|
? Sona's Story
? Member of the Founding Group |
|
I had wondered for several years whether I was being called to religious life
and I began to focus more specifically on what I was hoping for in religious
life during my time in Cornerstone, a lay discernment community. I did not
feel called to an enclosed community but hoped for a prayer life that was
contemplative and core to the life I was to lead as a religious; I hoped for
a community life that was genuine; I wanted hospitality to be offered and
support for all vocational choices: single, married, religious, priest. When Camilla began to share further on ideas she had had for some time about a possible new community, I felt inspired. I recognised the seeds of something new that were germinating, before our eyes it seemed.
In 2004, on the 6th January, Epiphany, as the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham was founded, I committed to the time of novitiate and to continuing to help to discern the charism of the Community. I appreciated the grounding in Carmelite spirituality and the steady rhythm of prayer; the opportunity of knowing myself better through meeting with a psychotherapist; the experience and wisdom of my spiritual director. I was stretched through this and through the commitments of the COLW: a sense of looking out on wide horizons and having the freedom to serve God and each other.
It was through this period of prayer, of growing in understanding, meeting with a spiritual director and with a psychotherapist, that I became aware in July that I was not called to religious life. In many ways I was helped to come to this decision by the COLW: at another time/place I may have wondered if I needed to try another religious community but because I had received such a freedom to pray and explore, I was prepared to accept that it was not religious life and though sad, I experienced a great peace.
The time spent in COLW and the focussing on discernment stood me in good stead as I prayed in a flat in London for direction. It was a very testing time especially as there were no immediate answers.
Six months after leaving the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham, I decided to study further. I also met James and felt that God was encouraging me to be open to him. I am now married to James and we already have two beautiful daughters. We have been able to give talks on marriage, as a vocation and also our discernment process. I feel as grateful as ever to God for my faith journey and to the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham for the fullness of life I was able to participate in and continue to. I know that I had my part to play in the founding of the Community and that it was there that God was able to speak clearly to me, once I was ready, so that I was able to continue to mature in faith.
|
