Discernment Resources!

I know that when I was discerning about my vocation and was wondering if I might be called to be a sister, there was one thing that I desperately wanted but did not know how to find. What was it you may ask? Conversation with and advice from other young women who were discerning or who were in the early stages of religious formation. There was little to nothing available online at the time, and (as far as I could tell) I was the only young woman I knew who was thinking about being a nun. Processing my thoughts, questions, fears, and hopes about religious life would have been so much simpler, I thought, with more information or at least someone to share the journey of discernment with!

Fortunately for those who are currently wondering about religious life and/or discerning their own potential call to be a sister or nun, things have changed a great deal over the last decade! Quite a few resources have been developed, including blogs written by young women who are discerning, in formation, or newly professed sisters. What a great opportunity to learn about their experiences, to ask your questions, and to hear what the process of joining a religious community is like!

One place to read all about it is the website of Giving Voice, an organization of younger women religious. They have a collection of blogs here from some of their members who represent a sample of the variety of religious communities. I encourage you to visit this site, choose a blog or two to check out, and curl up with a good cup of coffee and tea some evening.

Meet (Some) Sisters Monday

For this week's edition of Meet-A-Sister Monday I'd like to introduce you to not one sister, but a community of them! Vocation team member Sister Mary Swanson, SSND has been working with the vocation ministers of other communities in the upper mid-west during the Year of Consecrated Life. One of these communities, the Benedictine sisters of St. Martin Monastery in Rapid City, SD recently shared with her this video about themselves. I thought that you might find it interesting to have a glimpse into their history and their present lives.

After watching the video, was there anything that jumped out at you - maybe something that you found surprising, interesting, or inspiring? What questions about religious life did it raise for you?

Foundress Friday

We love this painting of Blessed Theresa which was done by Franco-Peter Mpagi! Do you have a favorite picture of a family member? What makes it so special?

Throwback Thursday

Theresa wrote many letters over the course of her lifetime to the early sisters. Many of them were full of beautiful advice and encouragement! Who in your life encourages you?

Who We Are Wednesday

Do you enjoy history? For this edition of Who We Are Wednesday we would like to share with you our founding story as told on our international website, gerhardinger.org. Here is a preview:

The congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame came to life when God’s call found an answer in the hearts of people strong in faith, farseeing in vision, and courageous in action. The congregation continues today in the mysterious interaction of divine call and human response.

 

Our charism flows from our spiritual heritage, especially the gifts of St. Augustine, who formed a community to be of one heart and one soul in God, seeing in the Trinity the basis, source and goal of all community. It is in this spirit of Augustine that the first rules are framed.

Blessed Alix Le Clerc and St. Peter Fourier gave a new direction to religious life, insisting  that the ministry of furthering the interests of education be integral to the community which they founded and named it the Congrégation Notre Dame - Canonesses of St. Augustine. Alix and her companions pronounced their first religious vows on Christmas Day 1597 at Mattaincourt in Lorraine.

 
Though its roots lie deep in the past, the congregation traces its actual beginning to October 24, 1833, when Caroline Gerhardinger and two other women began a common religious life in Neunburg vorm Wald, Bavaria. Their action was inspired by an apostolic spirituality destined to shape their own lives and profoundly affect those of many others.

You can read the full history here!

Discernment Inspiration

If you answered this question honestly, what might it mean for the direction of your life? If you think that God may be calling you to consider religious life, can you trust God enough to believe that you will be ok if you start talking about it and looking at it up close?

Meet Sister Rose Cecile Espinos!

An early call - at age 6

Sisters Mary Kay Brooks and Rose Cecile Espinos (right)

 “My vocational call came at the very early age of six. While attending the St. Rose Preschool facility run by Italian Sisters of Providence in Chicago, school-age children also came for a summer program of crafts and fun. While the nursery children napped after lunch, the rest of us were kept busy with stories about the saint of the day or Bible stories followed by some activities. 
“On the feast of St. Claire, the sisters told us about the saint, her running away and becoming a nun and follower of St. Francis. I was much intrigued with the story and questioned what did one do today to follow St. Francis, who in turn followed Jesus. The sister responded, ‘Just come and we, the sisters, would show you.’
“After seriously considering her response for several days, I picked up my doll, my new red dress and walked to the convent to follow St. Francis and Jesus.”

A clear vision of religious life

Sisters Ann Carol Kaufenberg and Rose Cecile Espinos (back row, right)

“To my surprise, the sisters who responded to my request told me I needed to wait until I was much older. I insisted that’s not what Sister originally told me and refused to return home. Of course, the Sister Superior informed my parents that I was at the convent and needed to be taken home. My parents did arrive and with many tears all around, I returned home. 
“Years elapsed before I reentered to ask for entrance, with a much better idea of what religious life was about, not to the Italian sisterhood, but with the School Sisters of Notre Dame who taught me in grade school. 
“What is following Jesus is an ongoing call which I continue to live out, discovering what it means for me daily.”         - Sister Rose Cecile Espinos