‘MOST of my friends didn’t accept my decision to be a sister when I told them,’ said Sister (Sr) Mary Thomas Maduna about her decision to live a religious life as a Franciscan in the Region of St Clare, Holy Childhood Sisters in the Catholic Church of eShowe.
‘They thought I wouldn’t be coming home, but it’s not like that.’
Sr Mary Thomas Maduna and Sr Mary Crossantia Mkhize made their temporary vows on 21 January 2014.
This is the second stage in their journey to becoming religious sisters.
Sr Crossantia is 23-years-old, and had different plans before she felt the calling.
‘I was studying Education at Unisa before I decided to become a sister. I wanted to make money, get a car and my own house! But we were visited by sisters who gave us a speech during a workshop, Promoting Vocations. I just had this overwhelming feeling, a great desire and wish to serve God and His people. In 2010, this feeling just got stronger,’ she said.
The 26-years-old Sr Thomas said before she decided to follow God, her life revolved around sports. ‘Around the time I started feeling the call of God, I liked playing sports. I was playing netball and I just wanted to be a netball player,’ she said with a broad grin.
‘I still love playing sports!” she laughs.
The two young women take their vows seriously. During the service, which drew scores of people to the St Benedict’s Cathedral in eShowe, they vowed to follow a life of poverty, obedience and consecrated chastity for three years. The last stage in this journey will be their final vows during which they dedicate their lives to God for a lifetime. ‘Then it will be our wedding day! You get a ring and give yourself to God,’ said Sr Crossantia.
They are also encouraged to further their studies. ‘You have to have a qualification. We try to use our qualifications to help the community at all times,’ said Sr Crossantia.
‘I like children and want to work with children and do youth care. When I see children without parents, I want to communicate with them and give them love,’ said Sr Thomas about her future plans.
‘I would like to study clinical psychology because people need someone to listen to them and understand them. I want to help people deal with the challenges of our time,’ explained Sr Crossantia.
For these two sisters, their religious lives have only begun and they are happy and content with their choice to serve God and their fellow man.
