12
Years of Service in Baton Rouge!
In April 2013, Sister Dulce celebrated her 12th
anniversary of her ministry here in Baton Rouge. Sister
first started visiting with the sick in a home near LSU.
Shortly thereafter, with the increasing number of people
requesting a visit with Sister, she was afforded space in the
gym at St. Agnes Catholic Church. Today, Sister visits with
over 75 people a week and we are blest to operate from the
Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer Center – a beautiful,
serene Center on 51 acres of wooded land with Jones Creek
meandering through the property.
In order to commemorate Sister’s ministry here in Baton
Rouge, we asked those in our database if they would like to
share their experience with Sister. Here are a few:
I’ve drafted multiple letters of gratitude but I can’t seem
to write one that does my appreciation and my story with
Sister, justice. I hope this one conveys how much she’s
changed my life, saved my life, and how grateful from the
depths of my soul, I am. I hope whoever is reading this is
sitting comfortably; it’s a long email….
I first saw Sister Dulce on August 23, 2007. Prior
to that appointment, and after hearing of some of the
amazing things Sister had done in others’ lives, I wrote in
my journal, “I hurt with the thought of there really being
a God who cared about me. I’ve spent so many hours
building a fortress against possibility, letting deep, subtle
anger define me and defy the thought of help. Is there
actually something out there that loves me completely and
wants to see me happy? Rooting for me?” I was so lost in
my life and I had no idea how to help myself. I came across
Sister completely happenstance and she’s changed not only
my relationship with God but she’s changed my life. I came
to Sister on a career path I was unhappy with, a personal
life I was unhappy with, and no idea how to have the guts
to change any of it. I felt alone in the universe with no real
resources. I was stuck in my life. Sister gave me hope and
the words of Papa.
So my story: I have always loved the ocean, and marine
animals. From the age of 13, I wanted to be a marine
mammal trainer. As years went by the difficulty of getting a
job like that got in my way and I started getting sidetracked.
By college I had decided I couldn’t pursue the career I
really wanted, it was too hard a road and I didn’t think I
could do it. So I shifted my focus to other paths. Jump
seven years ahead, I had graduated from college, worked
a year in research (hated it), went back to school and got
a master degree (hated it), and taught for awhile (it wasn’t
my favorite). I was unfulfilled with what I was doing,
pretty miserable about the future, and had no ideas how to
remedy my situation. I made an appointment with Sister
and asked her for guidance. She prayed with me and then
said I needed to go to California. She said I would work
with marine mammals, that she saw me in a costume in
front of an audience and I loved my job. Not too long after,
with the support of Sister Dulce’s staff (thank you Donna!)
and my best friend, I quit my job in Texas, packed up my
bags and drove to San Diego, California. I found a job
working for a veterinarian and waited until I could apply
for a seasonal trainer position at the zoological park in San
Diego. About 500 people apply for these seasonal positions
every year, roughly 200 are invited to a
swim test, and about 100 make it to the
interview. Around 14 seasonal trainers
are hired for the summer. With no
previous animal training experience, I
made it not only to the interview but
I was hired. Two years later I am a full
time dolphin trainer and I LOVE my
job. I found my calling, a part of my
purpose, and I have no idea how to say
thank you for that. Since the first time
I met Sister Dulce, my relationship with God has turned
from being one of anger and fear, to one of trust and love.
Papa is a part of my every minute, and I love that. Sister
has shown me that I can believe God has good things in
store for my life, and that I can believe he’s on my side.
For all you’ve done for me Sister, I thank you, I thank you,
I thank you.
Jennifer Wilbanks
Answered Prayer
My son and I were extremely close as he was growing
up. His mother and I divorced and once he became 15 he
wanted nothing to do with me for over five years. I would
call, write and e-mail weekly but never got a response.
I was extremely sad and this weighed heavy on my mind.
I would keep up with him through my daughter and she
would give him messages but I never received any back.
I prayed all the time for us to reunite. After he went to
college, on Sundays I would go to 8 a.m. Mass then go park
across the street from his apartment for about 15 minutes
and pray.
I did not know who Sister Dulce was but for about a
month I noticed a nun sitting behind me on Sundays at
St Patrick Church, we never spoke. The holidays without
my son were especially hard. In December of 2008 as Mass
was ending one Sunday, Sister leaned over and touched
Testimonials
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