Deacon . . Or Sister?
The Story of a vocation . . .
I joined Children of Mary on November 27,2007, according to the old calendar it was the Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Metal. And what a miracle, I'm home, a safe haven where I meet with my Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament each morning and again in the evening before retiring for the night. How blessed I am that God has called me to be Mary, sitting at His feet, when I have spent many years being Martha, busy running and searching, looking everywhere for peace and truth.
At first I thought peace and truth was in world-but it was not there. Then I thought it was in this Protestant church or that one. I found that they had all facet of truth and God, but I kept looking for the fulness of truth.
I finally settled down in the Nazarene Church. I found family and people who truly loved me unconditionally for who I was. They prayed for me and helped me find a relationship with Jesus. I started school at Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU), to learn more about God, but also to prepare for leadership. I Just knew that being part of the inner circle in leadership would make me complete. So I started on the Deacon Track. First I got my Local Ministerial Licence, then got my District Ministerial License. I was on my way and was involved in many differant ministries. Yes, I finally was receiving more peace and love than I had ever experienced in my life. But, there was still something missing, a major key with my walk with the Lord. I spoke to one of the ministers that I needed a Bible Study and ministries were blocking that opprotunity, he told me that I had God and the Bible to teach me, that now I was in leadership, and went to God. I thought, had I arrived? Is this what Jesus died for? There just had to be more.
Now I know that there is, there are the great Saints of the Church Saint Terese' of Lisueux, Theresa of Avila, St John of the Cross, they have already walked this road to holiness successfully and they have written books and have oh so much to teach all of us.
I have always loved Israel in fact my heart was in Israel, In January 2005 I had spent two weeks as a volunteer in the Israeli Defense Force and another week in Jerusalem. I have longed to return, but the doors never opened again for me to go; I would never be settled until I could returned and walked again where my Savior had walked.
I was raised Protestant and I loved Jesus oh so much as a child. One time I went to a Catholic wedding and it was oh so beautiful, I loved it and knew I wanted to be Catholic when I grew up. At 19 that journey into the Catholic Church began. Unfortunately, I truly did not understand Catholisim,but I did learn the prayers but, my heart was not converted. So as the weight of the world and the business of life started on me, I just gave up on God all together.
Years later I started wondering who Jesus was and started attending a Protestant Church, but one day when in Carey Ohio, I stopped at Our Lady of Consolation Shrine. I knelt in front of Mary and asked her who her son really was. Was He truly the Son of God? It wasn't too long later I knew that Jesus was God Incarnet, God in the flesh. My search for truth began again in various Protestant Churches. Periodically, I would go to Mass and almost always to Mid-night Christmas eve Mass at Holy Family. Around 2002 or 2003 I met Father Lutz, from Holy Family at an interdenominational Lenten service.
Then in October 2005 I was visiting a friend who shared with me parts of the book written by Jurgins, about the Founding Fathers,and I knew there was truth inside the Catholic Church. Immediately, I started going to Mass during the week, and got EWTN. That January 2006 I took what ended up being my last Class at MVNU, on the Founding Fathers, from Christ to the Reformation. The longer I took the class the more Catholic I was becoming and knew I would never take the class on the Reformation. I finally had found the truth in the one Church that Jesus Christ had established. John 20:22Jesus set up the Apostolic Session 1 Timothy 3:15 That the church was the pillar and foundation of truth and Ephesians 2:19-20 that the household of God was built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ Himself the capstone.
Then I found Eucharistic Adoration, the real presence of Jesus, where I could sit at His feet, worship and adore Him, spend hours looking at Him, being loved by Him and loving Him. My relationship was becoming deeper and more intimate with God than I have ever known. Then I was having a real crisis of belief, a Catholic Nazarene I would not be able to be, but I really tried.
In August 2006, I joined Holy Family and right away I asked Sr. Mary Frances about religious orders, Father Lutz felt I should wait and get grounded in my faith which was good advice. In June this year I talked to him about religious orders and he gave me a pamphlet of Children of Mary. I read it off and on over the next 3 months and did nothing. So God orchestrated a meeting on September 8 at St. Patricks where someone introduced me to Mother Margaret Mary. I didn't know it at the time but, at that moment my life changed, my priorities changed. Five days later I came up for four days. Two weeks later I came up for two weeks. Living in Columbus I could come up frequently and I did. I loved everything the hills, the trees, the work, the Liturgy of the Hours, the Rosary, the Chapel - Jesus, Jesus, Jesus everywhere. There are so many tools to use to teach me how to grow ever closer to my Lord and my God. There is no where else in the world I would rather be. Israel even wanes to Children of Mary. Jesus may have walked there; but Jesus IS HERE in the Eucharist. I am so very blessed that God has called me to be His bride.
On August 6, 2008, Sister Dvorah became the second novice of the Children of Mary.
Click HERE to read more about Sister Dvorah's Investiture Ceremony.
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