By Sister Therese Maria Touma
 |
| with Sr. Theresa and Sr. Cheryl |
On Saturday August
30th we happily attended the first profession of two Pauline Sisters, Sr.
Theresa and Sr. Cheryl at their Provincial house in Boston. The theme of their
first Profession of vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience was: "For me
to live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21). In participating in the beautiful
profession Liturgy and watching the sisters take their vows I was taken back to
the joyful time in which I took my vows in December of 2013. It is by God’s grace
that we freely respond to his Divine invitation of love and moreover deepen our
baptismal promises through the total offering of our lives in the love and
worship of God.
When the sisters
professed their vows before the altar to their superior I recalled the Profession
I made nearly two years ago:
.JPG) |
| First Vows 2013 |
I glorify and praise
you, O Christ, your Father, and your living Holy Spirit for calling me to a
vocation of greater perfection, and I joyfully lay down my life in your service
and that of your Church in this Congregation. In the presence of Almighty God
and before you, Mother Marla Marie, our superior, I Sister Therese Maria,
humbly vow for one year to live the Gospel counsels of obedience, chastity, and
poverty according to the Typicon of the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light.
Relying on the help of Mary, the Mother of God, our patron Saint Maron, and the
support of this community, I promise with God's grace to observe my vows
faithfully.
The vows of obedience,
chastity and poverty which we take essentially capture our being totally given
over to the praise and glory of our loving Father. A beautiful witness so
needed in our world today. Jesus is the true joy and light of our lives. Have
you considered giving your life in service to God and his people? As John Paul
II has taught us, it is in giving of ourselves in love and service to others
that we truly find ourselves and experiences the deepest fulfillment.
Photos
With the postulant director, two postulants and their family and friends.