportunity to get to know her new
neighbors at Villa St. Benedict. She sees a great hunger for
spirituality and she enjoys sharing with her new friends the
history of special feast days and stories of the saints. And of
the renovated monastery, Sister reflects, “It is wonderful.
Just beautiful. So quiet! It helps you reflect on God’s love.”
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