A Nun Run is a 24 hour experience during which young women, ages 18-35, make a run from one convent or monastery to another in order to get a picture of what makes up the life of a “Nun” in each place they visit. On October 12^th & 13^th, five young, courageous women, accompanied by Sister Barbara from the Joliet Franciscans, began a Nun Run in our Joliet Diocese.
On Friday night on the 12^th, these ladies met at the Franciscan Convent in Frankfort and were joined by the Franciscan Sisters from Lemont. There they encountered the joy of the Franciscan spirit by joining the Sisters in prayer, recreation and a restful sleep at their Portiuncula Retreat Center.
On Saturday, the 13^th they rose early and drove to Joliet to visit the Joliet Franciscan Sisters where they experienced another Franciscan atmosphere. There they were served breakfast, participated in the Franciscan approach to prayer and were given information about the Joliet Franciscan lifestyle.
At 11:30 a.m., they arrived, caravan style, at our Sacred Heart Monastery to join our Benedictine Sisters and Villa St. Benedict residents for the Eucharist. After the sacred liturgy in our beautifully illuminated chapel, they were escorted to our monastic dining room for lunch and to be introduced to our Sisters. Then, directed to the conference room, they were able to learn and ask questions about our Benedictine history, monastic prayer, community living and our ministries. Thanks to our presenters: Sisters Mary, Benita, Joanne Williams and Christine.

From our monastery, they proceeded to the Loreto Convent in Wheaton where they would meet with the Sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary joined by the Franciscan Sisters of Wheaton. There too, both Wheaton communities of Sisters gave an explanation of their way of life and then were served a delicious evening meal followed by a prayer service of thanksgiving.
On leaving Loreto Convent, the women expressed how enlightened their curious minds now were and that now they could make wiser decisions about their future. It had been an exciting and full day for them with such a variety of inspiring versions of religious life they met with on their NUN RUN in the Joliet diocese.