My name is Sr. Tiberias Makori. I was born in Otamba Village, Masongo Division, Kisii County. My family originally worshiped at the Church of God (COG), a Pentecostal community, but later converted to Catholicism. When I was five years old, I moved in with my aunt, and during those seven years, I attended worship services at the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
My mother played a pivotal role in shaping my faith. She often asked me to accompany her when she visited and prayed for patients in hospitals. Together, we would read the Scriptures and pray with the sick. When time allowed, we would sit with them, listening to their stories. On one such occasion, I was so deeply moved that I felt compelled to offer even a small act of help to one of the patients. Those early encounters planted in me a seed of compassion and a desire for service.
It was in Class Seven that my vocation story began to take shape. Class eight candidates were about to sit for their final exams, and a priest had come to celebrate Mass for them. He was accompanied by a religious sister. I had never encountered a Catholic nun before. The moment I saw her, something stirred powerfully within me. Throughout the Mass, I could not take my eyes off her. Her presence awakened in me a deep desire to become like her, a desire that stayed with me, inspiring and troubling me in equal measure for years.
Later that same year, I began to search for information about religious life. I was hesitant to speak to my parents, fearing how they might react. Eventually, I confided in my mother while my father was away. I had prepared answers for all the questions she might raise. To my relief, she was receptive. She would then share my desire with my father. He, too, did not object. They gave me their blessing to join the Catholic Church. Within a year of expressing this desire, I was baptized and confirmed. This was the beginning of my life as a Catholic.
Throughout secondary school and college, my longing to become a consecrated sister became strong. I could see how actively I engaged in vocational groups and youth activities, which helped nurture my faith. During this time, I attended several “Come and See” programs organized by different congregations. These events were invaluable in helping me discern God´s calling.
Immediately after college, I got a job as a nurse. The income I earned from this was satisfactory. I was able to support my family. During this time, I was living an independent and fulfilling life. At one point, I wondered if God had given me that stability for a particular purpose. However, there was an inner emptiness that the job security and happiness could not fulfil, and after five years of working as a nurse, I took the next step that would shape my vocation. This was amidst the conflicting expectations and demands from family and friends keen to see me married. The decision was difficult, but I had to make it; with courage and trust in God, I resigned from my job and joined the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa (FMSA). It was a moment of profound joy and surrender.
The journey was not without challenges. Some friends doubted my decision, suggesting I was confused. A local pastor even approached my mother, offering to pray for me so that I might abandon the idea of sisterhood. Yet, through it all, my family remained steadfast in their support. Their encouragement gave me the strength to remain faithful to my calling.
My mother was my constant intercessor. She prayed for me, even in moments when I struggled with doubt. To this day, she remains both a mother and a true friend, whose prayers I cherish deeply.
Today, I live joyfully as a religious sister, fully convinced I chose the right path. I have no regrets, for I offered my life to the Lord, embracing its joys and sacrifices. Life is not without challenges; through them, I have grown closer to God. As Scripture reminds us in Romans 8:30: “Those whom He predestined, He also called.” I believe firmly that God never disappoints those He has chosen.
Reflecting on the past, I see only God’s faithfulness. He has been my strength, friend, and constant companion for nine years of religious life. I am humbled to be His vessel, a channel for His love and goodness to those I meet and serve. My heart is full of gratitude for this journey and the grace to continue growing in His love.
Truly, God is faithful in every choice we make, especially when that choice is rooted in Him.
Article by Sr. Tiberias Makori
Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!
Your journey to business excellence starts here. Subscribe today and be at the forefront of innovation and leadership.
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation foresees a world in which improving the human condition is a shared and sustainable goal. “Love one another, for that is the whole law,” Conrad Hilton wrote in his will. The peoples of the world “deserve to be loved and encouraged—never to be abandoned to wander alone in poverty and darkness.” That is our resolve.
