“If I had a hundred lives, o Lord I would give all to you” says our Co-foundress Sr Thecla Merlo. The Content of this sentence is key in the present moment of my life, and has been fundamental in my journey. With this deep desire and wish, I would like to begin this thanksgiving for my 25 years of religious consecration for the grace of perseverance. On 30th June 1999 I responded with a strong YES” to Jesus Divine Master during my first profession at our convent in the Divine Master Hall Westlands. Looking back at the last 25 years of consecrated life it has been a journey of faith, discovery and wonder at God’s merciful love and unwavering fidelity to me.
I give thanks to God for the gift of call to religious life; that experience of feeling being looked at and invited to follow Jesus and give myself to my brethren, to be the expression of God’s love for humanity is an immense experience. I thank the Lord, because from that day, from that first invitation to his fidelity, his love, his care, and tender gestures through persons that have accompanied my journey has never failed me. I thank him, because side by side with his fidelity there was the trust that he put in me, Jesus trusted me in spite of my frailties and I remain ever grateful that he counted on me.
The centrality of any jubilee celebration is not the individual’s achievement but rather a grateful celebration of God’s gratuitous call and His constant accompaniment in one’s life. This 25th anniversary isn’t so much about me…my vocation, my call, my life of service. Certainly this is a part of it, but not the main part. What we are celebrating is Him the Master, His call, His faithfulness, His mercy, which from my experience has been the anchor of my religious life and the magnet that has kept me closely attached to God. I can only pray in the silence of my soul, “To You, Lord, be the honor and glory forever and ever.”
Recalling God’s wonder is not an easy task. One needs a disposition to open up for the graces of God. Yes… as St. Paul says ” My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor12:9) these years have been like a flash of light, a stunning moment of grace in time for which I am grateful. My journey with Christ has been constant and I pray that my relationship with him continues to grows deeper and wider. My pauline vocation constantly reminds me of the purpose for which I am called. For the past 24 years, I have been a missionary outside my country Kenya. During these years I encountered numerous people along the way who have shared God’s merciful love and led me to his altar to complete 25 years of fruitful service in the vineyard of the Lord. I treasure all those people who have touched my life with their faith and love and allowed me to do the same. It’s a joy to remember fondly with gratitude my formators, superiors and sisters in various communities with whom I lived and shared life and mission. I am grateful for the faith amid the challenges and chaos which enabled me to look forward, strengthened by the words of the prophet Jeremiah in (Jer 29:11) “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope”.
I can never thank enough the precious people he has placed in my life, my parents, sisters, brother, friends and parishioners who have made a difference and helped me grow and remain in God’s Love.
I am grateful to our Institute the Daughters of St. Paul, through which the Lord called me and in which I continue to serve him. I thank those who, even without knowing, have challenged me positively. I cannot forget to thank those who trusted me and commended me tasks that I felt were more than my capacities and even my strengths, because it was there that I experienced concretely the words of the apostle Paul, “there is nothing I cannot do in the One who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13).
I wind up my gratitude convinced that the words of St Paul to the Romans (Rom 8:35)”What will separate us from the love of Christ”, remain alive in me as I once again renew my consecration to Jesus the Divine Master, through the intercession of Mary Queen of the Apostles and of St. Paul the Apostle.
Thank you all for journeying with me.