Three Vietnamese take first step in religious vocation
GIVING up boyfriends, secure jobs and family have made three Vietnamese women the happiest on earth.
Sr Therese Francis Pham, Sr Maria Goretti Tran and Sr Theresia Nguyen promised to love God forever as international missionary sisters at their first professions on Saturday, August 15.
All three women left their homes in Vietnam to join the Australian community of the Sisters of St Paul de Chartres, an international congregation originating from France.
Sr Therese Francis and Sr Maria Goretti have a special connection, having met at a prayer group in Vietnam.
“(Sr Therese Francis) is the friend that introduced me to the sisters,” Sr Maria Goretti said.
Both booked tickets on the same plane from Vietnam to Brisbane to start their new life as religious sisters.
Sr Therese Francis said before entering the convent she was “nearly a pagan” who preferred partying and drinking to going to Mass.
“Actually I liked Buddhism more than the Catholic Church,” she said.
A work colleague and a “mystical encounter with God” led her to a conversion of heart and eventually to Australia in 2012.
“I did not want to get married,” Sr Therese Francis said.
“I did not want to bind myself with anything, any person of this world, even God, but I said if I don’t have the courage to get over that fear, I will lose my happiness forever.
“I took the vow and he continues to teach me as he promised me.
“I felt very delighted.”
The three new sisters said they were excited to start the next phase in their religious vocations with their new “husband”.
Sr Maria Goretti, who left a computer engineering job and a committed relationship to enter the convent, broke down in tears while thanking her parents, who could not attend.
“And that day, I cried not because I felt very lonely, because my family didn’t come, I didn’t recognise that I owed my parents a lot and I owed everyone as well,” she said.
“I just felt that I’m so small and so fragile but then God put me so high to be nearer to his heart.
“I just felt very thankful, very grateful for what I have received.
“That day he dared to take me as his wife.
“You are very courageous, Jesus, but be careful,” she said laughing.
Sr Therese Francis said adhering to the religious vows of poverty, chastity and obedience was “not easy” but she did “all things with the love to my God, to my husband”.
“Like if you do something very small, say, cook something, now I cook for the Lord, for my husband,” she said.
“When I fold or prepare the vestments for (the priest), I do it for Jesus because he will get it because we always believe Jesus is in the priest.
“So I do it for Jesus and, so that he will wear it nicely, I do it very carefully.”
Sr Theresia was visiting Melbourne with family from Vietnam following her profession.
The three new sisters will prepare to make their final professions in five years.
