Sister M. Laetitia Matsunaga

I was born in Kumamoto, and grew up in Nagasaki with my two younger brothers.

Although our family was not Catholic, the motto of our education was the Christian way of life. Looking back, I believe that my vocation was given to me by my parents.

My first encounter with the Society of St. Francis Hospital Sisters happened when I was 17 years old and was hospitalized at St. Francis Hospital in Nagasaki. I was introduced to the “Prayer for Peace” of St. Francis of Assisi and I admired the work of the Sisters, which made me want to become a Sister myself.  At the age of 18, I began studying the Catechism in preparation for my baptism, and on my 24th birthday, I was baptized in the chapel of St. Francis Hospital.

I graduated from Kwassui Women’s Junior College, a mission school that I had admired since I was a child, and went on to work in the commercial department of the Nagasaki Broadcasting Company for six years.

I also tried to work as an announcer, and when I was 21, my father enrolled me for the Miss Nagasaki 1977 pageant, and I was chosen and worked there for a year. I think my father wanted to prevent me from becoming a Sister.

When I was 26 years old, I tried to quit the Nagasaki Broadcasting Company and join the Congregation, but a novice mistress at that time told me that if my parents were against it; I should wait a little longer. Later, I was able to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and had an audience with Pope John Paul II. When I appealed to him that I wanted to become a Sister, he promised to pray for me.  

When I turned 30, I overcame my parents’ objections and ran away from home to join our Congregation. Therefore, I will always remember my visit to Poland and the tomb of John Paul II during the 2017 ISRCEP, a memory I cherish.
For my first vows in 1989, only my younger brother attended. Later, however, my father encouraged me and said, “Follow through on the way you have chosen”, and both my parents attended my final vows in 1995.

After my first vows, I became a licensed clinical laboratory technician, and from 1996, I studied in the U.S.A. for about two years, attending the Institution of Religious Formation (IRF) at St. Louis University, where I studied with Sr. Ines, Sr. Geneva, and Sr. Dolly. At the same time, we participated in the development of International Formation Guidelines. After returning to Japan, I was responsible for our vocation activity in Japan and Korea as well as the formation ministry of our Korean candidates.

For eight years, beginning in 2000, I was involved in our Korea missions, and lived with our candidates at the Formation House in Seoul. During that time, I studied Korean language at Sogang University and Social Welfare at Yonsei University. I returned to Japan in 2008 to work as the Director of Francisco Villa, a nursing home in Tokyo.

In 2009, I was elected to the Provincial Leadership of our Japan Province, where I continue to serve until today. On top of my responsibility in leadership, I have begun to learn the German language.  Therefore, I am currently living in Münster, Germany.  I am very grateful to the kindness of Sister M. Margarete, our General Superior, and to the German and Japanese Province Leaderships for this opportunity.

I have been here for 2 years and work as an assistant secretary in the Generalate since last February.

Looking back on the steps of my calling, I feel that everything was a miracle. I am grateful to the Lord for calling me in HIS grace and walking with me. I want to follow the Lord’s call and live with hope and respond to HIS grace with joy. 

Sister M. Prasanna Tirkey

I was born in the year 1961, in a remote village called Saraitoli, in the State of Chhattisgarh in a family where parents worshipped the Nature and its Creator.

I am the daughter of Mr. Somra (Prakash) Tirkey and Mrs. Bhano (Sukeshini) Tirkey. We are five children in the family, four girls and a boy. I have a Religious Sister. She belongs to the Congregation of Medical Sisters of St. Francis of Dilingan.

I completed my basic education in the parish School, run by the Sisters of the Daughters of St. Ann. The Sisters life style inspired me to become a nun. Their prayer life was an example for me and it helped me to come closer to God. I prayed earnestly to God for making my family members catholic. I was so happy that in the year 1968, all members of my family were baptized. I remember, when I was studying in third grade, I told to my class teacher “I want to become a nun.” The great desire to be religious Sister motivated me to complete my higher Secondary school, even though I had to walk 60 km on foot to boarding school. During this time the school played a drama from the life of St. Francis of Assisi. I took part in it and was impressed by his simple life style.

I thought of joining the Franciscan Congregation. My plan was to join after complete the Secondary School. God’s plan and my plan did not match. Some hurdles occurred and wise people advised me to go for teacher’s training. After completing my training, I taught in the school for two years . During this time our Sr. Dibya’s friend introduced me to the congregation and in 1984, I came to Anjali Niketan, Pithora. My elder sister was my guide and support in my initial stage there.

With my firm decision, I made first vows in the year 1989. The valuable guidance of my formators, Superiors, encouragement of members and fellow Sisters helped me to grow in the love of God. In the year 1994, I professed Perpetual Vows.

Since 1994, I have been offering my services in different Schools. At present, I am in Anjali Higher Secondary School, Pithora. (Chhattisgarh). I acknowledge all the support and cooperation I receive to accomplish my assigned tasks.

I am glad and grateful to Almighty God and to my International Congregation, for the love I receive, the trust they have in me, the personal care and concern toward me. I want to be His and His alone and to work for His greater glory.