Living Life As a Bride of Christ: Sr. Tracey Dugas, FSP
In this episode of the What Women Are podcast, Sarah sits down with Sister Tracey Dugas, who shares her personal journey of faith, discernment, and call to religious life. From her early experiences in South Louisiana to living out her Vocation with the Daughters of St. Paul (FSP), Sister Tracey reflects on the importance of recognizing God's voice and the ongoing process of discernment. She discusses the distinctions between nuns and sisters, the significance of professing vows, and how different vocations can inspire one another. This conversation highlights the beauty of every woman's call to be a bride of Christ and the interconnectedness of how the different vocations are each a unique response to this call.
Other highlights from this episode:
Sister Tracy emphasizes the importance of listening to God's voice in discernment.
Her early life experiences shaped her understanding of love and faith.
A significant accident in her childhood led to a deeper awareness of God's presence.
Retreats can provide transformative experiences that shift perspectives on life and faith.
The journey of discernment is ongoing and requires openness to God's invitations.
Religious life is about being sent out to serve and share God's love with others.
Nuns and sisters have different roles but share a common goal of serving God.
The beauty of marriage and religious life can inspire and enrich one another.
Chastity is a form of spiritual motherhood, nurturing those around us.
In Scripture, the readiness of the bride for her bridegroom reflects the invitation for each of us to prepare and make a place for God in the intimate center of our being
Sr. Tracey Matthia Dugas is a Cajun girl from St. Martinville, Louisiana. As a teen, one of her big goals in life was to get a job at the mall so she could “get a really good discount at The Gap.” Yet at the same time she hungered for something more and kept asking herself, “What do I really want?”
Her favorite thing about being consecrated to God is that she's God's "audio-visual," called to communicate Him and His love and truth to everyone. Sr. Tracey is currently stationed in Boston, MA, at the motherhouse, where she serves as the Director of Mission Advancement for The Daughters of St. Paul (USA and Toronto). The Pauline Sisters have bookstores around the world where they offer a place of faith and hope for people to come and be close to Jesus in the Eucharistic Chapel as well as through books, music, and videos. When she’s not singing, Sr. Tracey spends much of her time facilitating her community of sisters and speaking God's Word at retreats, at conferences, and on the radio.
