I was born and raised in a strong Catholic household. My parents, cradle Catholics themselves, brought my siblings and me to Mass regularly, instructed us in the faith, taught us about Scripture, how to pray, and how to live the moral life. Most importantly, they taught us that God’s will ought to come before everything else. Given this strong foundation in the background, the possibility of becoming a priest had been in the back of my mind for as long as I can remember. As a toddler and young child I ‘played Mass’ as many Catholic children do. I was always interested in priests and what they were doing, especially in the Mass. As I grew older, my attraction to the priesthood continued to grow. The main reason for this was that I had begun altar serving at my parish. This gave me a deeper, more different exposure to the liturgy than I previously had, and it taught me so much about it.
I cannot pinpoint my perceived call to one specific, ‘lightning-strike’ moment like many people seem to. Through ordinary circumstances in living a life of faith, I gradually realized that I have an attraction to the priestly life which cannot be ignored. This led me to apply to seminary at the prompting of our vocations director, Fr. Craig Cameron. It seems that Seminary is the only way to advance my discernment of this call, to see whether this is indeed what God is calling me to do.
Greg Vess
1st year Theology, St Augustine’s Seminary
My name is Sister Teresa MacDonald and I am a sister with the Franciscans of Halifax. After I graduated from high school, I applied and was accepted to work with NET (National Evangelization Team). While my team was in Ohio, I saw a nun in a habit, and because I had never seen one before I was struck by the idea that this is something extraordinary. I felt the Lord whisper in my heart that I could do this too. Back home, I had several sisters who witnessed religious life to me, and I recognized the unique and gifted life they have. I however, was afraid. I wanted to get a job, get married, have children, live in normal life. It never occurred to me that this was not what God was asking of me; in fact, God didn’t really play a role in any of the decision-making in my early adulthood.
After working a number of jobs and being in a couple of relationships, I began to experience a desire for a more intimate relationship with Christ. I was encouraged by others to start going to spiritual direction and to commit myself to more prayer and to receiving the sacraments. During this time, I was also a part of a prayer group that was receiving formation on the spiritual life, and the theme of discernment occurred repeatedly. I recognized the need to surrender my life, my desires, and my hopes to the Lord. I recognized a call to trust him and to follow him.
In 2005, the vocations Director for our Diocese, Fr. Roberto Donato, informed me that he was starting a religious community for women because a number of women had already approached him about discerning religious life. The moment he told me, I knew this was where the Lord was calling me and that I had to follow. This was not an easy decision, but I trusted that the Lord would protect me and guide me; he has never failed.
I have been a sister for 25 years. It has not been easy, but it has been amazing and I am blessed and humbled that God called me to this life.
Sr Teresa MacDonald
Franciscans of Halifax