"I desire to become one among you in the Adrian Dominican Congregation — to cast my lot with you, in an ever-deepening God quest, standing at the prophetic edge of church and society at this critical time in the history of the world and in the life of our precious, imperiled planet, Earth."

Ellen Burkhardt, OP, Director of Formation, and Donna Markham, OP, Prioress, welcomed Elise as a candidate.

With these words Elise García expressed her desire to become a candidate in the Congregation and was welcomed on April 26. The ceremony of entrance took place in Holy Rosary Chapel and was part of the Congregation's Evensong for Peace, a weekly gathering of Sisters, Associates and friends who ask for God's gift of peace in our world.

Elise has journeyed closely with Adrian Dominican Sisters and with women and men of many religious communities for more than two decades. She worked at Common Cause in Washington, D.C. and did consultative projects with NETWORK where she met Carol Coston, OP, and came to realize that "the most interesting, dynamic people I was meeting were all nuns!" Elise also worked at St. Mary's University School of Law as Director of Communications and Development, where she was able to fulfill a life's dream of living close to the Earth in Boerne, Texas. It was there that she began living in community with Sister Carol, and along with many women and men from the San Antonio area, cleared land, created gardens and constructed buildings for what became Santuario Sisterfarm, a place of hospitality, retreat, prayer and study. For the past four years, Elise has participated in the Hildegard Mission Group as she continued her journey of discernment toward vowed life.

Elise is the eldest of five children born to first-generation U.S. citizens - her father is the son of Spanish immigrants, and her mother, the daughter of Norwegian immigrants - who chose a life of "itinerancy," representing the U.S. in foreign service. The García family lived in many countries while the children were growing up, which afforded Elise and her siblings the richness of multicultural experiences.

Rosemary Ferguson, OP, Elise's mentor, spoke of her as a "Border-Walker" during the entrance ceremony. In a recent publication of Sor Juana Press, Elise describes Border-Walkers as "women who have made a significant impact in their communities as translators between cultures, women whose lives reflect resilience in overcoming barriers and who open pathways for other women." Sister Rosemary said, "Elise has crossed many borders, lived among many cultures, and now asks to cross our borders. Together, we shall study, contemplate, see visions, and translate them into who we are meant to be."

Elise asked Congregation members to challenge her and one another to live fully the Vision enacted at General Chapter 2004 and to draw on the "rich multicultural legacy of our brother, nuestro hermano, Santo Domingo, and on his extraordinary spirit of generosity, inherited no doubt from his mother - the mystical, faithful and beloved, Juana García Sánchez de Aza."

Elise's candidacy will continue in Texas until July, when she will move to Adrian to continue the initial formation process.