If you saw “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at Seton School in Manassas, you saw senior Rosie Hall as Alice, the youngest of the brides.
Hall might trade in her bridal veil for a religious habit. In June, she will travel to Ann Arbor, Mich., to explore a religious vocation with the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.
“I will go for a week in June to attend what my Mom calls ‘nun boot-camp,’ otherwise known as pre-postulancy week,” said Hall. “This allows the sisters to see if I adapt well to the lifestyle and helps me discern if this is God’s will.”
If the week goes well, Hall will enter as a postulant Aug. 28.
Hall didn’t always consider a religious vocation. “As my family can tell you, I also was quite sure I was going to be married and have 13 children,” she said. “The option never disappeared from my mind as I know it has done for others, and it made an appearance every now and then.”
Her interest in the Dominicans began with an eighth-grade retreat. The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia led a Lenten retreat at Seton. “It was pretty much love at first sight,” she said. “The white habit, the swinging 15-decade rosary, and most of all their beaming, joyful faces spoke to me in a special way. I have always loved learning, reading and talking about what I have learned with others. The Dominicans, as the Order of Preachers, spoke especially to me.”
She finds spiritual inspiration from two women — her mother and St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
“My mom is one of those people that puts so much effort into her spiritual life. Throughout this year, she has been an inspiration, a guide, mentor and my very best friend,” said Hall. “(St. Thérèse) speaks my spiritual language in that she is simple and small and loves God completely. She is helping map out my way to God, and through her I have fallen more in love with the Lord.”
Hall is very active at Seton. Home-schooled through sixth grade, at first she was hesitant to enter Seton. Now, she is a tutor at Seton and a member of the National Honor Society. She was a member of a student service club and on the swim team for four years. This year she was prom queen.
Hall, who has participated in almost every play at Seton since she began, co-directed the senior play.
“(The theater) has taught me how to be confident and how to speak in front of people,” said Hall. “I love making people laugh and learning how to tell the audience a bit about myself through each character I play.”
She also was part of the diocesan one-act play competitions.
Higher education is not out of the cards for Hall. After making temporary vows, Hall would attend Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich. The sisters would teach her theology, Christology, Mariology, and what it means to be a bride of Christ.
Teaching is one of her passions. “I love the idea of molding young people and teaching them how to be themselves,” she said. “I’m nervous to teach, but God will give me the grace with the time comes.”
