Sister Chero Chuma, CSJP

Please introduce yourself and your role with

the NRVC.

Peace be with you! I am a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace, and I live in Bellevue, Washington. I serve in vocation ministry for my congregation, promoting vocations, accompanying women who are discerning religious life, and I also minister as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. I was born and raised in Kenya, and my vocation has taken me across continents and cultures. Looking back, I can see God's faithfulness in every step of the journey. It has taught me to trust that the Holy Spirit continues to lead us in ways we often cannot imagine.

As Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, our Constitutions remind us that Christ is our Peace and that our lives are rooted in Him. That conviction shapes everything I do. Whether I am accompanying someone discerning God's call or walking with someone through a mental health challenge, my hope is that they experience Christ's peace, healing, and hope.

Within the National Religious Vocation Conference, I have the privilege of serving as Co-Member Area Coordinator for the Pacific Northwest Member Area. In that role, I get to connect with vocation ministers throughout the region, helping us learn from one another, support each other, and remember that none of us does this ministry alone. Together we plan retreats for those exploring or discerning a call to religious life. What I appreciate most about the NRVC is that it truly feels like a community of people passionate about helping others discover God's call.

How did you come to vocation ministry?

I do not think I found vocation ministry as much as it found me. Looking back, I can see that God had been preparing me for this ministry long before I realized it.

When I was discerning my own call to religious life, I was blessed by people who took the time to listen to me, pray with me, ask thoughtful questions, and simply walk alongside me without trying to tell me what to do. Their accompaniment made all the difference. They helped me recognize that discernment is really about discovering who God created us to be.

Our Constitutions speak of a lifelong journey of continuing conversion to the Gospel, and I think vocation ministry is exactly that. Every person I accompany reminds me that God is never finished calling or transforming us. Discernment is not only for the young or for people entering religious life - it is a way of living attentively to God's invitation every day.

Over the years, whether through my ministry as a religious woman, a nurse practitioner, or simply through everyday conversations, I have realized I love listening to people's stories. I enjoy hearing about their hopes, their questions, and sometimes their fears. Those conversations often become sacred moments where people begin to recognize God's presence in ways they had not noticed before.

That is what I love most about vocation ministry. It is not about having all the answers or convincing someone to choose religious life. It is about creating space where people can listen more deeply to God's voice and discover where they are being called to love, serve, and flourish. Walking with someone on that journey is a tremendous privilege, and every time I witness someone grow in freedom and trust, my own vocation is renewed.

Please share one blessing and one challenge you encounter in your work.

One of the greatest blessings in vocation ministry is having a front-row seat to what God is doing in people's lives. I remember accompanying someone who began the discernment process wondering, "What if I am not enough?" Over time, through prayer, honest conversations, and simply creating space to listen to God, I watched that fear slowly become peace and confidence. Whether someone is ultimately called to religious life, marriage, the single life, or priesthood, witnessing that transformation is an incredible gift.

Our Constitutions remind us to promote peace by honoring the dignity of every person and responding to God's people in need. That is how I see vocation ministry: before we ever talk about a particular vocation, we first help people discover that they are deeply loved by God and that their lives have meaning and purpose.

One of the challenges is that we live in a world filled with constant noise and distraction. Many people sincerely want to know God's will, but finding time for silence and prayer can be difficult. I often tell discerners that God does not compete with the noise; we have to intentionally make room to hear His voice.

Sometimes accompaniment also means embracing uncertainty. Our Constitutions invite us to move forward with gratitude, hope, and the courage to take prophetic risks. That gives me confidence, because I have learned that God is never in a hurry. Even when someone feels stuck or uncertain, God continues to walk with them, and I have the privilege of walking beside them.

How has being a member of the NRVC helped you?

One of the things I appreciate most about the NRVC is that it reminds me that vocation ministry is never something we do alone. Especially when I was newer to this ministry, it was encouraging to meet vocation ministers who were so generous with their wisdom, their experience, and even the challenges they were facing. It did not take long before I realized I had found a community of people who genuinely care about one another and share the same mission.

I have attended conferences and gatherings where I came looking for ideas and resources, but I often left with something even more valuable — new friendships, renewed energy, and a deeper sense of hope. It is reassuring to know that if I have a question or need encouragement, there is always someone willing to listen and share their experience.

Serving now as Co-Member Area Coordinator for the Pacific Northwest Member Area has deepened that experience even more. It has been a privilege to help bring vocation ministers together, create opportunities for connection, and learn from the many gifts each person brings.

Our Constitutions encourage us to respond creatively to the changing needs of our world, and I see that same spirit within the NRVC. Together, we are continually learning new ways to accompany discerners in today's Church while remaining rooted in the Gospel.

For me, the NRVC is much more than a professional organization. It is a community of accompaniment that continually inspires me, stretches me, and reminds me that God is still calling people today, and that we have the joy of helping them listen and respond.

What do you enjoy doing on your time off?

One of my favorite ways to spend my time off is simply being with friends. Some of the best moments are when there is no agenda,  just time to catch up, laugh, share a meal or a cup of chai, and be there for one another. In a world that is often busy and rushed, I really value those moments of simply being present. They remind me that relationships are a gift, and that peace often grows through simple acts of presence and attentive listening. As Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, we are called to build relationships that foster reconciliation and peace, and I find that those ordinary moments with friends nourish my own heart for ministry.

I also love traveling and experiencing different cultures. Having grown up in Kenya and now living in the Pacific Northwest, I have come to appreciate how beautifully diverse God's family is. Every place and every culture has something to teach us, and each encounter broadens my understanding of God's presence in the world. Those experiences remind me to stay open to new ways of seeing and serving as the needs of our world continue to change.

I also enjoy listening to podcasts, sometimes educational ones where I can learn something new, and other times Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! on Saturdays. I love learning, but I also appreciate how humor helps me keep life in perspective and reminds me not to take myself too seriously.

And when it is time to unwind, you will often find me watching a good comedy. Laughter is such a gift. It brings people together, lightens the heart, and helps us find joy even in challenging times. I believe joy and hope are essential to a healthy spiritual life. Our Constitutions remind us that peace is God's gift, always pointing us toward hope, and I think laughter is one of the many ways we experience that hope in everyday life.

Whether I am spending time with friends, traveling, learning through podcasts, or simply enjoying a good laugh, these moments renew my spirit. They remind me that prayer, community, ministry, and rest all belong together. When we care for our own hearts, we are better able to accompany others with compassion, joy, and peace.