In our life as Poor Handmaids, we often say that formation never ends—it simply evolves. Religious life is a continuous unfolding, marked by lessons that deepen with time and the Spirit’s guidance. The Life panelists in this Global Sisters Report piece share candid reflections on the wisdom they have gained—wisdom they wish they had embraced earlier. Their words echo the humility and truth we know so well in community: that learning to love, to listen, and to let go are graces that come not all at once, but slowly and with intention.

Saint Katharina Kasper reminds us, “Go onward quietly and do what is right, simply and humbly.” These words remain a guidepost for all who continue to be transformed through religious life.

As Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, we hold dear the sacred beginnings of our journey into vowed religious life. Those early days of formation remain etched in our memory, not just as a season of discernment and growth, but as a deep encounter with God, community, and the call to serve. In this month’s Global Sisters Report, The Life panelists offer beautiful glimpses into their novitiate experiences, capturing the blend of vulnerability, joy, and sacred tension that shapes so many of our own stories. Their reflections invite us all to remember our first “yes” and the grace that carried us through it.

Saint Katharina Kasper once said, “The dear God always shows us what we are to do, if we only pay attention.” These stories call us back to that attentive listening that guided our earliest steps in community.