My name is Sr. Mary Clare. I am a late vocation to Religious Life. I made my First Profession with the Poor Clare Sisters in Drumshanbo on 11th August 2014.I was brought up in a faith-filled family where Sunday Mass was the highlight of the week. We said the Rosary daily after tea and Bible stories were read to us at bedtime. I was educated by the Mercy Sisters and knowledge of my faith was deepened. So the seed of my vocation was planted as a young teenager. I felt I would like to give my life to God, in thanksgiving for all His goodness to me. I realised I was too young to join a Religious Order, so I decided to spend time at work.
When employed with a firm of solicitors,I still remained faithful to my religion and prayer life and attended Mass daily on my lunch break and spent time regularly in Eucharistic Adoration.The call to Religious Life still persisted. At this time, the Mercy Sisters were setting up a Lay Association. I decided to join.We met monthly for prayer meetings. A guided prayer retreat was organised for Lent, which I attended. My prayer guide gave me a Scripture passage to reflect on and to discuss the following day.The passage was Luke 10:38-42, the story of Martha and Mary. The following day when we met to discuss this passage, totally unplanned. I announced that I had often thought of contemplative Religious Life. My prayer guide gave me names and addresses of various congregations to contact. When I contacted the Poor Clares in Drumshanbo and called to visit them, I knew that it was here that God was calling me, as their life is centred on Eucharistic Adoration. However, as my mother was quite elderly at this stage, I stayed to care for her until she passed away, R.I.P. while still keeping in contact with the sisters. I spent some time in La Verna Retreat House attached to the monastery, where I could participate in all the Liturgies and spend time before the Blessed Sacrament exposed.
On the feast of St. Clare, 11th August 2011, I joined the Community. My family and friends were very supportive of me in my decision. Our life is one of Adoration, Praise, Intercession and Reparation for the Church and the World, lived with love in sharing responsibilities in a spirit of simplicity and joy. I am very happy with my choice and community life offers encouragement and support on the journey.
I would say to anyone considering Religious Life that God always makes the path clear and He will guide you and you will find fulfilment in carrying out His will.
“The Lord carried you, as a man carries his child, all along the road you travelled” Deut. 1:31b.
