Let me be your faithful servant

MY STORY....

by Sr.  Teresa

When I was a little girl my mother used to bring me at Sto Niño basilica every Friday. One day she told me to kneel down in front of the image of the little Jesus to pray.  I obeyed and in my innocence I asked God to take me forever so that nobody could get me away from Him. Although I couldn’t understand what favor I was asking from God at that time, yet my heart and faith were expressing something unexplainable.   I was convinced that it was the starting point of my vocation.

At the age of 16,  I already felt the calling of God  and I tried to opened it up with my mother  but unfortunately she wasn’t convinced. She said: “Religious life is full of sacrifices. You will only suffer”.  Since I am the youngest, she wanted me to be at her side always and to take care of her at her old age. Considering the situation of my family, I decided to find a job to enjoy and forget my desire. But God’s calling was irresistible. I found inside of me that I was longing for Him more deeply than before. Favorably I encountered Sr. Odet, dst sister who helped me to know the Carmelite Sisters in Consolacion, Cebu. The encounter was quite fruitful and without any hesitation I made a certain decision to enter. I knocked at the door  of the convent. It was May 5, 2003.  I was 19 yrs. old then.  Yes! it was too painful to leave my family and friends for they were part of me.  In fact fears and doubts were in my mind. I bear in my mind too what my mother had said.  God, however, sustained my weak spirit.

During my formation years, I’ve learned that religious life requires great faith, sacrifice, detachment and humility. These are the arms that have accompanied me in my journey.

Sincerely, many times I had planned to leave the convent. It, however, never happened.  My best friend Jesus did not allow me indeed.  The more I refused this kind of life, the more HE possessed me. Yes…and thanks to Him for now I am truly HIS. I have made my final vows just recently: October 1, 2012.  Only one thing that I would like to ask:  “Lord let me be your true and faithful servant…now and forever”. Amen.