VIRIDITAS2: SOUL GREENING
The motivating force behind all that I do stems from my firm belief in God’s call. This is the vocation I have, to be a religious woman for God in the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians. Wherever God wants me to work to spread His good news, I need to be ready to go. Last year, my superior called me with a new mission. With trust in God, I was happy to accept this assignment to Hawaii.
My family is from the southern coastal Indian state of Kerala. I have an older brother and a younger sister. My younger sister is also a Missionary Sister of Mary Help of Christians. Growing up, I was surrounded by a good number of religious sisters of different religious orders. These included my cousins and first cousins, and my father’s sister (my aunt). Whenever they would return home for a few days of holiday, they would tell us a lot of stories sharing their experiences. It was by listening to their stories and seeing their happiness that I wanted too, to become a nun.
In 10th grade, I remember receiving a letter from one of my cousins, who was a sister, asking me whether I still had the desire to become a nun. I said, “Yes.” Thus, arrangements were made for some of us from the province to enter the convent.
Whenever anyone asked me after, “Why did you want to become a nun?” I responded, “I wanted to work for the Lord.” Today, I give the same answer, “I want to work for the Lord. I want to spread His good news.”
Although in my younger years, I did not have that much faith or understanding, I knew God would never give me more than I could do. After I entered the convent and worked in different areas of life, lived in different places and worked with different people, I gained a lot of experience. I taught in a classroom, was involved in pastoral ministry, mission work, and even served as a principal for 11 years before coming here. These experiences have helped to deepen my faith in God and to strengthen my vocation.
Experience is the best teacher.
“My grace is enough for you,” 2 Corinthians 12:9 tells us. When there are difficult or challenging situations, I truly believe God is there walking beside me. This is my life as a religious. This is the motivation of my life. And this is what brought me to St. Catherine School in Kauai as their new principal.
Sister Jincy Thomas is one of three Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians (MSMHC) who arrived in October from the India state of Kerala to serve the parish and school of St. Catherine in Kapaa. of Alexandria Church and School. The three sisters expanded the community’s Hawaii mission to seven members. Four others serve on Oahu.
