"Think about belonging entirely to Jesus, our only Love."

Each of us, at one point or another, asks ourselves, “What am I here for? Where am I going?” We are all called for something great and divine. God has only the best plan for each of us. When He calls, will you answer?

God calls each of us to live a state of life, be it married, single or religious. Our choice should not be based on what the world dictates, but what God is leading our heart to. Whatever we choose, it should:

• Lead us more closely to God;

• Allow us to serve and glorify Him in the best way we can; and

• Give us the greatest joy.

What a joy it is to be a Parish Visitor! Here are some notes from our very own Sisters!

Re-Evangelizing Catholics in America, Nigeria and the Philippines

What a joy it is to introduce ourselves to you in the words of a cross-section of our Parish Visitor Sisters. We come from New York and Wisconsin; Massachusetts and Montana; from Arizona and Nigeria and the Philippines; and many, many other places. Most of our Sisters are active in the Missions. Those unable to because of health or administrative duties contribute significantly to our apostolate of person-to-person/door-to-door re-evangelization and catechesis through their daily prayers and sacrifices.

In fact, every day, everywhere we are, we pray for and make sacrifices for one another. From her loving heart, Our Foundress, Servant of God Mother Mary Teresa Tallon, continues to challenge us to “Make every soul count!” This includes your soul. We pray for you and everyone who learns about our holy work for the Sacred Heart of the Good Shepherd! May God bless you and your family. I hope to hear from you soon: mothertallon@gmail.com

Mother Maria Catherine, P.V.M.I., Professed
General Superior, at Marycrest
From Brooklyn

A Stirring!

Brought up a Protestant until the age of 15, I never thought of being a Religious. But, at the age of 17, Jesus touched my heart. I went to a “Heart Speaks to Heart” Conference in Syracuse, New York. Father spoke about vocations and, during his talk I felt a stirring in my heart that this is what Jesus wanted of me.

When Father finished speaking, he asked anyone (first the boys and then the girls) who felt a stirring in their hearts to please stand so that the rest of the group could pray over them. Well, I stood up and Jesus took care of the rest.

If you feel that “stirring”, just say “Yes” and let Him take over.

Sister Susan Marie, P.V.M.I., Professed
Missioned to Holy Spirit/St. Peter’s Parish,
Diocese of Wilmington, DE
From New York

Thank you, Lord!

I will never forget when I received a letter from Father Ngozi with a leaflet entitled “Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate” about a Congregation founded in New York.

My first thought was that Father must be wrong. Nigeria is so very far from the U.S.A. Then I said to myself, “God I love You, but not this!” The little voice inside me said, “Yes!”

The more I said, “Not this,” the louder the little voice said, “Yes, this is the Congregation!” I did not have peace until I found myself in the convent of the Parish Visitors.

I never thought about entering any religious community outside of my country. I am very happy today because I am in the exact Community where God wants me to be. Our charism is the exact work my soul has been longing for.

Thank You, Lord, for speaking to me through that little voice.

Sister Celine Marie, P.V.M.I., Professed
Area Superior: Okigwe & Warri Dioceses, Nigeria.
From Imo State, Nigeria

Some Good Advice

A vocation to Religious life never really entered my mind until I was in college. But, one day at the Mass something totally unexpected happened. When the priest elevated the Host and said, “This is Jesus, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world, happy are those who are called to this banquet;” I thought to myself: “That is Jesus! That is really Jesus!”

From then on, I found myself going to Mass nearly every day at six o’clock in the morning. When I was not able to attend Mass I felt like the day was not complete. I fell in love with the Lord in the Eucharist.

Because I went to daily Mass in a convent, one of the Sisters asked me if I was considering the Religious life. “You must be joking!” I said, laughing and thinking, “She doesn’t know me very well!”

Sister said softly, “I’ve been praying for you all those times I’ve seen you at Mass. I believe that God is calling you to Religious life. Really think about it and bring it into prayer.”

Frankly, I didn’t like what the Sister said. She was going too far! Besides, I was still feeling weird about going to daily Mass. And now she wanted me to become a Sister on top of that!

And yet – after that conversation with Sister – the thought that “God is calling me to Religious life” never left my mind. I prayed about it and was very afraid, because I had other plans for my life.

I needed some good advice, so I started talking to a priest and continued meeting with the Sister who had told me I had a vocation. By the grace of God, they were able to confirm that God Himself was really calling me.

Our Lord gave me the grace to be open to His Holy Will. I started looking on the internet for a Religious community. Then I saw the Parish Visitors’ website! What really struck me was where it said that the Parish Visitors are like the Good Shepherd looking for the lost sheep.

I thought that was cool, because I was once a lost sheep and I want to share what I have now. I want to share my experience of having Jesus in my life!

Now I am very grateful to God for calling me to be a Parish Visitor of Mary Immaculate with the privilege of bringing lost sheep into the fold again.

Sister Jhoan Marie, P.V.M.I., Professed
Serving our Sisters at Marycrest
From The Philippines

A Beautiful Life

The Juniorate is a time for the Parish Visitor Sister to grow in our contemplative-missionary charism through the experience of living this beautiful Religious Life. As part of this, I was blessed to live in our convents in the Philippines for two months last summer.

The night I was to return to the U.S.A., we had a little celebration and I surprised the Sisters with a Top Ten List of things I had learned in the Philippines.

Two items on the list continue to influence my prayers and actions. The first was number 6: I learned that I am beautiful. It started as a joke, because I had been told I was beautiful so many times because being very fair and having a big nose is attractive to Filipinos.

I did not have a particular apostolic assignment, and so I was able to go with the other three Sisters to their apostolates. In each place I went, people, especially the children, would tell me I was beautiful. It was funny to me, because before then, the only person I remember telling me that I was beautiful was my Grandpa, and I distinctly remember my sister responding, “You have to say that, you’re her Grandpa!”

Being told I was beautiful so many times really made me think about beauty, which at its depth, is an experience of God.

In our Novitiate classes we read parts of a book called The Beauty of Holiness and the Holiness of Beauty. By reflecting upon my experience and that book, I began to see more clearly the beauty in each person I encountered in the Philippines, especially in the children who were so honest and hopeful.

There was beauty in THE LITTLE GIRL – maybe six years old – who sat with us at the 6am Mass on Saturday mornings, singing all the songs, but saying she didn’t go to Mass on Sunday because there was no one to go with her.

There was beauty in A YOUNG WOMAN who is a full-time Catechist, joyfully teaching about 1,500 students per week in the public schools and very active in her parish.

There was beauty in THE LITTLE BOY who followed us in the Corpus Christi procession through his neighborhood, and even brought his friend over to meet us.

There was beauty in THE YOUNG INDONESIAN PRIEST who gave enthusiastic homilies in English with an Italian accent.

There was beauty in THE NINE YEAR OLD BOY who had injured his arm and wasn’t supposed to leave the house, but came out to join us for a communal Rosary in the alley.

There was beauty in THE MAN who gave a witness talk on how he not only forgave the murderers of his father, but now belongs to the same faith-sharing group with two of them.

In each of these beautiful faces I saw the beauty of Christ, which drew me to them. I also witnessed the attraction that beauty had to draw them to Christ –– beauty in the Eucharist, in sharing the Faith, in a friendly smile and a listening ear. That Beauty renewed my own call to seek holiness, a call at the center of our contemplative-missionary charism.

It is the beauty of contemplation that fills us up and that we are then able to share it with those we encounter in our mission.

There was beauty in another place on my Top Ten List: number 1: I learned that Parish Visitors are generous beyond measure in welcoming, encouraging and caring for their fellow Sisters.

Sister Theresa Marie, P.V.M.I., Professed
Local Superior and Vocation Director, Ohio Convent

Missioned to Holy Spirit/St. Peter’s Parish,
Diocese of Wilmington
From Michigan

And then, I met the Parish Visitors!

I first had the thought of becoming a Sister when I was 6 or 7, but as I grew older, I convinced myself that there was no chance that God is calling me to be a Sister.

But, after experiencing the personal love of God for me in a Life in the Spirit Seminar, everything changed. I was spending more time getting to know this God Who loves me. The beautiful thought of becoming a Sister resurfaced. And then, I met the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate during a Legion of Mary meeting. It was then that I realized God really was calling me to be His.

When I was nearing my entrance to the convent, God called my father to eternal life. During the funeral, I thought of postponing my entrance, worried that my family might not be able to bear another “loss,” so to speak. But God wanted me to come and not delay. I couldn’t say “no” to Him. Uncertainties were present, yet God helped me to respond.

In all of our convents, we have a Chapel where Jesus is present all the time in the Blessed Sacrament. He lives under the same roof as us. That joy of knowing I can run to Him anytime is a tremendous gift.

You see, people always want to have tickets to be in audience with the most famous people. But here is the King of Kings, and I get a private audience with Him every day! He comes to me every day in Holy Communion, visits my poor soul and refreshes me. He gives me strength to persevere in the call He has given me. He is my Joy!

Without prayer, without God, without Jesus, one cannot be truly joyful, because joy is God’s gift. Joy is Someone. Joy is Jesus Himself. God is the only One Who can give us true, everlasting and enduring joy.

My joy started when I decided to follow God’s will and not my own. Finding joy in God opened up new joys for me that I never thought I would have.

For those discerning their vocation, I ask God to give each of you the strength to do His will. Say “Yes” to God in whatever road He has prepared for you. And joy will be realized in your life.

Do not be deceived by the passing joy the world gives, not the false happiness the Devil promises, nor the instant pleasure you get from following your own will; but find your joy in God. The joy that comes from Him will rest in you and nobody can take it away.

May the joy of the Lord be your strength.

Sister Mary Emmadoña, P.V.M.I., Professed
Local Superior, Philippine Mission

Missioned to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Archdiocese of Manila
From The Philippines

To Be a Saint

Since I was a young child in Nigeria, I was attracted to Religious life. I admired Sisters and wanted to be like them. Living in a devout Catholic family, I was very involved in our Church, and I loved prayer and Our Lady. I wanted to be a saint!

I became very attracted to the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate when I became aware of the charism of their prayer life and outreach to people who have strayed from the Lord.

I thank God that I am a vowed member of the Parish Visitors.

Sister Mary Eunice, P.V.M.I., Professed
Catechist/Visitation, Nigeria
From Nigeria

Jesus, My One True Love

Jesus, my One true Love, loved me first and continued to pursue me until I was ready to answer the one big question every girl dreamed of hearing: “Will you be mine forever?”

Good provider that He is, Jesus continues to give me the grace to say “Yes!” every day of my religious life. From my country, the Philippines, I flew all the way to New York to start my formation – to follow wherever Jesus, My Love, would lead me.

Sister Maria Leah, P.V.M.I., Professed
Assistant Vocation Director, Philippine Mission
From The Philippines

An Invitation

“Are there any baptized Catholics here?” I asked the gentleman who greeted me at his front door. “I’m Jewish,” he said, “but my wife and our three children are baptized Catholic. I go to Mass with them every Sunday and Holy Day.”

“Have you ever thought about joining your wife and children, and becoming a Catholic yourself?”

“To become a Catholic!” he said in amazement at the possibility. “Well, nobody ever invited me to become a Catholic!”

“I’m inviting you now,” I said. “Nothing is preventing you.” He discussed it with his wife right then.

“It’s been my longest desire he would join us,” she said. “But, for one reason or other, I never asked him.” They both looked at each other and smiled. He was enthusiastic about the whole thing; and signed up for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA).

True to his word, my new Jewish friend attended the RCIA classes faithfully. He never missed one. On the Easter Vigil, he was baptized, confirmed and received Holy Communion. He was beaming with smiles, surrounded by his family in-the-Faith, including the parishioners who greeted him warmly after Mass.

A simple invitation can change the whole course of another person’s life. What a joy and privilege it is to be a Parish Visitor of Mary Immaculate.

Sister Mary Luchia, P.V.M.I., Professed
Missioned to Ss. Peter & Paul Cathedral, Archdiocese of Philadelphia
From Korea

Privileged Apostolate

The Missionary apostolate of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate – door-to-door evangelization – is a unique and privileged work. Every person we meet is special, every story unique; every soul counts! What a joy it is to go out and bring the light of Christ to the world, particularly to persons suffering in spiritual darkness.

“Who am I?” that God has called me to be His instrument of mercy? In truth, I am too little for this immense calling. It is too great for me. Yet, that is the joy and assurance of it all! This is God’s work! Only God can touch hearts –but He chooses to do so through us.

Sister Rebecca Miriam, P.V.M.I., Professed
Missioned to Holy Family/Blessed Sacrament, Bronx 
From Arizona

Prayer for Vocations

Mary Immaculate, Queen of the apostles, pray the Lord of the harvest, that He send forth laborers into His vineyard. 

Confused about Discernment?

How do I know I’m called?