Vocation Story Sr. Mary Marcelline Riosa, RGS
It is hard to write a vocation story when you do not know how it started. The only thing I’m sure of is that I’m still in the convent for 60 years, still much in love with my Good Shepherd and happy in the sheepfold.
When I was young, I never thought of being a Sister, not even in my wildest dream. The only Sisters I saw were the Daughters of St. Paul selling books from house to house. I pitied them so much that my mother usually bought a book from them.
I got all my education from public schools and the state university. My only religious instruction was from our parish every Sunday afternoon. But as a child I love going to Mass everyday. It started when I was in high school. Then I had my devotion to our Lady of Lourdes and wore her habit.
After my college education I taught in St. Domitilla’s School (now St Bridget School) and residence where children are placed because of troubled family situations. I have seen the care and compassion of the Good Shepherd Sisters for the girls (from kindergarten to high school). And the way they work with the girls with personal problems in the school attracted me to the kindness of the old Sisters. I stayed with them during my vacation to help in their mission. I told my spiritual director of my attraction to take care of the girls and he advised me to try the convent life. I told one of the Sisters who in turn referred me to the one in charge of admission. I was accepted and from the moment I entered the door of the convent I never did turn back.
