A Day in the Life of a Sister

Walk with Sister Debbie through a day in our novitiate as she explores her vocation to use her spiritual gifts as a nun in the service of humanity prior to becoming a permanently vowed member of our community.

COULD GOD BE CALLING YOU TO A RELIGIOUS LIFE?

This is a powerful thought. God… calling me? I don’t think so! How could I possibly be a religious sister? I am not that religious. I love God and my neighbor but I don’t think I would fit into a religious setting.

I don’t fit the “mold”

Well, that is where you are wrong! Religious women are just like you. They too, love God and neighbor. They too felt trepidation or doubt when first called to explore religious life. Some denied the call for years, ultimately reaching beyond their fears to explore the possibility; and the rewards were very rich for them. What they discovered is that every one of the sisters they spent time with were very human, fun loving, devoted to God, active in their work and open to sharing their vision with others. Most importantly, they were there to hear about and support your vision and your particular gifts.

And I am certainly not “perfect”

God created us in His image. God knows us inside and out. Seeking a religious life is about spiritual growth. None of us is perfect, but leading a religious life means that we love God and devote our lives to aiding those in need. That is how we can see and feel Jesus in our lives. We don’t have to “be perfect” to “know perfection.”

So, how do I know?

To know whether God is calling you to religious life, it is important for you to gain a full understanding of what religious life is. It is not enough to capture a sense of it in movies and commercial TV documentaries. To really understand it, one has to go to the source -men and women religious who will be glad to share their experience with you. What would you like to know more about? Ask a religious, they will be glad to assist. You can also email me.

What can I read to help me understand discernment a little more?

Following is a list of reading material we would recommend for you to begin your quest for knowledge:

Let Your Life Speak – Listening for the Voice of Vocation, Parker J. Palmer
My Life with the Saints, James Martin, SJ
In Good Company: The Fast Track from the Corporate World to Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. James Martin, SJ
Weeds Among the Wheat – Discernment: Where Prayer and Action Meet, Thomas H. Green, SJ
The Seven Storey Mountain, Thomas Merton
LifeWork, Finding your Purpose in Life, Rick Sarkisian, PhD
Making Choices, Margaret Silf
Holy Longing, Ronald Rolheiser
Living Simply in an Anxious World, Robert Wicks
The God Instinct – Heeding your Heart’s Unrest, Tom Stella
Vocations Anonymous: A handbook for adults discerning religious life, Kathy Bryant, RSC

For more information, e-mail our Vocation Director.