Denver Catholic

10 JULY 11-24, 2015 | DENVER CATHOLIC S ome conversions take a lifetime. For Shannon Gunning, her call to Jesus was instantaneous. It was during adoration at her senior high school retreat at St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Littleton that she first heard the Lord speak to her. "It was a tremendous first moment," Gunning told Denver Catholic. "I just started weeping for what had become of my life. I felt dissatisfaction, and loneli- ness, and sorrow for the recklessness of my life." Then the Lord asked her to become a nun. "That was very terrifying for a 17 year old who had made very di–erent plans for her life," Gunning said. "I thought it was rude. I was like, 'This is why you don't have more friends—I just converted, and now you're asking this of me?'" She wasn't ready to enter a convent, but Gunning did decide to switch schools. Within a few weeks of the senior retreat, she had called, applied and been accepted to Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. She said it was a wonderful first step toward her vocation. "I had never been exposed to a large Catholic community where authentic joy and hope were present in everything. By the grace of God, I just jumped in head- first," Gunning said.ƒ "My life became deeply anchored in the Lord. I was giving him an opportunity to speak into my life," she said. "My new desires and new dreams started to grow, particularly in terms of vocation." BACK TO CABRINI Gunning didn't enter a convent right out of college, and now says she realizes the Lord had a mission he wanted her to do first. She became the youth minister at her home parish, St. Frances Cabrini in Littleton. " We recklessly pursue vocation because it is important, but the Lord's love is more important," Gunning said. "We need the Lord, not vocation. Then he will invite us into vocation." Finally, after years of spiritual strain, Gunning found the Sisters of Life. She said boarding the plane to visit them was one of the most terrifying moments of her life. But when she arrived, she felt a spirit of joy and peace. She visited several times. It was during her last visit, in the beginning ofƒ Febru- ary, that she knew she was meant to join the Sisters of Life. "The last time that I was out there, I was in the chapel, and I just kept pray- ing,ƒaskingƒhim what he wanted," she said, recounting the movements of her prayer. "Silence, then finally he said to me, 'Shan- non, there are a thousand reasons for you not to come, and some of those reasons are even good. In that same breath he said, 'There's one reason to come.' "That reason was Christ, and that reason was enough. I just said, 'Lord, what will be most pleasing to you?' "I'm 32, and it was the first time I had ever prayed that prayer. And then he said, 'Come.'" Gunning returned to Denver finally knowing where she was called. SHARING THE NEWS Gunning says there are many things she will miss about Denver, especially the children in St. Frances Cabrini's youth ministry program. "I'm very sad, but very confident in God's faithfulness.ƒ If he asks you to do something outrageous, he will provide everything that invitation entails," Gun- ning said.ƒ Shortly after she announced that she would be joining the Sisters of Life, the sisters announced they were coming to Denver. Gunning also realized she had made her announcement during the Year of Consecrated Life. "I was completely blindsided," she said. "I just laughed. It's the Year of Con- secrated Life, the Lord told me now's the time, and then they move here, and then I announce it. But it really has been a long- time process of discernment." Around the Archdiocese SERVING THE DENVER CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SINCE 1890. The heritage behind our mortuaries and cemeteries is one of history and tradition. For more than a century, Catholic families have trusted Olinger Mortuaries and Cemeteries to care for their loved ones because respect for traditions, understanding the needs of the Catholic faith, and providing affordable options is at the heart of what we do. With more than a 90 years of combined experience, parishioners Harry Stevenson, Matt Whaley and Lloyd Swint have assisted families with care and compassion. Today, their experience, combined with those who provide professional services in 11 Olinger neighborhood chapels, is virtually unprecedented in serving the Denver Catholic community. Harry Stevenson 52 Years Matt Whaley 27 Years Lloyd Swint 11 Years (303) 455-3663 www.denverfuneralproviders.com DEACON APPRECIATION ISSUE AUGUST 8, 2015 The deadline to reserve you ad is July 30, 2015. The deadline for camera-ready ads is August 3, 2015 For more information contact Cindy O'Neill today at (303) 715-3212 or cynthia.oneill@archden.org Don't forget to say S N I A R F Y V R E S X D O N F U W O G W A R W E S X N D S M S N B APOSTLE ARCHITECTS BELIEF DIDYMUS DOUBTING Youth minister answers decade-long call to religious life BY MELISSA KEATING 303-715-3123 melissa.keating@archden.org www.twitter.com/mkeats42 Local youth minister Shannon Gunning poses with a Sister of Life. Gunning recently announced she plans to join the order. PHOTO PROVIDED

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