Vocation Testimony

Born in a Catholic family in the archdiocese of Kottayam, my childhood memories are one of peace happiness and love. Though we are nine children each of us felt we are the most loved one. I was the Tomboy of the house and was always up to some mischief. Mother often used to remind me that I am a child of Mary because I was born on her feast day.

Though I had desired to become a Sister from very early childhood it was not stable, after SSLC exam seeing an advertisement one of my cousins put into my head a desire to become a film actor. Three of us applied along with our photos. Only I was called. But God intervened at the right time and saved me from a great danger. One day one of my Aunts, a Religious Sister who knew that I had a desire to become a Sister asked me. “Do you like to join Great Carmel?” I had no idea what a Cloister Carmel was. She said it is the convent where Little Flower lived and became a saint since I liked Little Flower I said yes without much thought.

Along with my mother and Sister Aunt, I went to the Cloister Carmel of Tiruvalla. The very moment I stepped in I felt deep happiness. At the parlour, they explained in brief about Cloistered life with all its demands. Always with an adventurous bent of mind, I decided firmly that I will become a Cloistered Nun and forgot all about other impetuous prospects. Though I came without much thought and reflection that day I returned from Carmel a changed person.

Though except my Mother all disagreed, finally seeing my firm determination, all agreed. I felt Convent an extension of my family, praying together, eating together, doing all the work together and have recreation together. In the company of four Spanish Mothers and other senior Sisters and under the guidance of Mother Theresa and then Sr. Marie Therese our Novice Mistress I opened myself wholeheartedly to the beauty and mystery of Carmelite vocation. We were five in the novitiate. I had been a happy child and that happiness never left me. The joy of being in Carmel cannot be explained it can only experience.

God made this unworthy servant one of the instruments in having a new Cloister Carmel in the Diocese of Kannur. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you a million times.

- Sr Lucy OCD