At the Monastery of St Clare in Brestovsko, novice **Sr. M. Josipa Babić** made her first temporary vows in the Order of St Clare for a period of three years on 7 October 2026, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. The news of her profession was published on klarise.ba and carried by the Catholic News Agency.
The Eucharistic celebration and rite of profession were presided over by **Friar Nikica Vujica**, spiritual director of the monastic community. In his homily, he addressed Sister Josipa, linking her religious vocation and vows with Mary’s response, “Here I am.” He reminded her that both her vocation and her profession are deeply rooted in Mary’s response.
Enclosure as service to the world through prayer
Speaking about the charism of St Clare, Friar Nikica emphasized the importance of poverty, hiddenness, prayer and sisterly communion. In this context, he also spoke about the meaning of enclosure: he described it not as an escape from the world, but as service to the world through prayer. He connected these themes with words of encouragement for Sister Josipa as she begins the religious path ahead of her.
He presented the three years of temporary vows as a time of further growth and testing, as well as of deepening her roots in spousal love for Christ. He urged her not to be afraid of either her own weaknesses or the demands of this path. He returned to Mary and the angel’s words, “Do not be afraid!” from Luke’s Gospel, applying this encouragement to her religious life.
“Dear Sister Josipa, the three years ahead of you are a time of further growth, testing and deepening your roots in spousal love for Christ. Do not be afraid of your weaknesses or of the demands of this path. When the angel comes to Mary, he first says to her: ‘Do not be afraid!’ (Lk 1:30). The Lord speaks the same words to you today,” Friar Nikica said.
He went on to encourage her to accept her own littleness and silence, rather than give in to the pressure to be great and loud. He linked uncertainty about the steps ahead with a call to trust in God rather than to give in to fear:
“Do not be afraid to recognize your own littleness in a world that constantly pushes us to be great and loud. Do not be afraid of the silence in which God speaks. So, when you feel uncertain about the steps ahead, remember that the very same angelic call echoes in your life, too. God does not call you to fear, but to trust. Let His voice drive away every doubt you have, receive His peace, and walk courageously along the path He has prepared for you.”
Along with these words of encouragement, Friar Nikica urged Sister Josipa always to rely on God through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Clare. Mary’s response and the charism of St Clare were thus among the central themes of his homily, together with the call to prayer, sisterly communion and trust.
Profession before the abbess
After the homily, Sister Josipa approached the abbess, **Sr. Hijacinta Batinić**. Placing her hands in the abbess’s, she recited the formula of profession and made her first temporary vows for three years. The veil, cross and Rule of St Clare were then blessed. The abbess presented the blessed veil, cross and Rule to the newly professed sister.
After the Eucharistic celebration, the gathering continued with lunch and a brief time together in the monastery parlour.
