About Me
My name is Julie Vieira, IHM, and A Nun’s Life is my personal blog. I am a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), a Roman Catholic religious community based in Monroe, Michigan. Our community is dedicated to the liberating mission of Jesus which we seek to express in a variety of ways according to our charism and the needs of the world around us. We are committed to building a culture of peace and right relationships. A Nun’s Life is not sponsored by nor in any way connected to the IHM Congregation. I have been been a part of my religious community for over 12 years and am one of its youngest members.
I am currently working at Loyola Press, a nonprofit publisher serving the Catholic community in faith formation, education, and spiritual growth. Loyola Press was founded in 1912 by the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). Our mission as a company is to nurture a lived faith through building relevant and enduring bridges between our 2000-year-old Catholic faith and the needs and desires of today’s spiritual seekers. A Nun’s Life is not part of my work at Loyola Press. Though my employer and colleagues are supportive and certainly entertained by my musings, they have nothing to do with the blog or its content. My work at Loyola Press is a wonderful opportunity to bring together my professional experience as a writer and my academic training in theology and spirituality. I received a master’s degree in Theology from Regis College, a Jesuit school of theology in Toronto, and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and religion from Saint Michael’s College at the University of Toronto.
Mostly, A Nun’s Life is my story — what it is like for me to be Catholic nun, that is, a member of a Catholic religious community of women. It’s also about nuns and sisters in general, how we are portrayed in the media, and who we are “for real.” I have been very fortunate to develop friendships with many nuns, and it is through them that I have come to better know myself and this crazy thing called religious life. Being a nun has not always been my lifelong goal. When I was growing up, I did not dress up as a nun for Halloween. When I was a young, impressionable Catholic school girl, I did not secretly (or otherwise) pine for the veils, habits, odd religious names, and overall mystique of the nuns who taught me. The whole “nun” thing kind of snuck up on me when I wasn’t paying much attention. I absolutely love being a nun. It’s what makes me who I am and helps me to be the best person I can be for God, the Church, and the world.
A Nun’s Life is intended to be an open forum — in terms of both my musings and your comments. Please write to me about how being a nun or knowing a nun has impacted your life. Keep us posted on nuns in literature, the media, popular culture, or current events. Although the focus is on being a Catholic nun, I also welcome perspectives from nuns and religious in other Christian or religious traditions.
Drop me a line — If you have any questions or comments that you would like to address to me personally, please email me at sisterjulie (at) anunslife (dot) org. I cannot always respond immediately but will do my best to respond in a timely manner.
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