The Spiritual Family of Marie Rivier
Serving God's Children
I was born on June 11, 1942 in Lewiston, Maine. My parents were good Catholics. They belonged to Holy Cross Parish. That’s where I was baptized on June 13th. When I was old enough, I went to Holy Cross Catholic School where the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary taught. At home as a child I knew God was important because my parents talked about doing God’s will and they brought us to church on Sundays and Holy Days.
As I ponder my vocation story, I realize that mine was a very gradual process that started at a young age. Throughout my educational journey, I was taught by the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary. Theirs was a powerful influence in my young life. Living in the school’s neighborhood, I often stayed after school hours to be “helpful” in whatever jobs I could accomplish.
In elementary school I wanted to be a policewoman. Then in high school I thought I’d join the Air Force. So I suppose God wanted me in blue, and as much as I tried to ignore my feelings, God kept calling. Growing up I lived close to the convent and the Presentation of Mary Sisters in Blackstone Massachusetts were often graced with our presence. Actually, they would hardly step foot outside at times and we were there. The Sisters were so gracious about it that I thought they were thrilled to see us coming, that we were doing them a favor! Now I know better!
In my second year of college, my former spiritual director to whom I had confided my ambition to become a teaching religious Sister, called me to his office. He reminded me of my dream of consecrated life. I always admired my religious teachers. I wanted to be one like them. I was told by my ninth-grade teacher to ask God to call me to religious life. When I went to college, I also dated. I was especially fond of a boy who, like me, was involved in a Catholic Youth Movement.