?Yes, I wish to be all for You?
On 31 May, feast of the Visitation of Mary, we had the opportunity to celebrate in Guatemala a significant occasion in our vocational journey as Marist Sisters of Champagnat: our perpetual profession.
At the origin of the invitation to take this step we find above all the loving fidelity of the Lord, manifested throughout these years of journey; the patience and tenderness with which he has guided us, and the deep joy he has gifted us in feeling ourselves Sisters sharing the charism of Saint Marcellin Champagnat. The phrase “Yes, I wish to be all for You”, taken from the document in which we have recognised the roots of our identity, expresses the sincere desire of our hearts in the face of the call we have experienced.
Our vows are of a “private” character, in the sense that they were not received by an officially constituted authority. But we were accompanied and welcomed in our commitment by a very significant group of persons, formed by various family members from El Salvador and Costa Rica, most of the Brothers in Guatemala, the Brother Provincial of América Central, friends, young people engaged in the vocations process and some priests involved in our process. All these persons acted as witnesses of our commitment to follow Jesus for the rest of our lives, having the Good Mother as model of the disciple.
Following, we share something of the reasons we expressed for taking the vows:
“With this step of perpetual expression I desire to express that I am happy being a Sister, with all the depth and implications of this word, that this is how I find my way of being church and of serving the Kingdom, and that living in this way helps me to make a small return for all the life, love, tenderness and fidelity that the Lord has lavished on me”. (Sr María Laura)
“With perpetual profession I wish to gather up all the personal experience of these years of journey as a Sister, in which the Good God has manifested to me his faithful love, feeling grateful to Him because, without deserving it, he has called me through his Son and given me the gift of listening to him and following him; following him with all that implies… How not to love one who has loved me so much, one who has given meaning to my existence? For this reason, I continue placing my trust in God and in gratitude for the gift for my life of being a Marist Sister of Champagnat, I say once again I wish to be all for You!” (Sr Daisy)
We finish by thanking the witness of so many brothers and Marist laymen and women who continue encouraging us on the journey, as well as the gestures of communion we have received. Thanks for the joy of being able to share the rich charism we have inherited from Champagnat. May Mary of the Visitation continue accompanying us and showing us the way, to go out with haste, bringing to Jesus the neediest children and young people of our time.
With love, Sisters Daisy Beatriz Contreras Pocasangre and María Laura Soto Abarca.