“As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal 6:14, NLT)
My vocation began when I came to Australia as a student. Who could have imagined that I would be attending daily Mass and often pray as a 17-year-old girl after leaving a loving home environment? It was the Lord who had provided for me a Church, next to my college, that had weekday Masses and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament all day - St Francis Church, Melbourne.
The Lord had put in me the love of daily Mass and praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament. With this opportunity of worship, I grew in love with Him day by day. After a few months, I met a Sister of St Paul de Chartres at a bus station, and we exchanged details.
My discernment began by having the courage, after only a few years in Australia, to commit myself to the Lord, and belong forever with the beautiful Congregation of the Sisters of St Paul de Chartres. What I want to testify, is that the grace of God’s love, joy, and gentle care has nurtured me and make me blossom into the Religious Sister that I am today.
He has given me his peace, joy and kindness. It is Him who created me out of love and died for me on the cross as though I am the only one in the world. It is Him, who gave me Sisters in the religious community, who care and love one another.
I am so grateful for the faithful witness of the life of the SPC Sisters who have lived and fulfilled their religious vocation with authenticity. They give me the courage to go on and show me the right path to Christ. It is Him who gives me brothers and sisters, those I have been blessed by chance to encounter in my life with inspiration and witness of Christ-like life. I am also grateful to people in my local parish, Our Lady of Southern Cross, Springfield, who have encouraged and showed me the power of the Holy Spirit through their change of life in Christ.
My simple story is of letting God love me and use me as I follow his call in my life. It is my daily prayer and hope that many young people will follow the call of their hearts. If it is religious life, please don’t be afraid to seek guidance and take courage to try it out. If I did not dare to say “yes” and defer my studies for one year to try it out, I would not be here sharing this story with you now. After all, it is all God’s grace and it is He who will lead us to the right path if one can trust and follow.
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