I am Sr. Sharmini Wisidagama from Sri Lanka, and this is my vocation story.
I was born into a middle-class, devout Catholic family, with loving parents and an older sister who is two years ahead of me. As a little girl, I was full of dreams and aspirations. At the age of nine, I wanted to become a nun, but as I grew older, my ambitions changed. I dreamed of becoming an air hostess, traveling the world, finding a good husband, and living a luxurious life.
When I was about 14 or 15 years old, something profound began to stir within me. My mother’s deep spirituality became a source of inspiration, and I felt a growing passion for a spiritual life. Even though I wasn’t fond of reading in general, I found myself drawn to spiritual books. I started reading the Holy Bible and the lives of saints, and it awakened my soul. I came to understand that God is not just a distant figure but Someone who could be personally experienced, just as the saints had.
This realization led me to search for the true God. I began waking up early to meditate, spending much of my time in prayer, and even sharing my meals with the poor while fasting. Inspired by the lives of saints, I practiced penance for my sins and embraced simplicity in my lifestyle. I let go of adornments like my gold earrings because I felt I had found a treasure far more precious—God Himself.
At that time, my dreams shifted. I now wanted to be holy and felt a deep call to a contemplative life. St. Thérèse of Lisieux greatly influenced me, and I aspired to join the Great Carmelite Order. However, my parents weren’t supportive of this idea at first, and in obedience to them, I continued my higher studies. I surrendered my desires to God in prayer, saying, “If You really want me, I know You will take me when the time comes.”
While pursuing higher studies in Information Technology, I attended a prayer meeting that changed everything. During the prayer session in a church, a seven-year-old girl, sitting in front of me, unexpectedly turned around and showed me a picture of the incorrupt body of St. Bernadette. This moment struck me deeply, as the girl had no way of knowing that I had been looking at that very image in her hand moments earlier. My long-buried desire to become a nun ignited once again.
Right there in the church, I mustered the courage to ask my parents about my vocation again, and to my surprise, they agreed. The person leading the prayer meeting encouraged me with these words: “Go to the ends of the earth and proclaim the Good News. Don’t hide yourself within four walls.”
That week, I spent seven days in prayer, seeking clarity. Each time I opened the Holy Bible during those days, I received verses affirming my call to follow the Lord. It was undeniable—God was calling me. With this confirmation, I made the decision to leave my studies and join the congregation of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, founded by Blessed Mary of the Passion.
The journey of letting go wasn’t easy. Before entering the convent, I had to detach myself from the world I loved and that loved me. But the real challenge began after I joined the convent, where I had to let go of myself completely for a greater purpose. It was there that I truly discovered the meaning of knowing God, which is also knowing oneself. Finding God meant finding my truest and purest self.
Even today, I continue this journey as a seeker, not just a believer, and I am blessed with beautiful experiences in God. This vocation is my greatest joy, and I thank Him for calling me to this extraordinary path of love and service.