Growing up in a traditional Catholic family, Sister learned to pray.  She attended Mass daily with her family, walking to church each morning at 4:30 am. Every night, even when they were all tired, they would gather together to pray the Rosary. Sister Mary Jane’s parents wanted to instill in them the importance of prayer and the importance of their faith. So, Sister was taught the Catechism by the Vietnamese Sisters every Sunday in her parish and she was able to receive the Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation.

Life in Vietnam was very difficult for Sister and her family. Will there be enough food? Will their father return home safely each night from driving the truck? When he was delayed, Sister and her siblings along with their mother would kneel down to pray to God for his safe return. Earning a living was very difficult; so, Sister’s parents decided the family would go to America for a better life.

This was not an easy decision. Due to the corruption in Vietnam, it was quite costly to get all of the paperwork processed in a timely manner, and the only way they could afford that was to sell everything they had. This they did, and then prayed they would pass the interviews; otherwise, they would have been homeless…

Sister Mary Jane’s family did pass the interviews and she has always held this to be one of God’s great miracles in her life. While the family had to go to a refugee camp in the Philippines for almost a year, learning English and the American culture, Sister sees this as a time of great spiritual growth in her life. Things were difficult during this time, but in those moments, the family would turn to prayer, together.

Sister Mary Jane continues to thank God for bringing her family to the United States because life was better for them here, and it was here that her dream began to come true. After arriving in the United States, life changed rapidly. There were so many more opportunities for Sister and her siblings. Her father wanted all of his children to have a good education and to become successful.

It was when Sister was a junior in high school that she met Father Pham, a Vietnamese priest. Sister opened her heart to him, sharing her desire to become a Religious Sister. Father Pham then introduced Sister Mary Jane to the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of the Church who staffed the Academy of the Holy Family where his nieces attended high school.

Sister Mary Jane tells us the story:

“I fell in love with the Sisters right away when I first came to visit them and desired to enter right after high school. However, my parents wanted me to go to college first. I prayed to God to change my parents’ minds but the time just went by and my parents were unmoved. As a result, I became really distressed and doubted if God actually was calling me. Whenever the topic of Religious Life was discussed, my Dad would give me a long lecture. Sometimes it was that I was too young to make a serious decision, other times it was that he had spent so much money and energy to bring us to the United States and now I wanted to become a Sister! Then there was always, if God was calling me, He would wait for me.  On and on and on it went…

I tried to assure my Dad that I would continue the education and God would make me happy as a Sister but my parents would not hear any of that. No matter how hard I tried to explain it to them, they still could not understand. In those moments, all I could do was shut myself in a room for a long time and cry. My parents and I used to have many “cold wars” because of this.

I shared my distress with  Mother Mary Luke, Formation Directress of the Sisters of Charity.  She was the first one I met when I visited the Sisters and she always told me to trust in the Lord and that the Sisters would pray for me. There were times I grew very impatient and upset with God and my parents that we could not work this out, but finally, at the end of my senior year, things changed! God helped my parents to understand that He was calling me. They gave me their consent and blessing. It was the most joyful moment in my life. I could not wait to give my life to God.

Now, sitting here to write my vocation story, I cannot believe that it has been twenty-five years for me as a Bride of Christ. I thank God for His unfailing love and mercy for me. It is only with His grace that I have been able to be who I am today. There are also many Mothers and Sisters whose prayers and words of encouragement have nurtured my vocation. First among these is Mother Mary Luke who helped and guided me from the beginning of my journey of the Sisters. Then there is also Mother Marie Dominica, my gentle and sweet Novice Mistress, Mother Teresa Marie, Mother M. Anthony, and so many other Mothers and Sisters. It is with God’s grace and the Sisters’ guidance that I am able to persevere as a Sister of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of the Church. I am forever grateful to all of you. May God bless all our Mothers and Sisters!

I often tell my students, ‘time flies when you are having fun.’  Yes, it has been an enjoyable and lovely journey with the Lord and the Sisters.  My prayer is to live my vocation in fulfillment of the Lord’s will for me, and to persevere in holiness following the example of our dear Senior Sisters.

Give thanks to the Lord for His love and mercy. Amen.”