Br KHUKAZ, ofm
Custody of the Holy Land
“I am Br. Khukaz and I come from Syria”.
Sr VICTORIA NABIL HELMI ZAKHER, nds
Congregation of Our Lady of Sion
“I am Sister Victoria Nabil Helmy, I am Egyptian”.
Sr COLETTE O'DONNELL, nds
Congregation of Our Lady of Sion
"I am a religious of the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion, my name is Sister Colette."
Three consecrated lives with a common call to be light in the world. Vocation expressed in the words of Christ: "You are the light of the world." He is the true light, which is celebrated every year on February 2. Pope John Paul II wanted the World Day of Consecrated Life to be celebrated on this day because the liturgical feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple falls on this date. According to the law of Moses, every woman had to go to the Temple 40 days after giving birth to a male child for the purification of ritual and to present her firstborn son to God. The words of the old Simeon, which describe the Savior as a light that is revealed to the people, give the name to the feast, which is also traditionally called "Candlemas". On this day the liturgy begins with the blessing of the candles. Many religious communities on this day renew their "yes" to being lights that shine in the world.
Br KHUKAZ, ofm
Custody of the Holy Land
"I come from a village in northern Syria where there are Franciscan friars. As a child I always went to church to them. I always served during Mass, sang in the church choir. I grew up in a very devout Catholic family. As a child I desired to become a friar. When I grew up I decided to join the Order of Friars Minor."
"Follow me" is Christ's invitation to the disciples that continues to attract vocations to this day.
Sr VICTORIA NABIL HELMI ZAKHER, nds
Congregation of Our Lady of Sion
"I felt the call when I was in Egypt, in my hometown of Minya, with the biblical word 'follow me.' I didn't know what it meant to follow Him and I didn't know who could help me with that. I met two religious women from the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion: Sister Juliana, now the head of the Congregation, and Sister Darlene. We sat down and talked together. I asked what it meant to follow Jesus and how I should do it. From there, God's call and desire to know what He wanted from me became apparent."
Sr COLETTE O'DONNELL, nds
Congregation of Our Lady of Sion
"I'm originally from Ireland, but at that time in Ireland we didn't have any community, any school, and so when I was 15 I entered the Sisters of Sion school in England. I like to think that God led me to Sion from a very young age. I attended the school until I was 17, then I entered the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion in Paris in 1951."
Consecrated people experience the beauty, challenges and joys of corresponding to a vocation.
Br KHUKAZ, ofm
Custody of the Holy Land
"There were difficult moments at the beginning of my vocation, when I entered the Order. As there were along the way, because of the occupation of my village. But these difficult moments bring us closer to the Lord."
When asked if they are happy, the answer is always accompanied by a smile.
Br KHUKAZ, ofm
Custody of the Holy Land
"I am happy because the Lord has chosen me to live with Him and for Him."
Sr VICTORIA NABIL HELMI ZAKHER, nds
Congregation of Our Lady of Sion
"I am satisfied with my calling and the choice God has made for me because he has allowed me to be his disciple and, as such, I must follow him."
Sr COLETTE O'DONNELL, nds
Congregation of Our Lady of Sion
"I am very happy in my consecrated life and I ask the Lord to be faithful to Him to the end and that Sion will always be my home."
