Vocation Story | |
| Each Month we will feature a different story of one of our members, either sisters or those in initial formation. Also please keep checking the left hand column for a few little 'extras'. | |
|
April 2009Sr Rita Said The Superior at that time was Sr. Rose, an American sister and Victoria approached her to enlist on the Sicily trip. Sr. Rose turned to me saying “We don’t have any places left” assuming that I wanted to go too, but my mum couldn’t afford to send me but she took my name and address thinking that I would go to the Friday talk, when the school term would begin, but I didn’t have any intention to go. However, I always felt that I wanted to be a sister. In Gozo, though it is a small Island, there are several different orders, but I never felt attracted to them. My friend Georgina Grech was my school friend and she had been going to the sisters for the weekly talk. So with a bit of pressure from her I began to attend the meeting which I enjoyed. Until one day, when my parents got to know, and prohibited me from going because they were afraid it would effect my school work. At the time I used to go to the Parish church every evening to say my rosary, and so when my parents refused to let me go to the Friday meetings I used to go to the Sisters’ chapel instead, but the talk would be over by that time unfortunately. Once again, my parents got to know about it and so my mother sent my father to tell the Sisters to send me away if I went there. So, I stopped going to the Sister’s house, for the sake of peace in my house. Every day I had to pass by the Sisters’ house with my friend on the way to school, and one day Sr. Rose was waiting outside for us. She asked me if I would come back to the house again for the meetings, but I didn’t want to go against my parents’ wish. So I made a compromise with my parents. I promised that I would only go to the Sisters during the holidays with Georgina and Maria Debono. Sometimes we were invited to have supper with the Sisters. It was summer and we used to eat in the garden, which was very pleasant and relaxing. Eventually my parents began to get used to the idea of me going to visit the Sisters. In the meanwhile Sr. Stella and Sr. Carmen entered in January 1966 as aspirants, and during that year Georgina, Maria and I were invited to spend some weekends in the Aspirantate which was in Ghasri. Sr.Esther was the assistant at that time and we enjoyed those weekends tremendously. In 1967 I was preparing for my O’Levels, and my parents were worried that my work was deteriorating because I was more interested in my visits to the Sisters than pursuing my studies. One day Sr. Rose approached myself and Georgina and asked us if we would like to become Aspirants that September. Being the final year, my parents were concerned and wanted me to concentrate on my studies, but when I received the results I had good grades. My parents were ready to let me join, but wanted me to get the teaching certificate first, which meant that I had to wait for another two years. I was disappointed, and wasn’t prepared to wait that long. Whilst we were discussing my future my Junior teacher arrived at the house, and my parents shared their concerns about my future with her. She told them that if it was God’s will they should let me go and join the Sisters, and on the 24th of September 1967 I began the Aspirantate with Georgina and Maria. Those are the main highlights of my vocation story. Time passes very quickly, I have been professed for 38 years now, and continue to enjoy my prayer life and work with young people. Today, Sr. Maria is in Cowley Oxford, Sr. Georgina is in Gozo looking after her elderly aunt and I am in Rotherhithe teaching in St. Michael’s School. If you are reading this article with a view to becoming a religious sister, or for that matter with a view to pursuing any vocation, I feel that it is wise to complete your education before you pursue your vocation. |
