CFR Sister Postulants - 2009

Patricia Gonzalez

Praised Be Jesus Christ!

My name is Patricia Gonzalez and I'm 27 years old. Last September, by the grace of God, I joined the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal. The call to be consecrated totally to God has been such a great blessing for me!

Before I entered the convent, I worked as a nurse in Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Taking care of the sick, being compassionate with the dying, and assisting the physically disabled were different ways my faith was nourished while working at a Catholic hospital. In addition, my relationship with my family and the time in my home parish, St. Clare of Montefalco, was essential for answering the call to religious life.

I was born and raised Catholic in a faithful Mexican family. The witness of my parents and the example of their sacrificial love drew my heart closer to God during my early years of childhood. Thus, I developed a personal relationship with Jesus during my preparation for First Holy Communion. The example of my four sisters and two brothers taught me about total self-giving love, and serving others was a powerful example to me as well. This was the seed that made me hunger and thirst for God's presence in my life. However, at the age of 16, coming from Mexico to live in the United States made a great impact in my life, causing me to feel sad and depressed. But God's mercy never abandoned me. He touched my heart during this time of "darkness," awakening my faith and calling me to come back to Him with a humbled heart. All this transformation happened when I joined the charismatic group in my parish.

As time went by, I continued to get more involved with my faith and I participated in daily Mass, frequent confession, perpetual adoration, and the Youth Prayer Group. Witnessing how God was transforming the lives of others made me feel more convicted in my Catholic faith, and the zeal for the salvation of souls increased in my heart. In April 2006, the youth group hosted a "vocational workshop" with the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit.  After we talked about the Plan of God in one's life, my heart was left with wonder. I think that God was preparing my heart for something special. Two months later Fr. Mike Sullivan invited me to a "Youth 2000" retreat lead by the CFR Friars. This time my heart was open to the call of religious life. I heard the voice of Jesus in my heart, "Follow me." With the help of Fr Mike, I continued my vocational discernment and visited the CFR Sisters in February 2008. After my first "come and see" I felt almost immediately at home. The simplicity of their life, their Franciscan spirituality, their sacramental life, and their joyful witness filled my heart with peace and joy.

I entered in September, and in February, I became a postulant. And knowing that I want to deepen my relationship with Jesus, I'm preparing to receive the habit in August of this year if this is the will of God. I thank all of the CFR Sisters for their example in my life and I continue to commend my vocation to ourBlessed Mother.

In Jesus and St. Francis,

Patty

Kelly Oslin

Pax et bonum! (Peace and all good!) My name is Kelly Oslin and I am 23 years old. I am from Littleton, Massachusetts and I currently live in the Bronx, New York. Why? Because God is calling me to consecrate my life completely to Him by becoming a religious sister with the Community of Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal (aka CFRs). I am not a sister yet; currently I am a postulant, and in August, God-willing, I will receive the holy habit andenter the novitiate!

But, how did I get to this point? Well, I was born in New Jersey into an awesome family; I am the fourth of five children. When I was in the sixth grade we all moved to Littleton. I was raised in the Catholic faith and, like the rest of my family, I was very involved at my parish. In high school I started to think that maybe I would like to become a nun. There was a seminarian named Patrick who was assigned to my parish and he used to tell me very often that I was going to be a nun someday. After telling him to "be quiet about it" for a long time, one day I pulled him aside and asked him what I should do about it if maybe I did want to be a nun. He encouraged me to pray about it and to ask God what He wanted for my life.

I went to college at Villanova University and studied civil engineering. I knew that I wanted to spend my life serving others. I loved doing volunteer work and helping others, especially the poor; I also loved math and science. Somehow this led me to pursue civil engineering. I have always looked at this field as a great way to really help those who do not have adequate shelter, clean water, transportation, etc. In my second year of college, I once again was talking with (no longer a seminarian) Father Patrick about my vocation. He told me about the CFR community and even called the sisters for me because I was too shy. I came to visit and knew right away that this was the community to which God was calling me. I loved that they were authentically Franciscan. I didn't even know that the concept of a semi-contemplative community existed, but it is exactly what I was made for. The beautiful balance of their life, marked by prayer, community, and apostolate, spoke to me profoundly of Christ. And their joy, love, and laughter were contagious! I wanted to enter that same year but in all honesty I was not ready, and thankfully the sisters helped me to realize that.

I took the following year off from school and spent time doing a Catholic volunteer program in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I think I grew a lot during that year as I experienced for the first time living intentionally in community. I was also giving more than 40 hours a week serving the poor, and most importantly I spent a lot of time praying and discerning to know God's will for me. It seemed that the Lord did want me to finish my degree and so after that year I moved back home and transferred to the University of Massachusetts at Lowell to finish my last two years of school. I continued to be in contact with and visit the sisters here. Having graduated this past May, I entered the Community of Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal in September. Thanks be to God!

-Peace!-