A Religious Sister’s Journey

I am Gill, I am 37, a Chelsea supporter and a recently professed Salesian Sister. My response to God’s call has not been something that just happened overnight; it has been a real journey of faith with many ups and downs.

When I was 19 years old I spent best part of a year with a religious congregation, as I strived to respond to what I believed was God’s call. However the experience didn’t work as I had hoped and I returned home. This period of my life was painful, but as I look back I see it as a stepping stone to where I am now.

I decided to go to Sweden to work as a nanny, where it became clear to me that my passion was working with children and young people and that my faith was extremely important to me. I returned home and went to university to study Theology and RE. At the end of this course I met the Salesians and my life changed for ever.

I was offered a job in Savio Retreat House on a 2 year contract which stretched out to 8 years. The more I got to know Don Bosco (the founder of the Salesians) the more I began to be challenged by the same call I had heard before. My work was more than a job, it was a way of living. The Salesian priests and brothers with whom I lived were an inspiration to me, so why move? I was happy. I had good friends, my own flat, good holidays; but something was missing. So many things impinged on His space. I knew I was being called to something more radical, to a more committed life.

To cut a long story short I began an accompaniment programme which led me to spend a year in community with the Salesian Sisters. I spent 2 years in Kendal deepening my relationship with God. I realised that same spirit of Don Bosco was being lived out in both communities. I asked to begin the noviciate and so officially joined the Salesian Sisters.

I was sent to International Noviciate in Rome for 2 years. This was a real journey of self discovery, of a disciplined life and prayer, and stripped back all superficiality of life to make room for the Lord. A tough, enlightening journey, and the blessing of meeting 40 other like-minded young women from all over Europe responding to the same call to Salesian religious life.

On August 5th I made my first profession as an FMA, knowing that my companions in various places would be doing the same. The bond of prayer between us was pure gift. It was a wonderful youthful family day of celebration, faith and commitment.

I am now in Liverpool as past of a community of 10 sisters. It is a wonderful place to be. I am attached to St John Bosco’s school as a youth worker and director of VIDES, our volunteer organisation. I really feel my gifts and talents are being used for the good of young people. The noviciate has given me a good grounding to try daily to harmonise the spirit of work and prayer that Don Bosco and Mary Mazzarello did so well. It has been, and continues to be, a crazy adventure filled with so many blessings which have given me life.

For more vocation stories of religious visit: www.ukreligiouslife.org/vocation-stories/

Sr Gill McCambridge