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January 2016 www.thefloridacatholic.org YOUR MIAMI COMMUNITY 5 From top gun to top

Faith detour takes new Claretian from '#*BTQJSBOUUP A(PETBHFOU PRISCILLA GREEAR Florida correspondent

MIAMI | Growing up, Sister Ivette Habach aspired to become an FBI special agent and earned a degree in criminal justice in 2011. But the 28-year-old recently took a big step on her journey — from top gun to top nun. Sister Ivette professed her first vows as a Claretian at St. John Vianney College Seminary Claretian Ivette Habach poses before her first profession of Dec. 8 during a quietly joyful Mass vows with her parents, Eloina Marticorena and Sadik Habach. celebrated in Spanish. She entered the order in 2012 and will make her final vows in five years. The date also marked the 50th anniversary of the close of the , the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy and the feast of the Im- maculate Conception, the congre- gation’s patron . “In this year that today opens, the Year of Mercy, to me it’s like an invi- tation to welcome that mercy into my life and be also like a channel of mercy for others,” said Sister Ivette Claretian Sister Ondina Cortes puts the on newly professed Sister in an interview. Her profession Ivette Habach. “means to have found the pearl of great value and to reorient my life, veil and crucifix on Sister Ivette and ,” Sister Ivette said. all my dreams, everything toward presented her with the congrega- She added with a smile that him. It also means to have as tion’s constitution. members of the youth group she the center of my life and to love and Sister Ivette is of Cuban and Syr- has led at San Lazaro in Hia- serve others with all my heart.” ian heritage, but grew up in Venezu- leah “say that I went from being a The celebrant of the Mass was ela. After her profession, she spoke top gun to a top nun. can be Father Jose Luis Menendez, pastor of her determination to marry, have very creative sometimes.” of Corpus Christi Parish in Miami, children and become an FBI agent. The enthusiastic Claretian cred- where have worked for But as she graduated from Florida its the support and witness of her decades. Attendees included mem- International , she began family and sisters for giving her bers of the Claretian lay group, to discern and later was inspired by the courage to give her life to God members of the St. Timothy Par- a passionate, joyful Claretian nun “full time.” She said she eventually ish young adult group which Sister she heard speaking at a retreat. hopes to work for human rights. Ivette has led for three years, Cor- “I was not paying attention to “I really have a passion for jus- pus Christi friends, Daughters of deep in my heart what (God) want- tice, to fight for justice and bring Charity, Teresian Sisters, and semi- ed me to do, to be available to ev- love. I ’t know exactly how, but I narians, faculty and staff of St. John erybody, to bring joy and to serve know that God will open a way,” she Vianney, where she has studied. everybody,” she said. “If you are in said. “I used to pursue my personal Following the Scripture read- married life you have to be devoted agenda of wanting to become an ings, Sister Ivette, wearing a knee- to your kids, your husband; your at- FBI special agent. Now I have be- length gray habit, stood before the tention is divided. And when you come God’s agent, working for his altar adorned with white lilies and are in religious life (God) is our ev- agenda of love, justice, peace and roses. Claretian Sister Elisabeth erything, and then from him every- service.” Rodriguez asked the novice if she thing flows.” Her , Sadik Habach, trav- wanted to voluntarily accept her She said she was drawn to the elled from Atlanta with his family. vows. missionary charism and family- “I’m very confident that she will in- Claretian Sister Ondina Cortes, right, questions Ivette Habach before “I commit myself to follow in the like community of the Claretians, spire even more people and move her profession of vows. (PHOTOS BY ROBERTO AGUIRRE | FC) footsteps of Christ, my all, in the founded in 1855 in . In Florida people closer to Our Lord” with her spirit of of the Beatitudes; there are 12 sisters and one novice joy and kindness, he said. I commit myself to imitate Christ in in Miami, West Palm “She’s unique, vivacious, asser- — top notch.” While many see religious life as who made himself obedient unto Beach and Mayo. They work in par- tive, loving, sharing,” said Doris Sister Ondina, who teaches at St. centering on restrictions after de- death on the cross and to live the ish ministry and education. Strong, Sister Ivette’s classmate in Thomas University in Miami Gar- cades of decline in , Sister gift of virginity that leads me to a to- “They are very open to people a Barry University master’s degree dens, accompanied Sister Ivette Ondina said that it actually frees tal dedication of service to God and and to bring the good news of the program. “She has everything you over the last three years. “It was very one from attachments and opens others,” she replied. Gospel. And I really think that’s can think of, a good Christian and joyful for us to see her so happy and many possibilities. “It empowers Then the local Claretian supe- what we all need, someone who somebody really in the path of Our how she came to her journey. It’s a you to love beyond all limits.”  rior, Sister Ondina Cortes, placed a shares that hope and the joy of the Lord. She has it within her no doubt witness to young people.”