A Courtship that Never Ends
In a personal interview, Sr. Melanie Reyes explains that her calling to the religious life began with a proposal and is sustained by a ‘courtship’ that never ends. She tells her story of how the Lord continues to woo her especially when doubts and temptations assail her. Although during her 1st profession she felt she was giving God everything, through the years, she asserts that it is God who provides everything. She is totally dependent on Him.
Petite in her appearance and very gentle in her mannerism, Sr. Melanie Reyes has a passion in communicating the love of God to others. She believes in doing so by giving her life completely to God and living for others.
Sr. Melanie Reyes, born on December 7 1989, in a small Island of Occidental Mindoro entered the convent at the age of 15. She candidly says that she heard the proposal at the age of 13 while attending a formation at a centre next to the convent. As she glanced and looked out towards the window, she felt a strong desire to enter the convent.
She comes from a closely knit family of 6 siblings – 4 sisters and 2 brothers. Her mum worked as a teacher and her dad a trader. She comes from a strict upbringing. She recalled that her fun times during her childhood were when she played with her siblings.
Her dream was to become a journalist – she was inspired by the newscasters while watching news with her grandfather. As a student she was studious and led a normal life. As a teen, she always felt the tension between worldly goals and inclination towards the church.
Despite having a crush on a friend, she decided to sign up for a gathering to meet the sisters at the convent when some seminarians visited their high school to recruit the young for religious life. In 2004 she met the Italian Sr. Rosana. Her kind gesture and gentle temperament touched her heart. She was also drawn to the serene environment at the convent. She sat for a self-analysis test at the convent.
After that encounter, she continued with her degree in accountancy at the university. The attraction of the convent lingered in heart while the dream of pursuing her personal dreams pulled her on one side. When she was contacted by the convent once again, she felt her heart being drawn and this time she made the decision to stay at the convent.
One of the challenges she faced initially at the convent was a life of detachment. She only gets to see her family once in a while. She was filled with passion for the “word of God”. Her first year at the convent reinforced her vocation as learnt catechism classes, visited the sick – a life living for others.
After 3 years in the convent, she took a break and continued with her studies. Despite being back with her friends and family, her heart was restless. She felt a longing. After a year break from the convent, she felt even stronger about returning to the convent. The courtship was strong and after 3 years, she took the vow of chastity, poverty and obedience.
Sr. Melanie Reyes, continues in her vocation, currently teaching at the university and living a life for others.