2023 Vocations Awareness Supplement
Sister Evangeline follows her heart to embrace a lifelong dance with Jesus
Father Rick Nagel, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis, shares a moment of joy with Franciscan Sister M. Evangeline Rutherford after she professed her perpetual vows on Aug. 2 as a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, based in Mishawaka, Ind.. Sister Evangeline is a former member of St. John and felt supported by Father Nagel in her path to becoming a religious sister. (Submitted photo)
By John Shaughnessy
When she talks about her relationship with Jesus, Franciscan Sister M. Evangeline Rutherford shares a thought that is uplifting and unusual.
“I used to go swing dancing in high school and college, and I like to think of my relationship with Jesus as a dance,” she says. “I have to trust that he will lead me. I am freest when I let him be in total control of where we are going and what we are doing.”
The joy and commitment that are at the heart of that response pervade every part of life for this 33-year-old woman, a member of the Perpetual Adoration Franciscans, based in Mishawaka, Ind.
Those qualities shine through as she recalls her time as a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis, when she was part of the ministry there that helps feed the homeless downtown.
“I was the Tuesday ‘sandwich maker.’ They handed out bologna-and-cheese sandwiches and peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches to the homeless in the area,” she says. “It was refreshing to be able to do some regular volunteering as an adult.”
The joy and commitment are also there when she describes her current role at Franciscan Health Lafayette. Her ministry includes working in the lab and interviewing patients about their stay in the Lafayette hospital, which is run by the Perpetual Adoration Franciscans.
“I have a survey to fill out, but often the conversation becomes more personal,” she notes. “It is a privilege to be able to listen to people share their stories about their families, careers, health struggles and their faith lives. I have often had the privilege of praying with patients and their families. I have also gotten to know many of our staff members.
“There have been many beautiful moments talking with patients. They have thanked me for coming and have said that they feel so much better now that someone has listened to their story. People naturally feel safe talking to a sister, and many people really open up to me. I sometimes marvel at that privilege. I know it is so much larger than just myself.”
That last sentence also captures her path to becoming a religious sister, starting with the influence that her parents—George and Linda—had on her, the younger of their two children.
‘God wants us to try to be the best version of ourselves’
“I have been blessed to share the faith journey with my parents,” says Sister Evangeline, who grew up in Michigan. “I was able to experience many formative moments during my high school years with my dad. He was involved with youth ministry. We attended a Catholic youth camp together and went to several Franciscan University of Steubenville Youth Conferences together.
“My parents always encouraged me to do my best, but they did not demand perfection. I feel like my parents really helped me to understand that God wants us to try to be the best version of ourselves, and he is there to forgive us when we repent and call upon his mercy. We can learn and strive to do better.”
It was during one of the youth conferences at Franciscan University—in the summer after her high school graduation—that she first thought about being a religious sister.
“At the end of the weekend conference, they invite up any young men and women who are thinking about religious life or the priesthood to come forward for a blessing,” she recalls. “I remember thinking, ‘Why not you?’ I did not go up for the blessing, but the question stuck, and I could never let it go.”
Her eventual answer to that question took another step forward during her college years at Michigan State University, a time when, she says, “I grew to know Jesus more and more and came to know that this is how he made my heart.”
She also became aware of the Franciscan sisters during her senior year in college, thanks to the influence of another young woman who felt called to religious life.
The woman, who later became Sister Mary Augustine, dropped out of her doctoral program to pursue a master’s degree that prepared her to enter the Franciscan community.
“I lived in a women’s discernment house at the time,” Sister Evangeline recalls. “We had Saturday morning Mass and formation nights, so I got to know her through that. I went to her entrance ceremony in 2013 and met the sisters.”
‘A bright light among her peers’
Her connection with the Franciscan sisters continued when she moved to Indianapolis in 2014 to take a job in the laboratory at Franciscan Health Indianapolis. Looking for a parish with a strong young adult faith community, she found hers at St. John the Evangelist, led by its pastor, Father Rick Nagel.
“I did not know anyone, and it was a place to start to get to know people,” says Sister Evangeline, who also became involved in the activities of IndyCatholic, an outreach of the archdiocese’s Office of Young Adult & College Campus Ministry.
“I am inspired by what has happened at St. John’s with Father Rick’s leadership. Adoration was just beginning when I was there. We had a holy hour on Thursday evenings. I went to confession several times during those holy hours, and Father Rick had great fatherly advice for me. I felt supported to continue in my discernment.”
Father Nagel remembers her time at St. John with joy.
“She was always a bright light among her peers and gave hope to the parishioners that the young Church is alive and well,” he says. “Her steadfast faith, attention to prayer and intentional discernment of God’s plan for her life served as a fruitful example for others in the community.”
When Sister Evangeline professed her perpetual vows this August as a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, Father Nagel made sure he was there in the chapel of St. Francis Convent in the northern Indiana community of Mishawaka.
“It was a great joy for me as a spiritual father,” he says. “I was deeply moved by the joy of both Sister Evangeline and her community of sisters who welcomed her into the family of faith. During the reception, after her perpetual vows, Sister Evangeline was so present to each person who greeted her. I was moved by the time she took with us all and made each person feel as if they had an important role in her formation and life.”
For Sister Evangeline, that day and her choice were a natural extension of her love of Christ and her deep appreciation for St. Francis.
‘Jesus wants you to fully become who he created you to be’
“I was always drawn to St. Francis,” she says. “He simply wanted to preach and live the Gospel. Our charism of perpetual adoration fits so well with Franciscan spirituality. We want to spend time with the Lord, to entrust the cares of the world to him, and to go out and preach the good news through our witness and in our words.
“I remember hearing about our community and thinking that I could spend the rest of my life reflecting on the beauty and the mystery of the Eucharist. I have been able to give my total commitment to the person of Jesus. He is now my spouse forever.”
In many ways, her dance with Jesus has just begun. In other ways, she has always been moving toward his embrace of her life. It’s a relationship that she hopes other young women will consider as a religious sister.
“Let your discernment flow from prayer,” she advises. “The Lord often reveals his will one step at a time. So, ask the Lord, ‘What are you calling me to do at this point in my life?’ It might be as a simple as going to adoration for an hour every week or attending weekday Mass.
“Seize the graced moments. If you are inspired to go talk to a sister or a priest or go on a discernment retreat, do it.”
Most of all, she says, turn to Jesus, trusting he will lead you to where he wants you to be.
“Do not be afraid!” she says. “Jesus wants you to fully become who he created you to be. He knows your heart.”
(For more information on the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration in Mishawaka, Ind., visit
ssfpa.org.) †
