Sister Mary Brenda Thompson, IWBS

I met my first Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament Sister in Ireland in 1954 by accident.

Sister Mary Claude was on a home visit, and it was her last night in Ireland.  I needed to return a borrowed book to a friend of mine that evening and when I did, I met Sister Claude...what a lady! Mrs. McDonagh, the lady she was staying with, knew that I was interested in religious life and had been investigating many religious communities.  She took me aside and encouraged me to spend a little time with Sister Claude.  It was about 30 minutes later, and with just a few ideas about her congregation in Corpus Christi, Texas, that the seed was planted.

Understand now that I had no idea what Corpus Christi was like. All I knew about Texas was what I had seen in cowboy movies throughout my teenage life, and that wasn't very inviting. So what was it that sent me away from my family and home on my beautiful island? Well I've concluded that it was God's angel, Sister Claude, who carried His message to me so long ago. His call came in her gentle words and obvious joy in her own religious life in this community.

During that same year I continued writing to the Sisters in Texas. Both Sister Claude and Mrs. McDonagh continued to nurture my vocation.  Mrs. McDonagh had a daughter in the IWBS Congregation so she knew a little about it. I prayed, I dreamed, I got very excited after consulting the Sisters who taught me at school in Dublin, Ireland.  And so I prepared to come to Texas the following Summer when Mrs. McDonagh's daughter, Sister Kathleen, was coming home for a visit.

And here I am many years later with absolutely NO regrets.  I have had years of living in a caring, loving circle of the community of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament.  Here upon awaking in the morning, and as I lie down to sleep at night, I always say "Lord it is good for me to be here."