PRAYER & DISCERNMENT
The paths of prayer by
Sister Christa Parra, I.B.V.M. is a master’s of divinity student at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.
Sister Christa Parra, I.B.V.M.
DURING the Chicago marathon in 2014, Sister Christa Parra, I.B.V.M. (in white t-shirt) found the strength to finish with prayer and the support of her religious community, friends, and family. She ran with friends Anna Mayer (blue shirt) and Melissa Carnall (grey shirt).
Sister Christa Parra, I.B.V.M. discovered her vocation during prayer. Now prayer keeps her grounded in her life as a sister.
I
LOVE TO RUN. When I run, I pray. When I start out my run along Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, I begin with a prayer of thanksgiving for the gift of health and energy to run each mile. I continue praying about whatever is in my heart. I pray for friends and family. I pray for people I know and people I don’t know and especially for those who suffer. I talk to God and listen. Last fall I ran in the Chicago Marathon for the second time. I had trained hard and felt well prepared for the big day, but it was one of my toughest runs. Several times during the race I thought about quitting. Around the ninth mile, I had a major cramp in the back of my right leg, and during the 16th mile, I felt nauseous. As I neared the 17th mile, all I wanted was to call my mama and older brother (who had come from Arizona to watch me run) and ask them to pick me up.
18 | VISION 2016 | VocationNetwork.org
