What We Do
Sisters' Stories
Sister Monica Weedon fmdm
Hello I'm Monica. I grew up in Perth in a family of seven and after leaving school went on to do my General Nursing Training. Then followed some years of nursing interspersed with travel to different parts of Australia and the world. I felt very fortunate to have the opportunity to travel as it gave me a much broader and enriching view of our human community. The growing conviction of having a vocation began to take form when I came into contact with the spirituality of St Francis of Assisi. Francis was like a breath of fresh air for me as he showed me it was possible to have a loving, passionate and joyful relationship with God embracing the beauty and wonder of each person and all of creation. At the age of 28 I knew in my heart that God was calling me to live out our relationship in a radical way within a community.
The spirit and charism of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood found an echo within my own heart and I took a step in faith and entered in 1988. My year of postulancy was spent in New Zealand and 2 years of Novitiate in Australia. This was an invaluable time of growing in my understanding and relationship with God but also a gifted time of deepening my own self awareness as I was given the opportunity to discover more of 'myself' through a mixture of study, reflection and programs in personal growth and development.
In January 1997, after some years nursing in Zambia and working in England, I stood in a Parish Church in Perth and took my Final Vows in front of family, friends and Sisters. However the exciting journey of faith and commitment to Christ would continue each day offering new challenges and joys.
After Final Profession I went on to do a Social Science Degree in Pastoral Counselling and for the past 5 years I have worked as a Prison Chaplain. This is both challenging and life giving and each day I am called to find ways to express our FMDM charism through this ministry to some of the most outcast and rejected of society.
My journey in Religious Life has been, and continues to be, one of joys and struggles as in any walk of life. It is a journey that is shared with my sisters in community, family, friends and my brothers and sisters whom I meet in my daily life and ministry. Most importantly Jesus, who is the source and strength of my vocation, continues to call me into a deeper and more authentic relationship with him as I recommit myself each day to following Him according to the Franciscan spirit.