Long before the first bell rings at Xavier College Preparatory, the halls of the convent are buzzing with life. While students are still fast asleep, three nuns, Sister Theresa Trang, Sister Joan Fitzgerald and Sister Kathleen Sinclair, begin their mornings with quiet prayer and reflection.
Behind the traditional vows of poverty, chastity and obedience are women who contact other countries, watch football and practice the trumpet.
“Prayer is the most important part of my day,” says Trang, explaining that early reflection sets the tone for her whole day. Her day starts at 4:45 a.m. with quiet prayer and a cup of coffee.
Across the hall, Sister Kathleen Sinclair is up even earlier at 4:30 a.m., fitting in a morning workout, prayer, practicing her trumpet and preparing for morning Mass at Xavier.
Meanwhile, Sister Joan Fitzgerald begins her morning with prayers and time playing with the convent dog, Socks, before grabbing her daily staple, an Egg McMuffin.
Once the morning routines conclude, each sister transitions into her professional role on campus.
Trang is a sophomore theology teacher, swapping her quiet morning contemplation for energetic, interactive lessons. She works directly with her students to make the theology concepts engaging and understandable.
Working behind the scenes, Fitzgerald manages convent facilities, maintenance and complex financial operations. She meets with the finance committee every four years and with the diocese every two years. In doing so, Fitzgerald keeps campus and convent facilities running smoothly.
Sinclair works in Advancement, handling “friend-raising,” maintaining student records and organizing the XBreakfast. She also helped launch the Kairos retreat program at Xavier in 2018. She says, “It’s about building relationships,” regarding her community and financial outreach efforts.
Despite their dynamic work schedules, all three sisters prioritize gathering as a community when the school day ends.
“Community time is my favorite part of the day,” Trang shares, highlighting how the sisters share dinner, pray the rosary and relax together.
Evenings in the convent also often include watching television or sports together. Fitzgerald said that she loves relaxing after dinner by watching Jeopardy! or a football game.
Weekends offer another glimpse into their individual lives outside of school duties. Sinclair says she enjoys going out to dinner on Saturday nights after convent Mass, while Fitzgerald spends time unwinding by the convent pool on warm afternoons.
Trang uses her weekend downtime for reading. She enjoys books by authors like Father James Martin and Father Ronald Rolheiser. She also enjoys catching up with friends from Vietnam, where she was raised, for a few hours before getting ready for the upcoming week.
Whether they are teaching in the classroom, crunching numbers in an office or raising money, Xavier College Preparatory nuns prove that religious life is filled with calling, balance and individuality.
Come Monday at 4:30 a.m., while everyone else is asleep, the nuns begin again. They will wake to pray, work and support their school community once again.
