With Joyful Hearts and Great Thanks to the Lord
On Saturday, December 3rd, at the Cabrini-on-Hudson House of Discernment and Formation in West Park, New York, Sr. Martha Lopez Prada, MSC made her first profession of vows with many Missionary Sisters and friends in attendance. Called forth by Sr. Lucy Panettieri, MSC, Novice Directress, Martha, a native of Colombia, responded with the words, “Here I am Lord, for you have called me” and thus began her request for vows.
Sr. Pietrina Raccuglia, MSC, Provincial, asked, “Martha, what do you ask of God and his Church?”
Sr. Martha replied, “I, Martha Lopez Prada, have by God’s loving kindness and your charity, lived among you as your sisters during the time of my novitiate; I now make my request to you, Sr. Pietrina, that I may be accepted to first profession of vows and to live my consecrated life, as lived by this community.
“I want to follow Jesus, the living of the evangelical counsels and by observing the Constitutions of our community. I shall fulfil my desire of preparing more perfectly for perpetual commitment, and of offering myself more fully to the service of God and of the Church.”
Thereupon, Sr. Pietrina responded, “May God in His loving kindness fulfill your hope, and may he enable us to help you, and work together for the Kingdom of God.”
In the presence of the Assembly, Martha made her first commitment to Christ through the Institute of the Church and the assembled community stated, “We welcome you with joy, Martha. We promise to support you in love, to be united with you in faith and to share with you the Spirit of the Sacred Heart all the days of your life.”
In presenting the MSC cross to Sr. Martha, Sr. Pietrina said, “ Sr. Martha, receive this Cross and know that on a Cross Christ’s compassion was shown for us unto the piercing of His Heart. May your own life in this community be a giving of yourself for the life of the world.”