Tucsonan professes perpetual vows as Religious Sister

By Carissa Krautscheid 
 
It has been 10 years since Caeles Crunkleton-Wilson became Sister Caeles Grace Maria with Las Hijas de Santa María del Corazón de Jesús, known in the United States as the Daughters of Holy Mary of the Heart of Jesus. 
 
On August 13, 2023, Sr. Caeles Grace Maria professed her perpetual vows to this religious community of contemplative and missionary Sisters. Their mission is to “make the Sacred Heart of Jesus loved everywhere through stable apostolic works” primarily with youth. With their motherhouse in Spain, the order has 43 communities in 10 countries around the globe. The two U.S. communities are in Steubenville and Columbus, Ohio. They currently have 575 Sisters, 80 of whom are young women in formation. 



The Crunkleton-Wilson family was present for this profession in Ohio, along with Monsignor Tom Cahalane who was her pastor at Our Mother of Sorrows Parish in Tucson. Sr. Caeles Grace Maria’s parents, Dynse Crunkleton and Scott Wilson, are both physicians and active in Tucson’s Catholic pro-life efforts. 
 
After the ceremony, her father asked the Sisters to sing, which they do beautifully, so that “he could have his father of the bride dance with his daughter, the lovely new Bride of Christ. It was a sweet and very touching moment,” her mother shared. “I’m so joyful and proud. It’s wonderful that we are now part of the family of this community forever.” 
 
Sr. Caeles Grace Maria has been living in Columbus, “helping out with the monthly youth movement and evangelizing at a local parish and school,” she said. “We have a strong prayer and community life. Our day revolves around the Holy Mass. We also pray daily the Rosary, Lauds, Vespers, Compline, and Adoration. We have our time set aside to be in community for recreation and the rest of the day for our apostolic works.” 
 
The Tucson-native loves everything about being a Religious Sister. “It doesn't mean that everything is easy,” clarified Sr. Caeles Grace Maria, “but having a life consecrated and united to the Lord, everything becomes beautiful and meaningful. I love living in the Lord's house and having the Lord, Our Lady, and the father for my closest family members and living in a religious community with Sisters who love God and urge me onward in holiness. I love the freedom behind poverty, chastity, and obedience.” 
 
The Lord worked subtly in Sr. Caeles Grace Maria’s life to call her to be a Bride of Christ. “He used people in my life and circumstances to draw me closer,” she said, “starting with Eucharistic adoration, learning and growing in love for our faith, the advice of my pastor, support of my family, and the joyful witness of the Sisters.” The 29-year-old attended Our Mother of Sorrows School, Salpointe Catholic High School, and Franciscan University of Steubenville prior to entering Religious Life. 
 
Sr. Caeles Grace Maria invites “parents, teachers, and catechists to pray for Vocations and introduce children and youth to the reality of Religious Life and the Priesthood, encouraging them to be open to God's call. Vocational ministry is a task for the whole Church.” 
 
To women who are discerning how God is calling them to pursue holiness, Sr. Caeles Grace Maria shared some helpful advice. “Be faithful to prayer to be able to recognize the Good Shepherd's voice. Pray, especially in front of the Blessed Sacrament, and Mass, Rosary, and Confession, meditating on Scripture. Like Mary, give God your yes in day-to-day life so it will be easier with his grace to give the bigger yeses. Don't make discernment an idea that's up in the air. Let the Lord guide you, trust in him, and cooperate with his grace. Take concrete steps: find a good spiritual director, visit the Lord more often in the Blessed Sacrament, and contact or visit a religious community. Grow in your relationship with the Lord, surrender to his loving plans, and seek to follow his will. Do not be afraid. Rely only on his grace more than your own strength.” 
 
Join us in praying for Sister Caeles Grace Maria, the Daughters of Holy Mary of the Heart of Jesus, and for a generous response to God’s call for women to pursue holiness through Religious Life.