“Do not be afraid”. If she is truly being called to this life, God has a great plan in store for her.
-As a sibling, what do you appreciate about having your sister in the convent?
As a sibling, I love how I have gained a second family with all the sisters. I know that I am loved and cared for, and most importantly, prayed for, by all of the sisters whom I have built a great relationship with over the years.
-What were some struggles you had to work through when your sister entered the convent?
Sister Mary Monica is my twin sister and only sibling, so it was very hard when she entered the convent, because not only did I lose my best friend, but I didn’t have any other siblings to rely on when she left. I had to figure out who I was without her, which at first was very difficult and I had to accept the grieving process that came along with her entering the convent. There was a loss of the relationship that we had all our lives and having to accept that life would never look the same again, which took many years to do. Over the years though it has gotten easier, and God has blessed me in so many ways, most importantly, by teaching me who He created me to be as an individual person, not just as a twin or as someone who looks like another person. It has been over nine years since Sister Mary Monica entered the religious life and God is still forming our newfound relationship that we have with each other today and there has been so much healing that has happened between us that we never knew needed to happen. Though I still miss her and not having her around, God has blessed our family greatly and we wouldn’t change it for the world.
-How do you see your sister's vocation benefiting you?
I think by seeing how Sister Mary Monica has been able to give her life to Jesus and Mary over the years, I have been able to see her transform into the person God created her to be. This has also taught me to not to be afraid to say “Yes” to God when He asks me to do certain things in my own life and to have complete trust and confidence in His plan. I am not saying that my “yes’s” have been perfect and without fear and trembling, but I at least have a witness of faith life Sister because He has taken such great care of her, so I can trust that our Lord will also do the same for me and my family.
-What do you like about the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary community?
I love the IHM Sisters because they are so devoted to their religious calling, and you know this because of the JOY that they exude anytime you are around them. They are filled with gratitude, humility, kindness, always smiling, they are so respectful to every person they meet. You know that the Holy Spirit is living within them and you can’t but feel loved when you are in their presence. There are so many good things to say about the sisters, I guess the most important thing to say is that they live their life to give glory to God in all things and to be a light to the world so others will come to know our Lord as well.
-What are some words of encouragement to other families?
If you have a daughter or sister who is interested in entering the religious life, some words of encouragement that I would offer to families would be, “Do not be afraid”. If she is truly being called to this life, God has a great plan in store for her. She will be taken care of not only by her sisters, but by our Lord, who is calling her to be His Bride; What else could be more beautiful than that?! To have a sister or daughter who is married to our loving Lord, who will love her more perfectly than you could ever imagine?! Please support her in this decision, it is not easy for her to leave everything and everyone behind to discern such a radical call, but if she knows that she has her family in support of this decision, it gives her heart more freedom to enter in to see if this is really where God is calling her in life. Yes, it will be hard to let her go, maybe there is a lack of understanding of the religious life, or a fear that she will not be happy, but I promise that if God is calling her to this life, God will provide everything she needs to live out her calling just like God provides a man and woman to live out their calling to marriage or a priest through Holy Orders. You will also be blessed through her yes as well, I promise.
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