My name is Zennia Wong
I was born in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines in February 15, 1999.
My childhood consisted in a wide array of experiences: swimming at beaches; moving 3 different times to a new continent or state; piano lessons; reciting poetry; performing piano and dance recitals in theatre; swim competitions; vivacious reading; and annual family road trips around the United States.
I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in December 2022 with a BS in Public Health and BSA in Nutrition.
I first received the stirrings of a call my sophomore year of high school during our annual diocesan-wide youth convention. I had seen a consecrated woman in a habit in the hallways of the hotel we were in, and I immediately felt this sense of attraction to that kind of life, even though I was just going through the motions and not even sure why I was Catholic! When I got home after that experience, I said aloud in the middle of my room, “God, if you hear me, call somebody else. Please don’t make me a sister. I would like to have a normal life. I promise I will go to Sunday mass in college if you leave me alone.” Then the thought of being a sister went away over time.
When I decided to make good on my promises and go to a welcome retreat at the Catholic Center my freshman year of college, the Lord met my thirst for more than what I was living. I was welcomed into an authentic community that wanted me on the journey to Heaven with them. Through them and daily visits to the Eucharist, I came to know who Jesus actually was. I learned how to pray, how to trust Him more, and to know what his voice sounded like and His Heart for me. I started to grow in freedom in my identity as daughter. In short, I grew to love more and be more loved by Him.
Desire played a huge part in how Jesus showed me the plan He had for my love. I was a pre-pharmacy student because I loved the possibility of being able to participate in the healing process of the person, to see a person be more fully alive than before. As I grew in my faith, I discovered I already got to do that through leading Bible study and evangelization events at the Catholic Center. I realized that I wasn’t just facilitating mere physical healing but a spiritual encounter that would have an impact for eternity – their souls. And I felt a deep joy and peace at the thought of doing that with Jesus being the sole occupant of my heart – kind of like a spouse.
While this was happening, I came into contact with the AVI sisters through discernment events in Austin with other consecrated communities. The first thing that struck me was that they were refreshingly different: they looked normal but so joyful and I could tell they strove for holiness from the mere fact that Jesus was enough for them. The Lord didn’t prompt any vocational discernment in me at that time, but it stuck. The Lord was tilling the soil.
During my junior year, the Holy Spirit gave me enough courage to ask Jesus one day in the chapel, “Jesus, I want to give my whole life to you. Will you show me what that looks like after I graduate?” I immediately sensed the response in my heart: “I want you to be just mine.” In the everyday moments afterwards, I would feel a consistent peace and joy after evangelizing ministry or meeting with people 1-1. Then the peace would come as a question: “Will you just be mine?” I realized that it was exactly through the very ways I was giving myself to the people around me that the Lord was revealing my heart to myself. I would feel so much joy and so much terror. I deeply wanted to say, “Yes” to Him because I had a deep enough clarity and excitement to know that to be His bride would be my ultimate happiness and joy. But I delayed because I was afraid to face all that would entail if I did.
In my senior year, the Holy Spirit once again gave me courage to ask the right questions: “What is the next step that the Lord is calling me to grow closer in intimacy with Him? With which choice does He want to lead me to holiness and make me a saint?” I had just received an offer to be a FOCUS missionary. A few months later, I was accepted into UT’s pharmacy school. It was easy to realize that pharmacy school would not be enough: His desires were too big. Discerning FOCUS helped me realize that my identity comes before my “doing.” For whatever reason, I sensed God promising that he would fulfill all my desires for ministry and more, but it wouldn’t be through FOCUS. Then the question came up again, “Will you be mine?” I couldn’t reason why God was calling me to consecrated life sooner rather than later. But what He did promise me was that He would be enough. And He gave me the grace to jump off the boat with a heartfelt “Yes!”
I heard the Apostles for the first time at a discernment event in the Diocese of Austin.
My first impression was that I felt super comfortable being around them because they looked so normal! It was very easy and natural to be with them.
I began my experience in the community in College Station, Texas in January 2023 and entered community/started formation in September 2025.
