My name is Sr.
Dorcas Cordilia Munthali. I am the third born in the family of
six. I was attracted by the sisters’ habit when I was seven
years old. Latter I discovered that there is some more which I
liked about the sisters. I was attracted by their services. I
was a member of the “Daughters of Stella” a group for girls at
the parish which was ran by the sisters. The sisters used to
share a lot about their life and the life of saints. I was
attracted by the life of St. Agnes and I felt called at an early
stage to follow the Lord. I was 7 years old when I felt the
call. My decisions where based on this experience ever since I
met the sisters. My family was very supportive and they
encouraged me to do want I wanted to. I finished High school in
1989. Six month later I joined the Franciscan Missionary
Sisters of Assisi. Since I had applied to go to college before
going to the convent, I was given an opportunity to go to
college to be certified as a High school teacher in Math. I
spent two years in college while discerning about my vocation.
Life at the
college was very challenging but I still felt called to be a
religious sister. I persevered, two years later I went back to
the formation house and I was received as a Postulant. I was
happy to have had a college experience because it helped me to
discern about what I really wanted to become a sister or a
married woman. After one year I applied and was accepted to
begin my Novitiate. My Novitiate was very challenging for me
because my dad lost his job and I
was somehow discouraged. I
felt my family needed my support, since I was a trained teacher
I would get a job and help them. But as it is, God’s ways are
not always my way. I persevered through prayer and discernment.
Thank God, my dad found another job. In 1996, I made my first
vows. I was happy to be a religious sister.
My first
assignment was at a high school for girls. I enjoyed my work as
a religious and a Math teacher. In 2001 I applied to serve God
for all my life and I was accepted. I am glad I did. I am now a
missionary in the United States of America. My first assignment
was in The Bronx, it was challenging at first but I got used to
the environment and the work. I will always treasure the time I
spent in school with the children.
Sr.
Sofia Lee "I
have believed that a phone call I received was from God!"
In my early
twenties, I had to move to another city for my job. It was my
first time to leave my mother so long. I had two older sisters
who got married and each of them have one daughter and one son.
While I was in Pusan, I had attended a Franciscan parish where
our Sisters were working, taking care of children from lepers’
families. I saw the Sisters as mothers of the over one hundred
children. Sometimes I visited the children’s house if I could
find something to do for them. One day, one of the Sisters told
me it would be good if I could knit sweaters for the children
because they needed warm and motherly love since they were
living far away from their parents, so I made tons of sweaters.
I think that because of my faithfulness to what I was doing, a
Sister asked me if, perhaps, I have an interest in religious
life. Those days, I did not know how to say “No”. Therefore, I
made up a story. I told that Sister that I had an old mother
who relied totally on me, so I didn’t have the courage to say
that I wanted to leave my Mom to become a Sister. But, I said,
“Whenever my mother is ready to send me, I will come.” My work
in Pusan finished, so I went back to my hometown. I forgot
about that spontaneous conversation.
Time went by and
I questioned my self about what I really wanted to do in my
life. Slowly I found my self thinking of entering a religious
community, but I had a friend who was waiting for me to marry
him. I could not decide any thing by my self. One of my
friends told me there was a prayer I could say to Mary to
receive response about my petition. I decided to pray in a
special way. Every morning I got up early and went the Cave of
Mary in Dague and prayed faithfully with some of my friends.
Before finishing my 54 days prayer, I realized that Mary was
with me. Other wise I could not have been possible for me to
get up at 4:30am for 54 days. While I was praying, I found
peace in my heart, and already I was ready to do whatever God
would tell me. On the day, when we had finished the novena six
times, we went on a day of pilgrimage to give thanks to our Lady
and the Lord. After the journey, I came back home and my mother
told me a Sister from Pusan had called and wanted to talk with
me. After I had left Pusan, about two years before, we had not
had any contact each other. On the day of finishing my prayer
for finding my vocation, I got “the phone call”. The Sister was
asking “When are you going to enter?” I did not hesitate in
deciding on my vocation. Immediately I joined our
congregation.
Sometimes when I
have experienced difficulties, I always remembered the phone
call which reminded me. “I called you!” I hear it as if God is
telling me, again, of His choice.
I think God knew
how vulnerable and weak I was, so He let me have an
unforgettable experience, so I could overcome the hard times. I
have been living in religious life for 22 years already. I
really appreciate “the phone call”. God called me and kept me
in His house to love Him, and to serve His people. We celebrate
our life together sharing what we have, and embracing each
others’ wounds.
God is good!!
Sr. Sofia Lee
Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi
1039 Northampton Street
Holyoke, MA 01040-1320
1-413-532-8156
attracted by the sisters’ habit when I was seven
years old. Latter I discovered that there is some more which I
liked about the sisters. I was attracted by their services. I
was a member of the “Daughters of Stella” a group for girls at
the parish which was ran by the sisters. The sisters used to
share a lot about their life and the life of saints. I was
attracted by the life of St. Agnes and I felt called at an early
stage to follow the Lord. I was 7 years old when I felt the
call. My decisions where based on this experience ever since I
met the sisters. My family was very supportive and they
encouraged me to do want I wanted to. I finished High school in
1989. Six month later I joined the Franciscan Missionary
Sisters of Assisi. Since I had applied to go to college before
going to the convent, I was given an opportunity to go to
college to be certified as a High school teacher in Math. I
spent two years in college while discerning about my vocation.
was somehow discouraged. I
felt my family needed my support, since I was a trained teacher
I would get a job and help them. But as it is, God’s ways are
not always my way. I persevered through prayer and discernment.
Thank God, my dad found another job. In 1996, I made my first
vows. I was happy to be a religious sister. 
time to leave my mother so long. I had two older sisters
who got married and each of them have one daughter and one son.
While I was in Pusan, I had attended a Franciscan parish where
our Sisters were working, taking care of children from lepers’
families. I saw the Sisters as mothers of the over one hundred
children. Sometimes I visited the children’s house if I could
find something to do for them. One day, one of the Sisters told
me it would be good if I could knit sweaters for the children
because they needed warm and motherly love since they were
living far away from their parents, so I made tons of sweaters.
I think that because of my faithfulness to what I was doing, a
Sister asked me if, perhaps, I have an interest in religious
life. Those days, I did not know how to say “No”. Therefore, I
made up a story. I told that Sister that I had an old mother
who relied totally on me, so I didn’t have the courage to say
that I wanted to leave my Mom to become a Sister. But, I said,
“Whenever my mother is ready to send me, I will come.” My work
in Pusan finished, so I went back to my hometown. I forgot
about that spontaneous conversation.
