THIS IS WHAT I WANT AND I’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR...

A great event, covered with joy, truth, hope, peace, faith, love, shines in the parish "Virgin of Carmel", Cusco, Peru, THE PERPETUAL CONSECRATION TO GOD, of two young people from this generous land. Incomprehensible to human eyes that lack faith, the perpetual profession of Sister Judith Mercado and Sister Paola Cascamayta, two young sisters who give themselves forever to God in the church in a religious congregation, the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart.

Being religious is a matter of love. God chooses and calls, through life, men and women to consecrate themselves to Him. It is the faith lived in the family, in the parish, in the school that allows us to discover this call. Religious life presupposes a conversion: loving God above all things and loving him in our neighbour. The pillars of this life are: prayer, sacramental life, service, fraternal life. In general, after three years of formation, the young woman consecrated herself to God for a year, an event that she renewed for five years in a row. This consecration is possible, because God gives the gift of living it in freedom, detachment and joy. At the end of this time the definitive step is taken: the perpetual profession, the definitive consecration to God in a religious family. It is the total donation through the vows of obedience, poverty, chastity, of Sister Maria Judith Mercado Sarmiento of the Holy Spirit and Sister Maria Paola Cascamayta Cabrera of Jesus the Good Shepherd.

This celebration was presided over by Monsignor Richard Daniel Alarcón Urrutia, Archbishop of Cuzco and concelebrated by Monsignor Lizardo Estrada, auxiliary bishop of Cusco, Father Fredy Mesa parish priest and various diocesan and Augustinian priests. The Provincial Superior, Sister Alejandra Vallejos Araya, delegate of the Superior General, accepted the vows of these sisters together with the religious present.

The festive celebration is filled with joy for the presence of the families of the young, their friends and friends. For this great ecclesial, congregational and family event, a significant date is chosen, on this occasion, March 19, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, chaste guardian of the Virgin, patron of vocations, protector of the holy Church... one of the patron saints of the Congregation. Monsignor Richard emphasized in his homily the practice of the virtues of the patron saint Saint Joseph, to whom he entrusted the care of the vocation of the sisters and of each of the consecrated.

In addition, Monsignor Richard recalled that Saint Francis of Assisi, discovered his vocation starting from listening to the Word of God that led him to live the detachment and to give his goods to the poor "go and sell everything you have and distribute it to the poor" This is what I want and what I have sought to be happy"; and from listening to the crucifix of St Damian who said to him "Francis go and repair my house that is in ruins"and he welcomes this word and starts to repair the Church of San Damiano, then he understands that his work is spiritual.  Francis discovers the secret of evangelical life and leaves it to his followers in his rule: "The life and rule of the younger brothers is to live the holy Gospel in poverty, obedience and chastity".

In this way, these sisters testify before the Church, the Congregation and the parish community the infinite beauty of consecration in the following of Christ poor and crucified, with the definitive and generous gift of their life to Christ the Divine Bridegroom.

Every religious(s) is consecrated and consecrated to be happy. Evangelical happiness comes from following Jesus, going through life with its difficulties and stumbling, turning our gaze, with hope to God’s faithfulness, living the joy, characteristic of the Franciscan family. like Saint Joseph: do not be afraid, do not doubt, trust in divine Providence.

The Provincial Superior, Sister Alejandra Vallejos Araya, thanks God, the celebrants, the sisters and all those present and in particular the families of the sisters, who not only occupy an important place, but their mission remains in time: continue to encourage and accompany her daughters with prayer.  As a sign of gratitude and of God’s presence in every family of the sisters celebrated, Sister Alessandra gave Sacred Scripture to the parents of Sister Judit and Sister Paola.

Since this is a congregational event, the whole religious family is present in the greeting of the Superior General, Sister Paola the Scholar, who, unable to be present, sends her vows in writing.

We wish the celebrated sisters to be a sign of hope and to reflect the light of Christ, as missionaries of the Sacred Heart in the style of Saint Francis.

CONGRATULATIONS SISTERS JUDIT AND PAOLA
BY THE GRACE OF GOD, MAY YOUR LIVES BE A BLESSING!

https://www.facebook.com/arzobispadodelcusco/videos/1026319378295403/