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Sr Theresa
Personal stories · Religious Sisters
My vocation story
Why did I choose to join The Community of Our Lady of Walsingham – a new community in its founding years?
When I first met Sr Camilla, at a Youth 2000 retreat in 2007, I had been thinking of religious life on and off for a few years but was still very attracted to the idea of getting married and having children. I was struck by the freedom with which she accompanied me, as I shared my hopes and fears of a possible vocation to religious life. Finding out that this freedom is a vital aspect of the COLW charism – to help people to discern what is truly best for them – their vocation – touched my heart. Before joining COLW, I was a nurse. As a nurse, I could help people physically and emotionally but not so much spiritually – yet I have always been convinced that a relationship with God is the most important thing in life and the only way to true happiness. I want this happiness for myself and for others.
I know that I am only happy when I am doing God’s will. I want to reach out to others, help them to develop their relationship with God so they are able to embrace His will for them and so live life more fully.
There are many beautiful charisms in the various religious congregations but when I spent time reading the COLW website, I felt particularly drawn to COLW’s charism. I was also interested in the practicalities of the life. I have often joked that, when considering what community to join, I was weighing up the answers to the following questions:
‘What time would I have to get up in the morning?’
‘What’s the food like?’
and ‘Will I look nice in the habit?!’
I would like to think I am not so shallow now! Of course, there were always the other essentials of consecrated life and the desires of my heart which the COLW life meets: being able to go to Mass and receive Jesus in the Eucharist every day; Adoration; Silent prayer; both the joys and challenges of community life; what I’ve learnt through my studies; how I’ve grown through formation. I would not be without any of these things now. I am convinced of the charism of COLW as a gift for the Church and of my responsibility to live and transmit it. So, there are reasons for joining a community and reasons for staying in a community – and these deepen over time.
I often hear people say, ‘We need more vocations!’ (They are often referring principally to priesthood and religious life). What I say is – we need more holiness! As Christians grow in the holiness of faith, hope, love and courage needed to do God’s will, more vocations – to all states of life – will naturally follow. God is always calling: Let us ask Him for the courage to listen and the generosity to respond.
Watch Sr Theresa share her vocation story on Shalom TV:
From Marriage Dreams to Christ’s Bride || Sr. Theresa Weight || Vocare
Watch Sr Theresa’s story
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