"I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness,
and speak tenderly to her."
Hosea 2:14
Sister Joan Clare
Junior Professed
"Speak Lord I'm Listening" was being sung during the offertory procession at Mass. This was at the age of eleven when I first heard God calling me to be a Religious Sister, a providential response to the song. With much excitement I first told my parents, then my brothers, and finally my sister who said "you want to do what!" I realized then, that not everyone would be as excited about this extraordinary calling as I was.
Throughout my grade school years I prayed that God would guide me to understand this call to religious life. During my adolescence I became more aware of my vocation and impatiently waited for God's Will to unfold in my life. At the age of sixteen, I asked my mother: "Don't you think that God and I should have figured it out by now?" This impatience stemmed from my wanting to know God's Will so that I would steer my life and future plans according to His. As time passed, I continued to feel God was truly calling me to be His Bride. The excuses would not do anymore…to think that someone else might go in place of me, or that this call is of my imagination…had to be forgotten. To be a bride of Jesus Christ is a most beautiful vocation and must be answered with a joy filled yes! As I continued in prayer and discernment, God was asking me to respond through daily challenges and His Will was becoming more evident as He led me through simple and tangible signs concerning Religious Life; signs both surprising and, at times, comical, but always reassuring.
When my parents married they promised each other and God that if He called any of their children to Religious Life they would do whatever the Lord was asking of them - to support that child and to give him/her lovingly to Jesus! Both my mother and father thanked God for this beautiful vocation when I explained to them my wanting to enter after my first year of college, but my father preferred that I finish college first. They reminded one another of their promise and rejoiced in my rejoicing. As my entrance date came closer, peace rested within my family. They realized that now my life was taking on a new direction and an ever-deepening relationship with God.
The joy of this vocation far exceeds the hardship of the physical distance between us now. I feel their presence and love from miles and miles away as I am here serving God in my new family. God has blessed me by bestowing upon me loving parents and a generous family! What a humbling journey it has been. God was leading me, through all of my impatience and unknowing times, of where and when to enter a Religious Congregation. God has been preparing me to be His chosen Bride, for all eternity.
Awaiting God's Will
ocation stories
Deep in my heart as I grew more confident that Jesus was indeed calling me, I knew that my future would now drastically change. The choice regarding college entered my mind, knowing that if God is calling me to Religious Life, then I must choose an extraordinary university to attend where both my faith and trust in Him would deepen. Franciscan University was the answer. I truly felt God entered my life in indescribable ways at this University.
While at Steubenville, the Holy Spirit led me to introduce myself to Mother Mary Luke and Mother M. Katherine at the vocation fair. It was through the hands of God alone, that I was able to visit The Sisters of Charity, of Our Lady, Mother of the Church only one month later. My visit with the Mothers and Sisters was filled with God's peace, joy and love - I felt as though I was at home. At home and at peace with what God was calling me to do. After returning to school, it was difficult to concentrate on anything other than my future as His Bride, and as I continued to pray He put into my heart such a peace that I knew could only have come from Him. Now, there was no doubt in my heart.
