This is the Way: Walk In It
by Sister Angela McCarthy, CSJP
Sister Angela McCarthy entered the community in October 1953 in Cabra, County Down, Ireland. In 1954 she joined 10 sisters on their journey to the US on the Queen Mary. Within a week, she and three other sisters moved on to Bellingham, Washington. Sister Angela attended Seattle University and then ministered for 46 years in education. Her favorite assignments took her to Fairbanks, Alaska, and the beautiful Skagit Valley of Western Washington.
No “Yoo-hoo” from a burning bush.
No angel with harp of gold
But a tall young priest
Selling “The Far East”
Awakened within me the call.
Home I went, on China bent.
I was all of five years old.
I gave mom the news. I’d be a nun.
I’d work in China for ever and ever.
Her reply? “Child, your food’s getting cold.”
But over the years, though the venue changed,
I just knew what I wanted to be.
Too young I was to realize the truth,
It was God who was calling me.
Fast-forward fourteen fun packed years.
I loved sports, history, language and drama.
On week-ends, I’d cycle all over the land
With either my brother or father.
Oh, sometimes I’d slip in a week-end retreat,
But I always found something to laugh at.
Though I thought I might enter
Still it wasn’t the center
Of all of my schemes and my plans.
Then my sister said to the convent she’d go.
And immediately I said: “I’m going with you.”
So, that’s what I did. Now I’m a wrinkled old thing,
But never once did I rue it.
Washington State, California, Alaska
I’ve enjoyed working in all three.
But the truth I must tell, and I’m sure you know well,
Ireland will always be home to me.
God bless that young priest who spoke of the far east,
And loved ones who all understood.
They loved God more than I as they encouraged me to try
The truth and the strength of my call.
God is asking you to do something, too.
Take time to find out what it could be.
And I promise you this, if you put your hand in His,
You’ll come through life’s storms, maybe wrinkled and worn,
But you’ll hear in your ear, a voice loud and clear
Saying: “This is the way, walk in it” and follow me.
Explanatory notes: The Far East was a monthly Magazine produced by the Columban Fathers of the Maynooth Mission to China. The phrase “This is the way, walk in it.” is a biblical quote (Isaiah 30: 21).
