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Who are we?

Introducing the members of Daughters of St. Paul

Sr. Maria Gabriella Setsuko Aoki

"They are looking for someone who can work at the book shop. Would you like to go ?"This invitation of a priest later guided me to my vocation.

When I was twenty years old, I lost my dear mother, and after, I could not do anything. I just stayed at home, and whenever I felt like, I was spending time at the church.
Without thinking seriously, and not even knowing what kind of work there would be at the bookshop, I simply accepted.

I could not imagine receiving and serving visitors because I was not sociable at all. But when I started, I did not have to worry any longer. Everything went smoothly .In the beginning, I was rather uptight each time a visitor came in, and I did not know the work either. But I was happy meeting many people: priests, Sisters, students from Elisabeth music college, and others.

As to the work, I was learning with the Sisters. "What kind of people are they who become nuns ?"" How do you enter a convent ?"I was beginning to wonder.

"Sister, do you recruit people who would like to become nuns ?" The question just popped out of my mouth. I had thought that it was the kind of life which has nothing to do with me, and that I would marry normally.

One day, after the meeting for young people, I went to visit a priest, as there was something not convincing for me. The priest answered to my questions carefully.

Listening to the priest, shocked, I felt a pain in my heart. I realized for the first time, that I too might have a vocation for religious life. Surprise and worry were there at the same time. And I spent a few days with this thought.

I was moved and attracted to the work of the Daughters of St. Paul. In the meantime, I had chances to meet Sisters from other congregations, but my desire had not changed.
Despite the opposition from the family, I wanted to answer God's call, and went to the convent on the feast day of Saint Paul's conversion, January 25.

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