THE BEAUTY AND MYSTERY OF GOD'S CALL

My heart rejoices in the great love of the Lord for He has looked with favour on his lowly servant. (Lk 1, 48)

My name is Sr. Melanie Delfin, MIC, from Capiz, Philippines. Who would think that I would become a nun? It is the mystery of the CALL. I am the eldest among eight siblings three brothers and four sisters. I worked hard to help my family for we were poor. I went to work abroad and it was in Hong Kong that I clearly heard the call of God. I responded wholeheartedly despite the opposition of my siblings and friends and the pain to leave my family who was depending on me.

God worked mysteriously in my vocation to religious life. I felt His first call when I was 18-19 years old but I did not comprehend the message. I used to walk from my boarding house to my school and back everyday and I used this time to pray the rosary. Since my school was the archdiocesan school of my Province I had the privilege to pass by the church everyday to pray, to attend the mass and other church's activities. I felt a hunger to be closer to God.

One day, as I walked to the school praying my rosary, I was struck by the pitiful sight of the street children and some old people. I was suddenly filled with a deep emotion which made me cry. It seemed that God was talking to me and I answered, "What shall I do?" And the response came deep within me, "Be a Sister!" And I asked innocently, "Why, What is a Sister doing?" And the answer was… "Helping people!" Then I said, "Well, I have my family to be helped, they need me." With that, I dropped the conversation and continue walking forgetting the whole scenario afraid that God might ask me for more. After the encounter, I did not try to remind myself about this experience nor share it with anyone because I was afraid to be called a fool.

However, without being conscious of it, God is very present in my life, guiding me towards the accomplishment His plan for me. I finished my course as a primary teacher, working and studying. But I could not find work immediately because I had first to take the teacher's board examination. God knew that my siblings were waiting for my help to go to school and helped me to find work as soon as possible. So I left my family at the age of 20 to work abroad. I went first to Bahrain, a place in the Gulf. When the Gulf war broke up, I was forced to go home. My next contract was Brunei, near Borneo. The two countries I went were Muslim countries and my faith was my only weapon to survive among various trials and difficulties. It was during this time that I experienced intensely the worth of prayers. I believe Mother Mary was protecting me from any sort of danger because I was faithful to praying the rosary.

After coming back from Brunei, I took the teacher's board examination which fortunately I passed and given a teaching position in the mountainous area of our Province. At the beginning of the school year, my visa for Hong Kong arrived. I had forgotten that I applied to work in Hong Kong before taking the board examination. I made a quick discernment and chose to leave my noble work as a teacher in my country because my wages were not enough to pay for my sister's education.

I just marvel on how God worked in my life because it was in Hong Kong that I found my vocation to the religious life. Yes, it was in Hong Kong that I realized that God had been so good with me and I became conscious of His gratuitous love me. He had been journeying all along with me. He had made things possible and easier for me. This made me feel very grateful. In Hong Kong, I participated actively in our church's activities. One of the elders who had affection for me invited me to attend the Evangelization Seminar that was started by an MIC Sister and a PME priest. It was during this seminar that my missionary zeal was ignited and I felt the call to do missionary work. The days went by meaningfully because I felt my relationship with Jesus was becoming intimate. As the seminar went on, I found out that the Sister I admired so much was an MIC. I was moved by her joyful, participative yet reflective way of giving a recollection.

Inspired by the Spirit and eager to find what was really God's Will for me, I also followed the search-in sessions of the MIC Sisters. The first day, it was explained the Spirituality of the MIC and it struck me very much because of the gratitude that was welling deep within me. I recalled my past experiences and especially to that first encounter I had with the Lord. Now, I kind of grasped that God was calling me to follow Him and I also realized that I had that deep desire to thank Him for all His goodness and love for me. It seemed to me God's call and my desire have met. Certainly, it is all gift. It is all His mysterious way of accomplishing His plan for His beloved one, ME.

The last of our search-in session was a kind of discernment day. For me, it was very significant because that was the day that would determine my future life. I was not certain of course, but I had a vision of a closed door: I did not know what was inside but a word was spoken to me, "Unless you enter that door, you will not be at peace." I was very moved and frightened too but the call to religious life became stronger. Before the day was ended, I had the courage to decide to enter the MIC Congregation.

I joined the MIC because of the Spirituality of Thanksgiving and the presence of the Missionary and Marian dimensions in their life. It was in 1997 that I decided to enter but it was not easy. It was so painful to leave my family who was dependent on my financial help. Two among my sisters were objecting my entrance because they still needed my assistance. But I told them that if I did not enter now, I would loose the opportunity and the grace given to me at that moment. I remember that I felt inflamed that time. My friends were also against my project to become a religious because they wanted me to marry my boyfriend whom they knew well. This was really the crucial part of my decision. It was my love and trust in God, and His grace that made me decide to follow Jesus. A decision that I do not regret; on the contrary, I am very grateful because I am happy where I am now and contented with my life. Tasting and cherishing God's unconditional love for me, I am more willing to offer Him all my lives if given more than one.

I had my formation in the Philippines which I treasured very much. Thanks to my formators. After the novitiate, I was excited to try my wings in the mission field. I taught for a short period of time in the Immaculate Conception Academy (ICA), one of the MIC schools in the Philippines. Then, I was assigned to the newly opened mission in the mountainous area, in southern Philippines. I worked there for three years and five months to be exact before my departure to Canada. Those were glorious years because I loved working with these simple people. I journeyed with the youth and the catechists of the parishes assigned to us. I gave seminars forming them to become good leaders in their own communities. Working with the simple people in the mountain is challenging but rewarding. I love them and I enjoyed living with them.

Coming to Canada is indeed one of the many gifts which flows from God's boundless goodness and immeasurable generosity. Canada, particularly Montreal, is beautiful and impressive. It is beautiful because aside from its wide land area it is also surrounded by marvellous sceneries. The four lovely seasons that unfold gradually like a mystery of life make me thank the Creator of it all. The forest, the fields, the mountains, the lakes, the rivers, especially the St. Lawrence, are just awesome. The 100 bells of the many churches is also something that caught my attention and roused my interest for its history. Truly, I am full of awe and wonderment as I thank God for this opportunity to marvel on the beauty of the land of Venerable Délia Tétreault, foundress of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (MIC), the first missionary congregation in Canada to which I belong.

I have this chance to visit the birthplace of our foundress because I belong to the International Scholasticate Program. We are nine scholastics from the different nationalities living together to experience the beauty and mystery of inter-culturality, to intensify our relationship with Mother foundress, meet our aging Sisters and to deepen our spirituality of thanksgiving and our intimacy with Jesus, our Master. God called each one from the different parts of the world with the different cultures, backgrounds, experiences, missions, for the same goal. In the church, the MIC's are a religious missionary community, women of diverse nationalities, continue to spread the same living spirit of thanksgiving, Marian in character.

Having lived these beautiful experiences, I cannot but be filled with God's awesome greatness and marvellous love. And my soul rejoices in gratitude for the wonders He has done in me and in my life.