By Sr. Ann Rita Centeno, SSC

More and more competent women are emerging in pastoral ministries. Usually sisters give homilies at special liturgical occasions. Sr. Ann Rita gives the homily at the first profession as a Missionary Sister of St. Columban of he namesake, Sr. Ann C. Carbon. Some highlights from the homily appears below.

I’m very happy to see all of you this afternoon. Whether we have come from far away Cagayan de Oro City, Davao, Cebu, Ozamiz, Ireland, Pangasinan or from nearby Quezon City or San Juan. We have come with a common purpose, and that is, to be witnesses to a story of love. Aren’t vocation stories love stories? Aren’t vocation stories basically deep personal experiences of a loving God? Maybe this is a good moment to recall our own vacation stories.

We all know that this deep personal experience tarts with a call which oftentimes defies definition. It’s even hard to pinpoint what it is. Most of the time it is felt in the heart. And when the feeling persists and the heart starts to throb, we gaze at the heavens and say, “Why me Lord? Why not so and so. They’re more prayerful than I am. Mas mabait sila kaysa sa akin.”

The poster over there has Anne’s favourite Bible quote: “I have called you by name, I have honored you, I am with you. I love you.” This call is a promise of being: being for and being with. God’s BEING inviting my being to be for Him and to be with Him in the midst of the world.

As one listen intently to the call, one’s name becomes clearer.” “Ay ako pala and tinatawag, hindi siya.” In fear or plain innocence one says, “Speak Lord, your servant listens” This is crucial because the search comes to an end. God has found a willing instrument in you. A dialogue then begins. Do you remember this happening to you Anne? For you, Anne, you have discovered fairly early that to answer God’s call is to experience a mixture of joy and pain. In your case love prevailed because, once again, despite the many odds against you, you heard yourself saying, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

To which Jesus says to you, “Follow Me.” And from that moment on life has never been the same for you.