< Sister
Stories
 Sister
Kim Phuong Tran
Having been born in a Vietnamese family
with the tradition of Ancestor Worship as my religion,
I did not receive Catholic baptism until I was twenty-one
years old. Faith is a gift that cannot be explained or
proved, but can be revealed by a conversion of heart
through events and people whom God chooses. That was
my experience in my journey toward a greater knowledge
and a deeper relationship with God, the place where the
seed of my religious vocation began to sprout.
When the North Vietnamese communists took over South
Vietnam in 1975, my family and the people in the south
lived in oppressive economic and political conditions.
There was no hope for us during that difficulty except
for our new faith in God through the intercession of
the Blessed Mother, Mary, who was introduced to us by
our Catholic relatives. I was baptized while my country
was in the face of death, while at the same time, I was
living a new life of faith.
After escaping Vietnam and becoming a refugee, I settled
in Houston, Texas. From then on, my life had turned toward
a new challenging stage. The culture shock, language
barrier, and loneliness in a foreign country were motivating
factors that brought me closer to God. I joined a Vietnamese
prayer group called Christian Life Community, and through
this group, I made annual retreats following the spiritual
exercises of St. Ignatius. I have grown in a deeper connection
with Jesus through daily prayer, scripture meditation,
and apostolic work in the parish. My spiritual journey
strengthened me, not only to adapt to a new culture,
but also to enjoy the new western society.
During a retreat in 1992, I recognized my religious
call. After a few years of discernment, in 1997, I entered
the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate
Word. I believed that living the vowed life was the best
choice for me. That was my response to God whom I love
and to whom I want to consecrate my life through public
vows in the presence of the Church, including my religious
community. I believe that through me, God can show His
love and grace for all people.
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Stories
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