February 2, 2012. (Romereports.com) On February 2, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Consecrated Life. It's a day that carries a special significance for those in religious life. Sister Joana Martin was born 28 years ago in Spain. She began her career working with youth groups, but she found her true calling when she noticed the work of a group of nuns helping the unemployed. Joana began to question her own path in life.
Sister Joana Martín
Sisters of Mary Immaculate
“God was asking for a bigger commitment from me that I tried to avoid at times because they are commitments that affect your entire life. It's a calling that asks you to give everything you are, all that you have, and to give it to He, who gave it to you.”
Day by day, Sister Joana came to enjoy her duties as a religious. She finished her studies and came to know the congregation of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate. She began to work with them to help troubled families and women that were victims of abuse. It was a life style that she wasn't exactly planning on.
Sister Joana Martín
Sisters of Mary Immaculate
“I was expecting a job and a family but there was always something else calling for more. The way things turn out always hits you because maybe it's not what you expected, especially at a time when you are in charge of making the decisions in your life.”
Thirty year old Jinuo Muthukattil discovered his vocation due to illness. He worked for three months before an illness forced him to leave. He spent the next year recovering at home, causing something of a life crisis until finding support with his own religious group.
Jinu Muthukattil
Society of Mary
“I was in a place where there were not many Catholics. It was a Hindu populated area, so the Church was so far from where I was living. I could not go to the church very regularly and those who went to the Church on Sundays or occasionally, I saw their faith and I was really moved by it.”
Members of the Society of Mary are known as Marianists. Jinu was drawn to them by their special devotion to the Virgin Mary. He also didn't mind changing cities to help them in their work.
He eventually overcame the obstacles of culture shock and decided to live with the Marianists of India for one year. During that time he found his own vocation. Surrounded by poverty, the idea of being a missionary encouraged him to continue his studies and become a priest.
Jinu Muthukattil
Society of Mary
“Sometimes when we hear the voice of God, it's like a person who is speaking to the other person. For me it's not in that way. I see the voice of God in my life, in the way that it affected my life. In the events that played a role in my life. Some events were good events, some events were very bad events.”
Sister Joana and Jinu gave themselves to a life of community, obedience and commitment. Something they celebrate everyday of the year.
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