For the first time ever, I attended the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration (aka The Desert Nuns) Nun Run. This was the 4th Annual Nun Run and it was a great morning, a little cold for Tempe (Arizona) in March, but still a great event. Being that I am not much of a runner, I decided to volunteer at the Late Registration table where I checked in people that registered for the parish and school challenges, a new component to this year’s race. The races included a 10k run, 5 k run, and 1 mile run/walk. There were also shadow runners from around the country that participated at the same time the event in Tempe was happening at Kiwanis Park.

Here are some pics from the day with Sr. Mary Fidelis of the Poor Clares

Fr. John Muir and I, the winner of the Chaplain challenge

and Fr. Don Kline, MC and Pastor of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Phoenix. 

If you have the financial ability to support the Poor Clares of the Perpetual Adoration from Tonapah, Arizona, I would encourage you to make a donation to their worthy building project. I have known the Poor Clares since their arrival in the Diocese of Phoenix and remember when they first lived in Black Canyon City (just north of Phoenix). The Saint Mary’s Catholic High School Squires Circle use to go up to their property in Black Canyon City to volunteer and help clean up the property before the summer heat fell upon the desert.

I don’t know about you, but I love seeing religious sisters in habits! It says so much to us as Catholic lay faithful and it’s such an amazing witness to the modern world. They have given up their lives for Christ and celebrate by wearing their “wedding dress” each day. They truly see themselves as Brides of Christ because that is what they truly are – Brides for Jesus Christ. Religious Orders that wear habits (see orders at the bottom of that link) are growing rapidly here in the United States. Young women want to embrace this life and not just wear regular street clothes like everyone else. One of the orders that is close to my heart, and I have written about them numerous times on this blog is The Dominican Sisters Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. They are rapidly growing as are many other religious orders that embrace the beauty and tradition of the habit. I would encourage you to support these fine religious orders and teach others about the tradition that these religious orders have in the Catholic Church. They know who they are as women of God and are not seeking glory for their own sake, but are seeking to do the will of God.

Let us pray for the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, the Nashville Dominicans, Benedictines of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, and many others who are truly living out their lives as Brides of Christ today.