'+n.escapeExpression("function"==typeof(o=null!=(o=r(e,"eyebrowText")||(null!=l?r(l,"eyebrowText"):l))?o:n.hooks.helperMissing)?o.call(null!=l?l:n.nullContext||{},{name:"eyebrowText",hash:{},data:t,loc:{start:{line:28,column:63},end:{line:28,column:78}}}):o)+" \n '+(null!=(o=c(e,"if").call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2PreText"):l,{name:"if",hash:{},fn:n.program(32,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:63,column:20},end:{line:63,column:61}}}))?o:"")+"\n"+(null!=(o=(c(e,"ifAll")||l&&c(l,"ifAll")||n.hooks.helperMissing).call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Text"):l,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Link"):l,{name:"ifAll",hash:{},fn:n.program(34,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:64,column:20},end:{line:70,column:30}}}))?o:"")+" July 15 (UPI) -- A flashmob of Polish nuns performed a choreographed dance routine on a beach to promote the Catholic Church's upcoming World Youth Day The sisters perform a spirited dance routine and are joined by a large crowd of children The video was created to promote the upcoming World Youth Day a Catholic Church event scheduled for July 25-31 in Krakow Frank Passic is a longtime collector of Lithuanian numismatic material and founder of the Lithuanian Numismatic Association.  Lithuania will be replacing its national currency Litas coins and bank notes will be exchanged for new euros Included in that exchange will be the retiring of a note that has U.S The 10-litas bank note has been a popular one as the face features the images of two national heroes aviators Steponas Darius (1896 to 1933) and Stasys Girenas (1893 to 1933) The duo attempted to beat Charles Lindbergh’s nonstop distance record across the Atlantic Ocean in 1933 Their plane left Floyd Bennett Airport in New York City headed for Kaunas on July 15 The images of Darius and Girenas have been memorialized on numerous Lithuanian notes and his family moved to the United States in 1907 and also worked as an errand boy at an aviation store owned by the Wright brothers After moving back to Chicago following his period of service he went back to Lithuania where he became part of the training squadron of the Lithuanian Air Force He returned to the United States in 1927.  and eventually began working for a Bellanca dealer at Palwaukee Airport (so named for its location near where Palatine Road intersected Milwaukee Avenue) north of Chicago There he worked as a pilot and a aviation instructor.  Darius teamed up with Lithuanian-American aviator Stasys Girenas in 1932 and the pair formed a flying partnership dedicated to a well-publicized trans-Atlantic flight Girenas had a similar background as his partner The duo purchased a used Bellanca CH-300 Pacemaker plane from the Chicago Daily News (which purchased a newer model) in 1932 and modified it for their flight Darius is always seen wearing his Palwaukee Airport patch on his cap when Lithuania declared the re-establishment of its independence plans were made for the re-establishment of the national litas currency New litas notes dated 1991 in various denominations were released into circulation June 25 Subsequent printings of the 10-litas note featuring the aviators were issued dated 1993 and 1997 When additional issues were released several years later dated 2001 and 2007 the details on the design featured something that had not appeared on earlier printings The details of the Palwaukee patch on Darius’ cap are clearly visible in the 2001- and 2007-dated versions of the 10-litas note In the center is a star that separates the text The top vertical text is covered over by the last letter A in LIETUVOS BANKAS but a small portion of the letter L can be seen in what would have read PAL- The bottom vertical portion reads ATINE.  The back of the note features their Bellanca with an unboundaried map of Europe in the background The note was designed by Lithuanian artist Giedrius Jonaitis the connection to the United States on the 10-litas note will not be forgotten.  When was the first time that you thought of becoming a religious sister after we were done practicing to receive Communion for the first time he told us children to “stay in the church.” He meant for us to literally stay in the building but I received it as a deeper meaning: to stay in the Church I really thought about religious life when I was 13 years old We were on this retreat in the mountains and I remember one Holy Eucharist (Mass) And I thought that maybe that experience was the voice of Jesus calling me I wrote a letter to one Sister and we spoke about vocation many orders that were advertised in my community But then I stopped looking because when I was in my last year of high school He was sick and then in two  months he had died I stopped looking at religious life because I discerned that I had to stay at home So that experience was like the second time that I was called by Jesus I continued to work for several years – I had also completed a graduate degree in physiotherapy (2004) – and then the final call of Jesus came in 2009 I call 2009 the “the last call of Jesus.” You know he gave me the free will to do whatever I wanted and when that “last call” to religious life happened When you received that “last call of Jesus” So I went to my parish priest and I just shared that I thought I had a vocation to be a religious sister I thought there had to be something more to life than work I still have this desire for something more you can be a lay person who is very active in serving the Church and that is what the priest suggested first. I had already spent so many years working full time in the world as a Catholic and I knew that was not it the parish priest mentioned that he had spent one day with the Sisters of Merciful Jesus which was interesting because that community was in a completely different area of Poland But as I was sharing he said that he felt that the Holy Spirit was moving because he thought that community could be a good fit for me but he suggested them and because the Internet was working by then I entered that community several months later in that same year and I have been with them ever since everyone likes to look for love so I did fall in love a few times in my life So I did consider marriage with one boyfriend but it never got to the point of engagement How did your father’s death impact your discernment of religious life I was really focused on my family and focused on work To pass the exams in my program I had to throw myself into work and so I wasn’t really thinking about any vocation Every person has a different way of grieving I was moving so speedy that some of the grieving process was delayed I really loved my father so it was really the biggest loss in my life; my life went completely upside down we learned that he had cancer and then two months later he was just gone I was in a very intense program at school when he died and I even had to prepare for exams at the same time as the funeral I was really focused on athletics and work for my degree To join a congregation you cannot be so sad My father’s death made me wake up and realize how selfish much of my life was and without that event in my life I don’t know if I could have become a Sister My father’s death made me confront God and ask:  “Who is Jesus really for me?” I had been living a life with lots of protection and assurance but then my biggest protection – my father – was taken away from me or do I also want to know how to endure suffering and to know the cross and to understand how Jesus gave his life for all of us he gave the best of himself to me and my family These examples of selfless love made me understand that I didn’t want to be a religious sister for myself I worked as a physiotherapist and also as a teacher of physical education I taught physical therapy and anatomy and also worked as a rehab physiotherapist I think that work really kept me in touch with people from outside of the religious community I knew well what life is like outside of religious life I was also with lots of children and youth and I really liked working with them so I was able to see that although I will not have my own children I saw that I was really passionate about helping them see that there is more to life than just a career Why did you choose the Sisters of Merciful Jesus Growing up in a community where there was lots of Marian devotion but I had always had this longing for Jesus In the 10 years between my father passing and me entering with the congregation I saw the sin in my life and I saw that I was not perfect that I am not the person that I thought I was I longed for him and he never pressured me I saw in the mercy of Jesus that you are really free to do whatever you want even when you choose the wrong thing and then there is pain At one point I made a big mistake in my life – I will not go for details – but because of this experience So when that priest directed me to the Sisters of Merciful Jesus and I opened up their website I never had to discern with another community My brother – when I first entered with the community – he said “I’ll see you next week.” He was sure that I would not stay with them for long I’ll go back to when I was a teenager and my view of religious life at that time I had this immature sense that Jesus wants to take everything from you I had the feeling that Jesus will just take and take he will take away my happiness and my freedom He will take away the sports that I love so much I didn’t want to share with others that I was drawn to religious life Trust is a big part of discerning a vocation The Bible says that perfect love casts away fear but I can say that trust is another name for love and mercy I had to ask myself if I really trusted Jesus because I still feared that he would take who I am I also feared because I knew I was a big sinner and I didn’t think a sinner like me could be a Sister and I knew I would need to take vows of poverty It’s funny too – because my character is very intense and so how things happened with my vocation When I first called the Sisters of Merciful Jesus so I scheduled a retreat with them over my vacation time because it was like the retreat was designed just for me and what I needed The retreat with the Sisters went so well that summer that I planned to enter the community in the fall But I was a teacher and we are supposed to start teaching again in the fall because I am becoming a Sister.” It was actually all so funny And my principal at the school was kind and approved all the paperwork that needed to be done for me to leave So in October of the same year that I found the sisters I was so overjoyed that I couldn’t believe it was all happening and the fear dissipated The process of entering the community wasn’t always easy He accepted me for who I am and whenever I doubt What did your Mom and brother think of your decision to enter a religious community My mom could not believe that I had finally decided to enter She had known about my desire for religious life in the past so it wasn’t a mystery where this desire came from But  she couldn’t believe that I was actually entering because for so many years I had not said anything at all about religious life She knew that I had always been independent so I would do what I set out to do and she said if I am happy He has never said that he is happy that I am a Sister Because he’s also not a practicing Catholic We can go anywhere together and he is not embarrassed This is certainly one thing that I must offer up to the Lord Why do you believe that God has called you to the Edmonton Archdiocese because it is all really by faith that I am here I love our congregation’s motto: Jesus I trust in you So this is my intention when I came to my community: Jesus This is also connected to my vow of obedience I believe that when our superior makes a proposal for where I should go They know my strengths and weaknesses and they choose a good place for me I have been here now six years and I can see how it helps me to journey with people in their faith and I can see how our faith can look different in different places My experience here working with First Nations people has really opened wide for me that I am called here to serve This place – Canada – calls me out of my self-love It breaks down the false ideas that I am enough without the Lord Being here I have learned much more deeply how much I need to trust Jesus I don’t want the people to see me; I want the people to see Jesus and follow Jesus Jesus is depicted on a dark backdrop and in our community we are always preaching that if you take Jesus away from the image It is amazing because Jesus became man to save Canada to save those with mental illness and spirituality sickness So I believe that he sent me … and it’s amazing Well I think that for me “fulfillment” is a big word Pope Benedict XVI died in 2022 and at this passing you get the sense that he fulfilled his life “ I am fulfilled” it’s the moment of your death In my life I do have a strong sense of conviction I am happy that Jesus entrusted me with this vocation I’ve also had to prepare for suffering too because Jesus’ plan has not always been my plan I never thought I would work outside of my home country you realize that some things in life are final different choices are no longer an option for you and some things that you would have liked will not happen If you are in the right place and you have a relationship with Jesus I have Jesus as a spouse; it’s really something Here in Canada I see that it is all about Jesus even more clearly because there are not many Sisters here in Canada What would you say to a woman who is fearful of religious life I believe that loneliness is very connected with your needs There is a place in the heart that no one and no material thing can fulfill There is a deepest longing that nothing can take care of Many of the saints talked about this deepest longing People have to discover that they are children of God and they’re deepest identity and dignity is in God So loneliness is a part of life – because we all have that need for God that only he can fulfill  I’m thinking of this beautiful quote from Pope St “And [in the end] everything else will then turn out to be unimportant and inessential except this: father It’s really something – if you have a father I also think there is loneliness because we have so many distractions and because we want to be so active because we are scared of the silence you will start to see yourself in relation to God We have so many “mirrors” these days – the mirror of other people who we are constantly interacting with in person and on the Internet and so we never look at ourselves We only see ourselves in relation to other people We don’t have time to reflect and to sense our deepest desires I remember this from before I was a sister that we can face that loneliness and encounter Jesus We can hear what it is that we truly want in life and maybe that desire will be for religious life But it is a discernment process and we need to be quiet How would you counsel someone who is discerning religious life because it keeps you in touch with Jesus on a daily basis you don’t have this relationship with Jesus a second step is to share with someone you trust about your discernment I think it could be a shame to be thinking about religious life and to be held back by a fear of sharing that with other people Don’t be ashamed that you want to belong to Jesus Don’t be ashamed that you want to follow this calling How do you choose which order or which convent so you will find something for yourself because the Catholic Church has so much to offer in the way of life but there are so many possibilities in the Church it’s also a joy to share with you because I want to also give the message to the young women that you can really have so many different interests and hobbies and you can be a Sister To be a sister you don’t have to be shy and naturally prayerful – the Lord calls so many kinds of women Watch the video version of Sister Monika’s story here  Visit the website for the Sisters of Merciful Jesus  (This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity) Be Not Afraid is a series of videos and companion articles that tell the stories of 12 religious sisters and priests who serve within the Archdiocese of Edmonton New episodes are released every Thursday. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch new episodes each week A group of Polish nuns have put on their dancing shoes to encourage young believers to join World Youth Day celebrations scheduled to take place in Poland at the end of July.  two nuns run onto a beach and are seen putting up a big poster of Jesus who waste no time in kicking up their heels.  also invited a group of children to join in the fun.  Footage of the flash mob was published online a few days ago and immediately went viral in Poland The sisters are part of the St Faustina Order from Mysliborz in the country's region of West Pomerania please register for free or log in to your account.