Nuns tell of religious calling

Nuns tell of religious calling

15 June 2016

TWO professional women have spoken about their unexpected and dramatic calls to religious life.

The BBC ‘s former political correspondent Martina Purdy and former barrister Elaine Kelly shared their stories at an event in St Patrick’s Church, Downpatrick.

Martina, now Sr Martina of the Blessed Sacrament, and Sr Elaine Kelly of the Heart of Jesus, who was a family barrister for more than 20 years, joined the Sisters of Adoration and Reparation in 2014.

Speaking at “An Evening of Mercy” at the church on Monday evening hosted by the town’s Parish Priest, Fr John Murray, Sr Martina said they were still both amazed and amused that God had called “two professional talkers to a life of silence.”

She said her own call to religious life had grown over several years from a fleeting thought, easily dismissed, to a burning desire that she could no longer resist.

She said her decision to quit the BBC in October 2014, was rooted in prayer, a change of heart and a deepening relationship with Jesus through adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

She said the vocation surprised her but she is “very glad” she said yes to God.

“You know I had a great job, a very privileged job, a job that brought me to exciting places, the White house and Downing Street, meeting Presidents and Prime Ministers and having the privilege of seeing history as it was unfolding.

“But the greatest privilege of my life is being at the Lord’s table every day in adoration, sitting at his feet and adoring him.”

Sr Elaine also described her call to religious life as unexpected – adding that it was a “mind-blowing” experience.

She recalled how she used to frequent Downpatrick courthouse, wearing a barrister’s black gown and wig. 

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think the next time I would be back here in Downpatrick I would be wearing a religious habit and veil,” she said.

She admitted that as a student at Queen’s University she had fallen away from practising her Catholic faith, enjoying student life, parties and boyfriends.

“I strayed off the safe path,” she said. “I thought at the time I was experiencing true freedom but in truth this didn’t make me free and happy, it was slavery to things and people.”

She said she returned to her faith at age 29, continuing to practise at the bar but feeling a “deep emptiness inside.”

“I started to be aware more and more of a deep emptiness inside me that my career and all its trappings could not satisfy,” she said.

“Looking back I realise that my time as a barrister had really come to an end, I was yearning for something new but I didn’t know what. I began to think maybe I should take three to six months off, tour the world, do something dramatic as I felt inside that I wanted to give birth to something new in my life but I didn’t know what it was.”

Sr Elaine said she received the call while praying in the Falls Road Adoration Chapel on March 9, 2014. 

“It came in a form I did not expect,” she said, recalling that moment in the Adoration Chapel. 

“Without warning I felt a strong touch on my heart and I knew immediately it was the Lord Jesus. I felt his life and presence surge all through me and I interiorly heard the words: ‘You will be a sister of adoration’. 

“I was completely bowled over, I felt a life, a joy, and a love that was overwhelming and beyond words.  I had the amazing feeling of falling in love, in love with God. In those few moments I lost my heart completely to Jesus.

“As you can imagine, this was a mind-blowing experience. I couldn’t get my head around it then and I still can’t.  Entering religious life was the farthest thing from my mind, but I am absolutely delighted it happened.”

Sr Elaine and Sr Martina are among four new novices that have joined the congregation in the past two years.

The Evening of Mercy, which consists of mass for healing of the sick and the holy rosary and finishes with benediction, takes place each Monday evening at St Patrick’s Church between 6.30pm and 9pm and everyone is welcome.