Sr. Margaret's Story

Many years ago I was asked by my local parish in Liverpool to write about my vocation. The day I sat down to do it the Gospel for the day was Luke 4:14-30 which tells of Jesus’ return to Nazareth and his appearance in the synagogue. It includes the line ‘No prophet is accepted in his (her) own country.’ At that time I had lived in that parish for 25 years, since I was a 5 year old. I firmly believe that my vocation had its origin in my family and friends, school and parish.

I was educated at the local Catholic primary and secondary schools. I was not, as many will agree, a ‘religious’ girl though I did enjoy being part of the parish Folk Group and being a member of the YCS (Young Christian Students). Many of my friends also enjoyed being members of these organisations but none of them entered!

In my Lower 6 year (now Y12) the idea of becoming a Sister hit me rather suddenly. There was no bright light, great revelation, vision or suchlike; but the more I thought and prayed about the idea, the more I grew to realise that I couldn’t be happy until I’d at least tried my vocation. I was under the impression that one had to be ‘holy’ and ‘perfect’ to be a Sister. Fortunately I was soon to be assured that these are not necessary qualifications to enter!

I naturally thought of entering the religious Order I knew best – the Sacred Heart of Mary Sisters who taught me – but I was advised to complete my further education first. I had set my heart from an early age on being an Infant teacher and that decision to train first affected my choice of Congregation. I followed my Mother’s example and went to St. Paul’s College, Newbold Revel, near Rugby (now closed) and it was there that I got to know and love the Sisters of Charity of St. Paul the Apostle – the Congregation to which I belong. At that time I had not fully realised that the Sisters had spent almost 100 years in my home parish. Once again it seemed as though my vocation had its origins in my home place.

After 4 years at college and 1 teaching – just to see what the world of work was like – I entered the Congregation in October 1979. Following nearly 3 years in the Novitiate at the Mother House in Selly Park, Birmingham, I spent the next 6 years teaching in different parts of England. Following my Final Profession in 1988 I went to work in South Africa and was privileged to be there during the time of change following Nelson Mandela’s release from prison.

Back in England I again taught in Primary schools before being appointed as the first Lay Chaplain at St. Gregory’s Catholic High School in Warrington where I have been since September 2004. (See ‘Chaplain’s Chat’ for my weekly newsletter to the school community)

Life has not always been plain-sailing on the path of life and there have been downs as well as ups during the last 30 years but I wouldn’t have swapped them for anything! People ask ‘How do you know you have a vocation?’ My answer is always the same – you don’t know, you can never be absolutely sure. I DO know if I had waited till I was sure I never would have taken the first step. God asks us to be generous and he is still calling people to the Religious Life. The first Apostles were told by Jesus to ‘Come and See’, John 1:39. You may remember that having seen ‘they stayed with him.’

Sr. Margaret Mattison

For further information see our Vocation Ministry section.