Every time I meet Sister Paloma, I find myself being drawn into her world and disconnecting from the reality in which I live.

I first encountered Sister Paloma on the streets of London near my apartment. Approaching her with an shy demeanor, I asked if I could study and photograph the life in the convent. 

Sister Paloma provided me with the address, extended an invitation, and finally granted me the opportunity I had been waiting for a long time.

Several questions always crossed my mind whenever I saw nuns: Are they happy? Are they fulfilled with the life they have chosen?

From the moment Sister Paloma opened the convent door for me, I knew I had come to the right place, especially to meet the right person. Her immense smile and warm welcome ignited my desire to learn more about her life.

Hailing from a small town in Mexico, Sister Paloma drastically altered the course of her life in a single moment, inspired by the nuns who had come to visit from Italy.

She confided in me that throughout her life, she had felt something was missing, an incompleteness that only became clear when she encountered the visiting nuns. It was then that she realised her true calling.

The idea that Sister Paloma simply decided to change her life, board a plane to Italy, and join a convent evoked a touch of jealousy in me – positive jealousy, as she had discovered the place that brought her happiness.

We engaged in a wide-ranging conversation during our second meeting, which lasted about 3 hours. It became apparent that I hadn't encountered someone as content and fulfilled in life for a long time – content with her circumstances and driven by the sole desire to bring goodness to the world.

One post cannot adequately capture the profound impact that meeting Sister Paloma had on me.

It was incredibly enriching to learn about a religion distinct from my own and delve into Mexican culture and her longing for Mexico and her family.

My personal project has left a deep impression on me, highlighting the importance of understanding one another, being receptive to those who differ from us, and building bridges that contribute to creating a more beautiful world.

Thank you, Sister Paloma.