"Speak Lord Im Listening" was being sung during the offertory procession at Mass.  This was at the age of eleven when I first heard God calling me to be a Religious Sister, a providential response to the song.  With much excitement, I first told my parents then my brothers and finally my sister who said you want to do what!  I realized then, that not everyone would be as excited about this extraordinary calling as I was.

Throughout my grade school years, I prayed that God would guide me to understand this call to religious life.  During my adolescence I became more aware of my vocation and impatiently waited for Gods will to unfold in my life. At the age of sixteen, I asked my mother:  Dont you think that God and I should have figured it all out by now? This impatience stemmed from wanting to know Gods will so that I could steer my life and my future plans according to His.  As time passed I continued to feel God was truly calling me to be His bride.  The excuses would not do anymore to think that someone else might go in place of me, or that this call is of my imaginationhad to be forgotten to be a bride of Christ is a most beautiful vocation and has to be answered with a joy filled yes!  As I continued in prayer and discernment, God was asking me to respond through simple and tangible signs concerning religious life; signs both surprising and, at times comical, but always assuring.

Deep in my heart, as I grew more confident that Jesus was indeed calling me, I knew that my future would now drastically change.  The choice regarding college entered my mind. Knowing that Good is calling me to religious life then I must choose an extraordinary university to attend where both my faith and my trust in Him would deepen.  Franciscan University was the answer.  I truly felt God entered my life in indescribable ways at this university. While at Steubenville, the Holy Spirit led me to introduce myself to Mother M. Katherine at the vocation fair.  It was through the hands of God alone, that I was able to visit the Sisters of Charity of Lady Mother of the Church only one month later.  My visit with Mother and the Sisters was filled with Gods peace, joy and love- I felt as if I were at home.  At home and at peace with what God was calling me to do.

After returning to school, it was difficult to concentrate on anything other than my future as His bride.  He put into my heart such a peace that I knew could only come from Him.  Now there was no doubt in my heart.

When my parents married they promised each other that if God called any of their children to religious life, they would do whatever the Lord was asking of them to support their child and to give him/her lovingly to Jesus!  Both my mother and my father thanked God for this beautiful vocation when I explained to them my wanting to enter after my first year of college, but my father preferred that I finish college first.  As my entrance date came closer, peace rested within my family.  They realized that now my life was taking on a new direction and an ever-deepening relationship with God. 

The joy of this vocation far exceeds the hardship of the physical distance between us now.  I feel their presence and love form miles and miles away as I am here serving God in y new family.  God has blessed me by bestowing upon me loving parents and a generous family!  What a humbling journey it has been.  God was leading me, through all of my impatience and unknowing times of where and when to enter a Religious congregation.  For has been preparing me to be His Bride for all of eternity.

 Sister Joan Clare Gulden, SCMS was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She attended the Franciscan University of Steubenville for one year where she first met the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Mother of the Church.  On September 8, 2003, Sister entered the Congregation and is now continuing her studies in education and music. She will pronounce her final vows on March 19, 2006, the feast of Saint Joseph.

For more information about the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Mother of the Church, please visit their website:  http://www.sistersofcharity.com/default.htm.