With hearts overflowing with gratitude and joy, we praise and thank God for the precious gift of our vocation. It was a day of grace, blessing, and fulfilment, a day that will remain forever engraved in our hearts. God, in His infinite love and mercy, called each one of us by name and invited us to follow Him more closely in the Notre Dame family. We, the newly professed Sisters Mary Pushpa Soren, Swati Xaxa, Christina Murmu, Esma Bara, Jhili Tadinga, Elizabeth Kisku, Anjeera Bara, Sanjana Minj, Anisha Nutan Tigga, Naisha Toppo, Ezhil Arasi.S, and Reetika Lakra, offer our sincere thanksgiving to God for His faithful love and guidance throughout our journey.
From the very beginning, God has been leading us with His loving hand. Through various experiences, challenges, and moments of growth, He gently formed us and prepared us for this sacred commitment. Looking back on our vocation journey, we can truly see how God’s grace has accompanied us at every step. His call has been a source of strength, hope, and inspiration, drawing us ever closer to His heart.
The days of preparation before our profession were particularly meaningful. Our retreat offered us a sacred opportunity to enter into a deeper communion with God through prayer, silence, reflection, and personal encounter with Him. During those grace-filled days, we reflected on His unconditional love and renewed our desire to dedicate our lives entirely to His service. The retreat strengthened us spiritually and helped us to prepare ourselves inwardly and outwardly for the vows we were about to profess.
Our profession theme is, “I have called you by name; you are Mine” (Isaiah 43:1), became the foundation of our preparation and celebration. These beautiful words reminded us that God’s call is personal, unique, and loving. He knows each of us intimately and has chosen us to be His own. This assurance filled our hearts with confidence and joy as we prepared to make our commitment before God and the congregation.
The solemn celebration of our First Profession began at 11:00 a.m. in an atmosphere of prayer, reverence, and thanksgiving. The entrance procession was beautifully led by the first-year novices, symbolizing the continuation of the journey of formation and discipleship. The hall was filled with priests, sisters, who gathered to witness and celebrate this special occasion with us.
During the Eucharistic celebration, we experienced God’s presence in a profound way. As we pronounced our vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, we offered ourselves completely to God and entrusted our future into His loving hands. It was a sacred moment of surrender and commitment, marked by deep joy, gratitude, and peace. Standing before the altar, we felt united with countless religious women who have faithfully responded to God’s call throughout the history of the Church.
The celebration was made even more meaningful by the prayers, hymns, Scripture readings, and inspiring message that reminded us of the beauty and responsibility of religious life. The presence of our loved ones and our Notre Dame family added warmth and joy to the occasion. Their prayers and support strengthened us and assured us that we are not alone on this journey.
On this memorable day, we express our heartfelt gratitude to our formators who accompanied us with patience, dedication, and love. Through their guidance, encouragement, correction, and prayerful support, they helped us to grow in faith, maturity, and commitment. Their witness of religious life has inspired us to embrace our vocation with generosity and trust.
We are also deeply grateful to all our sisters in the congregation who supported us through their prayers, sacrifices, and encouragement. Their example of faithful service and joyful dedication has motivated us to continue our journey with courage and hope. We thank our families and friends who nurtured our faith and supported our vocation from the very beginning.
Sr.Mary Jhili and Sr. MaryArasi