To begin to remember the history of my vocation is to recall the arrival of the Mission of the Cork Sisters of Mercy to Peru. I was studying in Primary school and it was there I first knew the Sisters when they came to visit the school. They introduced the teachers and the pupils to a religious programme which we didn’t have. We were formed in the faith though the preparation for the Sacraments and understanding of the Mass. I studied in Primary and Secondary in State Schools and the Sisters gave us a great love for our religion and we got to know Jesus and love the Church.
From an early age I admired the works of Mercy by the Sisters, visitation of homes, working as nurses in medical centres where the sick poor could get attention, working in evangelisation with adult and juvenile groups in parishes and directing spiritually the Legion of Mary. I joined the Legion of Mary very young and loved to attend every Saturday. This brought us Legionaries to play a very important role in the Sunday Liturgy where we distributed Mass and Hymn sheets. One of our duties was to invite a new person to Mass and so from early on we became missionaries spreading the Good News.
Later I joined the Group of Catechists in the parish, who prepared Children for first Communion and Confirmation. Also I became a member of the Youth Group and so my Christian vocation developed always with the missionary dimension.
Later I felt called to follow the Mercy Sisters’ way of life and I became part of the Vocation Discernment Group. Although I had an option to choose any congregation my inclination was towards the Mercy Congregation. For me it was a definite calling to respond to the poverty, and educational, health and spiritual needs of my barrio. It was my response to Jesus’ promise: “tell you in so far as you did it to one of these the least of mine, you did it to me” (Mt.25:1, 40) I entered the Congregation on January 1st, 1981.
God continued to guide my vocation through the Congregation especially the community life, depth of prayer, Biblical reflection and the charisma of our Foundress, Catherine McAuley who as her legacy left us Union and Charity, and urged us to serve our poor sisters and brothers, reminding us that we are called to serve a crucified Redeemer and for that we are sustained and strengthened by the Eucharist as John Paul II tells us in his letter, “the Eucharist provides the inner strength needed for this mission” (Mane Nobiscum Domine 25) I took my Temporary Vows on 30th June, 1984 in the San Patricio Convent. Studying for my degree, working in the parish and teaching religion in a State Secondary School and working on weekends with catechists and youth groups was and is the life I really love.
I made my Final Profession on 20th December, 1992, consecrating my life to the God of all life and in the Congregation of Mercy. What Catherine left us is marvelous and I am grateful for this grace. We are called to be where the evangelical values are being daily eroded in a world where everything is relative. We look at our vocation as Jerimiah “before I formed you in the womb, I consecrated you… I appointed you as prophet to the nation… to build and to plant. (Jer. 1:4,10). My vocation is a gift from God, and I thank the first Sisters of Mercy, who leaving their country, came to Peru and shared with us the Gospel and the Mercy Charism. We are the witnesses to-day of their dedication and devotion to the poor and marginalized of Peru. I ask you to pray for us that we continue to be faithful to the great gift and privilege we have received to be with and for the poor.
Al hacer memoria de la historia de mi vocacion. Es recordar la llegada de la mission de las hermanas de la Misericordia a Peru. Desde muy pequena conoci y admire la realizacion de obras de la Misericordia .visitando los hogares, promoviendo a los jovenes en los centros parroquiales,atendiendo en las postas medicas, ensenando en las escuelas estates religion. Estudie primaria y secundaria en una escuela estatal. En donde ellas nos visitaron y nos ensenaron la fe, desde pequena esta integrada a la Legion de Maria que ellas dirigian cada sabado, luego me integer al grupo de catequistas para la primera comunion,tambien forme parte del grupo juvenil y asi crecia en esta vocacion cristiana.
Despues forme parte del grupo de discernimiento de la vocacion. Y aunque tenían la opción de elegir cualquier congregación .Me incline hacia la Congregación porque era un llamado fuerte d e responder a las necesidades de las obras de la Misericordia según Mateo 25,1.45.( En verdad les digo que siempre que no lo hicieron con algunos de estos mis hermanos pequeños, conmigo no lo hicieron). Y es asi como ingrese ala Congregación el 1 de Enero del ano 1981. Escuchando el llamado en Jeremías 1,10”Antes de formarte en el seno de tu madre, ya te conocía, antes de que tu nacieras yo te consagré,)
Dios iba guiando mi vocacion a traves de las hermanas sobre todo d ela vida comunitaria ala, profundidad de la oracion y el conocimiento de las santa Biblia el charisma nuestra fundara, quien en su legado nos da la Union y Caridad, y nos anima en el servicio a nuestros hemranos “estamos llamadas a server a un redentor crucificado “ y animada, fortalecida por el alimento diario de la esucaristia. Me senti llamada a seguir este carmine de la historia con Catalina caminando con la hermanas, realice mis votos temporales el 30 de Junio de 1984. En el convento de St Patricio.
Trabajando en la parroquia con Legion de Maria y los jovenes ensenando educacion religiosa en los colegios de secundaria, Realizando fines de semana EJE,ERE.(Encuentro de Renovacion en el espiritu) Llamada a seguir el camino de Misericordia con mi congregacion entonces , Relaice mis votos perpetuos el 20 de Diciembre de 1992. es un compromiso con ese Dios de la Vida y de la creacion. Mi vocacion es el regalo de Dios, asi como Maria considera ser Madre de Dios por gracia.
El camino de Catherine Mc Auley nos dejo es algo maravilloso, Agradecer a Dios por ese magnifico don, hoy es una gracia. Esta llamada donde los valores evangélicos se van perdiendo, en el mundo actual más relativo. La vocación es le regalo maravilloso de Dios. y doy gracias a mis primeras hermanas de Misericordia que dejando su pueblo llegan a Perú y nos entregaron el Carisma, El evangelio. Somos testigos de su entrega en los pueblos los pobres y marginados.
Nuestras primeras hermanas llegaron a Florencia de Mora y el Porvenir, cuando estos pueblos estaba iniciando y existía mucha pobreza, y la necesidad de evangelizar. Atendiendo en las Postas Médicas enseñando religión en las escuelas públicas, orientando la pastoral en los centros parroquiales. Caminaban por los arenales con el bordón en la mano haciendo las visitas a los hermanos en sus casas
Aurea Roldan Santiago rsm
