Sr Clare: “There is an inner joy that wells up like a spring within me, and I wish for it to gush forth that I may share this joy of the Gospel with others.”
REGINA: Did you enter immediately?
SR. CHIARA MARIE: I had to wait another three and a half years because of a mortgage and other debt. I always trusted that God wouldn’t call me if it wasn’t possible for me to enter but for a long time it looked like there was no way to achieve it. But I’m here and I honestly never believed that I could be so settled and happy. That’s not to say it hasn’t been hard, it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done but it is worth it.
REGINA: How did your family and friends react when you went into the convent?
SR. CLARE: My family and friends were mostly supportive and most of them were very encouraging.
It seems that once they understood that God was calling me in this direction, they had a greater acceptance of the matter.
SR. CHIARA MARIE: I realized very quickly that my friends and family just didn’t understand my longings. Most of my good friends still find it very difficult to understand why I would want to do this. Some have broken off contact with me.
The only friend who seems to have really understood my vocation though is a devout evangelical Christian because she understands wanting to dedicate my life to Christ.
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