In this new triennium in the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe we are accompanied by the motto: “artisans of care” and the experience of it has not been long in coming, last November we had the opportunity to accompany two vocational meetings in two countries that are part of our demarcation.
Guatemala and Costa Rica, although separated by kilometers, but enriched by their cultures were the scenarios that united us in the same spirit: the desire to accompany the young women in their journey of discernment and search for their own vocation. This experience became for us a vocational framework where even the sisters who participated renewed our generous yes. Both meetings were accompanied and energized by Sister Maria Damaris Garcia, Provincial Promoter.
On the one hand, the Luis Amigó Home opened its doors on November 8, 9 and 10 to receive the vocation promoters of the communities present in Guatemala, to share the joy of vocation with eight young ladies from the departments of Totonicapán and Quetzaltenango who responded to the invitation to participate in the discernment retreat, which had as its motto: “You are my treasure”: “You are my treasure” the young women had the opportunity to share moments of prayer with the Word, formation topics, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, dynamics, a day of silence in a desert environment in which each one had a space alone with Jesus in the Sacrament. And this vocational framework is taking shape since from this group of young people who participated, will come out the next candidates who with hope and faith will enter the aspirancy next year 2025. We give thanks to God who continues to touch the hearts of the young women to let themselves be moved by the person of Jesus who continues to call workers to his harvest.
In the same vein, the Postulancy community in La Ribera de Belen, Costa Rica, arranged with great enthusiasm its home to receive the young women on November 22, 23 and 24 together with the team of vocation promoters present in the country, in which five young women participated under the motto: “Turn me on” The retreat activities included moments of contemplative prayer, group dynamics and testimonies of a religious sister who said yes to this way of life. The figure of Mary was key in the meeting where we shared the consequences of the “yes”. The motto “Ignite me” resounded strongly in each heart, reminding them that God is the one who ignites the spark of vocation in each one, but we need to be willing to ask for it with an open and generous heart.
In this experience the framework gives us the certainty that it is He who stirs the hearts and, although we do not always see the fruits immediately, we trust that His grace will continue to work in each young woman, guiding them towards the discernment of their vocation, they themselves said that after the meeting they took clarifications that become relevant to give an answer.
At the end of the retreat, the young women left with their hearts burning with love and commitment, ready to carry the fire of faith into their daily lives, renewed and strengthened to continue their vocational journey with courage and hope.
In this framework we have experienced ourselves as artisans of care, trusting that our task is to accompany, sow and care with prayer for the lives that the Lord entrusts to us.
