Page 12 - Unity Edn 43

Vocations

VOCATIONS

Everyone has a story................

A VOLCANO & MY VOCATION - Angela Martinez

grew up in the province of Camarines
Sur, Philippines where Mount Mayon, the
I world’s most perfectly coned volcano
proudly resides. My vocation journey started
four years ago - life was seemingly perfect.
Until suddenly there were earthquakes that
shook me, issues I’ve been keeping within
surfaced, and the perfect life I thought I
had was scattered and thrown out all over
the place. My heart was shattered into burnt
pieces. But whilst on a mission trip to a
sacred place called Kurantiga in Port Keats,
Wadeye, I received healing and thought about
consecrated life for the first time. You can
imagine my questions coming from feelings
of unworthiness like a volcano unexpectedly
erupting.

It’s no longer a perfect cone because of
eruptions over the past years, but Mayon
volcano brought healing to areas of the
forest and still makes it one of the most epic
attractions of my country.

I can relate to this so much because despite
my imperfection, my own brokenness, God
loved me to wholeness. While a volcanic
eruption causes destruction, its ashes and
rocks can become the most fertile in the world
depending on the processes they undergo.
Ash and rock form soil nutrients.

I began the process of active discernment.
Through prayer and spiritual direction I began
to constantly and consistently ask Jesus, what
is your will for my life? I researched- media
materials helped, had conversations with
religious sister groups and sought the advice
of wise people, family & friends I could trust.
Godventure in Canberra- the pre-novitiate
formation program of the MGL sisters!
It was like there was a fire within, my pace-
makered heart ablaze for God! And my ministry This process is much like our own
allowed me to get to know the Missionaries of
God’s Love Sisters. Having served alongside transformative journey. Out of the ashes of
destruction comes new life - this is the paschal
MGL priests in the diocese, I was drawn by
the fire in their hearts to share Jesus to many, mystery.
their charismatic yet contemplative way of life,
and the Spirit of God was clearly at work in
them. They walked & talked in the confidence Angela Martinez
of God’s love and grace. MGL Pre-Novice

On the 1st February, 2020, I began a new

12 Catholic Community of the Northern Territory, Diocese of Darwin