By Thea Jarvis

Two vital young women will be leaving the ranks of St. Anthony's parishioners this summer to begin a journey that will ultimately lead to a life of permanent service within the Church.

Karla Schell, 24, and Gail Trippett, 26, will enter religious communities that will allow them to pursue their chosen careers while experiencing the fellowship and spiritual direction of an order of sisters.

Having worked closely with Franciscan Brother Alan Thomas on college retreats throughout her years at Georgia State University, Karla Schell has chosen to affiliate with the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, New York, whose motherhouse is just across the street from St. Bonaventure University.

Following her year of formation (postulancy), to be spent working in the physical therapy department of St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, Karla hopes to begin studies on her master's degree in physical therapy.

"The order is involved in so many fields, teaching, hospital and social work," Karla said recently at Parkway Regional Hospital in Lithia Springs, where she is employed for the summer, "I knew I could fit in someplace!"

Since her entry in to the Catholic Church some 10 years ago, Karla has been "fitting in" to life at St. Anthony's parish in southwest Atlanta, lecturing, singing with the church choir, and finding the church community "tremendously helpful" to a "young adult in a parish full of families."

Karla's own family is enthusiastic about her entry into religious life. And one of the most delighted of Karla's friends is Bishop Eusebius Beltran, who gave her instruction in the Catholic faith at the age of 12. In town recently for a visit, Bishop Beltran met with Karla for a brief reunion and acted "like a proud grandpa," she said. "I told him I was one of his success stories!" For her own part, Karla is looking forward to "starting something I feel I've been called to all along."

That same sense of embarking on a long-anticipated journey weaves through the thoughts of Gail Trippett, who will join the St. Louis Province of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

Gail, a "cradle Catholic," whose family lives in Idaho, came to Atlanta to attend Spelman College and joined St. Anthony's Church during her college years. After graduation in 1978, when she began teaching in the DeKalb County school system, Gail continued to attend the urban church, despite the travel from her home in Clarkston.

Her most recent parish project involved catechizing older children who had not yet been baptized and who, noted St. Anthony's pastor, Father John Adamski, became "really attached" to their faithful teacher.

Gail's associate year with her new community in St. Louis will be spent "getting to know" the life she will eventually lead. Although this first year will involve Gail in teaching at a parochial school in St. Louis, she plans to follow her interest in rural ministry once her novitiate begins.

"The order is founded on service," Gail explained. "We are recognized not only by our habits as nuns, but by our service to others."

This ideal of service, plus the diversity of ministry offered by the Sisters of St. Joseph, has encouraged Gail in her vocation.

"If I had to characterize the order, I would say they are women pioneers who are not afraid to handle service wherever it is," she observed.

Gail has found her family "very happy and supportive" about her decision. Her own happiness about that decision has no doubt affected their enthusiasm.

"Something different and new is happening in my life now," Gail said with quiet sincerity. "It’s a growing time, a time of really finding out who I am and who I am in the Lord. A whole new road has opened up."

Both Karla Schell and Gail Trippett will be missed by fellow parishioners at St. Anthony's, many of whom joined them for a farewell Mass July 25.

"They really were touched," said Father John Adamski, who spoke highly of the personal gifts Karla and Gail would share with their chosen communities. "The parish is proud of them."