“Sister Rose” (name changed for privacy purposes) never expected to hear a call to the religious life, and even less the call to a cloistered life. But like our Marian Fathers, Sister shares a profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and credits much of her call to enter the religious life to Our Lady. After her husband’s death in 2018, and shortly after her children left home for college, Sr. Rose felt called to do something meaningful with her time after work. With the help of Our Lady, she found herself enlisting in the Legion of Mary and joining the Secular Order of the Discalced Carmelites (OCDS). Sister Rose would spend her weekends going door to door evangelizing, visiting the convalescent homes or praying in front of the local abortion center. Her connections in the Legion of Mary led her to her local parish, where she eventually signed up as a nightly adorer. On every first Friday and Saturday, she would finish her work as a designer at a high-tech company, head straight to Eucharistic Adoration, and not leave until after Mass the next morning. “I was there so much that Father could have charged me rent!” she laughs. Keep trying During the countless hours she spent in Adoration, Sr. Rose specifically remembers praying for an end to abortion and for her vocation. Her spiritual director encouraged Sister to reach out to different convents in hopes of fitting in somewhere as a “late” vocation. Patience and perseverance were required. Sister either didn’t get a response or was beyond the age limit. She wanted to give up, but her spiritual director encouraged her to keep trying. She continued her search. Her prayers were answered during a “Come-and-See” weekend retreat at a convent that was coincidentally hosting a Fatima pilgrimage. The prioress and chapter took it as a sign of the beginning of her vocation. “I felt as though Our Lady was at my back, guiding my every step,” Sister recalls. “How loved and blessed I was to have Our Lady so close.” Sister Rose had finally found her home, in a cloistered convent in middle America. “God has poured His grace out upon me, and this is a blessing beyond belief.” Vow of poverty A condition on entering religious life is to relinquish all of your material goods, honoring the vow of poverty. Accordingly, before entering the convent, Sr. Rose gave all of her savings to the Marian Fathers and other missionary organizations in thanksgiving to Our Lady for her intercession for her vocation. Her donation is now a Donor Advised Fund, so it will continue to assist the Marian Fathers and their mission. “I lovingly support the Marian Fathers with what I have been given,” Sr. Rose says. “I praise God and thank Him for allowing me to participate financially in spreading His Word and His apostolic work for the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven.” Sister Rose asks only one small thing in return: “Please pray for me to persevere in my vocation.” We certainly will, Sr. Rose! Your support, like Sister’s, is vital to further our evangelization efforts! Visit Giving.Marian.org to discover the many ways you, too, can help the Marian Fathers. Not many religious sisters have experienced the joys of falling in love, getting married, and raising a family. However, I had the pleasure of hearing from one who has. GIVING ALL TO MARY oUtstAndinG Helpers Jacqueline (Jacqui) Kennedy is a Donor Relations Officer for the Marian Fathers. You may reach her at (413) 298-1390; [email protected]; or Association of Marian Helpers, Stockbridge, MA 01263. Visit Giving.Marian.org to learn more. Marian Helper • SuMMer 2024 • Marian.org 31
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