“This
is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it!”
This
story begins on Christmas Eve, my birthday. My grandparents’ love and devotion
for the Blessed Mother inspired them to name my mother Mary, who in turn,
named me. I have always thought that this a special honor and I truly believe
that the Lord had huge plans for me from day one.
I come from a very closely-knit family.
I value this because not too many people have that privilege in our society
today. I am the oldest of four children, Joseph Robert Jr., Michael Anthony,
and Kathryn Julia. Jokingly, my family says that we are the “Holy Family”
because we have Joseph and Mary, all that is missing is Baby Jesus. As a young
child, I spent valuable time with all four of my grandparents, as well as,
my great-grandmother. The time we
spent together allowed me to value the importance of a family, while at the
same time, instilling in me a deep appreciation for my Catholic faith.
I attended Bensalem public schools from pre-K through
twelfth grade. Although I attended public school, my parents knew the importance
of a Catholic education because they both attended IHM Catholic Schools. For
this reason, my parents enrolled me in Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Religious
Education Program. I always felt a strong desire to attend the CCD classes.
During this time, I remember telling some of my friends that I wanted to be
a Religious Sister, but I didn’t know how this could be in my future, since
I didn’t know any Sisters. Again, in high school, I also mentioned the possibility,
especially after playing the role of a nun in the musical, “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect
Up?” I thought it was ironic;
God truly has a wonderful sense of humor.
After high school, I attended Immaculata
University where I earned my BMUS in education with a minor in Liturgical
Studies and certification in elementary schools. This was to be my formal
teaching by the IHM Sisters. I asked
a few Sisters about their lifestyle, in particular my sponsor, Sister Regina
Foy. I also became closer to the Lord
during college, particularly through my involvement in “Praise Group,” music
ministry, lectoring, and my attendance at two young adult summer retreats
at Steubenville, OH. Although, I was
still confused by the possibility of religious life, my friends encouraged
me to pay attention to my heart and go where the Lord was guiding me. At the
time, I was still denying that the possibility of religious life could exist
for me.
Upon graduation from Immaculata, I taught for two years
at Maternity B.V.M. School in northeast Philadelphia. Religious life became more evident to me at
this time, especially while sharing my faith with my students. I could no
longer deny that God was speaking to my heart.
Carl Jung stated, “Your vision
will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who
looks inside, awakens.” This quote says it all… I was trying to run away
from something because I dismissed the idea as a dream, but when I was ready
to accept the gift of my religious vocation, the vision became so clear.
The next step was to enter the postulancy.
So, here I am today.
I hope and pray that the Lord will
continue to use me as an instrument in drawing others to Himself. I want children to know someone who can explain
a vocation to them so they can openly embrace and accept the call to religious
life as a wonderful gift.