She chose me! A Journey of Faith and Divine Encounters
She chose me! A Journey of Faith and Divine Encounters
Today, I celebrate a very special anniversary and have decided to commemorate it with this short blog post. Eight years ago, on September 4, 2016, I was in Cartagena, Colombia, celebrating my good friend’s 40th birthday. On that same day, Mother Teresa was canonized by the Catholic Church and officially recognized as a saint, taking the title “Saint Teresa of Calcutta.”
This year, September 5, 2024, marks the 27th anniversary of her passing and is also her feast day. Reflecting on this, I am reminded of the profound impact she has had on my life and spiritual journey.
In 2013, I got divorced to make space for my soulmate. We found each other again at a Costco gas station, and I knew immediately that it was God who brought us back together. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. We started dating immediately, and one of the first questions he asked was whether I would ever marry again. I told him I wouldāI liked marriage but had just been married to the wrong person. However, I emphasized that the next time I got married, it would be through the church. A few months later, he asked if it had to be the Catholic Church. I told him I didn’t think so; I just wanted our marriage to be blessed. At that time, I was just beginning to return to my faith and the church.
In 2015, I was invited to a retreat by my friend’s sister, Nina. Although I had never been to a retreat before, I was intrigued because she was the third person to invite me. Without knowing why, I needed to go, I said “yes” and attended the retreat. In the words of Mother Teresa’s famous poem, “Do It Anyway,” I went anyway. During the retreat, the only question on my mind was about my future with my soulmate. I received my answer that weekend and knew that moving forward was what God wanted us to do. A few months later, I learned that the same retreat was being held for men, so I invited my soulmate to attend. According to him, he went just to make me happy, which it did. He came home from the retreat with the same fire for the Lord that I had. A few months later, he asked how he could receive Communion and convert to the Catholic faith. I want to emphasize that I never asked him to do this; it was a desire God placed in his heart. I explained that he would need to take classes and suggested we take them together since I still needed to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. I also mentioned that perhaps we should look into marriage prep classes to see if we were really ready for this step. Although we weren’t engaged yet, we lived together, and I just knew we were heading in that direction. We spoke with our pastor and enrolled in RCIA classes and marriage prep.
In 2016, as part of my preparation for Confirmation, I was asked to choose a Confirmation Saint. Although I grew up Catholic, my family didn’t speak much about the saints, so I wasn’t familiar with them. My pastor suggested I research them. One night, while browsing Netflix, I came across “The Letters,” a biographical drama released on December 4, 2015, that explores Mother Teresa’s life through her personal letters, focusing on her inner struggles and unwavering commitment to her mission. I knew of Mother Teresa, but I didn’t know much about her, so I decided to watch the film. Afterward, I remember thinking, “If only I could embody her love and commitment, I would love to be more like her.”
During our girls’ trip to Cartagena, my friend arranged for us to visit the Totumo Mud Volcano. While we were inside the volcano, I turned to chat with one of the women traveling with us, and suddenly, as I looked at her, I saw Mother Teresa. I blinked, trying to make sense of what I had just seen. The woman noticed and asked if I was okay. Hesitating, I told her that I had just had a strange vision of Mother Teresa. She looked surprised and said, “Really? Wow, I share her birthday, August 26.” I could hardly believe it. I had experienced so many “Godincidences” since beginning my journey back to faith that I was in awe and couldn’t stop sharing them with this woman. So much so that after dinner, our friend who was celebrating her birthday pulled me aside to tell me that her friend was an atheist. I laughed and said, “Well, apparently she’s enjoying my stories and hasn’t stopped me. Maybe there’s something she needs to hear?”
The following Sunday, back in Miami, we attended Mass at our home church, St. Martha’s. After Mass, the announcements invited us to visit the gift shop for leftover Mother Teresa items from the previous week. I was curious and went to the gift shop, where they had Mother Teresa prayer cards, rosaries, and other gifts. I asked the volunteer why they had these items, and she explained, “They were left over from last week.” When I asked why, she said, “Weren’t you here? Last week was when Mother Teresa was canonized.”
That Sunday, I had missed Mass because of my girls’ trip. (Note that I donāt miss a Sunday now, even when traveling, but in 2016, I wasnāt where I am today.) The love I have for the Lord and my faith is so much greater now. Although I didn’t attend Mass that Sunday, Mother Teresa came to me, and that was the moment I knew who my Confirmation Saint would be. She chose me!
I purchased a gift for each of the women on that trip and mailed it to them with a brief overview of this story, thanking them for sharing that moment with me. Today, as we approach September 5, 2024āthe 27th anniversary of Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s passing and her feast dayāI remember that day inside the volcano with a smile and thank her for choosing me and for walking this journey of life with me.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us!
š Empowering Senior Professionals & Teams for Success šAbout Vimari & Be Productive Coaching:
Vimari Roman, a Professional Certified Coach, serves as a catalyst for professional transformation, guiding individuals toward peak performance and fulfillment. With over two decades of experience in the Hospitality and MICE industries, including roles at Sonesta, LXR Luxury Resorts, Hilton Hotels, and Accor, Vimari transitioned into coaching driven by her passion for leadership empowerment.
Drawing on her extensive background in career strategies, leadership, and human behavior, she excels in helping professionals uncover their purpose and achieve career satisfaction. With over 25 years of leadership experience, Vimari has mentored and coached thousands of high-performing professionals across diverse industries, nurturing their unique abilities and fortifying their mental resilience, leading to peak performance, fulfillment, and growth.
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I love doing this at conferences and retreats and leaving these randomly for my husband. Buy a stack of blank “Thank you” cards or just blank cards, and for one month, mail out a minimum of one (1) card or letter per week to someone who has done something you appreciate and/or you are just grateful to have them in your life.
The secret to this exercise is that the rock is just a symbol, a physical object you can use to remind yourself of what you have. I brought a gratitude rock back from my recent pilgrimage on the Camino as a reminder of how wonderful I felt during that trip and how grateful I am to have had the opportunity to complete the journey. The instructions are about as simple as instructions can be: just find a rock! Make sure to pick the one you like, whether you like it because itās pretty because it is smooth or has an interesting texture, or because you picked it up from a special place. If you have another small object youād rather use instead, feel free to substitute that for the rock. Carry this rock in your pocket, leave it on your desk where you will see it throughout your day, or even wear it on a chain around your neck or wrist. Whenever you see it or touch it, pause to think about at least one thing you are grateful
