Sister Linda Gibler, OP, Dominican Sisters
of Houston
When I was 28 years old, I was a waitress and knew something was missing from my life. The thought of becoming a Sister had never entered my mind. I went to church one Sunday and a member of the Serra Club was there to speak about vocations. I walked passed him to my car, but a voice pulled me back to get more information. I went on their retreat and I knew I had to consider religious life. Although I tried to talk myself out of it, I went to visit a couple of congregations but I didn't find a fit. Then, just like Goldie Locks, the third try—the Dominican Sisters—was just right. I especially liked their feminist and justice stances. I was being drawn into a more intimate love of God and being a Dominican was the best lifestyle that I could live.
Tying together Science and Religion When I came to the Dominicans, I already had my BA in Sociology.
I later received a Master's in Pastoral Studies. My first jobs as a Sister
were as a chaplain in a county hospital and in parish ministry. Later,
when I saw the first of the pictures from the Hubble telescope, the
beauty of the Universe overwhelmed me and I wanted to learn
more about the relationships between philosophy, science, and religion.
I went on to receive another Master's in Philosophy & Religion. As
I was studying, I investigated the "cosmocentric" aspects of Roman Catholic
celebrations especially the use of water, olive oil, and fire in the
sacraments. My Dominican congregation was extremely supportive of me
and very encouraging throughout my eight years of discovery. I have just
obtained my Doctorate in Philosophy & Religion with a concentration
in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness. This means learning to incorporate
the significance of what we are learning from science, especially in
our knowledge of the Universe, into our theology and spiritual practice,
and how that new understanding affects everything.
The Indomitable Spirit From my studies of the Cosmos, I see how the Spirit is magnified
in each individual. For example, once I was helping a Salvadoran woman
who had immigrated to the United States. Her family had very little,
but she was given the opportunity to get free furniture for her family
if she could get it home. She had only a small truck, but she did not
let that limit her. I saw this woman's indomitable spirit get furniture
for a family of eight to fit. Amazing. The Spirit is alive in the Cosmos,
from the largest stars to the smallest atomic particles, and it all fits!
Sponsoring Congregations:Sisters of Divine Providence; Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Houston;
Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament; and Dominican Sisters of Houston.
When I was 28 years old, I was a waitress and knew something was missing from my life. The thought of becoming a Sister had never entered my mind. I went to church one Sunday and a member of the Serra Club was there to speak about vocations. I walked passed him to my car, but a voice pulled me back to get more information. I went on their retreat and I knew I had to consider religious life. Although I tried to talk myself out of it, I went to visit a couple of congregations but I didn't find a fit. Then, just like Goldie Locks, the third try—the Dominican Sisters—was just right. I especially liked their feminist and justice stances. I was being drawn into a more intimate love of God and being a Dominican was the best lifestyle that I could live.