By Sister Mary Concepcion OCD

White Christmas for Sr Rose Alice and Sr Concepcion

In His time, God fulfilled my desire to go on mission, although not to Africa. But His will be done.

When I was still newly professed in Baguio Carmel, our first Father Provincial, an Irish Carmelite, told the Association of Monasteries of Discalced Carmelites in the Philippines that a bishop in Ghana was asking for a Filipino Carmelite foundation of nuns. When this materialized after almost fifteen years I wasn’t permitted to go since we were only a few in our community.

Time passed by and I was already beyond the age bracket required. But with God nothing is impossible. He inspired me to decide peacefully to go wherever He might lead me. I didn’t know that Ireland was the next target of the association. I consulted Mother May of Bacolod, the president of our association at the time. She suggested I wait till after Easter by which time she’d have contacted the prioress of Loughrea Carmel. Anyway she said that one of the group about to go wasn’t yet ready, so I could pitch in. Pondering on God’s will, I see how He works smoothly. After only four months everything was ready, all papers cleared up.

How can I thank the Lord for His goodness to me? Only this I want, to know His will.

You may write Sr Mary Concepcion, Sr Mary Cynthia and Sr Mary Rose-Alice Escote at St Joseph’s Monastery, Mount Carmel, LOUGHREA, County Galway, IRELAND. The website of the Carmelite nuns in Ireland iswww.carmelitesisters.ie and it has a link to the Loughrea Carmel.