Sister Caryn Crook, O.S.F.

Please introduce yourself and your role with the NRVC.

My name is Sister Caryn Crook, and I am a Sister of Saint Francis of the Neumann Communities. I have been a vocation minister for almost 12 years. I am also a Member Area Coordinator with the Lake Erie, Ohio River Member Area.

How did you come to vocation ministry?

In 2014, my community participated in the “Moving Forward in Hope” Vocation Ministry Program. There were pink pieces of paper in the middle of the table. Sisters were asked to write the name of a sister who would be good at vocation ministry. My name came up many times, and the leadership team invited me to discern a change in ministries. It was hard to let go of the ministry that I had, but vocation ministry stole my heart, and I see it as a sacred ministry of building up the kingdom of God. 

Tell us one blessing and one challenge in your work.

A blessing in vocation ministry is working with women who are searching for their purpose and how to live it out in their lives. It is sacred, and I always learn so much from those with whom I work. A challenge is that the congregation continues to change so quickly that it is hard to keep up with those changes as they affect vocation ministry. For example, a convent is open to host vocation events, and then it closes. It can be difficult to find convents that will host vocation ministry events. 

How has being a member of the NRVC helped you?

The NRVC teaches me the tools that help me in my everyday work. Meeting so many other vocation ministers provides a space to build relationships that I can reach out to for support, and they can reach out to me as well. 

What do you like to do on your time off?

I am a facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Project. These workshops give people tools for "transforming power," discovering the tipping points for events that may lead to violence, and guiding them towards non-violence. I meet many incredible people, and I use many of those tools as I talk with women who are interested in joining my community.