“The Felician Difference” Vocation Reflection
By: Sr. Mary Ann Smith
My vocation story is not very unique but I will share it with you. At a very early age, I knew I wanted to be a sister and talked about it often. It was not that I never thought about marriage, which I did, a little. Yet each time, I went back to the thought of becoming a religious sister.
I loved the sisters and did all I could to be around them. I first learned of the aspirancy program in seventh grade and then had an opportunity to visit our house in Detroit. I fell in love immediately. All year long, I talked about going there after graduation. In March, my mother asked me if that was what I really wanted, I told her with all my heart that is was. She then urged me to write and ask for acceptance. Once I heard I had been accepted, my parents took me to visit every one of their siblings telling them I was going to the convent, even though I still had to finish high school.
My days as an aspirant were some of the happiest days of my life and even now, the memories I have still bring me joy. Upon graduation from high school, I entered the community on June 19, 1966. I knew this was where I belonged.
The days ahead were both good and bad and there was much change happening in all religious communities at the time. It affected all of us and eventually, I was confused and wondering if I had made the right decision. Upon the advice of a very learned person, I decided to take a leave of absence in order to sort things out. This was after my first vows. It was like taking a vacation to explore and do things I wanted to do. During that time, I taught high school religious education classes, served as the first cantor in my parish, did some substitute teaching, attended Central Michigan University, worked at Federal Mogul as a keypunch operator and had time to share with my family as an adult, not as a fourteen-year-old. During all of this time, I kept in touch with our Provincial and asked if I could return. She eventually told me that if returning was what I wanted, I should just let her know when I was ready.
When I left, I had asked, “What if I made the wrong choice?” The response I received was, “Then you will return and you will be a stronger person for it.” That statement helped me make my return a little easier. As I prepared to return, I found that it was much harder than the first time.
Upon the day of my return, I found out that all of the members of my group had left and I would be the only one returning. That was a startling fact, but I knew I was to be a Felician Sister and did not let that influence me in any way.
This reflection was shared as part of National Vocation Awareness Week. Discover more stories of vocation from our sisters.
