Not wasting my life, but living it to the full!
Sr. Camela Marie Millan, OP, Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne

"Why would you want to waste your life?" This or something similar was my father's response about 12 years ago when I told my family that I would like to become a Religious.

Ten years later, I came to the US to work as a nurse. I had my own car, my own apartment; I was living the life I had always dreamed of as a young girl back in the Philippines. But the Lord never lets go of those He calls. On my part, what prompted me to finally say "yes" was the realization of God's unconditional love for me and I wanted to give Him thanks through the gift of self. The courage to finally stand before The Lord and say, "Here I am, send me!" was itself a grace from God. "Be not afraid" a challenge coming from Pope John Paul ll, echoed by Pope Benedict XVl shortly after his election to the papacy, also helped strengthen my resolve to follow God's call.

I believe it was God's guiding hand which led me to the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne. The joy and quiet peace I saw on each Sister's face affirmed my conviction that, yes, Religious life is a life full of joy, and, although not without its challenges, it is nonetheless a life which satisfies one's deep longing for happiness.

I am already halfway through my first year of canonical novitiate and I still have about a year and a half to go before taking my First Profession of Vows. My parents have already expressed their acceptance of my vocation in life and are happy that I am happy.

If someboday were to ask me now, "Why are you wasting your life tucked away in a convent?" I would respond, "On the contrary, I am but living my life to the full!" I think the words of Our Lord are fulfilled: " I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly." I thank the Lord for calling me to this Community whose particualr charism is to contemplate the crucified Christ is the faces of the sick and suffering poor. May the Lord Jesus Christ, through the intercession of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, my patroness, grant me the graces of perseverance and fortitude to continually be faithful to the grace-filled life He has called me to. Amen.

Sr. Camela Marie Millan, OP