Sister Donna Del Santo, S.S.J.

Please introduce yourself.

I am a vocation minister for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester, NY. I have been a contributing writer to Horizon, a presenter for NRVC Convocation & workshops, and I am the grateful recipient of the 2022 NRVC Outstanding Member Recognition Award.

How long have you been involved in vocation ministry? Tell us about your other ministries.

I have been a Vocation Director since 2003 and an SSJ Volunteer Coordinator since 1996. I have also been a Public Health Nurse since 1975 (Wow, 50 years! Yikes!) I also ran clinics for the uninsured and worked in our county Jail until COVID-19, while also doing Vocation Ministry & Volunteer Corps.

Has being a member of NRVC been helpful to you? How?

The NRVC is an organization that has helped educate and form me for this ministry and to network with other vocation directors. Through opportunities in this learning community, we share best practices and wisdom in order to invite men and women to the adventure of discipleship, particularly religious life, and to form them as servant leaders in our Church and world!

Please share a ministry technique, program, or approach that you like.

A program we enjoy is Mass & a Meal, where college students come to our home for Mass, followed by dinner. We will have upwards of 15-20 students join us monthly from area colleges. We are blessed to live in a convent with a chapel and room for a long table, and welcome as many who want to join us! Since 1996, I have lived and worked with my local community of sisters and over 1,000 youth & young adults, from the X-generation all the way to the alpha generation, through the SSJ Volunteer Corps. We strive to educate these young folks in how to work with people who live on the margins of our society, through the lens of our religious life, the Catholic Social teachings, and theological reflection on how to integrate this experience into their daily living. From this experience, five young women have entered our congregation. In addition, my local community has offered housing to young adult women and men, many of whom have no religious affiliation, yet are seekers and find a home with us.

What are your hobbies when you're not working?

I have played the guitar for over 55 years, so music is a passion of mine, as well as the great outdoors, and hiking, canoeing, and camping.

Would you like to share a fun fact about yourself?

I studied Spanish in Nicaragua and met Desmond Tutu there, a true highlight of the experience!