Full name: Katie-Rose Borrello

Age: 20

State-in-life / Occupation: College student

Location: Milledgeville, GA

Educational background (If you attended school): current student at Georgia College and State University, majoring in English Literature and Spanish

How does your Catholic faith affect the way you live your day-to-day life?

“Then come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21) The command from Jesus to the rich young man has truly penetrated my stony heart and made an indelible mark on me. How will I follow Him today? If I don’t have class at noon, daily mass will be my way of following him. Because of my busy student schedule, making a good holy hour with Him is hard, but I’ve found comfort in following Him in the little ways, like saying my rosary while walking to class, creating good friendships rooted in Christ, and singing praises to Him with our Campus Catholics worship team. Even through just the simple act of kindness and love towards one another, I try to show and exhibit Christ every day.

Tell us about a moment in your life when your Catholic faith transformed your understanding of yourself, your purpose and others.

I have been discerning my vocation to religious life for five years now, and it has been quite a roller coaster journey! This summer, through God’s Divine Providence and many little happen-stances, I worked with the Little Sisters of the Poor at one of their poor elderly homes in Somerville, MA. The simple fact that I ended up on this journey of service, and basically spending my whole summer serving the elderly and praying specifically about my vocation, showed me that God was working so carefully in my life and that His plan for me is so much better than I can ever imagine. One particular moment that transformed me was sitting at the bedside of one of the resident Sisters, Sr. Rachel, as she passed into Heaven. I have never seen anything so beautiful. Singing hymns and reciting prayers with the other sisters who surrounded her at her moment of passing changed my heart. I was so moved in the fact that her death was really just the beginning of a new life with Christ. She passed just as the consecration was happening during daily mass on the floor below us; she would fall asleep in this life just before Jesus would be made known in the Eucharist, and would wake up in the next life with the resurrected Jesus.

What lesson did you learn from that moment?

I realized through serving the old people that the Lord designed me in such a way to give love by serving others. I did not find my Vocation, but I learned that He does have something so good planned for me; I just need to listen and have patience. I also learned through Sr. Rachel’s death that death is beautiful and sacred! The Lord and His mother, Mary, are both with us in our suffering, especially at the hour of death.

How do you grow in your Catholic faith?

Daily mass and praying with music have been very instrumental in the growth of my faith. Through daily mass, I get to receive Jesus Himself! He helps me through everything (especially school). Through music, especially singing with the psalms, I have gotten to know the Lord so well. Reading Flannery O’Connor has also helped me! As a fellow young Catholic woman in the very Protestant South, her short stories have greatly helped me see how God’s grace surpasses all human understanding and stretches to all people.

What do you do for fun?

I like to play ukulele, and I lead worship for Campus Catholics! I always find great fun in jamming for Jesus with some of my great friends! I also love watching movies and creating community with my Campus Catholics community!

Three words that describe you — go!

Passionate, organized, honest

Fill in the blank:

My morning routine consists of: St. Therese’s Morning Offering, brush teeth, shower, pick out a cute-but-comfortable outfit, grab a protein bar, rush out the door for class

I’m currently obsessed with: Br. Isaiah's new album Poco a Poco, also the stage adaptation of Newsies with Jeremy Jordan

I feel most inspired when: I am in front of the Crucified Christ statue at Camp Covecrest in Tiger, GA, during the fall. Sitting in the midst of the mountains, completely surrounded by His natural presence.

My favorite part about my life right now is: the community of Catholic women that I am living with! Five fellow Catholic girls growing in fellowship together, doing Bible Study together, and just having the most silly conversations about everything from boys to Jesus!

The advice I would give to the millennial Catholic woman is: to know that you belong to Him! If your identity is rooted in the One who made you, you will see that you are known, seen, and loved by Someone so good!