Video Monday: Sisters Interviewed

This video consists of interviews with a variety of Sisters about why they came to religious life and why they stayed, as well as advice for those considering religious life. Take a watch.

Video Monday: Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration

Today we have a charming video from the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration St. Joseph Monastery in Ohio. This Monastery almost had to close. They were left with just 3 elderly sisters when the Monastery in Alabama sent some nuns to help revive the Monastery.

Video Monday: Benedictines at Ferdinand Indiana

The Benedictines at Ferdinand, Indiana are one of the groups I visited when I was discerning religious life. They are a wonderful community. This is part 1 of 11 of their vocation video. You can see the rest of the parts by going to YouTube.

Wednesday Discernment Link: Aggie Catholics

Yes, I admit it…I’m an Aggie. I spent 5 years at Texas A&M University, and that is where I was baptized into the Catholic Church. Their student center was always very active, but now they have a very strong vocational discernment program, and a nice website to go with it. So, please give them a visit, and if you’re a Catholic in the College Station, Texas, area, then give St. Mary’s Parish a visit. It’s a lovely, vibrant parish ideal for young people.

Tuesday Book Review: Discovering Your Personal Vocation

Well, this isn’t really a book review, because I haven’t had a chance to read this book yet. However, it’s on my list of books to read as soon as I can afford to get a copy of it (already checked the library, and they don’t have it).

In Discovering Your Personal Vocation, Fr. Herbert Alphonso, SJ, talks about using the Spiritual Exercises to understand your vocation in life. I think I’ve mentioned my experiences with the Spiritual Exercises before and how incredibly useful I found them in deepening my own spirituality. So, needless to say, this book is definitely going on my wish list.

The Editorial Review on Amazon begins, “Deceptively brief and simple, this is a profound reflection on identifying your “personal vocation”–not just discovering what you really want to do, but discovering the very essence of your being, what is unique and unrepeatable about you. Doing flows from being, so this is the spirit that animates everything you do; this is the secret of unity and integration at the Heart of Life, how you are called by name. ”

If anyone out there has read it, I’d love to hear your opinion of the book. Just leave a comment!

Video Monday: Vocation Testimonial

This sister is a nun with the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It’s well worth watching till the end to see her really beautiful smile.

Video Monday: Sr. Margaret Chapman, IHM

Sister Margaret Chapman, an IHM Sister from Detroit, talks about the various work she has done over her 40 years of religious life.

Friday Community Highlight: St. Gertrude Monastery

The Benedictine Sisters of St. Gertrude Monastery have been in Ridgely, Maryland since 1887.  Originally teaching in parish schools, they now only teach in the elementary and high school in Wilmington, Delaware.  After closing their girl’s accademy at their motherhouse, they started a school for mentally challenged children and young adults.  In addition, they work with St. Martin’s Ministry to help the rural poor.  Like many Benedictine Sisters, they are devoted to peace and justice issues.

Click on “Meet our Sisters” and you can read a bit about each of the Sisters at St. Gertrude’s Monastery.

Take some time and visit their website today and get to know St. Gertrude’s Monastery.

Thursday Discernment Discussion: Vocation Directors

Today’s discussion is centered on Vocation Directors.  I’ve heard some great stories about vocation directors, and I’ve heard some really horrible ones as well.  My own experience while I was discerning religous life was rather mixed.  I had some really great experiences, I had some not so great experiences.

Tell us about your experiences with vocation directors, and how you handled any problems that arose.  I know that your stories and experiences can help those out there who are going through some of the same things, so please share with us.

Obviously, you may post anonymously if that is your wish, because, let’s face it, vocation directors do talk to each other.

Community Database

Note: This is a sticky post…please scroll down for new content.

My husband and I have been tossing around an idea for a while now of creating a searchable database of communities to help women more easily find a compatible community.  It would be a free tool for both the communities and the women who are discerning.  I sketched out some criteria to start with, but I’d like to hear from you what you would find helpful.

The criteria I’ve listed so far are:

• Habit
• Type of Order (contemplative, apostolic, monastic)
• Size of order as a whole
• Size of communities within the order
• Communal prayer
• Primary ministries/work
• Age Limits
• Education requirements.

What other criteria would you find helpful to have in a database?  I’ve thought about location, but not sure how to do that.  But programming it is my husband’s job.

If you are active on other vocation boards or e-mail lists, please share this with others so we can get as much input as possible.  Thanks in advance for your help!