Less than 1% of Catholic nuns in the United States today are under the age of 30. Seyram Adzokpa and Zoey Stapleton are among the few young women who have chosen to join a religious community and embark on the journey to become nuns. Here are their stories.
From Ghana to Texas to a convent in New Orleans
Sister Seyram Mary Adzokpa’s first encounter with the call to religious life happened in an unexpected place – a Texas Walmart, when she was 25 years old, walking with her mother. Growing up in Ghana, Adzokpa had never met a nun and had always envisioned marriage and family as her future. However, a chance encounter with two Dominican sisters at the store sparked something within her.
The feeling she experienced upon seeing the sisters in their habits was indescribable. It wasn’t until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a year later, that Adzokpa fully embraced the calling she felt. Despite the fear and uncertainty, she turned to her faith for strength and guidance, supported by her spiritual director who encouraged her to explore the call and build a relationship with Jesus.
Through prayer, reflection, and watching a film about the Sisters of the Holy Family in New Orleans, Adzokpa found her path. At the age of 27, she officially joined the community, overcoming her initial fears of disappointing her immigrant family. Their overwhelming support and her own conviction that God’s call is persistent have sustained her in her journey.
Zoey Stapleton, a 24-year-old from Pennsylvania, also faced the challenge of leaving her close-knit family to pursue a life in religious service. With a background in clinical psychology, she felt drawn to a deeper calling beyond her academic achievements. Despite the emotional difficulty of being separated from her family, Stapleton embraced the new adventure of religious life with determination and faith.
Both Adzokpa and Stapleton exemplify the courage and faith required to follow a path less traveled, choosing a life of service and spirituality over more conventional pursuits. Their stories reflect the diverse journeys that lead individuals to religious vocations and the unwavering support and guidance they find along the way.
After completing her mental health counseling studies at Franciscan University in Ohio, Zoey found herself back in her hometown of Palmyra, savoring precious moments with her family and friends before embarking on a significant new chapter in her life. It was a balmy July evening when steam gently enveloped her face as she expertly sautéed vegetables with her mother, Peggy, in the cozy kitchen. Her father, Tom, would occasionally wander in, flipping through old family photographs and eagerly discussing their upcoming annual getaway to the New Jersey coast. This particular vacation held extra weight, as it marked their final family trip before Zoey’s entrance into the Franciscan Sisters, T.O.R. of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother, in Toronto, Ohio.
As the trio set the table for dinner and the sun dipped below the horizon outside, they paused to bow their heads in a moment of prayer, grateful for the meal they were about to share. While Zoey’s decision to join a religious community didn’t catch her parents entirely off guard, accepting this new path was a journey in itself. Emotions ran high after dinner, with Peggy recalling the heart-wrenching moment she turned to their parish community at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church for support. “This is a profound change,” she confided in Zoey, acknowledging the sacrifices her daughter was making for her faith.
Reflecting on Zoey’s artistic aspirations, Peggy shared how her daughter once sketched visions of a dream home in Hershey, a dream now set aside. Yet, with time and introspection, Peggy found solace in the belief that there could be no greater calling than serving alongside God Himself. Their conversation ebbed and flowed, transitioning from tears to laughter as Peggy playfully inquired about visiting the chapel where Zoey would devote her days.
In early August, Zoey took the pivotal step of becoming a postulant within the religious order. Standing on the steps of the motherhouse, she waved goodbye to her parents as they navigated the winding driveway, her mother returning the gesture from the sunroof of their car. Months later, as the melodious voices of the sisters filled the chapel during Mass, Zoey’s parents sat a few rows behind her, their hearts filled with a mix of pride, nostalgia, and unwavering support.
This multifaceted journey of faith and family bonds is a testament to the intricacies of life’s transitions and the resilience of love in the face of change. It’s a narrative that speaks to the intertwining of personal dreams and divine purpose, of sacrifice and newfound direction. Zoey’s path, while unique to her own story, echoes the universal themes of seeking spiritual fulfillment and embracing the unknown with courage and grace.
In collaboration with The Conversation US and supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., the Associated Press shines a light on the intersections of faith, family, and the human experience.
