A Vocation Story from Malvern Retreat House, By Sr. Marie Kateri de Francisco, SV

October 29, 2024

A young adult retreat at Malvern Retreat House changed my life! It was a few decades ago, but it feels like yesterday. I asked a priest on retreat, “Doesn’t it say somewhere in the Bible that God knew us before we were born?”  Hardly had I asked that question and tears filled my eyes. “Father, I need to step into the chapel now.”   I entered to discover that Eucharistic Adoration had begun. Father arrived to hand me a paper with two Scripture passages:  Psalm 139 and Jeremiah 1:5. I opened my Bible to Psalm 139, “You knit me in my mother’s womb” and then in Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.”  Now my tears flowed like Niagara Falls; God’s personal, particular love overwhelmed me. I had known that God loves us, in general, but that was the first time I experienced His personal love.

When I left chapel, I told Father, “You must speak this from the pulpit that God does not love us only in general, but He loves us personally, uniquely, with a particular love!”  Father responded, “I think you should share that.”  The next day after the closing Mass, they invited anyone to come forward to share their graces. Impelled by the fire of God’s love burning within me, I proclaimed His personal love. 

After I spoke, two young women, whom I did not personally know, asked to pray with me. They were active in the charismatic renewal movement, which was new to me, but I agreed. As they prayed, one began to say things she could not possibly know about me. As she continued to pray in the Spirit, these words deeply struck me: “I have called you before and you keep saying, ‘Not yet, not yet.’”  Those were the EXACT words I had been saying to the Lord! I had felt God calling me to become a religious Sister, but I had been pushing away the call. I burst into tears in awe.

I remained in the chapel and then wandered around the grounds, which led to a Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. I sat there transfixed for a long time, allowing the graces to penetrate my heart. It was July 4^th; the Lord had provided His own fireworks display, stunningly confirming His call for me to be His Bride – a call I could no longer deny nor delay.

The next month, I met Cardinal O’Connor, our Founder, at World Youth Day in Denver. He invited me to contact his Sisters of Life. The rest is history, as they say. After my Final Vows, I visited Our Lady’s Chapel at Malvern, where I received those amazing graces and joyfully noticed for the first time that St. Kateri was in the mural behind the altar! Recently, I returned for a Mass of Thanksgiving in honor of my 25 years in vows. Malvern Retreat House holds a special place in my heart.                                  

   — Sr. Maria Kateri de Francisco, SV–