I love hearing people's stories... what has made them into the people they are. I enjoy hearing how married couples met, how old timers grew up, how people decided to go into the field of their studies. It is so interesting to me to hear of the many experiences and twisty roads that led people to this very moment. My favorite stories are vocation stories of priests and sisters. These stories are so interesting because I would say that most people who enter the religious life don't dream of it while they are little, but a specific event or person in their lives alters their course forever, and usually the stories invoke tingly feelings of goose bumps all up and down my skin. Such was the case of the vocation story of Sr. Clarissa Abella, one of the Oikos Sisters.
Sister Clarissa was the youngest of 4 children in her family. She grew up in Borongan, Eastern Samar in the Philippines. I'm not sure what Clarissa wanted to be when she was little, but I think she always liked being adventurous. Once when she was young she helped fishermen catch fish on the beach. People gather on the beach and grab onto the end of a huge net and pull. It seems like it would be very strenuous work. At the end, everyone who helped received a fish. Clarissa's parents were not too happy to hear of her helping as it could be dangerous... but she smiled as she pulled the big fish from behind her back. Even though she helped to provide dinner for that day, I don't think Clarissa's parents ever let her do that again. Clarissa excelled in sports and had an amazing ear for music. Although she never took a single lesson, she learned how to play the piano and guitar brilliantly!!
One thing happened in Clarissa's childhood that started her on the path to the religious life, although at the time she had no idea of it. As is the case now, when Clarissa was young there were many orders of nuns in Borongan. One of those orders was the Sisters of the Visitation. Clarissa remembers very well the day she saw one of the sisters, a white woman from Italy. Immediately upon seeing her, Clarissa's mind was filled with questions... who is this woman? why is she here? why would a white woman be in the Philippines? The questions nagged at Clarissa until she finally had the courage to approach the sister and introduce herself. Despite the fact that the sister didn't speak Waray waray, the dialect spoken in Borongan, Clarissa felt a pull to know more about this woman. As the sister went about her work visiting the sick, Clarissa accompanied her and sort of paved the way for this sister to do her work. It amazed Clarissa that a woman not from her town would care for the people there. It had such a powerful impact on Clarissa's heart, and even to this day she remembers with loving fondness the white sister who had the courage and love to care for people not of her land.
As the years went by, Clarissa grew strongly in her Catholic faith. She became a member of a charismatic group and her love of music grew by leaps and bounds. She chose to study pharmacy in school, and her father had dreams of a medical clinic and pharmacy store as he had one daughter studying to be a doctor and another studying pharmacy. Yet, always in Clarissa's mind was the white sister and a nudging to follow in her footsteps. At one point, Clarissa left school and took all of her belongings to the Visitation Sister's convent, intending to join their order. However the concerns and tears of her mother called her back to the family and back to pharmacy school. The struggle between following the call she was sure God was giving her and being obedient to her parents was an extremely difficult one for Clarissa. In the end, she decided to honor her mother and father and finish school. However, upon the completion of her schooling, another struggle ensued when she was offered a job and the tears of her mother begged her to take the job, find security and financial stability and help her family. Visions of a cool home in the city and the perfect car filled Clarissa's head, but were decidedly dashed when she realized that that life was not what God wanted for her. Her whole life was laid out in front of her... a job, a home, a car... all it would take was a simple yes. But Clarissa's yes, her fiat, was ultimately to God.
It was not a decision her family approved of, and the life God called her to, one of poverty in following the life of St. Francis, was not anything they could understand. Eve
n the strong ties with her friends were stretched, and almost broke under the strain of the radical choice Clarissa made. It almost seemed too much, to go against family and friends, to not have the support of the people she loved most... I would think most people would give in to the familial and societal pressure placed upon them. However, Clarissa felt firm in her decision, and she was not without
n the strong ties with her friends were stretched, and almost broke under the strain of the radical choice Clarissa made. It almost seemed too much, to go against family and friends, to not have the support of the people she loved most... I would think most people would give in to the familial and societal pressure placed upon them. However, Clarissa felt firm in her decision, and she was not without
support. Three other women shared Clarissa's deep conviction that God was calling them to help the poor by embracing a life of poverty themselves. Led by Minerva Bagas, Ethel Amidao and Aileen Elpedes joined Clarissa to come to the aid of their poverty-stricken people. And, under the guidance of Bishop Leonardo Medroso, their religious order Oikos Ptochos Tou Theou, The Poor Household of God, was born.
It wasn't an easy road God paved for them. The difficulties and challenges they faced were many, but holding firm to their calling and to their fervent trust in God, they allowed themselves to be led by the Holy Spirit... and He led them these 20 years helping so many people, you'd think there were 50 sisters in their order!! Sometimes we can get caught up in our past. We think about a certain period in our life and consider it a waste of time or a mistake. However, I believe that God doesn't allow waste, He doesn't make mistakes. If we truly allow ourselves to be guided by His will, all things work out for His glory, no matter how out of synch we feel. A perfect example of that is Clarissa's schooling. One of the things her family couldn't understand is why Clarissa would "throw away" a perfectly good career she worked so hard to achieve in school. Well, the Oikos Sisters are involved in many ministries, and one of those happens to be a charity pharmacy, where any poor
Sister Clarissa's joyful exuberance and love of her work is almost tangible and is contagious!! Her vitality and love of God is clear in His reflection in her eyes and the work she does. Along with her fellow sisters, and newest sister Michelle Ureta, she embodies the Gospel... they all live it every day.
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Sister Clarissa is honoring her deceased family members
on All Soul's Day
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I learn something of myself and my own relationship with God... did you learn anything about yours? xxoo
