Vocations: Daughter of Charity Sister Marie Rachelle

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Daughter of Charity Sister Marie Rachelle

OGDEN — Sister Marie Rachelle, a Daughter of Charity who is serving as the after-school programs director at Give Me A Chance in Ogden, was in her 30s and established in a business career when she discerned a call to religious life.

Originally from the Philippines, Sr. Marie Rachelle moved to the United States in 1988. Although her faith was an important part of her life, in her 20s she dismissed feelings that she should consider a vocation as a religious.

She obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and was working as an accounting manager in Los Angeles when she attended the 2002 World Youth Day in Toronto. Pope John Paul II’s words there inspired her to begin to follow a spiritual path that led to her entering the Daughters of Charity, a religious community of women that work in more than 90 countries worldwide.

“He said, ‘Do not be afraid to follow the royal road to the cross,’ and I knew that God wanted me to do something with my life,” she recalled.

After World Youth Day, as a member of Singles for Christ, Sr. Marie Rachelle attended a Southern California Renewal Conference. There she came across a Daughters of Charity booth. She had been educated by the Daughters of Charity in the Philippines and was drawn to their charism of serving the poor, so she signed up to receive more information.

The oldest of five siblings, she initially did not share her journey of discernment with her family and friends because she was unsure if she was being called to a religious vocation and wanted to be certain before telling them, she said.

“In the beginning, you don’t know,” she said. “You’re like, ‘Is this really it for me? I don’t know. What is God trying to tell me?’ And I thought, ‘Maybe.’ It’s a lot of unknown in your heart. So, you just want to give it a try, but then God gives you the grace to take the leap of faith and say, ‘Yes.’”

One priest told her, “‘Rachelle, you look at this as a win-win situation,’” she said. ‘If you go in and you find out it’s not for you, that’s a win, but if you go in and you find out that it’s for you, that’s another win.’”

Sr. Marie Rachelle began attending retreats with the Daughters of Charity. In 2005 she became a pre-postulate, followed by time as a postulate. She took her vows on Jan. 13, 2007. Like most religious orders, the Daughters of Charity take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience; they also make a special vow of service to the poor.

Her family was initially unhappy with her decision, but they eventually accepted it, she said.

She was sent to Evansville, Ind. for seminary formation and then to Santa Barbara, Calif., where she worked as a volunteer coordinator. She went on to attend Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where she completed a master’s degree in pastoral theology. The order then assigned her to Gallup, N. M. to work with Native Americans, which was a life-changing experience for her, she said. She has maintained contact with people on the Navajo reservation and continues to take donations to Gallup to this day, she said.

Following that, she became an assistant novice director in St. Louis, Mo., and later the novice director. She then helped to close a mission in Tuba City, Ariz. Last year she came to her current assignment in Ogden.

The previous after-school coordinator at Give Me A Chance left suddenly, and Sr. Marie Rachelle received a message saying she was desperately needed, she said, adding that Utah is “pretty amazing. I love it. It’s a great state.”

Serving the needy during her 17 years as a Daughter of Charity has been rewarding, she said. “The real blessing is … to be able to be called to this vocation of serving, loving service to everyone that we encounter, because we see Jesus in them.”

Although living the vows she has made, especially that of poverty, can be hard, “Our God refines that desire, you know, that motivation, he refines it and then he tells you, ‘Go ahead,’” she said.

She especially appreciates the support and love from the other sisters, she said.

“I love the community,” she said. “I love our prayer life, our spiritual life, our rootedness in Christ. First and foremost is that relationship with God. I so admire the sisters who have gone before us. I love the vocation of a Daughter of Charity, and I love the sisters and community. It’s the same as having a family, you know, you have ups and downs, but for the most part, we support and love each other. We are interdependent; I love that.”

She encourages young women who are feeling drawn to religious life to follow their calling and trust in God’s guidance.

“Go deeper and live the question in your heart. Don’t be afraid; just live it,” she said. “Life is the journey, and if you want to give it a try, or if you want to think about it, it’s OK. You won’t lose anything, because Saint Vincent de Paul said this, ‘If God is the center of your life, your mere presence will touch hearts.’”

It is also important for those who are discerning to be prayerful, to regularly take part in the sacraments and to find a mentor who can help guide them, Sister Marie Rachelle said.