She was still Jessica Langrell, not yet Sr. Mary Grace, when she first encountered the Sisters of Life at PJ Gallagher’s Irish Pub in Sydney during the summer of 2008. The pub became a meeting point for more than four dozen consecrated women religious from the United States, thanks to a promise by her family to offer them free meals.
“They offered them free food at the pub every night they were in Sydney, so the first time I encountered the Sisters of Life was in a pub,” she recalled.
Sr. Mary Grace is scheduled to speak at the inaugural Catholic Women’s Conference organized by the Catholic Diocese of Wichita on March 8 at Church of the Magdalen in Wichita. She previously visited Wichita for a benefit event and noted, “I was so moved by the faith in the parishes...There was a fire and a love for the Lord that I haven’t seen anywhere else.”
At 18, Jessica was skeptical about the sisters' joy during their visit but attended one of their events out of curiosity. She recounted being deeply moved despite her initial doubts about their happiness.
Her upbringing in a devoutly Catholic family led her to explore deeper spiritual connections. By age 21, while pursuing dreams like joining Australia’s Olympic rugby team, she found herself drawn towards religious life after attending a Sisters of Life retreat.
“I thought God was teasing me,” she said when offered an opportunity with Australia’s national rugby team while en route to discernment retreat with Sisters of Life. However, she chose to continue with her spiritual journey instead.
Since joining as a postulant over 13 years ago, Sr. Mary Grace has been involved in missions supporting women facing crisis pregnancies and helping those seeking healing from past abortions.
“It is overwhelmingly beautiful to realize how alike human hearts are around world," she observed about her work's impact across diverse cultures and regions.
Sr. Mary Grace emphasized how simple encounters often lead people toward discovering God's presence: "When people are hurt...they know we were not made for that."
Reflecting on others' attraction towards sisters’ joyfulness echoed through interactions since joining community: “We tell them that is taste Jesus.”
In addition to sharing experiences through such conferences as upcoming one this March where unmistakable religious garb invites spontaneous conversations along way—whether planes or gas stations—their mission extends beyond primary fields serving those needful souls they encounter daily lives...
Her admiration for Servant God Fr Emil Kapaun continues inspiring example living conduit divine grace amid life's challenges: “Fr Kapaun huge influence my life…thought ‘There something Fr Kapaun spirit soil Kansas.’”
To learn more about Sisters Life visit www.sistersoflife.org