A Change of Habit: the Autobiography of a Former Catholic Nun

"A Change of Habit" weaves a tapestry of zeal, rigorous discipline and shattered beliefs of a mature woman who left her vows as a nun to search for spiritual fulfillment. Joanne Howe's narrative brims with emotion, and the richness of her experience will linger long after the book is closed.

Joanne Howe is a retired elementary school teacher and a popular speaker at women's retreats. She began preparing to be a Roman Catholic nun at age 13 and later served in the Sisters of St. Joseph for 19 years.

During that time, as much as she desired to serve God, she found that the life of a nun did not lead to the fulfillment and spiritual satisfaction she desperately needed. At the end of a long and agonizing process of soul-searching, she came to the conclusion that there had to be a better way for her to serve her Lord. She finally relinquished her vows in 1968 and found complete peace with God four years later.