Pennefather heeds her calling: Former Villanova star trades hoops for monastery

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 04/06/2003 | Jack Wilkinson

[tridentine]

Alexandria, Va. -- Once upon a lifetime ago, Shelly Pennefather was the sweetest of shooting stars, an All-American at Villanova and the 1987 national player of the year. Since 1991, she has lived here, in the Poor Clare Monastery, at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in a very modest middle-class neighborhood.

Pennefather has taken her vows and the name Sister Rose Marie of the Queen of Angels. She renounced her worldly life, including a six-figure salary as a professional basketball star in Japan, to answer her true calling: To serve God as a cloistered Poor Clare nun.

[jocon307]

Fascinating, thanks for posting this. Asked Hubby who Jack Wooden was, and he said "I don't know" and I said, "from Basketball, you do so know, just tell me" and he said "Ohio State coach"

I don't get the whole cloister thing, but it's nice to think some parts of the Catholic Church are still working, and that some people are still really holy.

[Drammach]

Kind of reminds me of Siddharta Buddha.

On the path to enlightenment, he achieves mastery of material gains, (money, accumulation of wealth & power) then gives it all up to go sit under a tree by the river Ganges.

I wish her well on her journey of self-realization, regardless of the path she takes.
( I am not Catholic, but then again, I am not Buddhist either.. Each must find their own way. )

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]