Sr. Ann's Story

My Vocation Story

I have been a Sister of Charity of St Paul the Apostle for 30 years

My early days began in a small housing estate outside Manchester. I was born in to a Catholic family. Both of my parents were from Ireland. I feel that I inherited from them, a very deeply rooted faith. This faith, as I experienced it in my early years, was strong, grounded and in many ways simple.

As a child and as a teenager I would not have considered myself as being overly religious. I did attend Mass regularly and did not really question much about God or my faith. I was happy and comfortable with the way things were.

It was during my days at teacher training college, aged 18 and onwards that I began to think more seriously about my life. I wanted to find out more about God.

I became involved in a prayer group and it was here that I began to discover more.

My faith journey took on a new dimension and I started to question my life and its direction. Something or someone was prompting me to ask:

Was my life worthwhile? Could I do something more with my life?

What that something more was, I really did not know. Whilst I enjoyed all aspects of my student life, there was a constant searching and feeling inside me that there really was more to life.

I did not really think too seriously about becoming a religious sister. It was in April 1979, that the question of something more to life seemed to become clearer.

God was asking something of me and maybe he needed a response!

The response did come, in a way that I had not planned!

“God’s ways are certainly not our ways.”

A friend of mine who was thinking about religious life asked me to accompany her to a convent in Birmingham called Selly Park. Being a good friend, I went with her. During the weekend I met with many of the sisters and I found them all so friendly, welcoming and in fact, quite normal and ordinary!

Whilst my friend was speaking with the Novice Director, I enjoyed a walk around the beautiful gardens in the convent. At the end of the walk I was informed that the Novice Director would like to speak to me too!

I thought to myself, well that is not a problem and why not! As we were speaking, she posed a question to me. “Have you ever considered religious life as an option?” I was stunned by the question, I have to be honest.

After our chat she gave me some forms and information about the sisters. The visit to Selly Park really did disturb me in such a way that I just could not get the idea of religious life out of my head. I tried to divert the idea for a while as I was studying for my final exams for teaching and time was swallowed up revising. After the exams I started making plans about finding a teaching post but God seemed to be saying:

“I have plans for you; your plans are not my plans.”

It was while I was job hunting, I felt that God really was calling me to religious life and I just had to give it a try. So in September 1979, I entered with the Sisters of Charity of St Paul the Apostle. There was a poster, which really caught my eye in the convent, the day I entered, which simply said,

“I found what I wanted when I found the Lord.”

Over the years there have been blessings and graces too many to number. There have also been times of challenge, doubt, questions, ups and downs but I continue saying my YES to God each day as best I can, realising that he continually walks with me supporting me and guiding me along the way. Sr Ann Sullivan

ENGLAND IRELAND

ROMANIA SCOTLAND

SOUTH AFRICA

Sr. Ann's Story

My Vocation Story

My Vocation Story

I have been a Sister of Charity of St Paul the Apostle for 30 years

My early days began in a small housing estate outside Manchester. I was born in to a Catholic family. Both of my parents were from Ireland. I feel that I inherited from them, a very deeply rooted faith. This faith, as I experienced it in my early years, was strong, grounded and in many ways simple.

As a child and as a teenager I would not have considered myself as being overly religious. I did attend Mass regularly and did not really question much about God or my faith. I was happy and comfortable with the way things were.

It was during my days at teacher training college, aged 18 and onwards that I began to think more seriously about my life. I wanted to find out more about God.

I became involved in a prayer group and it was here that I began to discover more.

My faith journey took on a new dimension and I started to question my life and its direction. Something or someone was prompting me to ask:

Was my life worthwhile? Could I do something more with my life?

What that something more was, I really did not know. Whilst I enjoyed all aspects of my student life, there was a constant searching and feeling inside me that there really was more to life.

I did not really think too seriously about becoming a religious sister. It was in April 1979, that the question of something more to life seemed to become clearer.

God was asking something of me and maybe he needed a response!

The response did come, in a way that I had not planned!

“God’s ways are certainly not our ways.”

A friend of mine who was thinking about religious life asked me to accompany her to a convent in Birmingham called Selly Park. Being a good friend, I went with her. During the weekend I met with many of the sisters and I found them all so friendly, welcoming and in fact, quite normal and ordinary!

Whilst my friend was speaking with the Novice Director, I enjoyed a walk around the beautiful gardens in the convent. At the end of the walk I was informed that the Novice Director would like to speak to me too!

I thought to myself, well that is not a problem and why not! As we were speaking, she posed a question to me. “Have you ever considered religious life as an option?” I was stunned by the question, I have to be honest.

“I have plans for you; your plans are not my plans.”

“I found what I wanted when I found the Lord.”