Sr. Sara Ball
Age: 30
Home City/State/Country: Melbourne, FL 
Name of Religious Congregation: Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco
Stage of formation: 1st Year Novice, Newton, NJ
Degree(s): Bachelor of Arts, Physical Chemistry. Rosemont College, Penn.
Work Experience: Science Teacher at Catholic High Schools in FL and NJ, Youth Minister at home Parish
Interests: Soccer, music, youth ministry

Vocation History

I was raised Catholic and my parents always made Mass and Sacraments a family priority. I was involved in my parishes growing up, being a lector and teaching CCD to the little ones. I loved children and just assumed I’d get married and have a family. But as I grew into adulthood and really fell in love with ministry and teaching, I did not feel as called to married life as I had expected.

The thought of becoming a religious Sister occurred to me while I was working as my parish youth minister and teaching at the local Catholic high school. I was researching vocations for a talk I was giving at youth group when I realized that I’d never prayed about God’s will for my vocation. I’d never even been open to the idea of becoming a Sister. At first, I wasn’t interested in pursuing it, but I took it to prayer and Adoration for a year and God softened my heart to his will for my life. As I prayed about my vocation, I researched different orders that served youth and found their charism in the field of education. 

When I found the Salesians, I felt immediately at home. To evangelize the youth, to empower them with the knowledge and love and keep with God, there is nothing more worthwhile that I could envision or hope for from my life. The joy and hospitality of the Salesian charism attracted me on my first visit and I am discovering the path to holiness here among the Sisters even more in the novitiate.