Catholic Outlook Volume 18, August 2015 | Page 24

NATIONAL VOCATIONS AWARENESS WEEK Sunday 2 August – Sunday 9 August 2015 What shall we say to the Lord for the wonders He has done for us? A short reflection from the temporary professed Sisters of St Paul de Chartres who made their First Vows on 2 February 2015. All we could say is that our hearts are filled with awe and immense joy and gratitude that God had called and chosen us, and we have responded by following Him with faith, love and joyful hope in the Congregation of the Sisters of St Paul de Chartres. Looking back throughout the early years of formation, we recognised that our mission is not ours but God’s. Time went by, we have come to know before our First Profession how precious we are in God’s eyes; that it is only through experiencing His unconditional mercy and love can we then be able to return love for love and have the strength to say “Fiat” to Him in the Congregation of the Sisters of St Paul of Chartres where we live and serve Him with exclusive love. Like Mary, we had signed a blank cheque without knowing what lies ahead, yet we believe in His enduring faithfulness that our lives will be filled with graces and beyond surprises! Because of God’s grace, the constant guidance and support in countless ways of the Sisters in Australia and His many representatives, we were able to profess our first religious vows publicly in faith and joy. We were glad to know that our commitment had left a special impact in the hearts of many attendants and that we had revised the spirit of love in many others, too. Besides, our profession day occurred in the Year of Consecrated Life, which helps to enhance in us the awareness of deep concern for the Church, a conviction that our vocation is also the Church’s treasure and vocation. Therefore, we pray and are determined to practise and live what we had professed to Go [