‘Go into the whole world’
As a teenager attending Mass, I was struck by Jesus' words to His disciples, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15) It led me to question if I, too, was called to do the same. From that day on, my daily prayer became, "Lord, what is Your will for my life? And how can I help others come to know and love God?" Little did I know how God would answer this prayer.
As a teenager attending Mass, I was struck by Jesus' words to His disciples, "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15) It led me to question if I, too, was called to do the same. From that day on, my daily prayer became, "Lord, what is Your will for my life? And how can I help others come to know and love God?" Little did I know how God would answer this prayer.
Growing up in Adelaide, Australia, I was blessed with a devout Catholic family. My parents instilled in my two brothers and me the importance of our faith. We attended Mass multiple times a week, prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet on the way to school, and participated in Rosary groups. These shared experiences laid the foundation for my spiritual journey.
At eighteen years old, I met the Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (LIHM) Sisters and attended their Youth Eucharistic Conference. As I served alongside them and the Oblate Apostles of the Two Hearts, our brother community, during their mission trips to my state, I began to consider if God was calling me to become a sister. After 18 months of discernment, I made the decision to enter religious life. At twenty years old, I left behind my family, friends, and college to join the LIHM Sisters in the United States and pursue my vocation as a bride of Christ. It required trust and complete surrender to God's plan. Since then, I have lived in the Philippines and served in Delaware and Nebraska.
For the past six years, I have been serving at Sacred Heart Church and School in Cullman, and in 2020, I had the privilege of professing my final vows there. Like St. Therese of Lisieux once said, "Everything is grace." Being a LIHM Sister is a precious gift beyond measure. It brings me immense joy and fulfillment to aid others, particularly youth and families, in drawing closer to God through devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I thank the Lord every day for taking me out into the world to proclaim His Word.
