MY BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DOMINICAN VOCATION

With joy, dear sisters, I share with you the brief story of my vocation, although it is not always easy for a person to speak about themselves. I was born into a Christian family of ten children, including six girls and four boys. I am the ninth of ten.

It was in 2004 that I met the Dominican Missionary Sisters of the Rosary through an aspirant named Mireille Bitaka, when she went to Ecuador to mourn the loss of her sister. She told me that the MDR are open, joyful, and simple sisters who welcome young people with all their strengths and weaknesses and who work on five continents. And she gave me the phone number of the sister responsible for youth vocations in the province. That is how I began in this great family as an aspirant.

From 2006 to 2009 I completed my postulancy, and from 2009 to 2011 I finished my novitiate. On August 8, 2011, I made my first profession. And on November 3, 2018, I made my final commitment to the Congregation. I completed all my training in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Throughout my vocational journey, I have always experienced God’s love in my sisters who, daily, accept me as I am and help me grow together in the love of the One who has called us all. I must also acknowledge the support of my biological family and others who help me overcome the challenges inherent in religious life.

During my 14 years of religious life, I have strived to remain open to the charism of the Congregation, which sends us where the Church needs us most, in simplicity, in love for what I do and for those I meet, giving the best of myself; for there is more happiness in giving than in receiving (Acts 20:35).

Hermana Ikoli Bokanzu Francoise