Sr. Shanti

MY VOCATION STORY



You wont believe it if I said that I never dreamt of becoming a nun more so a Canossian when growing up. I am now in my 8th year in the convent from the time I began my journey..how time flies., I cannot believe it myself at times!!Why a nun and why a Canossian, you might ask. I grew up a Canossian I guess…Why, because ever since I was young I knew the Canossian sisters and my mum is a Lay Canossian. So we always had articles or something in connection with the Cannossian lying around the house. I knew them but did not want to know more than that!!

I must say big gratitude to Sr Retta because if she had not challenged me then I would not be where I am today. I was single, available and enjoying all the trimmings the world could offer. I had very good job, a car, a lifestyle that would be very girls dream but yet there was always something missing. I could never pin point it anyway until Sr Retta brought to light that I wanted more out of my life. I wanted a Spiritual experience, an intimate relationship with God. I was missing that.

It was not an easy decision telling my family, being the only girl and youngest really did not help the situation either. I took a lot of courage. I know I hurt my mum the most surprisingly even though she was a Lay Canossian. I think it was the hardest for her. Dad was more acceptable even though it was he who gave me the best education anyone could ask for!!. I had everything in my life!!..well at least I thought so.

As I look back I am indeed very grateful to my family. It is not I who did the sacrifice its definitely them. To sacrifice me after giving everything they could give to their only daughter and sister was something BIG. I thank them for that.

It has been a very interesting, exhilarating and remarkable experience indeed. I am not saying that everything is a ROSE garden. You will find a thorn or two along the way but I always tell myself that I came here on my own free will and I will stay on my own free will. God has been great. He has been a very faithful, supportive and strengthening figure in my life. I could have not reach so far without Him!! Thus far he has been with me and I know he will continue His journey with me. I am after all an UNFINISHED PRODUCT….He is the POTTER I AM THE CLAY….

Love

Sr Shanti A Mariadass

Sr. Agnes Norris

Sr Agnes writes: ‘it was the Lord who arranged everything…..’

She was initially a pupil of the Infant Jesus Convent in Victoria Street but was transferred to St Anthony’s Convent School, Middle Road as Agnes’ mother was a close collaborator of the Canossian Sisters in catechism teaching, home and hospital visitation .

It all began with Mother Christine Rozario, a Sister-in-charge of the Boarders at St Anthony’s Convent. She invited Agnes and Helen Fernandez, while waiting for their Senior Cambridge results, for a holiday at the Sisters’ Changi seaside residence together with the boarders and some Sisters.
At the seaside, Sr Christine casually asked Agnes ‘what do you want to be?’
Taken by surprise, Agnes replied that ‘I would like to be a Mother like you’. (in those days, the Sisters were called ‘Mothers’).

Her reply to be a religious received a quick response from the Mother Delegate of Singapore-Malaysia, Mother Victoria Garre. She informed Agnes’ mother of her religious vocation. Later Agnes confirmed with her parents the call to serve the Lord as a religious sister. They were very supportive of her vocation as Agnes’ brother had been a priest ahead of her. He was Fr Lionel Norris.

Agnes began her formation as a religious in Hong Kong in 1937. After her first profession on 1 January 1939 she returned to Singapore as a teacher. Had her final vows in Melaka, 1 January 1944. She was then posted to Segamat and remained
a resident in Malaysia till this day except for a short return to Singapore for a short period.

Sr Agnes says: I am thankful and grateful to our heavenly Father for choosing me to be the ‘spouse of Jesus’ His Son who has kept me in this Canossian Religious Order for more than 60 years.

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Sr Agnes is 92 now - still agile, humorous, continues to serve the community in household chores in spite of her age. Her hobbies are gardening and card-making.

Praise the Lord indeed for the gift of Sr Agnes Norris as a Canossian.

Sr. Gerry and her call

Vocation Story


(Sr. Gerry on the right)

God indeed is the designer of one’s life.

How of personal vocation:
Was supposed to be in a Chinese school. A neighbour, teaching in the Canossian KG registered me in the KG with my parents’ consent. Thus began my 11 years of education in the Canossian Convent Primary and Secondary Schools.
It was the beginning of my faith development in Christianity through bible knowledge, prayers at school assemblies, weekly catechism classes and visits to the school chapel during recess with my catholic friends.

Who, why and what of personal vocation
Sisters’ enthusiasm and passion in their Ministries of Charity especially to the poor greatly impressed me.
Visibly seen and experienced were their
* Care for the needy (students, families) regardless of race and religion
* involvement in weekly parish faith education and formation to youth
* regular home and hospital visitation.
* Humble attitude and simplicity
* Kindness, their being religious, their humour, their presence as a community in prayer and at work speak much of who they are to people around them.
.
The Sisters who greatly inspired vocations through their ministries and personhood –
Srs Elvira Forbice, Dorothy STa Maria, Lucy Lau, Joy Shelley, Angelica D’Piazza and Teresina Rajaratnam.


When of personal vocation
There were a lot of encouragement and constant care for ‘aspiring’ candidates to the Canossian way of life. Invited to a vocation exhibition and get-together in Singapore. Met Sr Agnes Liew who was then a postulant. Follow-up by Srs Joy Shelley and Elvira.

Went to the Juniorate at St Anthony’s Convent, Singapore as an aspirant after 2 years of temporary teaching in Segamat and Kluang.

Entered postulancy on 15 September 1969, novitiate for 2 years;
lst profession to the religious life in Singapore, May 1972; perpetual vows in Melaka Convent, July 1980.
All with God’s grace and love.


(Sr Geraldine Tan)

I Chose you

An invitation to share my story with all people of our time – the story of God’s great love – this is inline with the theme of the 14th General Chapter of the Canossian Institute to which I belong. Indeed, it is through my own little stories from time to time that I have made known Jesus more and more to persons in my case – giving ministry since my baptism at 20. God grows to be much, much more than … through His faithfulness and boundless loving kindness.

CALL
As I re-read my life… The God of my childhood… though I was an unbaptised Methodist, the songs that I like “I will make you fishers of men if you follow me” (Sunday school). Jesus lives me, this I know (my mother’s favourite lullaby) are significant to me. Five of my elder siblings were baptised as infants while my younger brother and I were left unbaptised. The migration into the Catholic Church took place when I was 10. My favourite hymn was “I will go up to the altar of my God – the joy of my youth”. After my Form 5 results were out, I was led to India for study in Providence College. 10 years of a growing desire for baptism and Communion saw the dawn of the day 19th March 1976, when I became a daughter of God in Coonoor, India – away from family but in the midst of hostel friends and a brand new godmother. Amid a busy life of questions, study and weekend leisure in the hill resort, the call became loud and clear, “Will you give me your life forever and for others?” The call to seek His kingdom and enter His “university” attracted me when I encountered the different forms of poverty of others, shared my blessings and experienced the meaning of giftedness of self and others.

RESPONSE
I encountered Abba’s love for me as greater than my own father’s and mother’s. The redeeming Love of Jesus and comforting presence of the spirit became active experience in my life. In my vulnerability and joy I responded to His proposal – He called me, singled me out and Himself offered the honour of His love – my first Love. Other human (attractive proposals!) followed but His captivated me enough to withstand the strong objection of my father who was utterly disappointed as he had great plans for my future.

Human encounters / experiences of joy, sorrow on my road of life, left me in wonder…how much, much more the Father must be!

3 years later, my “YES” to Religious life led me to the Canossian Convent in 1981. I received my father’s fullest blessings and my family was convinced of my calling during the 3 years home / family formation and presence to mum & pa very specially. To day, my family is an ecumenical witness!

MISSION
These 25 years have unfolded Abba’s will for me an ever present Father – watching, leading, providing, comforting, correcting, disciplining, delivering, sheltering, refuting, nourishing – so tender and compassionate. My father had initiated me into the Catholic Church but at one to me I had to share it with his as he went through a faith crisis. What an experience of family sorrow! But only 4 months later, he proudly proclaimed the experience as a miracle – “I have come to know and love the one above!”

Then came a time of accompanying him through his struggle with renal failure and kidney dialysis. He yearned for physical healing but surrendered to spiritual healing – he had a beatific vision 7 weeks before death and I had a privileged conversation with him as I witnessed his total surrender, gratitude and joy at the end of the journey i.e. 2 days before death and his countenance of radiance 3 hours after death! Such affirmation of Abba being so close to us!

Then a few years ago, during my personal trial and suffering I felt sheltered and carried in His very heart and a new ministry unfolded.

My present apostolate together with another 2 Canossian Sisters – is our joint collaboration with the Gabrielite Brothers of Montfort Boys Town. In August 2002, we began the Montfort Girls Centre in Montfort Boys Town for 11 girls – providing residential care for teenagers (age 16 – 19). At present we have 20 girls from underprivileged family background who pursue a 2 year course on graphic design & multimedia. We Sisters provided administrative, pastoral and nursing care. There were 60 girls when I left Montfort. Now my present ministry is at ASAYO (Archdiocesan Single Adults and Youth Office), Parish visits and CHOICE, Communion minister to the homebound and parish.

To abide in you forever
To make you known and loved!

By
Sr. Yvonne Francis, FdCC

My Vocation Story

“You did not choose me, but I chose you.” Jn 15:16

I come from a Catholic family of two brothers and two sisters, I being the second youngest in the family. As was the practice among Catholics in Melaka, all of us children, except my older sister, were sent to Catholic Mission schools. And so, from aged seven, I was enrolled in Sacred Heart Canossian Convent School, Malacca. I grew up as a normal teenager, with the energy and interests of young people. So in school, I took part in the many activities, from being a member of the Crusaders, the Legion of Mary, and I enjoyed sports like badminton, netball and athletics

I was at that age very interested in Bible Knowledge which was taught in school as a Cambridge paper, and also in faith formation or Catechism, in preparation for my first Holy Communion and Confirmation. I remember listening with a keen mind and heart to the stories of the New Testament and to the stories of my Catholic faith, drinking in every word. This keen interest was to continue as I grew up, and it helped me come to know about Jesus and his love for us. I have always found reading and listening to the ‘Word of God’ a fascinating experience, and the Word would continue to touch and form me through the ups and downs of life.

A further grace of God paved the way that God would continue to show me, through the preached missions in my parish, and most of all through the retreat for school leavers in my school. It was at this particular retreat that Jesus called me to follow him – one evening when I was at prayer alone in the Convent chapel I felt the attraction of Jesus, inviting me to the religious consecration. The Sisters of my school encouraged me especially Rev. Mother Franguelli, to think seriously of this call. It would mean leaving behind family and everything else. But Jesus’ words “I have called you by name, you are mine” Jer. 29:3, continued to attract me.

After I had completed my Form five studies, and spending one year in the ‘aspirandato’ in Singapore, for those searching and discerning their call, I was given the invitation to join the Postulancy, the first stage of the two years religious training for Canossian novices. I was just barely eighteen, but in those days, in the 60s, girls were encouraged to enter young to safeguard their call to follow Jesus. Although I was still very inexperienced especially in the things of the world, I felt ready, spiritually and emotionally, to leave all and just say ‘yes’.

When I asked my parents for their blessing, they did not object, although my Mum was very sad to let me go. Somehow the Lord at this point, would ask me to have faith in him, that he would give a hundredfold, not only to the one who left all to follow him, but also to the family we leave behind, for their sacrifice in letting go.

Looking back now, after more than forty years in religious life, I see the marvels of the Lord, how he planned the journey and mission of each of his spouses, with so much love and care. “I know the plans I have for you – plans to give you a future with hope” Jer. 29:11. It is only in having trust in God, answering the personal call of my Lord Jesus, and placing the love of God above all, that I feel fulfilled in my purpose-driven life.

God uses us “to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere like a sweet perfume.” 2 Cor 2:14.

Blessed be the Lord now and always!

By Sr Esther Thomazios, fdcc

I Said my "YES"

Psalm 139 v 13-14 :
truly you have formed my innermost being , you knit me in my mother’s womb.

I give you thanks that I am fearfully wonderfully made, wonderful are your works.
Inspired by these words, I would like to share a few lines on how the GOD OF SURPRISES called me to be HIS Instrument of love.

The God of the Impossible always has His Way and His Plan for each one of us. I was staying far from the Church and did not know any religious. Still, God sent numerous people to help me during the course of my searching to discover and to have the courage to respond to HIM wholeheartedly .

First ,there was a committed catechist. Be it shine or rain ,he came to our small unknown village- Bertam Ulu , faithfully to teach us ( about 15 of us teenagers ). He travelled from Air Salak on his motorcycle and prepared us for the Sacrament of Confirmation . Before the Confirmation day, he urged us to pray hard to the Holy Spirit for the gifts . Then after the Confirmation classes, he lit the spark of vocation in me by giving me the Chinese “Herald” to read. I could feel the stirring interest growing inside me and I felt this could perhaps be what I had been searching for. So , I “ shopped” around the Chinese speaking Orders to find out more. When I voiced my interest for the religious life to my mum, she was strongly against it. I knew there would be obstacles but that did not stop me from entrusting myself to the Lord. I prayed that His will be done.

Later, while I was teaching in a Kindergarten in Plentong , Johor, I met more English speaking Sisters. Aware of my inadequacy in English, I tried to avoid them and ignore the inner prompting of the Lord . But the Lord knew what was best for me and how to get me. It was through an outing with some friends in Desaru seaside that the Lord showed me who He really was. On that trip, the Lord saved me from two major accidents. He caught hold of my hand when I called out to Him just as I was about to drown. He saved me a second time on the return journey. I was supposed to be in the car that went down the cliff but because of His divine intervention, I was asked to move to another car. I was trembling with great fear after the whole event.. That evening , during Mass I simply promised the Lord not to run away from His calling anymore.

As I surrendered to Jesus, another great challenge hit me when the Apostolate Nuncio ,then in 1987, came for his Apostolate Visit to Johor Bahru and had a meeting in Plentong .Without knowing me well, he challenged me to be more proficient in English. From that time on, he constantly supported me in my vocation journey.

I was introduced to the Canossian Sisters in Singapore. My first meeting with the Canossian Sister, Sr. Christina Yeo was in his Apostolate Apartment, Singapore. Then we met in Serangoon – Joyville ,almost every weekend. As time went by, I decided to experience the different kinds of work in their ministry. So I was assigned to be an assistant nurse in St. Joseph’s Home in Jurong. Having to take care of cancer patients really broadened my perspective of life and moulded me ever deeper about the meaning of life. I had a totally different experience of the old and the sick and with those innocent small children .I was touched by the authentic pastoral witness of the Sisters. They serve others with so much patience, love, gentleness , kindness and great sacrificing spirit .

Deep down in my heart , I felt the Lord was calling me to follow Him more closely and to serve Him wholeheartedly in the Canossian Spirit . With the firm encouragement of the Apostolate Nuncio and the grace of God, I humbly responded to His call in 1994. The Lord has blessed me with a few companions on the journey in Postulancy and Noviatiate in Singapore .

I put all my trust in the Lord that He will keep his promises just like in

(insert pictures 1,2,3 at this side)

JEREMIAH 33v14- .
“ I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah.”
ISAIAH 38 v-“ The Lord will do what he has promised” .

With the help of Mother Mary ,I said my first “ Yes” on 1 January 1998.
The love of God has never left me even in the most sorrowful and doubtful moments. He continues to sustain me with His graces , blessings and gives HIMSELF freely in the EUCHARIST and THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.

He invites ,challenges and demands me to give the best in the ministry ,to witness to His great love through teaching, catechizing, visiting, breaking the Bread of Life-His Holy Word. I share the deep desire of our Founder St. Magdalene who said “ Prevention is better than cure” . and so I serve the little ones by educating them, forming them and moulding their characters to be fully alive according to the famous words of John Power S.J , I feel enthusiastic about working with the youths and to help them know themselves better and to keep their priorities right. I find it a challenge to understand the culture of the youths and to accept them and to journey with them in faith.

I am looking forward to better myself by constant learning, reflecting and to be open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that I can serve the Lord even more generously, faithfully and joyfully.

Sr. Lucy Eng, FdCC

Sacred Heart Convent

Melaka