Sr. Liza Catherine, OLS
From my earliest days, the Lord looked upon me with tender mercy. When I was only six, He allowed me to taste the sweetness of His presence. On the morning of my First Communion, as I received Him for the first time, a quiet, eternal voice stirred in my heart. It was gentle, yet filled with authority, calling me to belong wholly to Him. I seemed to hear Jesus whisper: “My child, remain close to Me. I desire your heart.”
That grace never left me. Sometimes it burned brightly, filling me with longing; at other times it lay hidden, like a small flame beneath ashes. Yet His call was steady, persistent, and full of love. I entered the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows convent in Bangladesh in 2013. My heart sought only to pray, to love, and to serve God more fully. I felt the truth of His promise: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5). Even before I could speak His name, He had been guiding me.
The Lord used my mother as His gentle instrument. She saw what I could not yet see and nurtured my longing for God with patience, faith, and love. Through her, the Holy Spirit planted courage in my soul. My father struggled with fear for my future, dreaming of a different path for me. Yet Jesus placed a deeper longing in my heart, stronger than fear, calling me to belong to Him. Often I heard within me: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you” (John 15:16).
The day before I entered the convent, my Father said, “My gate is always open for you; if you are not happy, you may come home.” A profound peace settled upon me. In that moment, I felt the nearness of Jesus Himself, opening the gate and blessing each step of my journey.
I spent five years as a prenovice, two years as a novice, and five years as a temporary professed sister. By God’s mercy and grace, on September 20, 2025, I joyfully took my final vows, surrendering my life entirely to Him. Over the years, I have learned to hear His quiet, tender voice whisper, “This is the way; walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21).
In His love, our smallest “yes” becomes a quiet grace, softly drawing our hearts to rest in His Heart.
