Polish Sister Monika Bury knew on the night of her final profession that she would be sent far away from home to serve in Australia, reports The Catholic Leader.

She was nervous at the thought of going to a foreign country where she did not know anyone, speak the language or know the culture.

*Missionary Sisters of Christ the King Margaret Pomersbach and Monika Bury outside Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church, Bowen Hills in Brisbane. PHOTO: Joe Higgins/Catholic Leader.*

She leaned on some advice a fellow sister had told her – “When you are called someplace, remember that Jesus is already waiting for you”.

The nerves went away and Sr Monika knew she needed to “respond for Him” and make her vows.

That was 1998.

She is closing in on 26 years of service to Polish migrants living in Australia and has never been happier.

At her side is Sister Margaret Pomersbach, known as Sr Gosia around Bowen Hills parish, who, decades back, had only meant to stay one night with the Missionary Sisters of Christ the King.

She was raised Catholic, but she did not personally get too involved in the Church.

She was just interested in what her friends were doing – going to music festivals and taking trips around the country.

On one trip, she had wanted to check out the Poznań International Fair, the biggest industrial expo in Poland.

But she left her accommodation too late.

Every hotel was booked, everywhere was full.

She wondered if the Church might have a room somewhere and found the telephone number for a local convent in the newspaper, who were more than happy to have her for the night.

When she finally got her hands on a map and realised how far away the convent was from the city, she almost turned back.

“It was so far away from the CBD… I was so angry at myself and in my heart I said how stupid I was making a booking in a place so far away,” she said.

She got on the bus to head out into the suburbs, her heart weighing “a thousand stone” for the “crazy idea of going to stay with the sisters”.

“When I got to the sisters’ place and I passed the front gate – I have never in my life felt such peace.

“I had such stress, I was so tired from travelling, angry at myself – and in this moment, I felt completely free.

“This was something amazing for me, it was the first time I felt this peace.

“The Holy Spirit gave me that moment”

A few months later, she started discerning with the sisters.

These days, Sr Margaret serves around Bowen Hills parish and teaches children on Saturdays, while Sr Monika visits the sick in hospital chaplaincy through Centacare three days a week.

Sr Monika felt privileged to be the face and hands of Christ to those going through challenging times.

She is always humbled when people from the Polish community come up to thank her for her service to the Church.

“When we are young, we like to think that we will do something for the Church, that we are the person who is actually doing something – ‘I am working for God in the big name of the missionary sister’,” she said.

“But now I’m growing older and (I) reflect on my life, I see the gift has always been given by God.

“He’s the giver; it’s not me – He’s who actually invited me to that mission – I have been chosen by Him.”

Sr Margaret said, like everyone, they have good days and bad days.

After years and years of religious life, she says, she is getting better at accepting God’s constant invitation to trust Him completely.

“Even when it’s hard, you trust God and say, ‘God, show me’, ‘what do you need me for now’ and ‘what is your will in this situation?’” she said.

The invitation might be to pack up and fly to another country, she said, but the response was always “Yes”.

And while flying to faraway countries was expected in the vocation of being a missionary sister, both Sr Margaret and Sr Monika kept in close contact with their families in Poland.

The internet had made it much easier to stay in touch, Sr Margaret said.

Sr Monika said it was also important for them to share about their vocations with their families because “they’re part of our vocation”.

She remembers seeing her parents praying when she was growing up had an impact on her eventual decision to enter religious life.

She said their witness to Christ in their lives set her up to do the same for others and encouraged parents and grandparents to do the same.

Sr Margaret also invited families to pray together to the Holy Spirit asking about His fruits.

She said the fruits of the Spirit, especially in family life, “are amazing”.

She said they bring a deep joy and kindness that have a big impact on children.

On February 2, both Sr Monika and Sr Margaret travelled to St Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane to join with men and women religious from around Brisbane archdiocese for a special Mass for the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life.

The day of prayer is a day of renewal of the commitment consecrated men and women made to follow Christ and to pray for the vocation around the world.

This article by Joe Higgins was published in The Catholic Leader, the publication of the Archdiocese of Brisbane.