Vocation Stories

Our community is founded on the ideals of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi and their followers – ideals we believe are as precious now as they have ever been.  As a faith-filled community rooted in contemplation and Gospel values, we strive to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to all we meet and especially to those who suffer from poverty and oppression.

Please view our vocations story below.

Our website can be viewed by clicking here.

“Our heart, our soul is too big to be happy with things which end. Only God can make us happy—only serving God, loving God alone, sacrificing ourselves for Him. Then one is always happy. Let us unite ourselves intimately to God and we will be happy any place, with anyone, in any work” (Ven. Mother Thecla Merlo, Co-Foundress of the Daughters of St. Paul).

 Each of us has a longing in our heart that only God can fill. Our vocation is the way that God wants to fill our hearts. It is the way that God invites us to pursue only Him and His love, and it is the way that we will most effectively witness to that love. As a newly professed Sister with the Daughters of St. Paul, I am beginning a new phase of my vocation. But a beautiful journey of discernment and formation has led up to this moment.

 My vocation was born in my family. I am the oldest of twelve children, and I grew up in a small town in western New York. My parents often presented religious life to me and my brothers and sisters as an option to consider when we were thinking about what to be when we grew up. Because of this, religious life became a very normal thing to think about doing.

 There were no Sisters in my parish, so I learned about religious life mainly through reading the lives of the saints. I was attracted to religious life because something inside me wanted to give God everything. But at the same time, I wanted to live my own life. I planned on getting through high school, going to college, and starting a life before thinking about religious life.

 When I was in eighth grade, I went to a youth rally. A Daughter of St. Paul was the MC for the weekend. She gave a vocation talk and offered to send each of us a vocational magazine. I took her up on the offer, and when the magazine arrived, I did glance through it … before putting it on the shelf behind Pride and Prejudice.

 About a year later, I attended a vocation retreat held by my youth group. The retreat was held in memory of a young woman from the youth group who had always wanted to be a Sister but who had recently died in a car accident. At the end of the retreat, we were encouraged to write a note to a priest, brother, or sister, thanking them for their vocation and witness.

 I didn’t know who to write to. Then for some reason I remembered the Sister I had met at the youth rally. I didn’t remember her name or her community, but I wrote the note and when I got home I dug out the magazine. I mailed the letter … and she wrote back! We exchanged Christmas and Easter cards that year, and then she invited me to Boston for a summer program.

 The St. Paul Summer Program held by the Daughters of St. Paul is a week-long program for high school women interested in religious life. That week, we lived with the Sisters, prayed with them, ate with them, worked with them, and had classes and recreation with them. I felt very much at home that week, like I really belonged.

 What I remember most is the joy of the Sisters. I remember sitting in chapel and watching them pray. I could see on their faces that they were talking with the Person they loved most in the whole world—and this Person loved them profoundly. At a deep, unspoken level, I wanted that. During the daily Hour of Adoration, I began to discover the relationship that God wanted to have with me.

 As time went on, I continued visiting the Daughters, and I continued deepening my relationship with Jesus. I began going to Mass more often, praying with Scripture, and going to Eucharistic Adoration. In the context of that deepening relationship, I began to feel even more strongly the call to give everything to God.

 I also continued learning about the Daughters’ mission of spreading the Gospel using the media. What touched me about this mission was the aspect of communicating to each and every person the personal love of God for them. This, I felt, could be done through a book, through a radio program, through the Internet, through Facebook … as well as through my very life and everyday interactions with others.

 But how could I know that this was really where God wanted me? I wanted a sign! On one of my visits to the Daughters, I was praying with the Gospel story of Jesus walking on the water. When Peter asks, “Lord, is it you?” Jesus doesn’t say, “Yes, Peter, it is I, everything is okay.” He simply says, “Come.” I realized that Jesus was inviting me, like Peter, to get out of the boat and trust Him. He wasn’t calling me to be completely sure of everything; He was calling me to come.

 Shortly after that experience, I applied to enter the Daughters. I was accepted to the candidacy program, went to college for two years, and was planning on going for a third year. But when I was spending a month with the Daughters that summer, I attended the first profession of one of our Sisters. Witnessing her total gift of self renewed in me the desire to give all of myself to God. I felt God calling me not to wait. So I asked to enter the postulancy, the first stage of formation to become a Sister. (Our community does not have the requirement of college before entrance; if we don’t have a college degree upon entering, we complete our studies after profession.)

 I entered the postulancy in 2007 and moved to the novitiate, the second stage of formation, in 2010. I made my first profession of vows on January 28, 2012. Religious profession is a huge gift, and is meant to make my life a gift for others. This is my prayer as I continue on the daily adventure of following “only Jesus” (cf. Mk 9:8).

What God Wants for Me
By Marlyn Evangelina Monge, FSP

My name is Sr. Marlyn Evangelina Monge. I am from East Boston, a first generation American. My parents are from Costa Rica, and I was born shortly after they immigrated to the United States.  SrMarlynEvangelinaMonge_FSP 

Growing up, whenever I thought about religious life, I always pushed the idea aside saying to myself that I was not “good” enough to be a sister. In my home parish, Sacred Heart in East Boston, I helped out with the youth group as well as taught religious education—the first year of the two-year confirmation program. One night the class I was teaching was on vocations. I talked about the vocation to married life, to single life, and to religious life and/or the priesthood. I implored my students to not be afraid and to ask God what he wanted for them. I told them that God wants our total happiness and that they should then be willing to ask God what he wants for them and then do as God asks. I was hoping that sitting in my class there were future priests, brothers, and sisters. After class, one of the kids who was also in the youth group approached me and said, “I’m just wondering…do you ever walk the walk or do you just talk the talk? Have you ever asked God what he wants for you?” I was left with my mouth hanging open and I tried to deflect the question back onto him. But he had made his point, and I couldn’t help but think about what he said. I realized that I wasn’t practicing what I preached. With much fear and trepidation I began in my personal prayer to ask God what he wanted for me. At this time I was about 27 years old.

I later took a group to an archdiocesan middle school rally. During the Mass, Cardinal Law addressed us and asked everyone to bow their heads and close their eyes. He then asked that if we had ever had even a fleeting thought about religious life/priesthood to raise our hands. Slowly I raised my hand and instantly tears filled my eyes. I was “publicly” admitting the struggle in my heart (even though no one could see). The cardinal then invited all the women over 18 to a discernment day at the seminary. Sisters from many orders would be there to talk to. I chose to attend. From the group of women that attended the discernment day the archdiocese formed a discernment group called Fiat—a group of women in discernment as well as sisters from the archdiocese. I attended their monthly meetings.

At the discernment day I met Sr. Rebecca Hoffart, a Daughter of St. Paul, and we got the chance to talk a bit. I later attended a “Come and See” event at the Daughters of St. Paul, and then another, and then another. I visited other religious orders as well, but I always came back to the Daughters. I loved the community atmosphere, although I was unsure how my training and work as a teacher fit in with their charism of communication through the media. That was hard for me. I had entered the teaching field after much prayer, feeling that that was where God was leading me, so I couldn’t understand how now God could lead me where I wouldn’t be teaching.

I prayed a lot, visited other religious communities, and talked a lot to my spiritual director. In total I was in discernment for about 2 ½ to 3 years. With the Daughters of St. Paul I was in discernment for a little over one year before I entered. In December 2000, Sr. Carmen sent me something in the mail. She told me that she was going on a pilgrimage to Italy and that on December 31, 2000, the night between the centuries, she would be praying at the cathedral in Alba, just as Blessed James Alberione, the founder of the Daughters of St. Paul, had done exactly 100 years before. She told me that she would be praying for me and my continued discernment. She invited me to pray also on that night between the centuries. And so on December 31, I went to my parish (Sacred Heart in East Boston) to pray. The pastor gave me the key so that I could get into the church. I arrived at 11pm and stayed into 2001. It was during this time of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament that I recognized and accepted God’s invitation to take the next step in my discernment. I felt sure that God was asking me to apply. Four or five days later I sent Sr. Carmen an e-mail asking to begin the application process. I was admitted and entered the community on August 22, 2001. I made first profession on January 29, 2005.

I am currently stationed in our community of Miami, Florida, where I am studying philosophy and theology. I also help out in our Pauline Book & Media Center, our Spanish Distribution Center, and help to coordinate various events such as our monthly Paulinas Coffee House.

To anyone reading this who is discerning a religious vocation, I would like to say: Trust that God wants you to be happy. Sr. Carmen once said at a discernment retreat, “the will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.” When I heard those words I realized that if God was calling me to religious life then it would be God who would help me live life as a religious. And ever since taking those first steps of discernment, God has definitely showered me with his graces to live the joyful and difficult moments of religious life. The words found in all of our chapels affirm Jesus’ promise: “Do Not Fear. I Am With You.”

“As Missionary sisters of the Society of Mary we are called to follow Christ, giving ourselves unreservedly to Him in order to participate in His mission. Formation should enable us to bring our lives into harmony with this call in generosity and joy, while growing towards that fullness of Christ which the Father desires for us.”
(smsm Constitutions #189)

When you seek to enter the Marist Missionary Sisters, you are asking to participate in a particular way of life. Deepening your relationship with God, learning about religious missionary life, and understanding our charism. Our spirituality requires a discernment process, time and space to ask the questions in your heart.

 This is a story for all of God’s people.  It is a story to remind us that, more than any knowledge we may have acquired, the truest of pastoral care will happen in direct proportion to the degree of our consent to the work of God in our lives.

 When I made the decision to join a group of cloistered sisters, it meant leaving my job as chaplain, or so I thought.  Little did I know that for a number of months after leaving my position in pastoral care, I would be encountering an explosion of freely expressed raw emotions, everywhere I turned.

 The path I was now embarking on would prove to be one that would not only move the hearts of everyone I knew, but many people I didn’t know.  So much so, that I would have to delay my plans for a couple of months, so all those people would have the chance to ask what they needed to ask, and share what they needed to share.  There were many, many different emotions expressed, but what struck me the most, was the depth of love.  Hopefully, we all know that God is all around us, and that He loves us.  But as far as the depth of that love, we couldn’t possibly know.  Sit back, relax, and listen to this brief story of unbounded love.

 It was after spending a month at the Monastery of St. Clare, in Andover, MA, that my call to become Franciscan was confirmed.  God was calling me to become a Poor Clare.  A calling to become espoused to Christ was a reality that, for me, would take a long time, if not a lifetime, to absorb.

 After a month’s stay within the Monastery, the time had come to return home to family and friends.  It was time to inform them of my decision, or rather, my acceptance of a choice made by God.  The reactions I received were both intense and diverse.  People expressed feelings of great joy, sadness, excitement, fear, and even anger.  But there was one thing common to them all, and that was deeply felt and wonderfully expressed emotions.

 Prior to my announcement, if anyone had ever asked me if I felt loved, they would have received a resounding, “Yes.”  My family has had its share of hard times, but, on the whole, I come from a close and loving family.  I am also blessed in my ability to say, that when it comes to friends, I unquestionably have the very best.  My years working as a nurse and as a chaplain have been an attempt to give back for all I have received.

 However, there was nothing that could have prepared me for the awakening to love that was about to take place within me.  I use the term “awakening,” because that is exactly what happened.  Many of us walk around in what could almost be called a mummified or zombie type state of life.  Heaven surrounds us, yet we sleep.  No matter how aware we think we are, we haven’t but touched the tip of the iceberg, when it comes to awareness of the love that surrounds us.  Unbeknownst to me, I was completely surrounded by, and held ever so gently by, a love that can only be described as powerful, passionate, profoundly intimate.

 My month’s visit with the Poor Clares, not only deepened my awareness of this all-encompassing love, but it nurtured my ability to trust in it.  The trust in turn, acted as “Holy Windex Cleaner,” on the always dusty, and ever so cloudy, windows of my awareness.  It was only as my vision cleared that “Love appeared on the horizon as a Knight in shining armor.”  As He rode toward me, I became acutely aware that He had always been there, ready and eager, yet patiently awaiting my consent.

 As I returned home and shared the news of my call to monastic life, Love continued His advance toward me.  He rode toward me by way of love suddenly and powerfully expressed.  He rode closer as a group of fellow nurses gathered to present me with a plaque stating that they had registered a star, in my name, in the international star registry.  One co-worker stated that I would always be “their shining star.”  Still another said, that they “need only look to the heavens to find me.”

 A second group of older nurses that I worked with years ago, also gathered to be with me one last time.  My heart swelled with each old friend that walked through the door.  I wondered what this was all about as my knight in shining armor galloped on.

 A group of fellow chaplains gathered together for Mass, with the intention of the Mass being for my vocation.  Immediately following the Mass, they spoke, to all gathered, about me, and all that I meant to them.  Jesus rode closer as they extended words of blessings and love toward me.

 Wonderful gifts, beautiful cards, and beautiful promises of prayer were coming from every direction.  I also received the most beautiful heart-felt letters, love letters in the truest sense, as Jesus rode closer.  A co-worker shared his own personal photo album with me.  It was filled with special mementoes of his life.  He wanted me to see that one of those special mementoes was a note from me.  Jesus rode closer.

 Another co-worker stated that she would remember me each time the moon was full, and say a special prayer.  Still Jesus rode closer.  Old friends contacted me, and previously unspoken love was declared, as Jesus rode on.

 Another special person gave me a first class relic of “The Little Flower,” and promised to pray for me each day.  Jesus rode closer.  Another friend unexpectedly told me I had a special place in his soul.  And Jesus rode closer. 

I kept hearing the phrase, I’ve never told anybody this before but….”   People were reaching to their depths and baring their souls.  It was springtime in the garden of my world.  Pruning was happening at a rapid rate, and all I needed to do was to be present and watch.  People were shedding their lifeless, crumbling overcoats, and sharing with me the life and beauty of their depths.

 I was taken out to breakfast, out to lunch, and out to dinner, over and over again.  I heard story after story of heretofore unspoken feelings, personal dreams and desires.  People shared stories of their pain, their faith, and their hope in God.  Hearts were exposed, tears were shed, hugs and kisses were given freely and abundantly.  Beautiful flowers were delivered to my house, and Jesus rode on.

 The list goes on and on.  Love just kept coming and coming, coming from every possible direction.  Within a period of a few month’s time, the tremendously deep pain of departure, combined with the opening of the floodgates of love, left me not only speechless, but in a place of awe and wonder.  A place where I could do nothing but stop, look to the heavens, and ask, “Dear God, what is going on here?”  It was then, within a few seconds time, in a moment of deep silence and stillness, that my awareness was raised to a place of heart-stopping realization.  A place where I became keenly aware of a reality almost unutterable, Jesus was coming to get me……………

 Some people are called to be chaplains from a literal point of view, but all people are called to be chaplains from a Christian point of view.

 Please pray for me as I pray for all of you.

(2 YEARS LATER – 2006)
 I wrote the above article just as I was entering into religious life.  I have been a Poor Clare Sister just about 2 years now.  Things are going well.  The heartache of missing my family and friends remains.  However, it is that very heartache that has been the source of my growth.  Through the love and support of the sisters, Jesus carried me through my time of transition, just as He desires to carry all of us through all of life’s transitions.

 Monastic life is a hidden life of prayer.  It is not always understood by the general public, but nonetheless, it is a very beautiful and much needed vocation in today’s world.  May we all pray for one another as we continue our journey in becoming all that God has made us to be. 

(Current update –  August - 2009)
 I have been a Poor Clare for almost 6 years now.  The time is swiftly approaching for my final vows.  – This Spring!  I am very happy; and very grateful to God for my vocation.

Monastery of St. Clare
445 River Road
Andover, MA  01810-4213
(978) 683-7599