COTTONWOOD, Idaho — Michele Bateman's daughter and two young grandsons sat quietly in the back row and looked on as Bateman, at age 51, pledged herself to her new life.
Jean Ihli's supporters filled several rows of chairs as Ihli, at 65, completed a journey 30 years in the making.
Ihli and Bateman went against the national trend to give their lives to God and the Monastery of St. Gertrude's as the community's two newest nuns.
About 50 people gathered with another 50 sisters to witness the two give their lives on the day of the Feast of St. Gertrude, the saint after whom the monastery is named.
"From now on you are a member of this particular community," Prioress Jean Lalande told the women in a ceremony not often performed in public.
In a time when few people are turning to professions within the church, the Cottonwood monastery has 10 percent of its population in initial formation, or the three years leading up to becoming a nun. Part of that may be because of the Benedictines' acceptance of those who have not followed the customary path of joining right out of school.
"The sisters here are willing to push the envelope," says Darla Anglen-Whitley, assistant director of development at St. Gertrude's. "Everyone who comes comes with a life experience."
Those coming later in life simply bring more experiences.
Neither Bateman nor Ihli followed the customary route to becoming a sister. While Ihli was raised in a large Catholic family and never married, she tried once to dedicate her life and ended up back at her job with the state of Idaho, completing a 35-year career before taking her vows with the church.
Bateman was raised without a church. As a child she would sneak into a Catholic church near her home. After a life of turmoil, the easiest part of which was being a single mother, she became a Catholic just five years ago.
"I thought you had to be born a Catholic," she says of becoming a nun.
It is becoming more common for women to decide to enter monastic life at an older age, according to Sr. Janet Barnard of the monastery.
"They didn't pick it up as younger women, but they are turning to it now," she says of the baby boomers and generation X'ers.
At St. Gertrude's, those statistics ring even more true as the number of women entering the community is above the national average.
Aging sisters, none in full habit, but several donning black hoods and the customary black and white attire, stood in contrast to those of the younger generation.
Both Bateman and Ihli wore long flowing skirts and jackets, while the multitude of sisters covered the spectrum of colors. Most were only discerned from the lay people in attendance by their lapel pins, worn by all those in the profession.
Ihli says it is the warmth and spirituality of St. Gertrude's that attracted her and allowed her to reach her goal this time.
"I don't know that I ever lost that desire to try it again," she says of becoming a sister.
After going as far within her Boise parish as she could, she knew she had to look further.
"Every day was filled, but I needed more," she says.
She became part of the oblate program offered by St. Gertrude's, which allows lay people to live a lifestyle very similar to that observed within the stone and brick walls of the monastery. It wasn't long after that she committed completely.
"There is just a feeling within the individual that there is that need to serve."
That need began at an early age for Bateman.
"All my life I've been on this spiritual search," she says. "I've never been able to give enough to God."
She grew up in a house without a church connection, in an abusive situation. She endured a failed marriage and raised her daughter on her own. A checker at Albertsons in Boise, Bateman always looked for the good in people and found her job a good way to be involved in people's lives.
But as a victim of violent crime, she knew she had to do more.
"Where I really met God was in others," she says.
Committing to the church later in life makes the decision even easier, Bateman says.
"I am not wondering what I am missing. I am not missing anything."
But it has been difficult to go from the self-preservation mentality of a single mom to allowing herself to rely on the community in which she lives.
"Now I am living with all these women who you wouldn't choose as a roommate under normal circumstances."
But she wouldn't have it any other way.
"I needed some roots."
The ceremony was laden with music, as the beautiful voices of the sisters, united in their goals, joined together to welcome the two new sisters.
Four more are in different stages of initial formation. Many of the 130 Benedictine houses in the nation haven't had anyone give final profession in 25 years, Barnard says.
At St. Gertrude's there could easily be six in 10 years.
"There is just something here at this monastery," Ihli says.