Meet the Sisters

The Grace to go to the Lord in Prayer - Sr. Anna's Story

My name is Sister Anna Chan and I want to share how I've seen the power of His grace work in my prayer life. I remember when I first started to take the time to pray every day. I just began to do it. I just started talking to God as if I was talking to a friend. It was a desire in my heart because I wanted more out of life, or at least the life I was living. Originally from the Toronto area, all that it had to offer in life, the newest designer trends, the flashy cars, the nightlife, was simply not enough. It offered a happiness that was short lived. And my heart knew it. There was something in me that was hungry for more.

This is where, by the power of His grace, I decided to turn to Him and ask Him to fill my hunger for happiness. I prayed consistently every day, going to mass then sitting before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. I remember I would sit there, at times for two to three hours, just pleading with the Lord to show me what life was really all about. There was a change in my heart and in my actions. It had to be God's grace. There was a hope in my heart that the world and its empty promises could not offer.

Who He Is - Sr. Monique's Story

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Hi. My name is Sr. Monique Bisson. I hail from Saskatchewan and I have been with the Servants of the Cross community since 2003. Every year I learn a different and deeper dimension to my relationship with Jesus. This past summer, Sr. Anna and I attended the Cornwall diocesan youth conference called Journey to the Father. At this conference of 350+ youth, the Saturday night Eucharistic Adoration was the highlight. The local bishop, Bishop Durocher led us through an animated Eucharistic Adoration. The whole evening was amazing but the most striking moment for me was when we were to look at Jesus in the Eucharist and tell Him who He is to each of us. The word I sensed on my heart was ‘Saviour'. I understood in a deeper way that Jesus is my Saviour. He has saved me from myself and the misery I created through my sins.

stephanie-x110 My name is Sister Stephanie Koch; I am 27 years old, and have been with the Servants of the Cross since September 2007. I was born and raised in Saskatchewan and am the eldest of three children. The Catholic faith was always an important part of our family life and my mom would often read the stories of the lives of the saints to us. I believe that hearing those stories enkindled in me a burning desire to live my life for God, so it is not surprising that I first felt called to consecrated life when I was only 14 years old. I strongly desired to give my whole self to Jesus and I believed I could do that best as a consecrated woman.

I was baptized Melinda Rose Schenher, July 1^st, 1979. That may seem like a peculiar place to start this testimony, but I celebrate my parents' decision to bring me into the Catholic faith and do their best to raise me in it.

Having gone to Sunday Mass my whole life, I can admit that it wasn't until my first year of university that I desired God to be more than a 'once-a-week event'. Up to that point, I was living my life without even consulting God. In effect, I did whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted - I was ‘in control'. On a retreat weekend in the middle of midterms, I met Him in a powerful experience and invited Him to come and be Lord of my life because I didn't want to go on with me being in control. There was a part of me that knew my life would never be the same after making that invitation.

I entered the Servants of the Cross on September 5^th, 2008. It was an emotional and wonderful day, knowing that I was doing God's will as I had been discerning my vocation for 7 years. The day had finally come to enter a community of consecrated women! It has been an incredible two years as an applicant. I always thought having a sister would be fun. And now I have five!

One of the first lessons that we focused on in applicancy was how to be. Being in the presence of God and others instead of always doing is a challenge, but one that I have been growing in these past two years. One aspect of being is listening. Being present to God means sitting still and listening rather than trying to present Him my views and seeking His approval. With other people, this means not trying to fix their problems by offering possible solutions, but rather giving my full attention and presence, which often allows the person to listen to their own heart and to be more accountable for their own actions.