Introducing Theresa

My name is Theresa. I am one of the new postulants this year, along with Erin and Cheryl. I am really excited to introduce myself to everyone who reads this blog. Thanks to those of you who have been keeping me and the other postulants in their prayers.

I am the eldest of three sisters and one brother. I love to write on my blog, read books, goof around and bake cupcakes.

My family is one of the most important things in my life. My parents lives in Oklahoma now but I was born in Steubenville, OH. My father, Chris Noble, was a teacher of Evangelism at the University of Steubenville. I remember having a great desire even at a young age to join him in his efforts to bring others to the faith. My father let me join him in one of his evangelism classes and I filled out the workbook right along with the other adults there, (quite possibly along with some Daughters of St. Paul, because my father told me there were some FSPs in his class!).

For a variety of reasons, I rejected the faith of my childhood when I was fourteen and I spent twelve or so years as an atheist, agnostic, and finally a seeker who eventually found her way back to the Catholic faith of my family. A few years after my “reversion,” I began to hear God’s call to discern religious life. At first I totally ignored it; I really loved God but I wanted to get married and becoming a religious was just not in my plans. But thanks to a great spiritual director, I began to listen to God and realized that He was inviting me on this beautiful adventure.

I found out about the Daughters of St. Paul while I was watching this YouTube video from Father Stan Fortuna. I had first seen him speak in Oakland, CA and I really identified with his vocational story. In this YouTube video, Fr. Stan mentions "his girls" at the Daughters of St. Paul and I thought to myself, "If this priest likes this order, I might like it too." Sure enough, after a retreat and heartfelt prayer I felt myself called to enter postulancy with the Daughters.

I left a great job as a Systems Analyst in San Francisco, fabulous friends and a wonderful family in Oklahoma to come to St. Louis and I am excited to get to know a new place and follow God on this adventure He has planned for me.

Please pray for me as I begin this journey of further discernment; I definitely could use your prayers. Be assured I keep you in mine as well, God bless!