He Gently Leadeth Me
What was my vocation like? There was really no major event or revelation to my vocation. God called me and guided me like the gentle breeze, nudging and encouraging me foreword.
My vocation started just like any other ordinary day in the summer of 1982 when I attended Vietnamese and Catechism classes as well as the Youth Eucharistic group activities. My friends and I were playing the traditional rope games during the break between classes when Sr. Margarita Phan approached and asked if I wanted to become a religious sister. Being a seventh grader, I really had no idea what that entails and I was too busy having fun with my friends so I just told her I’ll think about it and promptly forgot that whole incident. About a year later, she came back and asked me if I had thought about her inquiry. {A little side note: at that time Sister Margarita was a member of the Congregation of the Lovers of the Holy Cross and they have a house in California.}Flattered by the idea of traveling to West, I half-hearted replied that I do not mind giving it a try. Unbeknownst to me, Sister Margarita was transferring to the Sisters of Mary Immaculate Conception Province, a Vietnamese Dominican community based in Houston. When she transferred in the summer of 1983, she introduced me to the Order of Preachers. The Province’s postulant house however, was in frigid Wisconsin, so, instead of going to sunny California, I was on my way to Old Milwaukee. Some of the potential candidates flew north; others, myself included, braved the 1,200 miles road trip there.
Meandering there in a 15 passenger van was an unforgettable experience. We traveled a day and a half before we stopped by the Congregation of Mary Co-Redemptrix in Missouri and attended part of the Marian activities there. After traveling for another half day we finally reached our destination. About a week there, however, we were told that since there were too many postulants, the youngest candidates had to return home, with a “rain check,” to return the following year if so our youthful hearts desire. Thus, back to Houston we went. A year later I returned and the rest was history. When I made my first profession, I had decided that once I pronounced the evangelical counsels (vows) there will be no regrets, no undoing (the pact was sealed). There have been many ups and downs in my religious life, but I have also come to realize that no matter how many curved balls are tossed my way, I have made my decision and I am going to stick to my commitment.
Last year I celebrated my 25th year anniversary of religious profession and I had time to reflect on my journey. I can honestly say that it is full of graces upon graces. God has been and still gently leads me on this earthly pilgrimage.
Sr. Maria Raphael Trâm Thu Trần is a religious professed sister since 1990.