Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Michelle Marie Ozuna shares about the development of a Traveling Vocation Shrine to strengthen vocations in her home parish of St. Paul’s, Austin, Texas.
During the Easter vigil on April, 3rd 2021, I, along with my parish of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, celebrated my baptism, first holy communion, and confirmation. This was my first step of answering God’s call to Religious life.
My godmother gave me a very special gift to commemorate my birth to new life. She gave me a sculpture of Christ crucified that her mother had given her with the image of the last supper and the beginning of the “Our Father”. I immediately placed the gift in a special place of reverence in my home where I would pause throughout my day to pray. I would often pray the “Our Father”, or St. Francis’s prayer before the crucifix.
After applying to join and being accepted into the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity in the spirit of taking nothing with me for my journey I offered the gift I so dearly treasured to my pastor, Fr. Johnson Nellissery, ISP. He immediately said he would like to turn it into a vocation cross for the parish. The thought of what that gift now represented as a seed of hope for future vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life reflects the power of God’s grace and what the consecrated life is all about. We present ourselves to God and with his grace we grow to nourish the many… His church.
I was elated to learn that my pastor’s plans had finally come to fruition, he had a member of our parish build a beautiful case to enshrine the vocation cross. Father implemented a new ministry of prayer for all vocations within our church and the “traveling vocation shrine” is at the heart of this new ministry. I continue to be moved by the glory of God and the working of the Holy Spirit who continues to pour out grace upon grace upon myself and my home parish of St. Paul’s Catholic church which is also in the process of building a new sanctuary. I continue to be joined to my home parish in prayer as I continue my journey of discernment as a temporary professed Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity.
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