Franciscan Sister Reflects on Call to Conversion

Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Camilla Wolfgram reflects on the timely value of conversion and how she is called to live it today.

CONVERSION, namely (Metanoia) is “to have our eyes fixed on Jesus, returning to God in conversion, is a constant force to grow in faith, to see the light of God in all creatures, in the events and the signs of the times. We must have a God-centered life so as to witness His merciful love.” (Franciscan Resource entitled Pr0posium)

Fully living religious life as a vowed Franciscan means being God-centered, no matter what the cost. It is all about reaching out to one another with the message that God loves each person with His all-embracing love. We are His redeemed people.
The challenge is to work on a radical interior change first, then reach out to others in our community, family and ministry. It can perhaps be compared to “getting one’s house in order first,” then moving out and about.

Three “destressers” I find are prayer, silence and spiritual reading. They bring about a “metanoia” that helps one to be God-centered first, then other-centered. As a result, there is no room for living a self-centered life.

The “metanoia” of being other-centered promotes actions that positively allow for conversion in another. Two actions that I am specifically choosing are
1) Reaching out to the Sister members of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity who are the “anawim”, the marginalized who somehow believe that they have no worth and nothing to offer. It is both challenging and rewarding to experience their hopeful response to simple ways of outreach.
2) Action (2) is becoming involved in the mission and outreach of our local homeless shelter, namely Hope House.

Poverty has so many faces that need loving care and personal intervention. Helping to make a difference in other’s lives is indeed a challenge, however, it also has positive outcomes. The credit goes to the Holy Spirit who guides us in this process of conversion. We are God’s instruments. Praise God from whom all blessings flow! (Photo: The Compass, Diocese of Green Bay)