FIAT Discernment Experience with the Missionaries of Charity
By Sr. Jessica Bernal, H.M.S.P.
of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Word, serving in our Eastern Panhandle“We ourselves feel
that what we are doing
is just a drop in the ocean.
But the ocean
would be less
because of that
missing drop”
-St. Teresa of CalcuttaEvery vocation is a gift that GOD gives to who he wishes, and so, the very best vocation is the one GOD has especially designed for you. That is why experiences that help us discern this path for our lives are indispensable. It is for this reason that we are extremely grateful to GOD author of our vocations and giver of all good things to be able to embark on this Expereince with 11 young girls from the Martinsburg Vicariate.
On May 18th 11 young girls, Deacon Dave, and I loaded our things on the newest member of transportation vehicles at St. James the Greater, a generous donation to the parish, to begin a six-hour journey to Jenkins, Kentucky, where we would be spending the next few days. The Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, welcomed us into their convent and shared the rich Charism given to them by the Holy Spirit of caring for the poorest of the poor. Many of the young girls accompanying us did not have prior experience with a missionary order, so it is needless to say that this experience broadened many horizons.
We share the testimony of Mary, one of the young ladies who accompanied us:
This spring, I had the privilege of going on a discernment retreat with a group of ladies from my parish, St James the Greater, down to Jenkins, Kentucky to visit the Missionaries of Charity. For four days our group lived in community together in the sisters’ guesthouse. Each day we prayed morning prayer, did our chores, prayed an hour of adoration, and headed over to Mass. We, then, would go out with the sisters to visit people’s homes—serving them through manual labor, prayer, fellowship and sharing the gospel. Midday we would return to the sisters’ convent house to pray. Afterwards, we would head out again to serve the needs of the community.
One of the most impressive realities I experienced was the power of prayer. Mother Teresa’s order aims to quench the thirst of Jesus upon the cross by serving him in the disguise of the poorest of the poor – whether the poverty is financial, physical, mental, or spiritual. The sisters taught us how it is our love for Jesus and His love for us that sustains us and allows us the grace to love our brothers and sisters. Each sister (and they relayed how even Mother Teresa herself) felt that they could not do the difficult tasks expected of them. Only with Jesus, allowing his love and graces to sustain them, were they able to do what they have done. I, myself, was able to experience this on the retreat. Having spent so much time so intimately with Jesus throughout each day, loving others was a natural movement of the heart and soul. It was a joy to serve each other – even though it still was not easy.
The message that God spoke to my heart throughout the retreat was that of John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, nor afraid.”
The sisters’ complete trust and confidence in God allows them to be open to his every call and love him freely in all those they encounter. Their witness and teachings as well as all the experiences of this trip have impacted my spiritual life immensely. This retreat created a space which allowed for personal discernment and deep spiritual growth for each of us. It quieted the world around me and disposed my heart to be able to hear God in the silence of my heart and to see Him in those around me. Since the retreat, I have implemented the things I learned and discovered into my own daily life – striving to go to Mass every day, praying the rosary, and spending time with Jesus in adoration as often as possible.
I am very grateful for all the people who made this trip possible and allowed God to reach us through them.As a diocesan family let us pray for the Holy Spirit to move these young ladies and all discerning vocations in the Church. Pray too for those nurturing discernment and for Christ to help us too to lead others to serve Him, His people, and the Church.
