The Call to Journey Far Away
Sr. Lusia Yvonne

by Sr. Maria Grace Dateno, FSP

For many of us Daughters of St. Paul, it was a long journey to Boston when we first joined the community. This is true literally, since we are from all over the country. It is also true figuratively, since for most of us there was a journey from a gradual realization that God was calling, to a time of fighting the call, and finally to an acceptance of the call.

But few of us have had a longer journey than Sr. Lusia Yvonne Ielimeno. Born November 7, 1963, in the village of Togafuafua on the South Pacific island of Western Samoa, Lusia grew up far away from her current mission field here in the States—far away physically and culturally.

Lusia first met the Daughters of St. Paul when two of them visited Samoa from our community in Hawaii, as they do regularly. Sr. Lusia jokes that the Sisters "found me on the beach," but actually she met them at a book display at the cathedral. Lusia had recently begun thinking about a religious vocation, so she was happy to speak with these Sisters. At the time, she did not speak or understand English very well, but she was impressed with the happiness and friendliness of the Sisters.

Lusia confided to them that she was thinking of entering a local contemplative order. "One of the Sisters told me to say three Hail Mary’s every day, asking to know my vocation," remembers Sr. Lusia. "The next day my mind was more on the Daughters of St. Paul than on the other order."

In 1983, after three years of corresponding with the Sisters and waiting for a visa, Lusia traveled to Boston to begin her formation in the congregation. For every new postulant, the convent takes getting used to, but Lusia also had to deal with the culture shock.

"The food wasn’t that bad," recalls Sr. Lusia. But wearing "shoes that cover your whole foot" and following the schedule were hard for her. She also had to perfect her English.

Other aspects of American culture surprised her, for example, the way family life is lived. "In Samoa, the family is the priority," says Sr. Lusia. "There is a very close bond among all the extended family."

Generally, in Samoa, things are simpler, more easy-going, and smaller. The radical difference in perspective in this area is seen in an event that occurred when Sr. Lusia was stationed in Cleveland, Ohio.

A relative called from Samoa and wanted to know if Sr. Lusia could pick someone up at the airport. Sr. Lusia asked which airport, and then had to laugh. It took her a minute to explain that she could not come from Ohio to pick someone up at an airport in California! "In Samoa, there is only one airport!" says Sr. Lusia.

In 1987, Sr. Lusia made her first profession. (This means making the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience for one year. The vows are renewed every year, for five years, until perpetual profession, when the vows are made for "all my life.") It was a beautiful chance for the other Sisters to get a taste of Sr. Lusia’s culture and the way Samoans celebrate. Only her father and her aunt were able to make the long flight to Boston, but the family had sent a "fine mat," a special mat of coconut leaves that symbolizes a covenant or bond.

These fine mats are made and passed around and among Samoan families on special occasions.

Sr. Lusia is currently stationed in Boston, Massachusetts, and manages the Pauline Book & Media Center which is located in Dedham.

This field of apostolic work gives Sr. Lusia the opportunity to meet and minister to many different people in the Boston Archdiocese as well as those from neighboring dioceses.

An annual Christmas Party for Baby Jesus is organized by Sr. Lusia at the Book Center, with much help from staff and friends. This event attracts hundreds of children each year, and helps them focus on the true meaning of Christmas. The Cen-ter is also responsible for hosting the St. Paul Lecture Series which provides conferences on the Faith and spiritual life.

Sr. Lusia, a woman of many talents, also sings second soprano in the Daughters of St. Paul Choir. She always brings her characteristic generosity and good humor to the recording sessions for the Daughters’ albums which are a lot of hard work.

"The most important thing we can give to the world is the message that there is a God who really loves each person uniquely," says Sr. Lusia. "He’s there, and his love is there, waiting to burst out. But God respects the person and waits for his love to be accepted."