Gracie Cagandahan

VOCATION TESTIMONY
From Gracie Cagandahan

Mother of Krystle Cagandahan (Postulant, Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, St. Francis Convent, Alton, Illinois)

As parents of a child in religious formation, we are so happy. Since our eldest was small, she wanted to be in church, helping. That’s the way she was throughout her formative years in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where my two girls grew up. The three of us came here in July, 2002, after Krystle’s 14th birthday. She requested to study here in the US. Not knowing what our life will be, I just continued praying that God will guide me all the way, for I’ll be alone with my two girls, for their father was left behind for his work in Dubai. We were introduced to St. Laurence parish and immediately loved it.

We continued our daily prayer of the Holy Rosary and when Krystle finished her high school and continued her education at the University of Texas in Austin, I encouraged her to get involved at the University’s Catholic center, for in this way, she could be guided by priests while she was away from me and her sister here in Richmond. There, Krystle became more involved in the Church and I knew for sure God is always with her.

Before she finished her Bachelor Degree of Arts, both my two girls attended a conference in San Jose, California, which my daughters told me of the happiness, serenity, and peace they achieved while they were there. It was there that Krystle found for herself the true meaning of being with Our Lord. At first I asked her, “Are you sure you’ll do this? How about your promise to finish your medical degree?” And she assured me that if it’s God’s will, she will be a doctor, even while being in the convent. That decision of hers made me feel loved, for I’ve raised children who love God first. Through it all, we know she will be happy in the place God wants her to be.

September 2014