On Sunday, Sept. 23, the Dominican Sisters of Peace held a Rite of Entrance ceremony for Anne Knight, welcoming her as a new candidate to their congregation of Catholic Sisters. As a candidate, Anne will continue on a path of prayer and discernment, determining whether she will eventually make vows as a member of the Dominican Sisters of Peace. In this year of candidacy, she will live with a local community of Sisters, participate in their shared life of prayer, study and service, and continue to learn more about the joys and struggles of being a Dominican Sister.
Anne first became acquainted with the Dominicans when she became friends with Sister Amy McFrederick at Our Lady of the Presentation Parish in Overland, Mo., where Anne was a member and Sr. Amy assisted in the music ministry of the parish. In 2000, Anne became a lay associate of what was then the Great Bend Dominicans. As an associate (a lay person who partners with the sisters to share their mission with the world), Anne learned even more about the Dominican Order’s values and way of life, and she began to take on leadership roles within the associate life program. In 2009, around the time the Great Bend Dominicans merged with six other congregations to become Dominican Sisters of Peace, Anne chose to enter a more formal discernment process with the Sisters, to explore the possibility of joining them as a vowed member.
Last Sunday’s ceremony marks a new chapter on her journey begun more than a decade ago. Earlier this month, Anne moved to Kansas for her candidacy year, where she will share in the community life of the congregation while continuing to work as a business analyst for Wells-Fargo (a position in which she has worked for years, previously telecommuting from the St. Louis area). After one year as a candidate, if her discernment leads her to continue on the path to vowed membership, Anne would become a novice. After a two-year novitiate period, novices can then elect to make temporary vows as a Sister; after three years, temporarily professed Sisters can elect to make final profession.
Formerly married, Anne was thrilled to have her three adult sons – John, Ken, and Ben – and their spouses/fiancés with her in Kansas to celebrate her reception into the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Also joining in the festivities were two of her siblings and their families, as well as many Sisters and Associates of the Dominican Sisters of Peace.
“This ceremony is the community’s way of opening our hearts to a new member,” explained Sr. Arleen Kisiel, OP, Director of Formation for the congregation. “It’s a way of letting her know how happy we are to be sharing our life with her as she continues her discernment with us.”
 “It’s been a wonderful journey so far,” commented Anne. “I’m eager and excited to see where the future will lead!”