Meet Sister Mary Macoretta

"God guided me through the people he placed on my path"

I came from the town of Thorold. My parents owned a grocery store. I attended Holy Rosary School, where I was taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto. What I most remember about these Sisters is their kindness, honesty, creativity and humanity.

Seven wonderful years

After graduating from Teachers' College, and after advice from Sister Imelda, a Sister teaching Grade 1, I accepted a position teaching Grade 5 in the very school I had attended. During those wonderful seven years, I came into closer contact with the Sisters: Sisters St. Raymond, Mary Stephens and Frances Hayes.

One day, Sister Imelda told me of a retreat at St. Joseph's Motherhouse for young girls thinking of their call in life. I attended. After a long talk with the retreat director, I became aware that I was called to religious life. The following year was hard. I did not want to enter. I struggled with the call. Yet, I knew I had to make a decision. Was God calling me to religious life?

My decision

After much prayer and discernment, I resigned from my teaching job and entered the Sisters of St. Joseph. If this life were not for me, God would let me know.

It was near the end of my postulancy that it became clear that God was indeed calling me. I experienced a wonderful peace. This peace has been with me throughout my years of religious life; peace in my ministries, peace in the glad times and sad times.

As I look back, I am grateful. God guided me through the people he placed on my path. It reminds me of Francis Thompson's poem, The Hound of Heaven: "I fled Him, down the nights and down the day." I believe that we are called throughout our lives to do God's will.

To read more Sisters' Stories, please see Meet A Sister