No turning back...no turning back

If there is a will, there is a way...

by Sr. Giovanna  

I grew up in a catholic, simple and poor family; my parents were both devoted in prayer and every morning their rosary was my alarm clock. It was beautiful enough upon seeing them together kneeled in prayer before the dawn broke and started to work.  They did not end by kneeling alone but also by sharing their food to the hungry during the day. Their good examples had taught me a lot how to become  generous too with other people. 

My vocation story started here. It was July 1994 when I met Jesus  in a one week seminar for volunteered catechists in the parish. It seemed that He was so powerful, urgently calling me! Many things had changed...and I was quite inspired  to read every night the Sacred Scriptures: to know Him and His stories with mankind. There I came upon to know how precious it was to follow HIM. While I was continuosly helping the parish as catechist, the more I discovered  that God was guiding me towards a serious decision.  From there, I started to think how to follow my vocation for  I was already determined to become a nun. It  wasn’t easy however, I met many obstacles that  had really pierced my heart.  First, it was forbidden at home to talk about my vocation. Second, my father died and it was quite impossible for me to leave my mother since I am the youngest.  Third, everybody was against to my plan, no one could understand me. So my struggles  lasted for three years.  While waiting for the right time, I tried again to discern what was the plan of God for me  for I might only following my own desire. 

“If there’s a will, there’s a way.” Thus, I never stopped singing the song of hope! And God gave me an enough strength to put in action what was in my mind. My friends in the parish had helped me so much to prepare everything I needed.  The atmosphere in the house was already strange, I guessed they had come to know my plan. Before leaving the house I only kissed my mother’s right cheek to say goodbye and ask her blessing.  What a painful separation! 

So to make it short,  I was able to persevere through the grace of God as well as the prayers of my community and formators. Finally last October 14, 2010,  I made my final YES to God  in Italy, a promise to serve Him through my community and the Church forever.   The journey is not yet finished of course…the road is   still too  long and difficult.  Trials will be there to purify me.  Yet I do humbly trust everything in the hands of God thay I may be able to fulfill my promise.  May the Blessed Virgin Mary our mother bless and protect my vocation as I continue following His son.