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VOCATION STEEPED IN SOUND FAMILY VALUES.
I have an Irish background and trace my roots, back to my great, great grandfather, James Vickers who was born in 1827/29 in Queenstown, near Cork city in Ireland. He came to the small village of Blackville, New Brunswick, at the tender age of two years. The family settled and remained in Blackville where their descendants can be found today. I am the fourth generation of the clan and truly proud to be Irish. My background and growing up in a small village in New Brunswick is completely and unequivocally Irish. Our household prayed daily rosary, fasted and abstained in lent, and observed first Friday devotions.
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In addition Irish superstitions were passed down through the generations. Three knocks on the door signified that death was approaching another sign of death was if a bird flew against the window. Putting an umbrella up over your head in the house was a sign of bad luck.
The question one might ask is what does the above have to do with a vocation to religious life? My father was an orphan at the age of eight, and lived with a number of families before marrying my mother. My parents told us that their mission was to provide for the family in such a manner, that we would receive the best education possible, spread our deep faith and adhere to the values that were passed on to us. My father, always offered a prayer of petition interlaced with all the other trimmings following the daily rosary that "he would have three daughters at his death bed side." It was in this environment the seed of religious life was planted.
Our family numbered thirteen, seven girls and six boys. Needless to say, there were struggles as well as joy. We helped one another as much as possible to achieve our goal in life. I was number six in the family and the second girl. I always wanted to be a nurse and was very much aware of the cost involved in this endeavor. Following graduation from High School I enrolled in a Commercial Course, worked in a business office of a lumber company for two years and saved adequate funds to cover the cost of nurse training.
Although nurses training was arduous, I recall with much love my many classmates, our social activities and the sisters. One sister asked me from time to time if I ever thought of religious life. My reply was "Maybe someday but I want to be sure I will be comfortable in such a life thus I want to explore what the world has to offer."
My nursing career took me to Ontario, Michigan and California. When in Berkley, California I encountered very difficult situations in a hospital. I was requested to assist with procedures and treatments which were not in keeping with my value system. Within a week of employment I was off to a Catholic Hospital in San Diego. A tall, stately sister interviewed me for a position on the Surgical Unit. In the course of our conversation, she questioned me as to my future, and stated "young lady you are running away from a call to religious life" I took her words seriously and prayed to Our Blessed Mother for guidance.
Believe it or not, within three months I was happily off to New Brunswick to enter the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception. My sister who also was a nurse entered this community one year prior to my entering. It was no easy task convincing my Mother of my decision, but she finally reconciled herself to my new way of life.
Alice, another of my sisters was discerning her vocation as well, and joined us one year later. A cousin with the name of Vickers was also in this Novitiate with the three of us. We believe our cousin Sister Honoria Vickers was instrumental in helping us all answer the call to religious life. Sister Honoria Vickers had recently died and on her death bed she remarked to the Superior General that she would intercede for women to join our community.
All my friends and family formed an integral part of the road to my vocation. The many activities we shared brought us together frequently. The walks on the country roads, the dances at the exhibition building, skating on the ponds, sleigh rides, dining out, house parties, ball games, daily rosary, retreats/mission, the holy hours. One Irish priest frequently spoke about religious life, and my mother jokingly told him to stop looking in our seat when he would be speaking and his reply was "Emma don't flatter yourself."
My experience for over 40 years has been in the health care system. I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve in this capacity. The Superiors encouraged me to further my education in health administration, resulting in my ministry being one of administering an acute care institution. This gave me many opportunities to touch and give birth to groups/ associations with the assistance of my congregation and co- workers. Hospice for families of palliative care patients, Hostel, Aids Saint John, Birth Right, Audiology Clinic. I was personally involved in all of these endeavors which was made possible through my vocation. In contemplating religious life, the voice I often heard, "you will have hands to help you with your many and varied projects, for the common good," and that truly is a reality.
My ministry in Vancouver results in many activities. For the past couple of years five religious congregations, together with other health care individuals, spent considerable time in bringing about a structure that will support the continuation of Catholic values in our institutions. I am very much involved in this healing ministry now called Providence Health Care. I have an enjoyable role working with the Vice-President of Mission Integration – formed to maintain the strong values which have always been an integral part of St. Vincent's Hospital.
Today our community is involved in ministries which include advocacy and solidarity with the poor and marginalized, with those in the inner city, in spiritual growth and development, ministry in rural areas, social justice, literacy training, assisting immigrants, catechetics, pastoral care, health care, social work, adult education and other ministries as the need arises.
Our congregation ministers in the Pacific, Prairie and Atlantic Regions of Canada, as well as in Peru. Each region has a Associate Program. The Lay Association as embraced by our community aims to provide support, encouragement and growth opportunities for women and men who are actively engaged in Gospel living through their lifestyle, ministry and work. We have two groups in British Columbia, one in Surrey the other in Vancouver. We recently revamped our Novitiate Program located in Edmonton. Alberta. Should anyone be interested in either of these program Religious life for me has been rewarding as well as challenging. The past has provided us with structures, institutions and ways of expressing our values that have served us well, but this is changing. With the process of change, there is loss and pain, but there are signs and symbols, which promise ways of expressing our faith, our values, and our relationships, with each other, our universe and our God.
Today we need deeply committed women and men, to spread the Gospel! We the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception would be more than pleased to speak, meet and spend time with you should you be interested in exploring your vocation.
You can reach me at:
749 W. 33rd Ave, Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 2K4
Tel. 604 873-4169
Fax 604 876-6729
E-Mail mvickers@providencehealth.bc.ca
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