Vocation Stories
To fall in love with God is the greatest of romances,
to seek God the greatest adventure,
to find God the greatest human achievement.
(St Augustine)
to seek God the greatest adventure,
to find God the greatest human achievement.
(St Augustine)
|
Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, is our model par excellence, for living our lives of spousal consecration. Like Mary at the Annunciation, every vocation begins with what St Pope John Paul II calls “spousal receptivity to the Word in order to contribute to the growth of a new humanity by their unconditional dedication and their living witness”. (Vita Consecrata)
Above all, they should keep before them the example of the most blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Lord Jesus Christ. They are to do this in accordance with the command of Saint Francis who
had a deep reverence for Holy Queen, Mary, holy Mother of God, who are the Virgin made Church. They should remember that they are to follow the example of the Immaculate Virgin Mary who called herself the handmaid of the Lord. (TOR Rule Chapter IV) |
In Mary each one of us, driven by the wind of the Spirit, fulfils our own vocation to move out!
(Pope Francis) In union with Mary, our Mother, to live joyfully the Gospel life.
(FSM Vision Statement) |
We can each find our call and response reflected and protected in the life and example of Our Blessed Lady, the Handmaid of the Lord, the Spouse of the Holy Spirit and the Star of Evangelisation. In telling our vocation stories, we, like Mary, joyfully proclaim:
My soul glorifies the Lord,
My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
The Almighty has done great things for me,
Holy is His Name.
My spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.
The Almighty has done great things for me,
Holy is His Name.
|
With Saint Clare we daily return thanks to God for the wonderful and beautiful gift of being called and chosen to be The Bride of Christ. In her Testament Clare writes:
Among the other gifts that we have received and continue to receive from our magnanimous Father of Mercies and for which we must express the deepest thanks to our glorious God, there is our vocation, which the more perfect and greater it is, the more are we indebted to Him.
|
Sister Barbara Flynn
I come from Ballina in Ireland. I am one of 13 children and my brother Johnny became a priest. As he was much older than me, he was my godfather and he gave me my First Holy Communion in Knockmore parish in Ballina. He also celebrated my Silver Jubilee with me in Melton Mowbray and I had the privilege of being at his bedside when he was dying.
From a young age I wanted to be a sister. I entered the Franciscan Minoress Congregation and this is how it happened. When I expressed my desire to be a Nun, I went to speak to the Sisters of Mercy in Ballina. I spoke to Sister Alphonsa who was the matron at the hospital. I told her that I didn’t wish to enter a local Convent because my father was a milkman and he delivered milk locally and if I entered locally I would see him every day. I loved my father but seeing him every day might not be the best option in the circumstances. Sister Alphonsa told me that she had a sister, Sister Loretto, who had entered a Franciscan Convent in England. So, I decided to write to that Convent in England. It was through Sister Alphonsa and Sister Loretto that I got in contact with the Franciscan Sisters. I entered with them even though I had not met one of the Sisters in person. My contact was through letter writing. I later discovered that another neighbour of ours, Sister Margaret Conlon, had also entered with the Franciscan Sisters Minoress.
I have been in many of our houses and now I am back where I started in Melton Mowbray. I have had many different ministries within our Congregation. I have had the privilege of being a Parish Sister and Eucharistic Minister. I have had responsibility for Brownies and Girl Guides. I love flower arranging and have had the opportunity to be creative in this way whenever it was needed both in our Convents and in the parish. For many years, like Saint Martha, I have enjoyed cooking and this has also been a ministry of hospitality, welcoming others to share meals with us. Part of catering involves shopping which also gives me the opportunity to meet and greet people and witnesss to God’s Presence. I have also cared for our sick and elderly Sisters when the need arose. I have worked with my hands to care for others in so many different ways and in various ministries for which I am thankful to God. The following hymn expresses it well.
Hymn : Take My Hands
1. Take my hands and make them as your own, and use them for your kingdom here
on earth. Consecrate them to your care, anoint them for your service where you
may need your gospel to be sown.
2. Take my hands, they speak now for my heart, and by their actions they will show
their love. Guard them on their daily course, be their strength and guiding force to
ever serve the Trinity above.
3. Take my hands, I give them to you, Lord. Prepare them for the service of your
name. Open them to human need and by their love they’ll sow your seed so all
may know the love and hope you gave
Take my hands, take my hands, O Lord.
I come from Ballina in Ireland. I am one of 13 children and my brother Johnny became a priest. As he was much older than me, he was my godfather and he gave me my First Holy Communion in Knockmore parish in Ballina. He also celebrated my Silver Jubilee with me in Melton Mowbray and I had the privilege of being at his bedside when he was dying.
From a young age I wanted to be a sister. I entered the Franciscan Minoress Congregation and this is how it happened. When I expressed my desire to be a Nun, I went to speak to the Sisters of Mercy in Ballina. I spoke to Sister Alphonsa who was the matron at the hospital. I told her that I didn’t wish to enter a local Convent because my father was a milkman and he delivered milk locally and if I entered locally I would see him every day. I loved my father but seeing him every day might not be the best option in the circumstances. Sister Alphonsa told me that she had a sister, Sister Loretto, who had entered a Franciscan Convent in England. So, I decided to write to that Convent in England. It was through Sister Alphonsa and Sister Loretto that I got in contact with the Franciscan Sisters. I entered with them even though I had not met one of the Sisters in person. My contact was through letter writing. I later discovered that another neighbour of ours, Sister Margaret Conlon, had also entered with the Franciscan Sisters Minoress.
I have been in many of our houses and now I am back where I started in Melton Mowbray. I have had many different ministries within our Congregation. I have had the privilege of being a Parish Sister and Eucharistic Minister. I have had responsibility for Brownies and Girl Guides. I love flower arranging and have had the opportunity to be creative in this way whenever it was needed both in our Convents and in the parish. For many years, like Saint Martha, I have enjoyed cooking and this has also been a ministry of hospitality, welcoming others to share meals with us. Part of catering involves shopping which also gives me the opportunity to meet and greet people and witnesss to God’s Presence. I have also cared for our sick and elderly Sisters when the need arose. I have worked with my hands to care for others in so many different ways and in various ministries for which I am thankful to God. The following hymn expresses it well.
Hymn : Take My Hands
1. Take my hands and make them as your own, and use them for your kingdom here
on earth. Consecrate them to your care, anoint them for your service where you
may need your gospel to be sown.
2. Take my hands, they speak now for my heart, and by their actions they will show
their love. Guard them on their daily course, be their strength and guiding force to
ever serve the Trinity above.
3. Take my hands, I give them to you, Lord. Prepare them for the service of your
name. Open them to human need and by their love they’ll sow your seed so all
may know the love and hope you gave
Take my hands, take my hands, O Lord.
Sister Barbara Fodo
My vocation started when l was 12 years old. In my parish of The Precious Blood, Sisters from different Orders and Congregations used to come twice a year for vocation promotion. In my parish they used to dramatize how go about the process of enquiring and entering the Convent. That is where my vocation started to grow. When I was 14 years old I joined The Children of Mary where we received a lot of encouragement.
My meeting with the Franciscan Sisters Minoress came first of all through reading information about them in a Catholic newspaper which was published every Sunday giving information about many different Congregations. l started looking at which Congregation I would like to join. I was drawn to the Franciscan Sisters Minoress, so l asked my parents for permission to be a Sister.
My father and my mother said that they cannot stop me if that is what I would like to do. They advised me to go and talk to the priest. Our parish priest was a Franciscan Friar Minor. He asked me which Convent I was hoping to enter. I told him it was the Franciscan Sisters in Ladysmith. That was when I started writing to Sister Alphonsa. At this stage, my parents were very happy and supportive of my choice. l was invited to come for a visit and Sister Dorothy Paul met me at the train station in Ladysmith. That was the beginning of my vocation journey and I am happy to say I am still a Franciscan Sister Minoress working in South Africa today.
My vocation started when l was 12 years old. In my parish of The Precious Blood, Sisters from different Orders and Congregations used to come twice a year for vocation promotion. In my parish they used to dramatize how go about the process of enquiring and entering the Convent. That is where my vocation started to grow. When I was 14 years old I joined The Children of Mary where we received a lot of encouragement.
My meeting with the Franciscan Sisters Minoress came first of all through reading information about them in a Catholic newspaper which was published every Sunday giving information about many different Congregations. l started looking at which Congregation I would like to join. I was drawn to the Franciscan Sisters Minoress, so l asked my parents for permission to be a Sister.
My father and my mother said that they cannot stop me if that is what I would like to do. They advised me to go and talk to the priest. Our parish priest was a Franciscan Friar Minor. He asked me which Convent I was hoping to enter. I told him it was the Franciscan Sisters in Ladysmith. That was when I started writing to Sister Alphonsa. At this stage, my parents were very happy and supportive of my choice. l was invited to come for a visit and Sister Dorothy Paul met me at the train station in Ladysmith. That was the beginning of my vocation journey and I am happy to say I am still a Franciscan Sister Minoress working in South Africa today.
Sister Dorothy Paul Black
I’m Sister Dorothy Paul and when I look back to the origins of my vocation journey I am profoundly grateful to God for the love and care He has had of me throughout the years. I was born and brought up in Glasgow and didn’t really have any attraction to Religious Life as a youngster. I was brought up Catholic and went to Mass and the Sacraments with my family every week.
The Franciscan Sisters were known to us locally as they managed a Maternity Home near our parish. As most of my family were born there, we knew the Sisters well and I was always struck by their joy and sense of fun and love of God. I started training as a Nurse and then the big questions came to me, ‘what was life all about? Is there a God?' etc. I found myself going into empty churches and being drawn to look at the crucifix behind the altar. The love that Christ had for me, that He died for me, eventually completely overwhelmed me and I suppose you could say ‘I fell in love’ with the Lord.
I eventually felt attracted to join our Franciscan Sisters Minoress and there began for me a ‘love story’, that has sustained me through the ups and downs of life, to this present day.
I’m Sister Dorothy Paul and when I look back to the origins of my vocation journey I am profoundly grateful to God for the love and care He has had of me throughout the years. I was born and brought up in Glasgow and didn’t really have any attraction to Religious Life as a youngster. I was brought up Catholic and went to Mass and the Sacraments with my family every week.
The Franciscan Sisters were known to us locally as they managed a Maternity Home near our parish. As most of my family were born there, we knew the Sisters well and I was always struck by their joy and sense of fun and love of God. I started training as a Nurse and then the big questions came to me, ‘what was life all about? Is there a God?' etc. I found myself going into empty churches and being drawn to look at the crucifix behind the altar. The love that Christ had for me, that He died for me, eventually completely overwhelmed me and I suppose you could say ‘I fell in love’ with the Lord.
I eventually felt attracted to join our Franciscan Sisters Minoress and there began for me a ‘love story’, that has sustained me through the ups and downs of life, to this present day.
Sister Makisensia Mwerinde
I am Sister Makisensia from Uganda and my vocation story is a simple call. It began with a thought from God during my leisure time in the school library. I thought of looking on the internet for Congregations of Franciscan Sisters. At that time it wasn't something serious. It was just a leisure time activity. God uses many different means of calling us to Himself and for me the Internet leisure time browsing became the means of taking me further.
I discovered the Franciscan Sisters Minoress on the Internet and I decided to contact them. My first contact was with Sister Patricia who was the Formation Director and Novice Mistress in the UK. Sister advised me to contact the Minoress Sisters in Africa where I lived. She gave me the name of Sister Sindi who was the Novice Mistress in South Africa at that time. I was invited to visit the Sisters.
When I visited I admired the simplicity of the Sisters, their real care for others and their witness in wearing the religious habit. I believe deeply that those who truly care about others can have a positive influence, not only on those they care for, but also on those who see this love and care in action. I am still in formation as a Junior Professed Sister, and I look forward to the day of my Perpetual Profession as a Franciscan Sister Minoress.
I am Sister Makisensia from Uganda and my vocation story is a simple call. It began with a thought from God during my leisure time in the school library. I thought of looking on the internet for Congregations of Franciscan Sisters. At that time it wasn't something serious. It was just a leisure time activity. God uses many different means of calling us to Himself and for me the Internet leisure time browsing became the means of taking me further.
I discovered the Franciscan Sisters Minoress on the Internet and I decided to contact them. My first contact was with Sister Patricia who was the Formation Director and Novice Mistress in the UK. Sister advised me to contact the Minoress Sisters in Africa where I lived. She gave me the name of Sister Sindi who was the Novice Mistress in South Africa at that time. I was invited to visit the Sisters.
When I visited I admired the simplicity of the Sisters, their real care for others and their witness in wearing the religious habit. I believe deeply that those who truly care about others can have a positive influence, not only on those they care for, but also on those who see this love and care in action. I am still in formation as a Junior Professed Sister, and I look forward to the day of my Perpetual Profession as a Franciscan Sister Minoress.
Sister Mary Anthony Roberts
I was born into a Catholic family, the seventh and last child. I knew the Our Father, Hail Mary and the long Act of Contrition. I made my First Holy Communion and Confession at the age of eight. I remember receiving these sacraments, I did not want to, I was a slow child in many ways and I did not know or understand what it was all about. I didn’t go to a Catholic school and my early education was poor until about the age of eight years old.
My father, who I dearly loved, tried to teach me the catechism, I wasn’t interested. I was taken to the parish priest for instruction, which I was very reluctant to attend. I had to be bribed to go to the presbytery with the fact that because he was an artist I could go into his studio and see his paintings and paints. I don’t remember anything, I remember my First Confession which the priest named a list of sins and I think I just said ‘yes’ to them all.
I did not want to go to church and remember on at least one occasion protesting loudly with some excuse. I went because my dear mother insisted. I did not understand anything about the Mass or the Church and remember genuflecting to the back of the church. I had no idea of the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. I tell all these negative things and continue with more because of what was to follow later with the transforming power of God’s grace in my soul. I stress how far it seemed I was from God who is so near to us and who offers Himself to us in love.
I spent a holiday for a week with a friend at the age of eleven. My friend was asked by my parents to take me to Mass on Sunday in the local church which she did, she was not a Catholic so I went on my own, the first time I had been to Mass alone. I remember being in the congregation and not knowing if the Mass had ended or not so I came out after what seemed a long time!
At the time to leave Primary school I was sent to a Catholic school - The Franciscan Convent school in Melton Mowbray as a boarder. The first time I had been away from home, I was homesick and I got ill. I was taken out of the dormitory and looked after in a room of my own with one of the nuns.
My young life unfolded before me - how it had been, I repented and became aware of God - from the beginning of September 1947 aged eleven. I stepped into a different world and quickly began to speak to my lonely soul. I learned about my Catholic faith and I began to respond for the first time to the expression of it, Catholic customs e.g. genuflecting even outside in the grounds when one passed near the sanctuary of the chapel which so touched me - the Angelus bell rang loud and everyone stopped whatever they were doing and prayed aloud - such a holy thing to do! I learned from my companions that we as boarders were living under the same roof as the Blessed Sacrament - what a privilege.
The sight of the veiled nuns in their long brown Franciscan habits and cords spoke to me of their witness to this Lord I was just getting to know. I saw how hard they worked and I also saw a beautiful joy and simplicity on occasions which called for it - we children would “get up” our own concerts to entertain them on special feast days. I still can hear their laughter.
Learning the stories from the bible and the catechism were all so fresh and new to me. I drank it all in.
When the Sisters renewed their vows before the whole court of heaven (as the wording was then) the language so enthralled me …how beautiful! We were allowed to be present when a postulant received the habit or a novice vowed her life to God and later forever. All this living in faith was like a conversion and gradually was the dawning of a vocation that I too wanted to give my life to God as a Franciscan Sister Minoress. Once implanted it never left me through the years that followed. By the grace of God, I passed my exams on leaving school and my teacher training, the latter I did as I wanted something to give to the Franciscan Minoresses.
The last grace I wish to relate: on the eve of my entering the Convent my mother told me she was threatened to miscarry her last child – me - and was rushed to hospital. If I was born safely she promised she would offer me to God. I did not know this until I had expressed my desire to be a nun. In fact I didn’t dwell much on this until much later in life. As I look back I was promised to God while still in my mother’s womb.
I was born into a Catholic family, the seventh and last child. I knew the Our Father, Hail Mary and the long Act of Contrition. I made my First Holy Communion and Confession at the age of eight. I remember receiving these sacraments, I did not want to, I was a slow child in many ways and I did not know or understand what it was all about. I didn’t go to a Catholic school and my early education was poor until about the age of eight years old.
My father, who I dearly loved, tried to teach me the catechism, I wasn’t interested. I was taken to the parish priest for instruction, which I was very reluctant to attend. I had to be bribed to go to the presbytery with the fact that because he was an artist I could go into his studio and see his paintings and paints. I don’t remember anything, I remember my First Confession which the priest named a list of sins and I think I just said ‘yes’ to them all.
I did not want to go to church and remember on at least one occasion protesting loudly with some excuse. I went because my dear mother insisted. I did not understand anything about the Mass or the Church and remember genuflecting to the back of the church. I had no idea of the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. I tell all these negative things and continue with more because of what was to follow later with the transforming power of God’s grace in my soul. I stress how far it seemed I was from God who is so near to us and who offers Himself to us in love.
I spent a holiday for a week with a friend at the age of eleven. My friend was asked by my parents to take me to Mass on Sunday in the local church which she did, she was not a Catholic so I went on my own, the first time I had been to Mass alone. I remember being in the congregation and not knowing if the Mass had ended or not so I came out after what seemed a long time!
At the time to leave Primary school I was sent to a Catholic school - The Franciscan Convent school in Melton Mowbray as a boarder. The first time I had been away from home, I was homesick and I got ill. I was taken out of the dormitory and looked after in a room of my own with one of the nuns.
My young life unfolded before me - how it had been, I repented and became aware of God - from the beginning of September 1947 aged eleven. I stepped into a different world and quickly began to speak to my lonely soul. I learned about my Catholic faith and I began to respond for the first time to the expression of it, Catholic customs e.g. genuflecting even outside in the grounds when one passed near the sanctuary of the chapel which so touched me - the Angelus bell rang loud and everyone stopped whatever they were doing and prayed aloud - such a holy thing to do! I learned from my companions that we as boarders were living under the same roof as the Blessed Sacrament - what a privilege.
The sight of the veiled nuns in their long brown Franciscan habits and cords spoke to me of their witness to this Lord I was just getting to know. I saw how hard they worked and I also saw a beautiful joy and simplicity on occasions which called for it - we children would “get up” our own concerts to entertain them on special feast days. I still can hear their laughter.
Learning the stories from the bible and the catechism were all so fresh and new to me. I drank it all in.
When the Sisters renewed their vows before the whole court of heaven (as the wording was then) the language so enthralled me …how beautiful! We were allowed to be present when a postulant received the habit or a novice vowed her life to God and later forever. All this living in faith was like a conversion and gradually was the dawning of a vocation that I too wanted to give my life to God as a Franciscan Sister Minoress. Once implanted it never left me through the years that followed. By the grace of God, I passed my exams on leaving school and my teacher training, the latter I did as I wanted something to give to the Franciscan Minoresses.
The last grace I wish to relate: on the eve of my entering the Convent my mother told me she was threatened to miscarry her last child – me - and was rushed to hospital. If I was born safely she promised she would offer me to God. I did not know this until I had expressed my desire to be a nun. In fact I didn’t dwell much on this until much later in life. As I look back I was promised to God while still in my mother’s womb.
Sister Patricia Jordan
I was born in County Dublin where I lived until I was eleven years old. It was then that our whole family moved to England because of my father’s work. There were a number of non-Catholic schools near our new home but my parents wanted us to have a Catholic education, and that is when I first met the Franciscan Sisters Minoress. The Sisters had a private school for Primary and Secondary students five miles away from our home, and my parents made the necessary sacrifices to ensure that we continued our Catholic education. Before our arrival in England, my father had visited the Sisters and enrolled us as students. The Sisters were warm, welcoming, friendly and showed a personal interest in our family. We were surprised that all the Sisters came from different parts of Ireland and one of them came from the Dublin we had just left behind.
Though it was my first meeting with the Franciscan Sisters, it was not my first meeting with Sisters. I had two great aunts who were Sisters. One of my great aunts was a Holy Faith Sister in Dublin and I first met her when I was six years old. She came to visit us when my oldest sister was ready for secondary school and my aunt, Mother De Chantal, was a teacher at their Convent school in Clarendon Street, Dublin. My other great aunt, Sister Therese of The Child Jesus, I never met in person because she entered a Convent in France, but I treasure her photo and family letters. Her letters assured the family of her prayers. I believe her life of prayer must have influenced me because I have a very great love of St Therese, whose large picture hung over the piano in my grandparents house, and she was my great aunt’s patron in Religious Life. In this life we will never really know how effectively the Communion of Saints operates in our lives and in the lives of others.
During my teenage years I had a friend who talked a lot about becoming a Nun - though she never did! She seemed excited and convinced about her vocation and I listened with great interest. Looking back, I know our conversations excited me too, but I did not speak of these desires to anyone at that time.
Before entering the Convent, my mother and I went to daily Mass together. The Mass, the Rosary, Benediction, The Legion of Mary and Catholic devotions were part and parcel of daily life. I always felt drawn and loved moments of quiet before the Blessed Sacrament. When I was a pupil in the Convent school, I often popped into the Sisters’ chapel during lunch break. I also had a key to our parish church and could pop in whenever I wished. I remember a visiting priest unexpectedly gave me a small blue badge that said ‘Handmaid of the Blessed Sacrament’. As a teenager this meant a lot to me and it probably deepened my love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Now, I live every day under the same roof as Jesus in The Blessed Sacrament. What a privilege! Little gestures and conversations can be very important and have lasting effects. As well as the ‘Blue Badge’ surprise, I still remember my mother’s words when I was perplexed about a homework on the theme of ‘My Most Treasured Possession’. Without hesitation, my mother said, ‘Your Faith is your most treasured possession’.
A decisive moment in my vocation journey came when I was reading a Catholic book that had the picture of a Nun, dressed in bridal attire and underneath were the words, ‘Bride of Christ’. That picture and those words held me in rapt attention. This was a special moment of grace for me and it happened in a public library! I knew I had to speak to my parish priest, who not only encouraged me but actually arranged and took me to a Vocation retreat. I made my final decision during that week of retreat and decided to apply to the Franciscan Sisters Minoress. My parish priest suggested that I should explore other Congregations as well as the Franciscan Sisters so that I made an informed decision. I did as he suggested, but I knew in my heart that I was called to the Minoress Sisters. Two months after my Vocation retreat, on the 1st October, now the Feast of St Therese. I was accepted as a Postulant by the Franciscan Minoress Sisters.
Entering the Convent was for me a kind of a ‘culture shock’ at first. The transition was not easy, but the sufferings and sacrifices did not dampen my spirit or sense of being called and chosen. With God’s grace, the call to spousal intimacy has remained with me to this day, and through the years I have learned that like any Bride, the marriage relationship naturally leads to motherhood. So too, in the spiritual realm, the ‘Bride Image’ develops into the fruitfulness of ‘Spiritual Motherhood’. These two experiences are central to my on-going ‘affair of the heart’ with Jesus. The words of St Augustine resonate with my vocation story and experience.
"To fall in love with God is the greatest of romances,
to seek God the greatest adventure,
to find God the greatest human achievement."
With Mary, and with joy and gratitude, I proclaim that the Almighty has done great things for me, Holy is His Name. I am deeply grateful to God for my faith-filled parents and family, my friends, my teachers, my parish priests and the Sisters who helped, guided, encouraged and supported me on my vocation journey. May God bless and reward them.
I was born in County Dublin where I lived until I was eleven years old. It was then that our whole family moved to England because of my father’s work. There were a number of non-Catholic schools near our new home but my parents wanted us to have a Catholic education, and that is when I first met the Franciscan Sisters Minoress. The Sisters had a private school for Primary and Secondary students five miles away from our home, and my parents made the necessary sacrifices to ensure that we continued our Catholic education. Before our arrival in England, my father had visited the Sisters and enrolled us as students. The Sisters were warm, welcoming, friendly and showed a personal interest in our family. We were surprised that all the Sisters came from different parts of Ireland and one of them came from the Dublin we had just left behind.
Though it was my first meeting with the Franciscan Sisters, it was not my first meeting with Sisters. I had two great aunts who were Sisters. One of my great aunts was a Holy Faith Sister in Dublin and I first met her when I was six years old. She came to visit us when my oldest sister was ready for secondary school and my aunt, Mother De Chantal, was a teacher at their Convent school in Clarendon Street, Dublin. My other great aunt, Sister Therese of The Child Jesus, I never met in person because she entered a Convent in France, but I treasure her photo and family letters. Her letters assured the family of her prayers. I believe her life of prayer must have influenced me because I have a very great love of St Therese, whose large picture hung over the piano in my grandparents house, and she was my great aunt’s patron in Religious Life. In this life we will never really know how effectively the Communion of Saints operates in our lives and in the lives of others.
During my teenage years I had a friend who talked a lot about becoming a Nun - though she never did! She seemed excited and convinced about her vocation and I listened with great interest. Looking back, I know our conversations excited me too, but I did not speak of these desires to anyone at that time.
Before entering the Convent, my mother and I went to daily Mass together. The Mass, the Rosary, Benediction, The Legion of Mary and Catholic devotions were part and parcel of daily life. I always felt drawn and loved moments of quiet before the Blessed Sacrament. When I was a pupil in the Convent school, I often popped into the Sisters’ chapel during lunch break. I also had a key to our parish church and could pop in whenever I wished. I remember a visiting priest unexpectedly gave me a small blue badge that said ‘Handmaid of the Blessed Sacrament’. As a teenager this meant a lot to me and it probably deepened my love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Now, I live every day under the same roof as Jesus in The Blessed Sacrament. What a privilege! Little gestures and conversations can be very important and have lasting effects. As well as the ‘Blue Badge’ surprise, I still remember my mother’s words when I was perplexed about a homework on the theme of ‘My Most Treasured Possession’. Without hesitation, my mother said, ‘Your Faith is your most treasured possession’.
A decisive moment in my vocation journey came when I was reading a Catholic book that had the picture of a Nun, dressed in bridal attire and underneath were the words, ‘Bride of Christ’. That picture and those words held me in rapt attention. This was a special moment of grace for me and it happened in a public library! I knew I had to speak to my parish priest, who not only encouraged me but actually arranged and took me to a Vocation retreat. I made my final decision during that week of retreat and decided to apply to the Franciscan Sisters Minoress. My parish priest suggested that I should explore other Congregations as well as the Franciscan Sisters so that I made an informed decision. I did as he suggested, but I knew in my heart that I was called to the Minoress Sisters. Two months after my Vocation retreat, on the 1st October, now the Feast of St Therese. I was accepted as a Postulant by the Franciscan Minoress Sisters.
Entering the Convent was for me a kind of a ‘culture shock’ at first. The transition was not easy, but the sufferings and sacrifices did not dampen my spirit or sense of being called and chosen. With God’s grace, the call to spousal intimacy has remained with me to this day, and through the years I have learned that like any Bride, the marriage relationship naturally leads to motherhood. So too, in the spiritual realm, the ‘Bride Image’ develops into the fruitfulness of ‘Spiritual Motherhood’. These two experiences are central to my on-going ‘affair of the heart’ with Jesus. The words of St Augustine resonate with my vocation story and experience.
"To fall in love with God is the greatest of romances,
to seek God the greatest adventure,
to find God the greatest human achievement."
With Mary, and with joy and gratitude, I proclaim that the Almighty has done great things for me, Holy is His Name. I am deeply grateful to God for my faith-filled parents and family, my friends, my teachers, my parish priests and the Sisters who helped, guided, encouraged and supported me on my vocation journey. May God bless and reward them.
Sister Rosalie Kabamba Kazadi
My name is Sister Rosalie Kabamba Kazadi. I am from DRC Republic Democratic of Congo. I come from a Christian family. We are 10 in our family, 6 girls and 4 boys I am the fourth.
We always enjoyed going to church and my father always asked us what we brought home from the church. This meant that we should tell him about the Readings from the Word of God and of course the homily and share our reflections with the family, even though my father was also at church. This helped us a lot to love the Word of God and to share it.
This is how I was led to the Franciscan Minoress Congregation.
I was in Johannesburg one day when one of my friends spoke to me about the Franciscan Sisters Minoress; so I decided to phone Sister Barbara who was at that time in charge of vocation promotion. Without knowing much English (I speak French) Sister Barbara was able to understand me and direct me. After a little contact with her, I decided to visit the Sisters. It was nice to meet them and I remember asking many questions about the charism and spirituality of the Congregation.
With my broken English I was able to express what I really wanted. I had a desire for prayer, spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with God, a willingness to share God's love with others in simplicity, and I found this with the Franciscan Sisters Minoress Congregation.
When Sister Barbara explained the charism of the Congregation to me, I realised that it was what I was really looking for. And this charism continues to attract me to live as a Minoress Sister and it remains the foundation of my life as a consecrated person in our Congregation. I love Religious Life and I am happy to be a daughter of St Francis of Assisi and to live the Franciscan spirituality.
My name is Sister Rosalie Kabamba Kazadi. I am from DRC Republic Democratic of Congo. I come from a Christian family. We are 10 in our family, 6 girls and 4 boys I am the fourth.
We always enjoyed going to church and my father always asked us what we brought home from the church. This meant that we should tell him about the Readings from the Word of God and of course the homily and share our reflections with the family, even though my father was also at church. This helped us a lot to love the Word of God and to share it.
This is how I was led to the Franciscan Minoress Congregation.
I was in Johannesburg one day when one of my friends spoke to me about the Franciscan Sisters Minoress; so I decided to phone Sister Barbara who was at that time in charge of vocation promotion. Without knowing much English (I speak French) Sister Barbara was able to understand me and direct me. After a little contact with her, I decided to visit the Sisters. It was nice to meet them and I remember asking many questions about the charism and spirituality of the Congregation.
With my broken English I was able to express what I really wanted. I had a desire for prayer, spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with God, a willingness to share God's love with others in simplicity, and I found this with the Franciscan Sisters Minoress Congregation.
When Sister Barbara explained the charism of the Congregation to me, I realised that it was what I was really looking for. And this charism continues to attract me to live as a Minoress Sister and it remains the foundation of my life as a consecrated person in our Congregation. I love Religious Life and I am happy to be a daughter of St Francis of Assisi and to live the Franciscan spirituality.
Sister Sarah McAteer
I was born in County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. I am the eldest of 4 children. I have a brother and a sister, and a baby sister Brigid, who died at the age of 2 hours. I was brought up in Ireland until the age of 8 years when my parents moved to Glasgow to find work for my Dad. I attended school in Glasgow. One day, a Missionary priest called Father Barnacy, a White Father from Africa, came to the school and told us all about their work. He gave the class a little postcard. (Obviously, I wasn’t listening, I was 12 years old, so I filled in the postcard and posted it off – only to get a nice letter back saying that I needed to be at least 16 years old.) So, I said, “Well if they don’t want me, that’s it!” and I tore up the letter.
At Secondary school I never thought about Religious Life and when I left school I had various jobs, the last of which was in a fruit ‘n’ florist shop. (The owners of this shop came to my Religious Profession ceremony and supplied all the beautiful flowers for that special occasion). One day an elderly lady said to me, “You’re not going to spend your life working here. You’re far too young.” I said, “I’d love to be a nurse, but I don’t have enough qualifications to be a nurse.” She said, “The nuns in Merryland Street will take you, you don’t need qualifications there.” Saint Francis’ was our Geriatric and Maternity Home in 1976 but today it is a Care Home for the elderly.
The well trained Sisters and staff at St Francis welcomed young girls to gain nursing experience alongside the trained staff. Many of those who worked there, later went on to do their Nursing training. So, I wrote to the Matron, Sister Genevieve. I was given a date for my interview just after my 18th birthday in June. At the end of my interview Sister Genevieve said that I could start on the 5th July 1976. I had never had any contact with Sisters/Nuns, but there was something about Sister Genevieve and another Sister called Sister Magdalen, that impressed me. They were both midwives and they were so happy in their work and found time for their prayers - not using their work to escape prayers or vice versa. They were always kind and gentle with the patients and their visitors.
Through the example of these two Sisters, I started to get this tug at my heart - maybe this is where I was meant to be - a Franciscan? Me? So, after a great deal of thought and prayer, eventually I mentioned what was going on within me to Sister Genevieve. She said, “Why not go to Melton Mowbray (which is the Mother House and at that time the Noviciate) for a weekend and see.” Bernadette one of the girls I worked with came with me. We met the community, had our meals, prayed, and attended Mass with the Sisters and had a talk with the Novice Mistress. She explained all about Religious Life and I asked questions.
I returned to Govan Glasgow and after a while I wrote to ask to be accepted as a Postulant. I never told anyone what I had done except my parents. When I was accepted, I went to tell Sister Genevieve that I had been accepted to enter the Convent as a Postulant, she smiled and congratulated me. It was only later that Sister Magdalen told me she was on the General Council and all the Sisters knew. I entered on the 11th February 1980. That was 44 years ago and I’m still learning! Praise God.
I was born in County Donegal in the Republic of Ireland. I am the eldest of 4 children. I have a brother and a sister, and a baby sister Brigid, who died at the age of 2 hours. I was brought up in Ireland until the age of 8 years when my parents moved to Glasgow to find work for my Dad. I attended school in Glasgow. One day, a Missionary priest called Father Barnacy, a White Father from Africa, came to the school and told us all about their work. He gave the class a little postcard. (Obviously, I wasn’t listening, I was 12 years old, so I filled in the postcard and posted it off – only to get a nice letter back saying that I needed to be at least 16 years old.) So, I said, “Well if they don’t want me, that’s it!” and I tore up the letter.
At Secondary school I never thought about Religious Life and when I left school I had various jobs, the last of which was in a fruit ‘n’ florist shop. (The owners of this shop came to my Religious Profession ceremony and supplied all the beautiful flowers for that special occasion). One day an elderly lady said to me, “You’re not going to spend your life working here. You’re far too young.” I said, “I’d love to be a nurse, but I don’t have enough qualifications to be a nurse.” She said, “The nuns in Merryland Street will take you, you don’t need qualifications there.” Saint Francis’ was our Geriatric and Maternity Home in 1976 but today it is a Care Home for the elderly.
The well trained Sisters and staff at St Francis welcomed young girls to gain nursing experience alongside the trained staff. Many of those who worked there, later went on to do their Nursing training. So, I wrote to the Matron, Sister Genevieve. I was given a date for my interview just after my 18th birthday in June. At the end of my interview Sister Genevieve said that I could start on the 5th July 1976. I had never had any contact with Sisters/Nuns, but there was something about Sister Genevieve and another Sister called Sister Magdalen, that impressed me. They were both midwives and they were so happy in their work and found time for their prayers - not using their work to escape prayers or vice versa. They were always kind and gentle with the patients and their visitors.
Through the example of these two Sisters, I started to get this tug at my heart - maybe this is where I was meant to be - a Franciscan? Me? So, after a great deal of thought and prayer, eventually I mentioned what was going on within me to Sister Genevieve. She said, “Why not go to Melton Mowbray (which is the Mother House and at that time the Noviciate) for a weekend and see.” Bernadette one of the girls I worked with came with me. We met the community, had our meals, prayed, and attended Mass with the Sisters and had a talk with the Novice Mistress. She explained all about Religious Life and I asked questions.
I returned to Govan Glasgow and after a while I wrote to ask to be accepted as a Postulant. I never told anyone what I had done except my parents. When I was accepted, I went to tell Sister Genevieve that I had been accepted to enter the Convent as a Postulant, she smiled and congratulated me. It was only later that Sister Magdalen told me she was on the General Council and all the Sisters knew. I entered on the 11th February 1980. That was 44 years ago and I’m still learning! Praise God.
Sister Shirley King
My name is Sister Shirley King. I have always enjoyed my faith. I was a Eucharistic Minister and also a reader in my hometown of Galway in Ireland. My vocation took root at a very young age. I remember attending Mass on Sunday mornings in our parish church. Hanging from the ceiling was a large San Damiano crucifix that fascinated me. I knew that someday I would know the meaning. It was then that the seed was planted without my being aware of it.
Fast forward to the age of twenty-two when the call to Religious Life presented itself very clearly. There was an invitation on the church notice-board to consider Religious Life. it seemed to be directed at me. I wrote to different Orders to receive some information. One Congregation that appealed to me were the Franciscan Minoresses. I visited them in Dublin for the weekend. The visit, the sense of sisterhood and prayer remained with me. However I still found it difficult to accept the fact that God may be calling me. I struggled with it and it was seven years later when I contacted the Sisters again and visited the Novitiate in Clay Cross, Derbyshire.
I returned home and continued to struggle. On Divine Mercy Sunday, my mother and I were at a special Mass for the feast for which I have a great devotion. It was then that I received the grace to say yes. I entered Religious Life on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima 13th May. The previous August my Mum and Dad had gone on holiday to Portugal and had visited Fatima to pray to Our Lady for God’s will for my life. You could say my vocation was a family affair!
My feast day is “Divine Mercy Sunday.” As I grow in my vocation I have a sense of awe and wonder and a deep gratitude for the gift of vocation and for the gift of my Franciscan Minoress family.
My name is Sister Shirley King. I have always enjoyed my faith. I was a Eucharistic Minister and also a reader in my hometown of Galway in Ireland. My vocation took root at a very young age. I remember attending Mass on Sunday mornings in our parish church. Hanging from the ceiling was a large San Damiano crucifix that fascinated me. I knew that someday I would know the meaning. It was then that the seed was planted without my being aware of it.
Fast forward to the age of twenty-two when the call to Religious Life presented itself very clearly. There was an invitation on the church notice-board to consider Religious Life. it seemed to be directed at me. I wrote to different Orders to receive some information. One Congregation that appealed to me were the Franciscan Minoresses. I visited them in Dublin for the weekend. The visit, the sense of sisterhood and prayer remained with me. However I still found it difficult to accept the fact that God may be calling me. I struggled with it and it was seven years later when I contacted the Sisters again and visited the Novitiate in Clay Cross, Derbyshire.
I returned home and continued to struggle. On Divine Mercy Sunday, my mother and I were at a special Mass for the feast for which I have a great devotion. It was then that I received the grace to say yes. I entered Religious Life on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima 13th May. The previous August my Mum and Dad had gone on holiday to Portugal and had visited Fatima to pray to Our Lady for God’s will for my life. You could say my vocation was a family affair!
My feast day is “Divine Mercy Sunday.” As I grow in my vocation I have a sense of awe and wonder and a deep gratitude for the gift of vocation and for the gift of my Franciscan Minoress family.
Sister Tryphine Ndebele
I am from Zimbabwe and in my parish there are communities of Mission Daughters of Calvary. I met the Franciscan Minoress Sisters in my parish when they visited in 2014. From an early age I had the desire to be a Sister. During that parish visit I had the opportunity to talk to the Sisters about my vocation. Later that same year I had the opportunity to visit the Sisters. At that time, although I only spent a few days with them, I was impressed by the simple way of life that the Sisters were living and the the way they were sisters to one another where everyone is equal. I always wished to live a simple life of prayer and service to God through His people.
I found what I was searching for when I visited the Franciscan Sisters Minoress. Eventually I entered in South Africa and as I grew in my understanding of this form of life, I treasured our charism and recognised what a precious treasure we have received from the Holy Spirit. This Congregational charism has been passed down through many generations and it is our family heritage. I love being a Franciscan Minoress Sister and I am very grateful to God for my vocation. I have learned a lot since I entered and I have been greatly helped to deepen my love for God and to come closer to Him.
I am from Zimbabwe and in my parish there are communities of Mission Daughters of Calvary. I met the Franciscan Minoress Sisters in my parish when they visited in 2014. From an early age I had the desire to be a Sister. During that parish visit I had the opportunity to talk to the Sisters about my vocation. Later that same year I had the opportunity to visit the Sisters. At that time, although I only spent a few days with them, I was impressed by the simple way of life that the Sisters were living and the the way they were sisters to one another where everyone is equal. I always wished to live a simple life of prayer and service to God through His people.
I found what I was searching for when I visited the Franciscan Sisters Minoress. Eventually I entered in South Africa and as I grew in my understanding of this form of life, I treasured our charism and recognised what a precious treasure we have received from the Holy Spirit. This Congregational charism has been passed down through many generations and it is our family heritage. I love being a Franciscan Minoress Sister and I am very grateful to God for my vocation. I have learned a lot since I entered and I have been greatly helped to deepen my love for God and to come closer to Him.
Sister Winnie Loughrey
I was born in Govan, Glasgow and attended St Saviours Primary school which was across the road from St Francis Nursing Home which nursed maternity patients and later the elderly. I used to see the Franciscan Sisters coming and going from the Primary school and wondered what their life was like. When I was 8 years old one of the Sisters called Sister Joseph came to the Primary school to give a vocations talk on being a Franciscan Minoress Sister. When school was finished I went home and told my parents that I wanted to become a sister and a nurse. My parents said I don't think they will take you as you are too young!
The years passed and when I was 15 years old the question of becoming a Sister again resurfaced. At 18, I went to train as a nurse. On completion of my nurse training a neighbour who lived upstairs from me told me that the Franciscan Sisters were looking for nurses. I went for the interview and got the job and went to work with the Sisters. I met and worked with the same Sister Joseph who had done that vocation talk all those years before.
From the start I was attracted by their life of service to God and to each other and the loving care they gave to the people they served each day which included the staff. I could see from working with the Sisters that their whole life was one of prayer and service of God’s people. As I worked there I began to read more about the life of St Francis of Assisi. The more I read and the more I saw his life lived out through the example of the Sisters I felt the call return again. I decided to explore the call further and applied to enter the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters Minoress.
I continue to strive to follow in the words of St Francis “I have done what is mine to do, may Christ teach you yours” which is lived out daily through the Franciscan Minoress charism of minority and in the service of God’s people. Looking back over the years I can see that God was walking by my side every step of the way. God was gently leading me in his love and in the lives of the Sisters then, and those who continue to share my journey now and in the future by living the Gospel Life of conversion and faith in the example of St Francis and our own foundress, Mother Francis Murphy.
I was born in Govan, Glasgow and attended St Saviours Primary school which was across the road from St Francis Nursing Home which nursed maternity patients and later the elderly. I used to see the Franciscan Sisters coming and going from the Primary school and wondered what their life was like. When I was 8 years old one of the Sisters called Sister Joseph came to the Primary school to give a vocations talk on being a Franciscan Minoress Sister. When school was finished I went home and told my parents that I wanted to become a sister and a nurse. My parents said I don't think they will take you as you are too young!
The years passed and when I was 15 years old the question of becoming a Sister again resurfaced. At 18, I went to train as a nurse. On completion of my nurse training a neighbour who lived upstairs from me told me that the Franciscan Sisters were looking for nurses. I went for the interview and got the job and went to work with the Sisters. I met and worked with the same Sister Joseph who had done that vocation talk all those years before.
From the start I was attracted by their life of service to God and to each other and the loving care they gave to the people they served each day which included the staff. I could see from working with the Sisters that their whole life was one of prayer and service of God’s people. As I worked there I began to read more about the life of St Francis of Assisi. The more I read and the more I saw his life lived out through the example of the Sisters I felt the call return again. I decided to explore the call further and applied to enter the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters Minoress.
I continue to strive to follow in the words of St Francis “I have done what is mine to do, may Christ teach you yours” which is lived out daily through the Franciscan Minoress charism of minority and in the service of God’s people. Looking back over the years I can see that God was walking by my side every step of the way. God was gently leading me in his love and in the lives of the Sisters then, and those who continue to share my journey now and in the future by living the Gospel Life of conversion and faith in the example of St Francis and our own foundress, Mother Francis Murphy.
