"Love is repaid by Love alone": A Memorable Day!

Each person has their own special memorable day. For instance, a birthday is the day we give thanks to God for the gift of life. As Christians, we have a baptismal day, the day we are adopted to be God’s child and receive heaven’s citizenship. We also have other beautiful days - First Holy Communion, Confirmation, graduation, the first day of your dream job, and many more days to remember as you grow up.  June 7, 2025 was a special day in my life, especially on my vocation journey to follow Christ more closely.  

On August 2, 2023 my classmate and I entered the novitiate, called the School of the Holy Spirit. Like Jesus who had 30 years of a hidden life before His public mission, the two  years of novitiate is the time for us to learn about the essential elements of religious life and our congregation and live out the virtues.  We truly practice living: “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Rm 13,14).

Time flew by.  The words of St. Therese echoed in my heart : “Love is repaid by love alone.” This quote fueled my two years of novitiate, and now was the time I could repay Christ with love, a moment to make my covenant with Christ who loved me first. 

I was nervous, excited, and at peace with mixed emotions. Nervous because I will profess in public and in front of a lot of people.  Excited to see my family after two years and at peace because I know God is always with me. As usual, we had a few hours to recollect ourselves the day before our profession of vows. Fortunately, the pastor saw us and thoughtfully exposed the Blessed Sacrament for us.  I sat before the Eucharist, reviewing the worship aid, and whispering every single word of my responses and the vows which I would make the next day. I repeated them and asked Jesus, “Let the words resonate in me and give me the grace to live it out.  

Yes, without Him I can do nothing.  With him, I have made it to this point in my journey. I gained more than I lost. I gained new family, friends, and encountered many good people God sent to me. I grew spiritually, physically, intellectually, emotionally- trusting more,  surrendering more and practicing more virtues. Most wondrously, I had the opportunity to live under the same roof with Jesus whom I can visit anytime. 

The Mass and the Rite of Profession were beautiful and very meaningful with many guests from different places. Sr. Elizabeth and I were introduced to the assembly, professed our faith and knelt down to pronounce the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience according to the CMR Constitutions.

There, for a moment I was choked up with emotion, which came out from nowhere. Shortly after, I signed my document of profession before Sr. Pauline, our Congregation’s Regional Superior, who received my vows and Bishop Edward Rice who was the official witness of the Church. In exchange for the white veil of the novice, I received the grey veil of the professed sister.  I am no longer a lamb, but a sheep. 

We had a reception afterwards with family, guests and the CMR community.  The decorations were beautiful and there were so many delicious drinks, dishes, and cakes from the Chefs of CMR. We are so blessed and the weather was more than beautiful for the month of June. Thanks be to God! It was a very memorable day! 

Once again, we sincerely thank the bishops, priests, religious, family, friends, and my sisters for being with our Trinh Vương family on this special day. Living a vocation is a journey, a constant “YES” in our daily life. I hope to repay Jesus with Love everyday. Please continue to support and keep me and the sisters in your prayers as we grow deeper in relationship with Christ so we can bring that love, grace and blessings we have received to people whom we will encounter and serve.