NOTE: The vast majority of students who graduate from the University of St. Thomas-Houston do so with career-making degrees in subjects like engineering, biology, computer science, accounting and economics. Or perhaps criminology, cybersecurity, international studies, nursing, philosophy or education. However, UST is known for fostering a rare environment where a certain few discover a religious calling—their vocation. In this story, you will hear directly from one such student: Sister Amata Veritas, OP, also known as Khanh Vy Lam. She first came to St. Thomas in 2019, and Sister Theresa Marie Nguyen, associate professor of Theology, makes the introduction for you.
Sister Theresa Marie Nguyen recalled, “She first came to UST in 2019, filled with hopes, dreams… and lots of questions. Then, she took a hiatus from college life to pursue the religious calling she discovered during an unexpected encounter with the Lord in St. Basil Chapel on campus, so Sister Amata Veritas is not yet a graduate of UST. However, she is back this year as a newly professed sister, pursuing a degree in theology. She submitted her story of the profound friendships and unique calling she found at UST.”
In the Words of Sister Amata Veritas
Sister Amata Veritas wrote, “I pray that my story can help you, in whatever way God wills, to recognize His presence in life or simply learn about a friend who shares memories with you on this campus.
“When I first started at UST, I was filled with anxiety about the road ahead. My hopes were to graduate, land a job and start my life. However, UST gave me so much more than what I had imagined. The faith-filled environment not only nurtured me intellectually but also catalyzed my spiritual growth and deepened my faith.
Friends & Prayer Helped Build a Friendship with God
“Furthermore, I had the blessed opportunity to meet wonderful friends who always accompanied me and directed me toward God. Every day, we would set aside time to pray the Rosary, attend Mass, and share our faith with each other. Most importantly, these friends helped me build a more intimate relationship with God. At one end of the Academic Mall, humbly dwelling in the Chapel of St. Basil, God is there always present and waiting for each of us to come to Him. He is there, watching over each member of the University.
A Profound Turning Point Affirmed her Pondering Heart
“How did I know if religious life was my vocation? One turning point that truly affirmed the pondering in my heart was the encounter I had with the Crucified Lord. One day while praying in our campus chapel, I fixed my gaze upon the cross and meditated on the Passion of Jesus. At that moment, a verse from the Gospel of John came to mind: ‘No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends’ (Jn 15:13). This was God’s declaration as a loving friend who sacrificed Himself on the cross for me. In that instant, I spontaneously replied to the Lord, ‘You, O Lord, sacrificed Yourself for me. I offer all that I am to You.’ This response marked the beginning of my total surrender and gift of self to the Lord in the vocation of the consecrated life.
“In De regno ad regem Cypri, St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, ‘Friendship is the greatest of all earthly goods, and without friends, even the most agreeable pursuits become tedious.’ Looking back, through the ups and downs of life, the Lord has always been there, listening and sharing in what I’m going through. If I were to be without this wonderful Friend and the many faith-filled friends at UST, I would not be who I am today. Praise God for His wonderful gifts.
“Dear friends, in whatever vocation we are called to, we are invited to be, first and foremost, friends of Christ in a life of holiness. For He says, ‘I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.’ (Jn 15:15).
Her Hope for You
“I hope that every time you pass by our campus chapel, you will stop and greet the Friend who watches over you. Or if possible, spend some time with this wonderful Friend in conversation. I pray that you have a fruitful academic year, and may God pour His abundant graces upon you and accompany you always.”
More About Sister Amata Veritas, OP
Sr. Amata Veritas, OP, professed religious vows on June 28, 2024, in the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of Mary Immaculate Province.