Sister Maryanne Tracey, S.C.

Sister Maryanne Tracey, S.C. is the director of vocation and formation for the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth. It's her second time around in this ministry, having served from 1993 to 2003, including a stint on the NRVC Board. She dove back into vocation ministry in 2014 and is a co-coordinator for the Hudson Valley member area of NRVC.

Do you work with a team?

I have a Vocation Advisory Board, which is very helpful, a part-time staff member who works with social media, and many times I have an intern as well. In addition I have very good support from leadership.

Has being a member of NRVC been helpful?

NRVC has been extremely helpful. Their workshops and orientation programs for new members are very professional and of the highest quality. The same is true of the convocation, which is always relevant to what is happening in the world of vocations.

Most recently, I took part in the Vocation Ambassadors Program and found it exceptionally helpful to my staff and intern who attended it with me. The information, skills, professionalism, and interaction was invaluable. In addition, I always find the staff of NRVC helpful and personable. 

What have you tried lately that you have been excited about?

As a result of the Vocation Ambassadors Program we have been able to upgrade our Facebook page with a new and attractive look.

We also host a program for college women that we call “Supper and Story.” We invite college women to the motherhouse for pizza and make-your-own sundaes, and a sister tells her vocation story. It is always well-received.

Last year we published a series of podcasts internally for our sisters, and this year we hope to make them public. Lastly, we recently started a "ministry of presence" at the College of Saint Elizabeth. Students come in groups of 10-15, and we hope to have five sisters sit with them to share conversation.

What do you find most rewarding and most challenging in vocation work?

The most rewarding for me is the privilege and honor to talk about my congregation, our history, our wonderful sisters, and the ministries we have been involved in for almost 160 years. Most recently I have been able to work with young interns, and it is always a joy when they are pleasantly surprised to learn something new about sisters.

The challenge is that it takes a lot of energy and creativity. I am always trying to think of new ways to repackage our charism so it is attractive and appealing to diverse groups.