A Godly Friday!

Friday evening, I had offered to go with another Sister to renew her mobile phone contract and we went to the closest shopping center to do this. The lady at the retail shop who had been very friendly and helpful at other times was not at the shop so, I spoke to another assistant, a 'kid' who was looked bored and tried to be helpful. He then, simply told us that the mobile we wanted was not available but it could be available at another of their retail shops. I 'grumbled' to God that was troublesome but all the same, off we went to another shopping center so that we could get the 'job' done. 

At the next retail shop, we met a very friendly young woman who had a face that reminded me of our Lady of Sorrows! It was a smiling but deeply sad, melancholy face who advised us that the mobile we wanted was available but it was not the best and that it was being pulled of the market to review its faults! Now why couldn't the guy in the other shop have told us that??  'Ms melancholy face' advised us to take another mobile which was equally good and it was offered free with a contract renewal. The voucher we had, she said, could be used for phone accessories and she advised us on those too.

Somehow with that beautifully sad face and her intermitten sharing on how hard it was to get customers and over and above that, her sharing that she had difficulties with her husband who was also her boss! touched our hearts deeply. So, we were happily 'sold', and we also offered to pray for her while, have been thus advised, she too promised to pray for her husband as he was a Catholic and she was not! Somehow it seemed that God wanted us to be here and to listen to the 'woes' of 'ms melancholy' and to tell her that she could still pray even if she wasn't a Catholic... 

End of story? No...

Happy at our purchase, we went for a simple coffee-shop meal as it was past dinner time... and as we finished we decided to treat ourself with an 'ice-cream' at the next shop.  Five minutes into the 'ice-cream' we realised that we had left the bag which contained the old mobile phone box with all the accessories in the coffee shop! We rushed back but it was gone!!! Crest falled, I prayed that somehow whoever took it would return it but how?? Thankfully, the new mobile was safe in Sr's bag but all the other accessories and the old mobile with all her contacts and photos were in that box! What did God want from us in this was the painful prayer that went from our hearts, but still, we were grateful that we still had the new mobile safe in the bag.  Three times, we went back to the place where we left the bag and asked the shopkeepers and cleaners but no one saw anything... it was gone and nothing could be done! So, downhearted, we decided to call it a night and go home...

While waiting for the bus, my mobile rang and an unfamiliar voice said... "I found a box'!! My heart jumped and I quickly responded 'YES!!' 

So, yes... we got it all back even though we had to make an extra trip to get it back. The lady who found the bag with the box was a real estate agent and she gave us her card while we thanked her profusely. She had been kind enought to check the contacts on old mobile and to dial a few numbers she found and thankfully one of them was mine.  

So, obviously God has a sense of humour and while we may have been the brunt of it... I am deeply grateful for the experience that brought God so close in all that happened and we ended the day with much joy and gratitude for the Godly day!

A Simple Time: "The lack of reverence is a specific defect of our...

A Simple Time: "The lack of reverence is a specific defect of our...: At Fatima (1917), Our Lady said that, "Certain fashions will be introduced that will offend Our Lord very much." Sadly, such fashions may b...

70 years...

The convent I currently live in and Children's Home in our premises, celebrated our 70th Anniversary last Saturday. There was a really big celebration organised by the staff of the the Home. All who used to live there, staff and affiliates and various VIPs were invited for Mass followed by a concert, performed by the children who are currently in our Home. It was a really big and impressive affair that concluded with a 'marketplace' where free food was served. 


I was there... helping to serve at the 'kachang puteh' and 'putu maiyam' stall.  I totally enjoyed serving people our local delicacies, yet what I cherished more was the interaction with the people who came by the stall with a big smile and a joy that showed how 'at home' they were. Their 'shining' faces was priceless gift that will always be in my memory.


I have not literally served in the Home as most of my ministry takes me to different parishes but just being there gave me a sense of the reverence that those who had passed through this Home felt.  A number of the 'oldies' came up to tell me of their personal history; of their being a part of the Children's Home.  My lack of history became a 'plus' as it allowed them to happily share theirs and listening to them was a joy indeed.


The most interesting stories I heard were shared by three old boys [now in their 60s] who were very obviously delighted at being a part of this celebration. They joyfully shared about how 'clever' they were and how they got  'punished' by the nuns who never seemed to know how to deal with their naughtiness.  They were like bright lights as they happily re-lived their naughty boy days and regaled stories of how, despite the punishments they were happy with their pranks.  Their eagerness in sharing and their in joy meeting the now elderly Sisters was truly a beautiful and enriching sight.


It was truly a memorable day. Our prayers that the fine weather would hold out seemed initially threatened as dark clouds gathered at the start of the celebrations but the prayers prevailed and we had a nice day! There were showers of blessings as the celebrations came to a close and a silent prayer of thanksgiving went up from many hearts.

"Thank you God, for the abundance of blessings we have received in so many ways... our gratitude will never measure up to the magnanimity of your love and so we continue to offer you our frail lives and that of those whom we seek to serve in your Name." Amen! 

In God alone...

I signed up for the retreat simply because it was held in Malaysia, Kluang and I wanted a retreat away from the 'noise' and the 'temptations' of Singapore, my home ground. It didn't matter who the retreat director was as I have, in my 24 years of Religious Life experienced enough retreats to know that ultimately at times like these... God takes charge!

Right from the start of my journey, to the "Oasis" in Kluang, after a two-hour long queue at the Malaysian checkpoint, travelling alone, I panicked when I realised that I didn't really know which bus would take me directly to my destination! I walked around the bus station, dragging my trolley bag and knapsack, just looking at the numerous stalls where there were tickets sold to so many destinations... and then confused, I just stopped. God of course, then took charge and so, immediately in front of me was the stall that sold tickets to 'Kluang'! My heart said "God knows the way" and I happily bought my ticket.  That was quite a relief! 

My next concern, upon struggling up the bus amidst pouring rain was, now where to get off the bus!  I spotted a lady sitting just behind the driver and sheepishly approached her, asking if she knew the place I was going to.  I think, at that point, wearing my religious habit 'saved' me as she looked at me, sensed my agitation and immediately reassured me that she knew the place and would direct me as to where to alight and then give me directions from there.   God was surely in-charge and I was ready to sing "Alleluia!" I thus relaxed and enjoyed the two hour journey and finally reached the 'Oasis' that evening. Little did I know that I was walking into a 'cloud of unknowing'!

The retreat was based on Christian Meditation and the zealous director, a Franciscan priest scheduled 6 times daily, all together, prayer in silence and stillness with the recommended mantra 'ma-ra-na-tha'!.  I was ready for a retreat but 6X silent meditation, over and above the scheduled talks, Mass and other daily prayers and a DVD to top it of! I was quite flabbergasted! The 'usual' annual retreats we had were a maximum of  2 daily talks, Mass and the rest was free time for prayer etc.! My heart said... "Lord, what is this about!!".  Nonetheless, after the initial 'shock' I regained my composure. My cognitive self said... "well, you do trust in God's direction right?".  So, faith took over and I acquiesced, mostly... I decided to begin the day with morning prayer alone and submit to the rest of the day's schedule.  With that, the rest of the retreat went rather quickly and tranquilly. I prayed the 'ma-ra-na-tha' with other Sisters, in the midst distractions concerning ministry, planning and of desires arising ;) but mostly it was a beautiful union of silence and stillness that opened and closed with the chime of a soft bell.

God cannot be outdone is loving and giving and I have emerged from this retreat with a desire to pray without asking, without seeking, without expecting and simply being present with God who dwells within. It felt good, it felt right!  The simplicity of the mantra leads to a letting-go and a calmness of spirit makes God's presence tangible even while distractions abound.  The prayer is simple but not easy, requiring constant re-focusing, a quite moving away from the multitude of seemingly good distractions. The silence and stillness is wholly God-time and it has re-inforced my belief that God cannot be outdone in generosity, giving a loving overflowing, hundredfold. The prayer of silence and stillness takes time, makes room, makes depth and especially creates a sacred space within, vivifies the 'temple' of God within and creates a desire to dwell there and bring forth the fruits that it implicitly bears. 

So, as we concluded the retreat, we renewed our Religious vows at the closing Eucharist we once again voice our YES! to God within and without in love and union of hearts!

May this Pentecost bring forth an overflowing of Love, Joy and Peace! ALLELUIA!

"Praise her with a flower..."

Tis' the month of May...a blazing hot month here. Still... it's a beautiful month, Why? It's the month of Mary, the Immaculate Virgin, the Queen of Angels, the Star of the Sea... and no matter who says what, she's THE MOTHER and my love for her runs deep within like a quiet stream of flowing water

I therefore, make an effort to pray the Rosary daily and the best part of my week is the Marian Novena sessions that I lead at a couple of churches. This 'gift' of the Marian Novena has made a wonderful difference in my life.  Week after week, during this Novena I eagerly share my thoughts, learnings and reflections in a 7minute 'homily' with the congregation that gathers before Mass to pray for our Mother's intercession in their life's struggles. The beautiful prayers, petitions and thanksgiving letters that come for her have often touched me deeply and have served to enrich my life and make me ever more grateful for who I am; and for the abundance of blessings I've received in my life.

Thus, it is with a heart that prays to grow more like the Woman who said "Be it done unto me according to your Word" [Luke 1:38] that I seek our incarnational God in all that comes my way. I pray that this desire may be one that continues to motivate and inspire me in our mission to "make Jesus know and loved

As at Cana, Mother, intercede with Jesus to change our little water into wine as we continue to love and offer you praise...

Eastertide...

Yes, Jesus is Risen! and... well, it's still Eastertide and finally, I'm inspired to put down some reflections. I did wonder where all my inspiration went :) 

The last weekend was a really hectic weekend.  Kicked off by our General Elections on Saturday, where we lost a good man in the ruling party to a new party, but in that loss we gained some new, fresh and hopeful faces.  It was, in fact, quite nerve racking to watch the results.  Nonetheless, my prayer was answered and I do believe that God will always provide what's best! 

Sunday was a day for celebrations as it was our Foundress Day! We celebrated the Feast of St. Magdalene of Canossa with all our lay-Canossians, some of whom even came from Malaysia! There was of course some hiccups like the projector that didn't connect, but it finally worked just when Fr Paul, our celebrant walked in for the celebration of the Eucharist. That was a really close call! The liturgy was simple and beautiful, after which we watched the following vid-clip of our Foundress which I really like...

So, as we grow to know St Magdalene of Canossa, please also pray for her daughters and sons to be true to our Foundress' charism of making Jesus known and loved as we journey on in our various ministries and communities.

A belated 'Buona Pasqua' to all! 

May the Peace and Joy of our Risen Lord touch each one of you and fill you with Hope!

It is Lent...

Fr Ron Rolheiser, OMI in one of his articles wrote:

"It would be nice if we always felt warm, reverent, altruistic, full of faith, chaste, hopeful, connected with others and nature, happy about who we are and what life has dealt us. But that isn't the case. We all have moments and even seasons of doubt, anger, alienation, pettiness, boredom, obsession, and tiredness. Our thoughts are not always holy and our hearts are not always warm or pure. It's at times like this we need prayer and what we need to take to prayer is, precisely, those bitter thoughts and unholy feelings."

I reverently subscribe to such thoughts and so, when I received some news that I didn't like and didn't want to accept I woke up early the next morning [one of those rare days!] and decided to take the 'issue' with God. God somehow never, ever fails to respond, even though I sometimes think I'd rather listen to the mystery of God's silence! However...

I sat alone in a darkened chapel and said to myself... "let me look at today's Gospel [on sons of Zebedee and drinking the from the Cup of Christ] and the 'reflection', perhaps there lies the 'answer'.  The reflection I 'regretably' chose was one taken from the writings of Mother Elvira Petrozzi and this is what I read and 'heard'... 

Sometimes the Lord wants us to participate in and mature in human suffering. "Pain is part of human life. Do not avoid it, minimise its significance, or talk about it in such a trivial way!" As weak and fragile people we lose those moments to immaturity! We tend to defend ourselves vigorously and 'miss the boat' ~ ie the "boat of maturity and self control, of the capacity to be quiet and to suffer with dignity in silence".

In the mysterious school of the Cross, God did not explain it but welcomed it in Jesus. "Jesus invites us to look at Him, to ask Him for faith and love, that our heart will not lose hope, and after the darkness of Good Friday we will know how to capture in our own lives the radiant light of Easter morning! ... In Him pain and death are defeated!"

So, it's the Cross to maturity that I need to ride on during this Lent... Jesus help me learn from this Cross and allow it to bring me to the light of the Resurrection. Amen!

Teilhard de Chardin's Prayer

Patient Trust

Above all, trust in the slow work of God.
We are quite naturally impatient in everything
     to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something
     unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of all progress
     that it is made by passing through
     some stages of instability—
     and that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you;
     your ideas mature gradually—let them grow,
     let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don’t try to force them on,
     as though you could be today what time
     (that is to say, grace and circumstances
     acting on your own good will)
     will make of you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new spirit
     gradually forming within you will be.
Give Our Lord the benefit of believing
     that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
     in suspense and incomplete.

—Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ

Japan

There is no one to blame here.. only ourselves for messing around with the natural process of nature. Japan, my heart goes out to you ~ we all worldwide, contributed to the disaster you're facing now. All that can now be done is to pray for you all that God's mercy will prevail and that you will overcome.

A sense of helplessness prevails for us who can't actually do anything concrete but Japan we are with you in this... know that we keep you close in our hearts and prayers.

We thank God for the people who are there helping in the many ways and for those who have suffered in aiding them we keep them in our prayers too... what more can we do??

Dear God,

In your mercy,

be with your people

who suffer from the repercussions

of humankind's abuse of the earth. 

Sustain them,

in this time of pain

and in their search for meaning through it all. 

Give the helpers a tenacity

that seeks to find those caught 

in a voiceless call for help.

Sustain those who have only

pain and agony as their bread,

and bring them to the end of the tunnel

where your light shines through...

Loving Father, 

be with your people who cry

with hearts that are deadened with sorrow.

Cover them with your Spirit 

that they may be 'safe' in love.

Jesus, you who cried for those suffered

and forgave those who crucified you,

stay close to your people in Japan who

need your presence so intensely now.

Stay close as your Mother stayed with you

at the foot of the Cross.

Mother of Love at the foot of the Cross,

You know the pain of suffering,

of watching your Beloved crying and dying,

of being helpless at the foot of the Cross.

Mother, intercede for these people...

IT Show's in town!

IT show! I like those shows with the multitude displays of technology! I don't claim to be tech savvy but I can say that I'm the 'one eyed in the land of the blind', at least where technology is concerned.

So, despite a busy weekend, I managed find some time after Mass on Sunday to go for the show but.. couldn't find company to go with.  I was disappointed as I don't like going to such places alone but I wasn't going to miss this one and I did have a couple of small things I wanted.

So, Sunday morning, after mass, as I was walking back to the convent, I said to God.. "why won't you give me someone to go to the IT show with!!".  God responded "you didn't ask me, though you asked a number of other people!". Oh! So, there and then I asked God, "please send me someone to go to the IT show with". 

When I reached the convent, I found that there were 3 calls and a message on my mobile!! It was my nephew asking me to call my cousin who had called to say he would go to the IT show with me! God sure worked fast!! I was totally delighted and this was my cousin who refused to go for Mass!! I told him when we met that he had actually responded to God's call to him to accompany me! He wasn't too happy about that but simply brushed it aside...

We went... taking 2 short train rides and walking quite a bit... The IT show was crowded but it was manageable. I got what I wanted and as we shoved and pushed our way around my cousin, who claimed that he was just accommodating my request bought a number of large and heavy items!! We left within a couple of hours as the crowds were getting chaotic! I ended up carrying a large and heavy bag for my cousin as he was carrying an equally heavy and bulky bag!... again the journey home was ~ two train rides and a walk.

So... what did I learn from that.. that God has a real sense of 'humour'. This was, of course, at the expense of my 'need'. I got my company but I also got to carry the heavy bag and realized that in fact, God sent me to help my cousin carry stuff  he bought! A comic irony indeed! Trust God to play a trick like that! God's ways, to say the least, is amazingly unfathomable and totally unexpected :)) and basically, I do love God that way. Pax!

Karl Rahner's thoughts on Faith

Karl Rahner on the ‘veil of faith’.

        Have you ever kept silent, despite the urge to defend yourself when you were unfairly treated?

        Have you ever forgiven another although you gained nothing by it and your forgiveness was accepted as quite natural?

        Have you ever made a sacrifice without receiving any thanks or acknowledgement, without even feeling any inward satisfaction?  Have you ever decided to do a thing simply for the sake of conscience, knowing that you must bear sole responsibility for your decision without being able to explain it to anyone?

        Have you ever tried to act purely for love of God when no warmth sustained you, when your act seemed like a leap in the dark, simply nonsensical?

        Have you ever been good to someone without expecting a trace of gratitude and without the comfortable feeling of having been ‘unselfish’? 

  If you have had such experiences, Rahner asserts, then you have experienced God, perhaps without even realizing it. 

Extract from "Against An Infinite Horizon" by Ronald Rolheiser, OMI

A Corinthian lesson...

At Bible class last evening...

It struck me that when Paul chided the Christian Corinthians for their fractions "I am for Apollos, I am for Cephas..." the Corinthians in all their prosperity and culture, were looking for wisdom [and entertainment] in good speeches, rhetoric and philosophy [cos' they had no internet or television, of course!].

Paul asked... "Is Christ divided??" Is there more than one Christ who died on the Cross?!

Are we divided today as Catholic Christians? I am for Fr...??/ Bro??/ Mr??/Ms??/ Sr..?? cos they're better speakers? better actors? better dressed??? look holier??  What are we looking for?

Paul exhorts that only 'infants' cry.. "I am for Apollos, I am for Cephas..." Christian adults know that the only wisdom is that of Christ ~  Christ Crucified! ~ The wisdom of the Cross! [which leads to the resurrection]. This is the wisdom that needs to be proclaimed as a united people. [Evil divides!] There can be no other way to evangelize... spread the Good News!, Paul reiterates that this can only be done through the Holy Spirit which we have in fact received at Baptism! [but lying dormant??]

So.. today, does our 'wisdom' come from the Church as the Body of Christ or from society? from fame? from technology? Do we as Christians 'judge' the Church with the eyes of the world? [as in "why should the church tell me what to wear!"] or  Can we look at the world with the eyes of the Church?? [as in, we dress as children of God... with decency!]

The only wisdom of Christ is that of the Cross! This wisdom can only be given by the Holy Spirit!

Do I seek true wisdom as a Christian or do I seek the 'wisdom' of the world?

"God Flip!"

It was the much in Magdalene that Jesus loved.

For, as Mark says, 

     "He was too much for them"

Like a woman who loves too much

like an ointment that costs too much

and is spilled too much, 

like a seventy times seven God

who forgives too much, 

like a seed that grows too much

and yields thirty,

   sixty

   a hundredfold.

     ~ John Shea, The Indiscriminate Host

When Christ said: "Forgive them for they know not what they do, ". He was speaking of an ignorance that excuses sin. Most of the time when we sin ~ we do know what we are doing, but we don't know how much God loves us ~ hence we are still innocent through ignorance.

         Karl Rahner, Prayers for a lifetime


My current favourite quotes... 
So... what is "too much"?  ;-)

24 years...

Today, I celebrate my 24th Anniversary as a Religious Sister... It's been a long and really wonderful journey with God who is always faithful even when I have 'strayed'.

Today, I'm happy just remembering that I've 'reached' thus far and am delighted to honestly and sincerely say... "I thank my God" for the gift of my vocation and I am truly happy in this life.

I am grateful to God for gifting me with the charism of St Magdalen of Canossa since my school days.  My thanksgiving inherently includes...

• my immediate and extended family who have always been so loving and supportive.
• my Sisters who have at times, seemed to have made my life a living hell but have ultimately taught me invaluable lessons of life.
• the friends [including prisoners] I have found in my ministry of sharing the faith, who have constantly encouraged me and given me the impetus to carry on with love.
• the small circle of my teenage years friends who still keep in touch and keep me young at heart :).
• the 'angels' who have always been available when I needed a listening ear.
• and to my Sisters in community now, who continue to love and support me through it all...

I want to say... "Deo Gracias" because each one of you, have been the 'Incarnation' ~ God, in skin... for me! 
May God bless each one with an abundance of continued wisdom and a life that is filled to overflowing with the joy and love of God! Pax!

The Teacher...

I really like teaching... especially teaching Scripture and Theology and mostly the feedback I get is positive,  but some days I wonder... am I giving my best? What is my best? This happens particularly when I don't think what[ever] I'm teaching isn't getting across to my 'audience'.  

My next question then is... Where's God in all this? God's supposed to make things good! Yet, why do I feel that my teaching's fallen flat in some way? Is is me? Am I losing my 'skill'?

Then... after some pondering [nothing close to our Blessed Mother's pondering, but] I remember what I am foundationally teaching!  What is that? It is my faith, my intrinsic relationship with God that comes from my deepest belief [most of the time], roots that tell me that God is in charge of all I do!! So I give of my best in preparation, as far as is humanly possible, and I believe that God takes over the actual teaching and mostly it all makes sense. Ultimately... God is THE TEACHER!

Thus, this is God teaching me again... I am a frail human who has a failing memory :)) and God reminds me that nothing is a failure in God's hands.  I fail myself when I forget that and just need to be reminded that it's God's work and God's teachings... I am merely an instrument, a mouth-piece and the end result is to give God all glory and that can take any form as long as I am focused and obedient to God's hand.

So, once again, am back on track and I thank God for this gentle reminder and continue on the journey with a grateful heart that continues to seek God in everyday life and in the people I meet and touch. I thank God for wonderful 'happenings' and for the love I experience daily, inspite and despite my frailty, God is ever faithful and loving. 

Thank you all Holy and Precious Trinity!

Bakhita !!!!

Today we celebrate with the Church the memory of a wonderful woman, child of God and a truly humble saint!

We, especially us, Canossians are blessed by her life and example... blessed and  humbled. It's not an easy path to imitate her but her love and humility which led her, like our Blessed Mother, to the foot of the Cross which is THE path for us... that is our Charism. So, we are grateful to God and the Church for giving us Bakhita as our special and precious saint. She is our model for us to walk the path of loving kindness and humility in the world that we live in ~ today, now and as a vision for the future.

As we celebrate this feast of St Josephine Bakhita with grateful hearts, we ask for prayers for the grace to live our Charism as she did. We who have been blessed and chosen to be Canossians, pray for the grace to walk in the path that God has gifted us with, to walk with faith, with hope and especially with forgiveness and humility as did Bakhita!

My theme song..."Five Loaves and Two Fishes"

Thank you and God bless you Corrine May for this beautiful and inspiring song...! Pax!

Recollection...my Five loaves and Two Fishes

My day of recollection this year brings to mind my liaision with the "5 loaves and 2 fishes' ~ the experiences of my Mt Tabor Sabbatical last year.  It was there that I was totally elated and even humbled when I 'saw' that Jesus had changed my little offering into food for 5 thousand men [not counting women and children!]. The elation [consolation?] has lasted for some months...

At this point, I am beginning to realise that my contribution is still strictly only '5 loaves and 2 fishes'. Did  I think that it was my giving that caused the multiplication?? Did I expect more in return?? Did my pride inflate? Yes, Yes and Yes! But... God said no... very gently, but clearly and firmly! The multiplication is not mine to claim, to covert, it belongs to God!  That [reality] is hard to accept! My finite being expects, perhaps even demands that God gives me the extras and magnify my contribution! And, that's where I fall on my face, bruise myself and border on self-pity! 

Fall I did but God, ever gracious and patient, holds me up, reminds me that the '5 loaves and 2 fishes' I gave are still my gift and that it's not to be taken for granted.  I can still claim them and as such, still surrender them to God if I choose to.
So, that's the invitation now, a hard choice but honestly, it's one that I will choose to make ~ a choice that comes with greater awareness and less demands and expectations. I now make a choice that has no strings attached because I know with my head and my heart too now that even the '5 loaves and 2 fishes' are not mine to hold and keep.  I need to surrender all and know that in God's hands it is going to feed all who seek God.  I too will be fed with perhaps 'food' that I never dreamed of, but with food that will nourish not only my body but especially that of my spirit... and that food is priceless.
So, I have been 'educated' further into the ways of God. The Holy Spirit lit my journey and I am called once again, to offer my meager self in trust and freedom.  I am again called to let go of my rights and wrongs, my rational expectations and to choose the narrow path that leads to the Lord of Light.
May our loving Mother whose FIAT showed us the way, continue to intercede for this journey.

It's 2011

Another year... it's begun quite eventfully with the Golden and Silver Jubilees of our Sisters celebrated on the 2nd of January.
Gosh... mine's next year!!

25 years of my life as a Religious Sister has passed like mostly like the breeze [at times like a fragrant rose and at times like a tempest!] that constantly blows.

I have absolutely no regrets about responding to the call to Religious life. God has been utterly wonderful and in the light of the 'infidelities' of today's culture...especially faithful.

I am filled with gratitude to God for the gift of my vocation and all I seek to do is to listen and obey the voice of God from especially from within my heart.

Listening to God's voice from within calls for fidelity from me... fidelity to my quiet time with God Alone and to holy discernment, particularly at 'crossroads'. I have not always been faithful and consequently, I have had to ride the high tide of fiery, desperate and even depressing moments of feeling lost and alone.

In and through all this, God has never left me alone as I was always led to 'seek and find'. There would always be 'God in skin' to show me the light that led me home. Home to God and to my community, to those who patiently waited to lift me and shower me with loving care.

This is the ultimate gift that is given... basically to all, 'all people of goodwill' because God is Abba in the most loving way! This is the gift of Mary's 'Fiat' ~ that is our call, a call that leads to the conception of Jesus deep within each one of us! Christians who are called to eventually to birth and thus proclaim the love of Christ to one and all!

Yes, the year has begun... Chinese New Year is round the corner... another reminder of the call to 'go out and proclaim the Good News!'

Shalom!