Issuu

A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL RELIGIOUS VOCATION CONFERENCE

2011 CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS VOCATION DISCERNMENT GUIDE

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CATHOLIC ReLIGIOuS VOCATION DISCeRNmeNT GuIDe ExEcutivE dirEctor of thE national rEligiouS vocation confErEncE Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C. PublishEr TrueQuest Communications, L.L.C. Patrice J. Tuohy (pjtuohy@truequest.biz) Daniel Grippo (writingdan@yahoo.com) Editorial ExEcutivE Editor Patrice J. Tuohy Managing Editor/Production

Anne Marie O’Kelley (amokelley@truequest.biz)

Managing Editor/Editorial Joel Schorn (jschorn@truequest.biz) contEnt Editor Carol Schuck Scheiber (contenteditor@VocationGuide.org) art dirEction

T & J Studios

advErtising Production ManagEr Dianne Potter (dpotter@truequest.biz) SalES Patrice J. Tuohy 800-942-2811

Dianne Potter

CustomEr sErviCE mail@VocationGuide.org

VocationGuide.org

onlinE sErviCEs Long Web Development Vision is the annual publication of the national Religious Vocation Conference, 5401 south Cornell Avenue, ste. 207 Chicago, illinois 60615; nrvc@nrvc.net; www.nrvc.net © 2010, National Religious Vocation Conference Published by TrueQuest Communications 53 West Jackson Blvd., suite 520, Chicago, iL 60604-3433 PhonE: 312-356-9900; fax: 312-356-9903 E-Mail: mail@truequest.biz; www.truequest.biz Printed in the United states. isBn 1083-0804. no part of this publication may be reproduced without permission from TrueQuest Communications. Manuscripts are welcome. For writer’s guidelines and other editorial inquiries, contact Carol schuck scheiber at contenteditor@VocationGuide.org Request additional copies online at VocationGuide.org; e-mail mail@VocationGuide.org; or call 800-942-2811. For information on advertising, please call Dianne Potter at 800-942-2811. Vision reserves the right to reject any advertising. All ads must be in line with the guide’s mission to promote Catholic religious vocations. The nRVC does not specifically endorse any advertisements.

VocationGuide.org VISION 2011

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Contents

VISION 2011 CATHOLIC ReLIgIOus VOCATIOn DIsCeRnmenT guIDe

The secret to a balanced life: liturgy, lectio, labor sIsTeR kATIe mcnAmARA, O.C.s.O.

media review Inspired images JOeL sCHORn

Priests Three ways my religious community makes me the priest I am FATHeR JIm kenT, O.F.m. COnV.

inspiRed

images

A taste for diversity and dialogue

Religious sightings 6

Discover a whole new world sIsTeR mARgAReT sCOTT, A.C.J.

six suggestions for anyone discerning religious life sALLy WILLITzeR

Finding the right fit sIsTeR CHARLene DIORkA, s.s.J.

full of gRace: Reclaiming the

RosaRy

120

138

get ready to run the race

Prayer & discernment

FATHeR TInH VAn nguyen, s.V.D.

sisters

FATHeR AnDReW CARL

Call me sister

WIsDOm, O.P.

mAuReen DALy

Religious go gReen

Religious life

communities

Trust god and hit the road BROTHeR ROgeR AnTHOny LOPez, O.F.m. WITH JOeL sCHORn 40

Variety can be habit-forming CAROL sCHuCk sCHeIBeR

Religious communities go green CLIFF TeRRy

don’t miss these exceptional featuRes at Vocationguide.oRg Vocation match seRVice narrow your vocation search by filling out an online profile and finding the vocation/community that might best suit you.

oppoRtunity postings • Q & a • Blogs • spanish/fRench ResouRces coVeR design and photo T & J sTuDIOs.

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Publishers’ Note Living in joyful hope

Missionaries catholic sisters thriving in a Muslim world

104

Pat MorrISon

being catholic What does it mean to be catholic? Peggy h. ekerDt

Discover

a whole new worlD

Joy I never expected SISter MarIlyn lacey, r.S.M.

Service with a smile SISter elIzabeth ann SJoberg, D.c.

154

brothers brotherhood made simple brother PatrIck couSInS, S.c. 98

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alIce caMIlle

120

Don’t keep from singing Father goDFrey Mullen, o.S.b.

128

the art of discernment Mysterious encounters

136

a positive influence in my life . . . 17, 23, 89, 115, 135 men’s communities search 137 women’s communities search 148

brother exequIel MaPa, c.F.a. 144

never expecteD

Full of grace: reclaiming the rosary

PatrIce tuohy

committed to care

Joy i

110

community aDvertiser inDex 169

his pasT year the National Religious Vocation Conference, the publishers of VisiON, released a landmark study brother Paul on recent vocations bednarczyk, c.S.c. to religious life. Of the many things we learned, one that stands out is the significance of a joyful life. Our research shows that a main attraction to religious life is witnessing the authentic joy of men and women religious living out their vocation with zeal and commitment. Religious life is not for everyone; it has always been a rare choice among the faithful. But for those who come to this life, most find that they are on the path for achieving their heart’s desire: to love and serve the Lord, who is “the center of humanity, the joy of all hearts, and the fulfillment of all aspirations” (Gaudium et spes, 45). May you, too, find the path to a life of joy in the Lord. —Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C. NRVC Executive Director

he JOy of religious life shines through on every page of this issue of VisiON: from the featured artwork of sisters, brothers, and priests to the inspirational essays, articles, and profiles. if you feel drawn to a particular vocation or community, VisiON can help you learn more through its print and online directories, indexes, and services, such as Vocation Match, coMMunity Search, and the opportunity calendar. enjoy! —Patrice J. Tuohy VISION Executive Editor

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religious sightings . Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms

. Loyalty to Magisterium

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Pray to Play

t NeumANN uNiversity in Aston, Pennsylvania sisters from the university’s sponsoring congregation have served as sports chaplains for many years. the main job of the sister-chaplains is to help players integrate their faith into their lives as athletes. “sometimes people don’t think of sports as being anything more than recreation or a way to make money,” said sister marie therese Carr, SISter MarIe thereSe Carr, O.S.F. with rachel Sokolovich, a O.s.F., chaplain to the women’s 2009 volleyball player at Neumann University. volleyball team at Neumann. “But it’s playing. it’s recreation. And God is in our play and our recreation. the more people realize that and play with the realization that God is in their midst, the better we’ll all be.” Chaplains will also send motivational e-mails to athletes and attend practices to get to know players and make themselves available to them. the sisters who are chaplains at Neumann also take part in an evening of reflection for student athletes. inevitably the chaplains become passionate about their teams. “she’s been our biggest fan the past four years,” said a player on Carr’s volleyball team. —From Good News, a publication of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia

“We all have a calling, and to figure out what we are called to has to do with living in such a way that we can hear that message in our lives.” –Jill Kress, I.H.M., VISION Catholic Religious Vocation Network’s SpiritCitings Blog

More Catholics mean more religious vocations—we hope! the number of Catholics in the world is now 1.16 billion, according to the Statistical Yearbook of the Church published by the Vatican in 2010 and comprising information from 2000 through 2008. that represents an 11.54 percent increase. the number of priests worldwide increased slightly over this nine-year period from 405,178 to 409,166. Nonordained religious men decreased from 55,057 in the year 2000 and 54,641 in 2008. Women religious continue to outnumber priests by almost 2 to 1, but their numbers have fallen from 800,000 in 2000 to 740,000 in 2008.

VISION 2011

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religious sightings SEtting thE StagE for thE goSpEl

“I have a friend who says, ‘The worst thing that can happen to you in your life is not that your life plan fails. Rather the worst thing that can happen to you is that your life plan works. God’s plan for your life is always bigger and better than what you could have imagined.’ ” –Father Joseph Corpora, C.S.C., VISION Catholic Religious Vocation Network’s SpiritCitings Blog

hen Father Peter John Cameron, O.P. first inquired about becoming a Dominican friar decades ago, he had no idea he would someday combine his passion for theater with his newfound vocation. For more than a decade, though, that’s exactly what Cameron has done as founder and artistic director of Blackfriars repertory theatre. the new York City-based company has been producing one to five plays a year since 1998, frequently drawing attention to stories from the gospels and the lives of saints. to Cameron it makes perfect sense for a Dominican priest to be immersed in the theater. “Dominicans have always had an attraction to and affinity for the arts,” he said. as for his community’s emphasis on preaching, he explains: “theater is an ideal way of preaching. It gives people a sense of what it is FaTheR PeTeR John Cameron, O.P. to be human, what is worth living for and dying for.” Furtherfounded Blackfriars Repertory Theatre in New York City in 1998. more, he adds, many people who do not go to church will go to see a play. Over the years Cameron has gotten numerous letters from inspired audience members. “they are usually about people experiencing beauty and a new way of looking at things,” he says. Learn more at www.blackfriarsrep.com.

Exhibit shines light on sisters’ impact

hOuSaNdS of people around the united States are learning how american Catholic sisters have contributed to the nation’s development, thanks to the traveling museum exhibit Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America. Sponsored by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the exhibition

celebrates sisters’ roles in building hospitals, schools, universities, and orphanages, and their courage in arriving in wilderness areas to minister to Catholic families, nurse the wounded on both sides of the Civil War, and fight for civil rights through the 20th century. For more information see www. womenandspirit.org.

WoMEn & Spirit SchEDulE September 24, 2010 - January 22, 2011 Statue of Liberty National Monument/ellis Island Immigration Museum (Liberty Island, NY) february 2011 - May 2011 Mississippi River Museum (dubuque, Ia)

Share your sightings

If you spot a member of a religious community in the news, please e-mail the details to us at mail@vocationguide.org.

VISITORS eNJOY the Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America museum exhibition.

September 2, 2011 - December 31, 2011 Center for history in association with the university of Notre dame (South Bend, IN)

nEW! Mobile apps for our digital edition: www.digitalvocationguide.org. Follow us everywhere! 8

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VISION 2011

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Benedictine Sisters

Seeking god TogeTher

in community, prayer ministry.

For more monastic wisdom, visit the communities of Benedictine Sisters listed at www.abfconline.org/sisters. Enter #004 at VocationMatch.com

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prayer & discernment AS yOu lOOk at religious life, look at yourself and the person you are and ask God to help you see where you can best love others.

Six suggestions for anyone discerning religious life God wants you to find the vocation that brings you a happy and holy life. Here are six ways to help you do it.

Sally Willitzer

O yOu tHInK you might be called to a religious vocation? Maybe there is a little nagging voice in your heart telling you there is something more. Perhaps you love learning about your faith, attending

Sally Willitzer is the director of religious education at St. Peters Parish in Huron, Ohio. Prior to that, she frequently served as a companion to young adults discerning religious life in her work as a university campus minister. She holds a master’s of divinity degree from the University of Notre Dame.

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Mass, helping others, or have been told you would make a great sister or priest. Whatever brought you to the point of opening the door to the idea, discernment is absolutely necessary. But how exactly does discernment work? Here are five suggestions to help anyone considering a religious vocation.

Pray OK, so spending time in prayer might seem obvious—“I don’t need to read an article to tell me I should pray!” It is very easy, however, to become more focused on trying to make the right deci-

VISION 2011

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sion than on growing closer to the Lord. How can you know what God wants if you do not know God? The true vocation of every serious Christian always leads to a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. God made human beings for no other reason than to love them and wants each person to be happy and live life to the fullest. God delights in each of us as a parent gazing tenderly into the face of a newborn. It is hard to fathom the depth of this divine love. Many of us are more accustomed to human love that sometimes comes with conditions and selfishness. To learn more about God’s amazing love, we have to make room in our day for prayer, silence, and the sacraments of the church. Life is crazy and hectic, filled with activity, noise, and productivity. To hear God amid this racket we need to carve out a silent space to sit alone and listen to the voice of the Lord in our hearts. Find somewhere you can be silent each day, talk to the Lord honestly, and give God an opportunity to speak. Ask God to help you learn how to pray, listen, and recognize which vocation is the one for which you were created and in which you will be happiest.

Know God’s M.O.

Searching for ways to change the world one life at a time?

Daughters of Wisdom We invite you to be part of our tradition, bringing social change through education, healing, spirituality, and the arts. Sister Lucy Clynes, DW 385 Ocean Avenue Islip, NY 11751 631-277-2660, Ext. 11 vocation@daughtersofwisdom.org

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We all learn from an early age how the people in our lives show what they are thinking and feeling, but it can be confusing to know how God communicates with us as we try to discern our vocation. We must know how God speaks to us—the Holy Spirit’s modus operandi—if we are to recognize whether what we are thinking and feeling is from God or

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Be in touch. Contact Sister Kathleen Heer connect@slw.org or Kathleen_slw@yahoo.com 847-577-5972

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something else. Contrary to what many believe, God does not want us to suffer and be miserable! If you ponder a certain vocation and cannot ever imagine yourself being happy in that lifestyle, then God most likely is calling you elsewhere. Though something may seem difficult or scary at first, anything that the voice of God’s Holy Spirit asks you to do will lead you closer to God. The Holy Spirit confirms a decision with feelings such as inner peace, joy, excitement, and love. Although a decision or task may seem a little frightening or unfamiliar, the mark of the Holy Spirit is that these other more positive feelings will be stronger than your fear or doubts. On the other hand, if a decision is not something God calls you to you are more likely to feel fear, anxiety, stress, resistance, and depression. Emotional responses to vocational discernment, though, can contain many nuances. All is not black and white, with good feelings automatically meaning a heavenly stamp of approval and bad feelings automatically signaling a misstep. That is why having a spiritual director or mentor is very important as you discern. If a person prays regularly, meets with a spiritual director, and pays attention to how they are feeling, over time they can pick up how the movements of the Holy Spirit work and will become more experienced in discerning them.

Consult someone wiser When I was younger and discerning, I never wanted to talk to anyone else about my thoughts and feelings

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because I was reluctant to let anyone know what I was considering. Looking back now, nobody reacted as negatively as I feared they might, and it seems silly that I would not have gone to the experts for advice on something I knew very little about. Speak with a spiritual director or vocation director who can help you discern and listen to the voice of God. Most dioceses and religious communities have vocation directors who can help you find a spiritual director (a.k.a. someone trustworthy and experienced in discernment and living a Christian life who can walk with you and help you sort out what you are hearing in prayer and feeling and experiencing).

God made human beings for no other reason than to love them and wants each person to be happy and live life to the fullest. Also, if you really want to know what religious life is all about, find someone who lives that life well. Ask honest questions. Visit some religious communities or seminaries. Share what you are looking for and what your fears are and ask for advice on how to make a good discernment. Begin to compile a top-10 list of things you are attracted to and see if any of those values are shared by the communities you visit. Learn about the charism of communities you visit (the gift the Holy Spirit has given them to share with the world)

Thousands of Felician Franciscan Sisters have lived it. Experience it for yourself.

A life centered in the Eucharist, inspired by prayer, lived within a joy-filled community of consecrated women who seek to serve God and the Church through compassionate service in ministries across North America and around the world. ForÊmoreÊinformation,ÊvisitÊourÊwebÊsiteÊatÊwww.feliciansisters.org Or contact our North American Vocation Ofﬁce 3800ÊWestÊPetersonÊAvenueÊ•ÊChicago,ÊIllinoisÊ60659-3116Ê•ÊPhone:Ê1-866-762-6355

FRANCISCAN

O U R ÊL A D Y Ê O F ÊH O P E ÊP R O V I N C E VISION 2011

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and see if it feels like something that resonates with you and your life.

Every vocation is holy Many young people discerning vocations mistakenly believe a vocation to consecrated life is somehow holier than living as a single or married person. The church teaches that all vocations are holy and that the holiest vocation for any individual is the one to which God calls him or her to

Discernment of a vocation is about listening to what God personally wants for me and where I can best be a unique instrument of love in the world.

Fr. Stanley Deresienski, SSE, Vocation Director Society of Saint Edmund 270 Winooski Park Colchester, Vermont 05439-0270 sderesienski@smcvt.edu http://www.sse.org 802 / 654-3400 Enter #119 at VocationMatch.com

Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Hermanas Misioneras del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Women called to be the Heart of God in the world… replacing suffering and indifference with generosity and compassion. e-mail:

mscvocdir@aol.com www.mscreading.org

live. Each person’s vocation is a gift from God, and choosing a religious vocation because you think it is objectively more holy is wrong. Why? If the only reason you are choosing a particular vocation is because you think it is objectively holier, then you will stop listening and truly being open to the voice of God because you have already determined for yourself what you think is best. Discernment of a vocation is about listening to what God personally wants for me and where I can best be a unique instrument of love in the world. Every vocation is about giving one’s life over to God in unselfish love and service of others. No matter what form your vocation takes—as a single person, spouse, vowed religious, and so on—discernment is about looking

web:

Amada sea en todas partes el Sagrado Corazón de Jesús. 14

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at the gifts God has given you and offering those gifts back to God with open hands and a loving heart. Trappist monk and writer Thomas Merton said it best when he wrote: “To be a saint is to be myself”—that self God made us to be which brings us a happy and holy life.

Trust, be calm, and take your time If you are anything like me, you want to have complete control over every decision in your life. I enjoy organizing things and want to know what is going to happen next month, next week, tomorrow, and 5 minutes from now. Rationally I know that no amount of fretting is going to make any difference in God’s plans, but still I foolishly worry! A priest friend often tells me: “Life is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be lived.” God is present in every situation, in every moment of our lives, and in everything we do. If you continue to pray and open your heart to the Lord, you will not be led astray. If one truly trusts God, there is absolutely no need to rush, stress, or be pressured into making a hurried decision. In scripture God is not one to be pushed to pick up the pace! In fact, trying to rush the Lord is like trying to lift an airplane that has been sitting on the runway for 40 minutes. It cannot be done, and usually it is better to let the experts (who know much more than we do) decide when it is time to fly. Trust, patience, humility, and a willingness to let go are very important in any discernment. If you are too attached to a particular outcome or let yourself be pressured into mak-

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ing a hasty decision, you do not give God the opportunity to work. It is God’s way that will give us the most happiness and inner peace, regardless of what society, our friends, or our own opinions may be saying. Thinking we have it all figured out and then going to God to get a stamp of approval is not discernment. To truly discern, we have to be open to any outcome and allow God to run the show as God sees fit. The Lord is so awesome that he can make good out of whatever we do, despite any blunders we might make along the way. The more accurate question is not what God wants from me but what God wants for me.

Know thyself! The person you are right now is probably not going to change drastically once you embark on a religious

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vocation. Obviously everyone grows in maturity and holiness over a lifetime, but certain core personality characteristics and preferences are more constant. To make a good discernment one has to know his or her own

The question is not what God wants from me but what God wants for me. emotional hang-ups, weaknesses, and strengths. If you are a night owl, for example, or hate exercising, are a neat freak, are frequently late, or love working with small children, these things are not likely to change when you become a priest, brother, or sister. You need to look at your gifts as you are discerning your voca-

tion and ask the Lord: “Where can I best use the talents you have given me?” If you hate getting up early, do not really like serving others, and find the idea of working with children terrifying, then perhaps joining a community of sisters who teach is not a good idea—even if you really love God! As you look at religious life, look at yourself and the person you are and ask God to help you see where you can best love others. = EDITORS’ NOTE: For an interactive list of come-and-see events, discernment retreats, and other vocation-related happenings with religious communities, visit the “Opportunities” section on the VISION Vocation Network website, www.vocation-network.org/opportunities. Also use VISION’s online Vocation Match service or Community Search to help focus your search for the right religious community or church vocation.

Written upon every heart is a pathway to God. Join Salvatorians on the pathway Worldwide Ministry Advocacy Health Care Parish Work Teaching

A Positive influence in my life . . . “If There’s such a thing as cheering silently, that’s what I felt sister Margaret always did for me. I saw it in her eyes, and it meant the world to me. Of course she encouraged me out loud as well, but knowing that someone was holding hope and faith for me inside herself made an enormous difference in my life. I hope I have the opportunity to pass along that gift.” —Mariska Hargitay, costar of tHe tV series “Law and order:

speciaL VictiMs Unit,” on tHe sister froM Her HigH scHooL wHo

Sisters of the Divine Savior Sister Mary Lee Grady, SDS 4311 N. 100th Street Milwaukee, WI 53222 414.466.0810 x229 sistersofthedivinesavior.org gradym@salvatoriansisters.org

encoUraged Her to reacH Her fULL potentiaL

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prayer & discernment

Finding the right fit

HOw yOu relate in and with a religious community is important to consider. It has to be a comfortable fit!

No two religious communities are alike. An insider gives tips on what to look for and the questions to ask when exploring religious communities.

SiSter Charlene Diorka, S.S.J.

Hen I wAs vocAtIon director for my congregation, the sisters of saint Joseph of Philadelphia, I often met young adults who had a relatively clear sense of a call to follow Jesus in religious life but weren’t quite sure which religious community was the right one for them. they benefited greatly from time spent looking at what I called the personality

Sister Charlene Diorka, S.S.J. is a member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia and associate director of the National Religious Vocation Conference in Chicago.

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of the community. Just as each person has distinctive qualities, characteristics, and traits that blend together to create their personality, religious communities do, too. As a group the community has an identity that takes shape in the particularities of how they live, work, and interact in the contemporary world. How you relate in and with a religious community is important to consider. It has to be a comfortable fit! Given the importance of this mutual fit, I never stopped reminding discerners that if you are going to leave home, wherever that is at this point in your life, you need to be sure to find a place

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holycrossvocations.org

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Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart Called by God to serve others

The call is not for us . . . It is for others . . . Dare to respond. We have!

If God is calling you to serve, contact us . . . vocations@missionhelpers.org

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where you can be most at home. In other words, you need to feel comfortable and able to continue to thrive and grow as well as function within the personality of the given religious community to which you are attracted while respecting your own personal identity. The time you spend inquiring about the details 20

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of life in a specific community is certainly time well-spent. Seeking answers to the questions you have can help you discover if your personality fits with the personality of that religious community. The profession of the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience are fundamental components of consecrated life. These vows, however, provide a stark contrast to the values of our culture in which sex, money, and power reign supreme. In your discernment it’s important to consider these natural drives. Then look at how the human dimension of your personality and temperament matches with the expression of the vows as the religious community lives them on a daily basis. So let’s explore some of the daily living issues of religious life as they relate to the vows to see how they might inform your discernment with a particular religious community. Don’t be afraid to ask the questions that will assist you in discovering if this is the best place for you to live, grow, and become the person God invites you to be.

Chastity: A different way to love In religious life the vow of chastity calls you to a profound and personal relationship with Jesus through prayer, to love all people with the

love with which God has loved them, and to be ready, available, and free to go where sent on mission. This vow points to union with God as the only way to satisfy the deep human longing for love. The vow does not nullify the need for friendship, intimacy, and love. Rather it is a lifegiving choice to live these aspects of sexuality in a radically different way than our culture proposes. Given this focus and freedom through the vow of chastity, how are relationships with other community members, family, and male and female friends outside this religious community viewed? Do you get to choose how and when you spend time with them? Do you celebrate holidays together in community? Are you expected to pray with the community for your personal as well as your communal prayer? How are decisions made regarding when and where you are sent for ministry? What kind of freedom do you have in terms of social activities? Are you free to travel? How is a healthy balance of work, rest, prayer, and leisure achieved? How does conflict or disagreement get expressed and resolved?

Poverty: The freedom to give The vow of poverty calls you as a priest, brother, or sister to offer your time, talents, and gifts—in fact, your very person—in union with Jesus for others. It invites you to live simply with basic necessities and prioritize what you need over what you want. As a consecrated religious you hold all things in common and steward and share what is available to you in light of the gospel mandate and your congregational mission. If poverty is not about being destitute but really about being free for mission, then how is money handled and used in this religious community? Do you receive a salary VISION 2011

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Providence embraces:

passi m o C on

Justice

h t i an international commitment Fa and to becoming a one-world community. Walk with us, Sisters of Providence in solidarity with the poor. vocations@providence.org 509/474-2323 Spokane or 206/923-4028 Seattle ●

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for your ministry, and what happens to that money? Do you have access to money for personal use? What is the practice around receiving gifts, including money? How is ownership of material things like cell phones, laptops, iPods, or a GPS determined? Is it possible to have a credit card? How are decisions made about what is “needed” and what is “wanted”? And once you have discerned your vocation to a specific religious community, how do you know what to bring with you and how much is appropriate?

Obedience: The call to listen The vow of obedience calls for a listening and discerning heart. Through this vow you promise to listen for God’s voice through prayer and discernment as well as through the voice of other members of the

community, those entrusted with authority in the congregation, and the events of daily life. You look to your congregation’s constitutions for the guidelines that help you to live your consecra-

The vow of chastity points to union with God as the only way to satisfy the deep human longing for love.

As a Franciscan, be Christ to others and share God’s love, peace, and mercy with all.

FRANCISCAN MISSIONARY SISTERS OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS Varied apostolates in Califormia, Oregon, Canada, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Please contact: Vocation Directress 3600 S.W. 170th Ave., Beaverton, OR 97006 503-649-7127 . sisters@olpretreat.org

tion faithfully. Constitutions are the formal documents of each congregation that explain its nature, mission, and purpose along with particular details regarding areas significant to this life such as prayer, governance, membership, vows, and community life. Obedience also calls you to

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participate in all the levels of congregational involvement by bringing your own initiative, judgment, and personal responsibility. In connection with the vow of obedience you will want to consider how a specific religious community regards decision-making, communication, the opportunity for the voice of members to be heard, accountability, and the balance of personal needs with the common good of the congregation. The more concrete this

The vow of poverty invites you to live simply with basic necessities and prioritize what you need over what you want.

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Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

he Oblate Sisters strive to attain union with God by offering their lives for the diocesan priesthood. Their special charism is both spiritual and ministerial: to pray for priestly holiness and offer their joys and sorrows for the good of priests. Ministerially the sisters care for retired and convalescent priests and collaborate with them in parish ministry. Please contact: SR. TERESINA ROSA, OSHJ OBLATE SISTERS OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS 50 Warner Road Hubbard, OH 44425 PHONE: 330.759.9329 E-MAIL: jcoblate@aol.com

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information is the more helpful it is in your understanding of living this vow. Some questions to consider are: Can I initiate a change in ministry or residence? Is there a forum for asking questions or voicing insights and opinions? To whom am I accountable? What does governance or authority look like in the convent, monastery, or friary? How are responsibilities delegated for household chores? Do I need to ask permission regarding my free time, use of a car, or other personal responsibilities or needs? What is the process for determining possible ministry, further education, and course of study? Do I participate in conversation and consultation about these things?

Ask and you will receive Finding the right community is as important in your discernment as responding wholeheartedly to Jesus’ call to follow him. Knowing how a community operates can help you VISION 2011

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discover if it is the place for you. So as you search for a community that fits, I encourage you to consider what you value and what gives you life. Imagine yourself in the process of becoming a member and then down the road a few years a vowed member. Can and will the personality of this religious community complement your own personality? Will it be sustaining and nourishing for you? Will it be a place to develop and use your gifts? Remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:7-8: “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Trust that the loving God who has led you this far will continue to guide your search and inquiry for a suitable community to call home.  Enter #267 at VocationMatch.com

Athirst for

God?

A POSITIVE INFLUENCE IN MY LIFE . . . “I HAVEN’T HAD any feedback from the nuns, but it’s interesting because I think everyone assumes that because I went to such a religious school perhaps they don’t appreciate what I’m doing now. But it is quite the opposite. I got a really solid education, in particular how to analyze art, how to make art. So if anything, my teachers are sort of nodding their heads and saying, ‘She did a good job of using her artistic abilities to really create a new kind of pop.’ ” —SINGER/SONGWRITER LADY GAGA (STEFANI GERMANOTTA)

NEW YORK’S CONVENT SCHOOL, QUOTED ON BANG MEDIA

SPEAKING ABOUT HER TEACHERS AT OF THE

SACRED HEART CATHOLIC

Seeking and finding God in the Cistercian Contemplative Tradition (O.C.S.O.)

vocationdirector@redwoodsabbey.org www.redwoodsabbey.org

Redwoods Monastery 18104 Briceland-Thorn Road Whitethorn, CA 95589 (707) 986-7419

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prayer & discernment

Discover a whole new world EucharIStIc adoration cannot be separated from who we are as human beings, created by God and followers of Jesus christ. It is ours to discover and explore.

Hidden beneath the surface of eucharistic adoration is a world of wonder, love, service, forgiveness, and the presence of Christ.

SiSter Margaret Scott, a.c.J.

he very first time i met Jesus Christ in eucharistic adoration, i was not yet a Catholic; i was a college student looking for meaning. that day i discovered that eucha-

Sister Margaret Scott, A.C.J. (www.srmargaret-aci.com) has held leadership positions in her community, the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and is a regular speaker in various countries. She writes for several magazines and has published her first book, The Eucharist and Social Justice (Paulist Press, 2009). She is currently the director of the St. Raphaela Center in Philadelphia and teaches social ethics at St. Joseph’s University.

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ristic adoration is not what it looks like. it is not a static, personal time of silent reflection spent gazing at a consecrated host. Or, at least, it does not have to be. eucharistic adoration is much, much more. it is a dynamic encounter, a thrilling embrace, a challenging conversation, and an exciting engagement. After many years as a sister, making eucharistic adoration every day, i am convinced that there are many layers to adoration.

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MAKING CHRIST’S LOVE VISIBLE

TO THE PEOPLE WE MINISTER TO YOUTH CCD STUDENTS DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED NUTRITIONALLY DEPRIVED SENIOR CITIZENS NURSING HOME RESIDENTS

FOR MORE INFORMATION WRITE OR CALL

DAUGHTERS OF ST MARY OF PROVIDENCE 4200 NORTH AUSTIN AVENUE CHICAGO, IL 60634 Phone:

773-844-9692

Fax:

773-205-1316

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� hat

happiness �or us

�ollowing �aint �eanne �ugan

to be a Little Sister of the Poor!

in the joy of hospitality to the aged poor.

Sr. Constance Carolyn Little Sisters of the Poor 601 Maiden Choice Lane Baltimore, MD 21228 Tel: 410.744.9367 serenity@littlesistersofthepoor.org www.littlesistersofthepoor.org

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ing human. God made us to adore; we were all born to be “wow” people. We all have an innate capacity for awe. Every man and woman, every child and elderly person; people of every race, nation, color, orientation, and social class: Each one has been given the gift of wonder by the God who is always greater and more amazing. So adoration is about who we are as human beings. It is something deeply rooted in our humanity. It is what a mother feels as she cradles her newborn baby in her arms for the very first time. It is the trembling we experience when we are caught up in the overwhelming power of a storm. It is the wonder that widens the eyes and heart of

Eucharistic adoration is a dynamic encounter, a thrilling embrace, a challenging conversation, and an exciting engagement. a child captivated by the magic contained in the adventure of life. It is the spontaneous applause or the emotion in moist eyes before the beauty of a symphony or a tiny flower. It is the admiration we feel in the face of an act of heroism.

The wonder of it all To learn more about us, contact

Sr. Therese Vanasse, DHS 860-564-2243 tvanassedhs@att.net

Second, our sense of wonder as human beings is a spiritual adventure as well. It is the dynamic quality of our relationship with God, deeply engraved in our hearts, where our littleness and fragility become de-

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SISter MarGaret signs copies of her book, The Eucharist and Social Justice.

pendent on God’s transcendence. It is when fear becomes reverence, astonishment becomes the gaze of contemplation open to the divine mystery, and applause dies away to be lost in worship and praise. That is when wonder becomes adoration. When I became a sister I wanted Jesus Christ to be the center of my life, so adoration became eucharistic adoration. Now, it was all about Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. I experienced the thrilling conviction that Jesus was present sacramentally in the consecrated host. I knew in loving amazement that Jesus was really there. And so eucharistic adoration, which may seem to some like “wasting time” in church, is really about recognizing Jesus in the bread and feeling like dancing. It is a tender embrace that opens wide to encircle the whole world. It is having your heart set on fire. For me eucharistic adoration

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Anaheim, CA - osmvocations@aol.com

715.736.0325

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is about identifying with the Son, who adores the Father and loves us. It seemed to me that, like Jesus, adoration is about giving new and abundant life to all around us. It is a passionate need to care deeply about others, about people, about the world we live in, and about the whole of creation. It is wanting to make a difference—ready to be fully committed, as bread that is broken in God’s hands for everyone, for always, in the Eucharist.

The power to act

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Gradually I came to connect adoration and my ministry. Adoration is ministry because to adore Jesus in the Eucharist also means being involved in his cause, following his style of life, and walking in the path of his destiny. It is to meditate on the words “this is my body which will be given up for you” and rejoice in his redeeming action made present in each Eucharist. It is to nourish in oneself the desire for self-giving. It is to learn to commit one’s self and to give one’s life for our brothers and sisters. It is learning to love with no limits. It is praying for all those we hear about and get to know through television and news headlines and for all those whose suffering is ignored or denied. To adore Jesus in the Eucharist is also to become completely immersed in the power of forgiveness. Many years ago now I was making adoration late one night, on the eve of a new chapter in my life. As I sat there quietly with Jesus in the Eucharist, thinking about all that had been and looking forward to what was to come, the face of the one

person who had made life a little difficult for me came into my prayer. Somehow it seemed that the power of forgiveness was flowing gently out from the Eucharist into my mind and my heart, caressing her and lovingly freeing me from resentment. I heard Jesus repeating his prayer in my heart: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And I made his prayer mine: Father, forgive us—all of us who suffer and make others suffer, sometimes without knowing it, sometimes without wishing to. To adore Jesus in the Eucharist is also to enter into the reality of bread, which “earth has given and human hands have made”—the hands of people of our time and in our country and all over the world. It is a space where we can allow ourselves to be touched by a greater spirit of solidarity, to become one with all people, as Jesus did. When I adore Jesus in the Eucharist, I make room next to me for all the poor people who befriended me in so many parts of the world: Juan, the undernourished Chilean child with cancer of the throat; Cesar, gaunt and dying of AIDS in a shantytown hovel in Santiago; Eufrasie, who, with her family, escaped the genocide on the Congolese border of Rwanda—so many, all with names and faces. I leave adoration energized to talk about them, write about them, and work on their behalf.

Less is more To adore Jesus in the Eucharist is also a lesson in littleness. To contemplate Jesus is to look upon one who was rich but made himself poor; the allpowerful one who made himself weak;

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Please give Vocation Director Fr. Brandon Nguyen, C.S.Sp. a call at 501-908-6188 Vocation Oﬃce: Congregation of the Holy Spirit-USA-West, 8426 S. Marquette Ave., Chicago, IL 60617 brandon7cssp@aol.com www.spiritans.org

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the great God who became a child, a man, a piece of bread. It is to contemplate the one who fills the universe but who emptied himself. It is to look with pure eyes and a clean heart that sees God in poor and vulnerable ones. It is to discover the beauty that is hidden in humility. One leaves eucharistic adoration and takes farewell of Jesus, perhaps a little smaller in one’s own eyes.

The body of Christ For me eucharistic adoration is so many things, but above all it is an appointment, a date, time spent “hanging out” with Jesus Christ and with all that he was and all that he is—just being with him, present in the host. It is time, too, spent with the whole of humanity, with all that is and all that can

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Victory Noll Sisters Proclaiming the Gospel as Jesus did, in a personal, non-institutional way

Share Our Spirit Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters 1900 W. Park Drive • P.O. Box 109 • Huntington, IN 46750 (260) 356-0628 • voc@olvm.org • www.olvm.org Enter #201 at VocationMatch.com

be—an appointment that places us at the heart of reality and at the center of history. I experienced this presence of Christ in a very moving way while I was living and working in Cerro Navia, a poor area in Santiago, Chile. One afternoon as I was about to go to the chapel for my hour of eucharistic adoration, an elderly “grandfather” came to the door to ask if someone could take his blood pressure. He came in and I took it. Then we chatted over a cup of tea, Chilean style, and eventually he toddled happily away. I made it to adoration, a little late, but as I knelt on the floor, gazing at Christ in the host, he seemed

Adoration is ministry because to adore Jesus in the Eucharist also means being involved in his cause. to say to me: “Margaret, that was me!” Never before had the gospel words seemed so powerfully real: “Just as you did it to one of the least of these . . . you did it to me.” But that is not the end of the story. The following Sunday at Mass, as I was distributing Holy Communion, “Grandpa” approached me and as I looked at him and said, “The body of Christ,” his face broke into a smile—and he winked! Hidden beneath the surface of eucharistic adoration is a whole new world. Eucharistic adoration cannot be separated from who we are as human beings, created by God and followers of Jesus Christ. It is ours to discover and explore. 

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What is eucharistic adoration?

urING ExpOSItION of the Eucharist, the consecrated host is placed either in a ciborium (a covered metal cup holding hosts) or a monstrance (a standing metal vessel that holds a host in a round window). the Catholic Church teaches that eucharistic adoration: • Leads people to acknowledge Christ’s presence in the sacrament of the Eucharist and invites them into deeper spiritual union with Christ. • Helps people to respond with gratitude to the gift of Christ. • In friendship with Christ allows people to pour out their hearts before him for themselves and for those dear to them and to pray for the peace and salvation of the world. • Is a way for people to offer their entire lives with Christ to the Father in the Holy Spirit. • renews the relationship people have with God that inspires them to live what they have received through faith and the sacrament. Adoration of the real presence of Christ is always secondary to reception of the Eucharist, but it can assist people in celebrating the Eucharist with deeper devotion. —Joel Schorn, Managing Editor, VISION

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contact: Marie Schmids, MMS . marie.schmids@yahoo.com 8400 Pine Road, Philadelphia, PA 19111 . 215-742-6100 10 Xaverian Vision Ad:Layout 1 1/29/10 5:21 PM Enter #042 at VocationMatch.com

Have more questions about prayer and religious life? Check out these online resources at vocation-network.org: • Sixteen queStionS about church vocationS: Offers honest answers to your questions about priests, sisters, brothers, vows, sexuality, community life, and more. (Found under “Guide” then “Articles,” then “Prayer and Discernment.”)

• SiSter Julie vieira anSwerS your vocation queStionS

(Link on

homepage.)

• aSk alice camille about catholiciSm (Link on homepage.)

• the religiouS life timeline is a brief, illustrated, and downloadable look at religious life through the centuries. (Found under “Listings” and then “Resources.”)

The Congregation of the Brothers of Saint Francis Xavier A community in mission, inviting other men to consider joining them to “fall in love with the service of God.”

Educators Social Workers Counselors Missionaries Men of Faith For more information, please contract: Brother James Connolly, CFX Xaverian Brothers 4409 Frederick Avenue Baltimore, MD 21229 On the web at: www.XaverianBrothers.org or email: jconnolly@xaverianbrothers.org Enter #198 at VocationMatch.com

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prayer & discernment

Get ready to run the race DOmINIcaN Father andrew carl Wisdom began his half-marathon full of zeal.

Discernment requires the perseverance and strength of a marathon, and it is ultimately about one thing: your heart’s desire resting in God’s.

Father andrew Carl wisdom, o.P.

doN’T kNow about you, but I’ve never been much of an athlete. I mean, in college I got a C-minus in tennis. who gets a C-minus in college tennis? That is supposed to be one of those freebie courses, a giveaway, right?

Father Andrew Carl Wisdom, O.P. is promoter of vocations for the Dominicans, Province of St. Albert the Great, and director of the Society for Vocational Support. He has published several books and articles on preaching, vocations, and spirituality.

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This last year, however, I did something I didn’t know I could do. I ran a 13-mile marathon, my first-ever competitive race. Now believe me, along the way I did wonder what the heck I had gotten myself into, especially as I neared mile 11 and felt as if I were going to keel over and see my Creator and Redeemer before my time. But I not only persevered to make it over that finish line, I did it in 1 hour, 48 minutes, and 52 seconds, about an 8.19 minute mile. Not bad for an old guy, huh? I ran with two younger religious

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DOMINICAN brothers in our Dominican Order who had invited me to join them in training for the marathon. Brother Josh and I finished with the same time; Brother John Paul beat us by 18 seconds. I shamelessly gave them plenty of grief that a 48-year-old was able to keep up with two 30-yearolds. What made the difference in my doing better than I had ever expected? It was putting everything I had mentally, physically, and, especially, spiritually, into the 10-week training and then trusting the program. In many ways every period of discernment for a major decision in Christian life comes disguised as the same opportunity: a training program to strengthen and build our spiritual lungs, breathing new life into our capacity for faith, hope, and love as we seek God’s will at a particular juncture of our lives. These are not only theological virtues but spiritual muscles within the body of Christ (of which we are a member) that must be further developed or they atrophy. If you don’t exercise your faith, you lose it. If you don’t practice love, it leaves you. If you don’t work out hope, it dies like unused muscle. Without these muscles of discernment being disciplined and strengthened, we can’t effectively unite our will to God’s, which is always the goal of the “athlete of Christ.”

Discernment ins and outs To discern is to begin a conversation with God about a specific issue that involves an eventual, specific decision. Discernment is both interior and exterior. We listen to God speaking to us in our interior prayer, both publicly like at Mass or private-

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Order of Preachers

Sisters

you are what you are meant to be, you will set the world on fire!

~St. Catherine of Siena, Dominican Saint

Adrian, MI www.adriandominicans.org Amityville, NY www.amityvilleop.org Blauvelt, NY www.opblauvelt.org Caldwell, NJ www.caldwellop.org Columbus, OH www.oppeace.org Grand Rapids, MI www.grdominicans.org Houston, TX www.houstonop.org Mission San Jose, CA www.msjdominicans.org Oakford, CA www.oakforddominicans.org Racine, WI www.racinedominicans.org San Rafael, CA www.sanrafaelop.org Sinsinawa, WI www.sinsinawa.org Sparkill, NY www.sparkill.org Springfield, IL www.springfieldop.org Tacoma, WA www.tacomaop.org Taos, NM 575-751-1237 Upper Darby, PA www.catherinedericciop.org

J oin us in. . .

Creating community, sharing prayer, serving those who are most vulnerable, and studying issues impacting those we serve. Enter #018 at VocationMatch.com

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A discerner’s training guide for a good run • Stay hydrated by constantly drinking at the fountain of God’s presence in prayer. • Load up on carbs by energizing and nourishing yourself daily at the tables of word and sacrament through the Eucharist. • Before each day’s run, pause and stretch your muscles so faith, hope, and love are limber and agile. • Plan for the “caffeine boost” you will need in the middle of the race by mobilizing family and friends for spiritual support. They can serve to remind you of the nobility of your aspiration to even have begun the race. • When you get close, but the finish line still feels elusive, turn within and storm heaven while concentrating on each final footfall.

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ly in our daily meditation on God’s Word or in silent sitting. We also listen for God’s prompting and God’s divine intuitions externally through human voices, whether in spiritual direction or our experience at a come-and-see vocation weekend. The goal of all this listening, as author Paul Ellsberg said, is “to train our ears to hear the truth.” Continuing that theme, we train our eyes to recognize the truth, our arms to embrace the truth, and our feet to run with the truth joyfully and with passionate tenacity. Saint Thomas Aquinas coaches us: “In patience, let us run for the prize set before us, looking upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who, for the joy set before him, bore his cross. . . .” Discernment periods are train-

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Living Our Faith through Ministries of Service… Sharing Our Lives through Community…Following a Call to Serve God

ing regimens where we more rigorously exercise faith, practice love, and work out hope in preparation for some decisive moment or step in our friendship with God. As liturgical seasons prepare us for a renewed understanding of a mystery of faith

Has Your Searching Led You Here? Discernment periods are training regimens where we more rigorously exercise faith, practice love, and work out hope.

With The Courage of Joseph, The Faithfulness of Mary, and The Compassion of Jesus, Sisters of the Holy Family are Committed to Promoting Justice and Ecological Sustainability through The Earth Charter and The Millennium Development Goals.

like Christmas or Easter to help us persevere in the race of our faith, so seasons of discernment prepare us for a deeper understanding of God’s will for a particular choice in our journey and the perseverance it will require. It is training to get us off the couch spiritually and in top form for that friendship and its spiritual demands for the best we have to offer, because any friendship that doesn’t make demands is not a friendship worth having. These seasons of discernment require what any race requires from an athlete: discipline, focus, and selfdenial in pursuit of the prize at the finish line. That prize is the courage and generosity to take the next step toward choosing what God most appears to be choosing for you.

Keep your eyes on the prize “Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize?” Saint Paul wrote.

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"…to seek out and advocate for the poor and needy, especially families, for the Kingdom of God…"

Reflections posted on our website monthly: holyfamilysisters.org P.O. Box 3248 • Fremont, CA 94539 • 510-624-4511 • vocations@holyfamilysisters.org Enter #036 at VocationMatch.com

“Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one” (1 Corinthians 9: 24-25). If life is like a marathon, how we prepare for the race makes all the difference if we don’t want to run aimlessly but to win our goal of discerning God’s will at this moment in my life. Some of life’s miles are light and easy while others are arduous beyond measure. We have peaks and valleys in our effort to run the race of faith. But if we are sincerely discerning God’s plan for our lives, we can be confident God is with us at each mile of the race, running right alongside us, cheering us on in the same spirit as the gregarious wall of well-wishers at any marathon. God will enthusias-

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Feel the Joy!

Live Franciscan.

Live Joyfully... as a servant among God’s people; in harmony with the gift of all creation; in spirit with the poor and marginalized. That’s how St. Francis of Assisi lived 800 years ago and how Sylvania Franciscans live today. Explore a more fulfilling life. Contact Sister Julie Myers at 419-824-3914 or jmyers@sistersosf.org Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania Ohio www.sistersosf.org enter #085 at VocationMatch.com

Father andrew Carl, O.P. stayed the course to complete all 13 miles of the race.

tically encourage us, but God won’t run the race for us. God wants us to freely own the prize with confidence and peace. Without our effort and investment, there is no free or true ownership. Seasons of discernment, then, are periods we need for amplified strength-training to recognize and freely choose the next step God calls us to in our spiritual lives. To exercise the muscles of faith, hope, and love, we need the workout 36

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equipment the church provides. These include: staying close to the sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation; daily personal prayer and spiritual reading; spiritual direction; a network of supportive friends rooted in faith; come-and-see vocation weekends; and follow-up visits to religious houses or rectories to experience the day-to-day lives of religious and priests. These various exercises discipline our spiritual selves and move us step-by-step toward the VISION 2011

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finish line, the imperishable prize of God’s will being uniquely accomplished in us.

Be strong This “race is not to the swift” (Ecclesiastes 9:11) as in a sprinter’s event, for the race of faith is one of distance, especially in discernment. Here one needs conditioning for a race of endurance to meet one’s goal of a decision. Benchmarks along the way, both pleasant and unpleasant, attest to the need for this training so we don’t detour or quit prematurely. In the beginning one starts full of energy, easy resolve, and great zeal. You are looking forward to the

If we are sincerely discerning God’s plan for our lives, we can be confident God is with us at each mile of the race, running right alongside us, cheering us on. race after all the training and feel prepared and ready in those first miles. Approaching the middle of the race at mile 7 or 8, though, you begin to feel some of the fatigue of the body and might start wondering: Can I make it to the end? I remember Nathaniel, an All-American starting runner from Loras College, telling me: “Father Wisdom, if you can run 7 miles, your body can physically get you the rest of the way. The challenge at that point is not physical, but mental. Are you prepared for the mental warfare? That’s what will VISION 2011

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assault you, tempting you to doubt yourself and give up.” Similarly, in the middle of a serious discernment effort you can encounter all kinds of spiritual warfare by way of self-doubt, a paralyzing sense of unworthiness, or fear that you will never get to the finish line. Yet God does not emotionally jerk us around. God runs the race with us. And just as in a real race we pause to quench our thirst with water and renew our energy with a caffeine gel stick, God is there to refuel and pump us up and see us through to the end of “the good work” God “began . . . among you” (Philippians 1:6). The last couple of miles of a marathon can feel like a different race altogether from the one run only moments ago and certainly from the one started. I remember being tempted to quit, saying, “It’s too hard to go on!” or “I’ve given it

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Benedictine Presence A Vision of Peace

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AT THE END of the race Father Andrew Carl celebrates with his running partners, Brother Joshua Quick, O.P. (center) and Brother John Paul Phillips, O.P. (left).

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my best effort, enough is enough” or “does anyone really care at this point if I finished?” Yet it seemed unthinkable that I would quit so close to the goal, even though the goal felt so elusive. I recall simply telling myself to put one foot in 38

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front of the other and praying the psalm antiphon “in you I live and move and have my being” (Acts 17:28) to keep my focus.

Stay the course “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). For the athlete of Christ, to finish the race is spiritually, in the words of the

philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, “to will one thing.” It is then to act concretely on it by taking the lifestep forward most true to that purity of heart and intention. We cannot spend our life in discernment. God does not call us to paralysis. Those who never choose a door from the many to walk through spend their lives in the hallway. You choose the step that makes the most sense, practically and spiritually. VISION 2011

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Tired, fatigued, spent: Nonetheless, be confident that if you stay the course to a decision, God will carry you over the finish line with God’s very own arms. For this race is ulti-

God will enthusiastically encourage us but God won’t run the race for us. mately about one thing: your heart’s desire resting in God’s heart’s desire as one! That requires the same trust we surrender at night prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours every Thursday: “O Lord, it is you who are my portion and my cup; it is you yourself who are my prize. The lot marked out for me is my delight; welcome indeed the heritage that falls to me” (Psalm 16:5-6). = VISION 2011

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religious life PhOTOS COuRTeSy OF The ORdeR OF FRIARS MINOR, SAINT JOhN The BAPTIST PROVINCe

The OFTeN lonesome road forced the friars to rely on God and each other.

Trust God and hit the road A 300-mile journey in the spirit of Saint Francis became a pilgrimage of trust—in God, one another, and the people encountered along the way.

brother roger Anthony Lopez, o.F.M. with JoeL Schorn And reporting

toni cAShneLLi FroM

iLGrimAGe iS AbouT conversion. one leaves the safety, security, and comforts of home and life in order to be changed. There is nothing wrong with everyday life, but we need to be challenged; we need to grow. This was precisely why we six friar brothers decided to walk 300 miles through Virginia.

Brother Roger Anthony Lopez, O.F.M., one of the “walking friars,” is a member of the Order of Friars Minor, Saint John the Baptist Province, Cincinnati, Ohio. Joel Schorn is managing editor of VISION. Toni Cashnelli reported on the friars’ journey in the August 7, 2009 issue of SJB News Notes, the Office of Communications newsletter of the Franciscan Friars, Saint John the Baptist Province, from which material for this article was drawn and adapted.

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We wanted to experience the purity of a mendicant (begging) life, which our founder, Saint Francis of Assisi, established 800 years ago. Francis was a man who embraced poverty as a noble lady; a man who walked with no worry, blindly trusting that the well of the Lord’s generosity would never run dry; a man who simply loved, because he was loved by God. That was what we wanted, all six of us: to be poor, trusting, loving brothers. So in the summer of 2009 we began a six-week pilgrimage of trusting in the Lord through the generosity of his people. We wanted to carry little in order to allow our arms to embrace the Lord’s trust. We did—but it wasn’t easy.

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People are good Of the six walking friars—Richard Goodin, Mark Soehner, Clifford Hennings, Ed Shea, Joshua van Cleef, and myself, Roger Lopez—four were aged 30 and younger. We began our trip on June 21, 2009 in Salem, Virginia, a few days after three of us had taken our first vows as Franciscans. When Jesus sent the apostles out on mission, he told them “to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts” (Mark 6:8). We did much the same. We carried no money. We used no vehicle. We had a map, but no directions. We took only a simple shoulder bag packed with a water bottle, a book of the hours (daily prayers), and a blanket. That meant every day presented the question of what to eat and where to sleep. Walking along the shoulder of a multilane highway with cars flying by at approximately 70 miles per hour, hard enough to blow the straw hat off your head, is but one distraction in a day of pilgrimage. What are we to eat today? Will we sleep in a bed tonight or outside on picnic tables, like other nights? Are we lost? Do these ticks have Lyme disease? Despite the uncertainty, we never went a day without food, without some nutrients—though that might take the form of only a couple of energy bars. Toward the end of the second day, we were “hot, tired, hungry, had no place to stay,” to quote Father Ed. Around 7 p.m. we started knocking on doors, giving our standard introduction: “Hello! We are Christian pilgrims.” A yard sign at one house looked promising: “Happy Birthday, Jesus,” it read, and the man who lived there said to us: “My faith

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tells me to give you what you need and send you on your way.” He gave us $19, enough for a loaf of bread, two jars of peanut butter, two bags of potato chips, and Little Debbie snack cakes. “It was,” Mark says, “the best meal.” Later in the trip the owners of a vineyard gave us cheese, baguettes, chocolates, and three bottles of wine for the road. A passing motorist bought us lunch. Another person sprung for a steak dinner at a local restaurant. “Accommodations” took the form of whatever we could find—or not. We slept in wood-and-stone shelters on the Appalachian Trail; the floor of a Baptist church; a trampoline next to a firehouse (when one friar moved, we all moved); and picnic tables behind a church. We spent a night in the home of a tattooed and toothless Native American healer (with whom we exchanged gospel and Native stories as well as doubleflute playing and Latin hymn chanting). A Trappistine abbey, a number of Catholic churches, a church deacon’s basement, a police academy barracks, and several homes of strangers also provided shelter. “God never stopped surprising us with the goodness of people,” Josh says. When we got lost in Shenandoah National Park, we received—in the space of an hour and a half—directions from a Mennonite fisherman, water and granola bars from a Catholic woman, a ride down the mountain from a Jewish man, and lodging for the night from a Hindu family. “I think that may be God’s greatest gift to us,” Richard says. “We told every single person we stayed with, ‘You are a part of the big journey.’ To me, we have been instruments in people’s lives, and they’re the vehicle that got us here.” VISION 2011

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The friars (above) prepare to celebrate the Eucharist along the Appalachian Trail. Brother Richard Goodin, O.F.M. (right)) joins a game of Wiffle ball in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

“There’s little reservation left in my heart that people are good,” Richard says, “and God is humongous.”

Take no money When we had the opportunity we would work in return for hospitality: weeding flower beds, mowing lawns, painting sheds and picnic tables, transplanting trees, moving furniture, fixing lights and toilets, and organizing rooms full of junk. VISION 2011

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Their journey almost complete, the friars make it to the nation’s capitol (top photo). The FRIARS’ route (above). Brother Roger Anthony Lopez, O.F.M. (right) takes a rest on the journey.

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We had taken no money with us and had not planned to accept any. If people said, “Do you need money?” we told them no. But at a goingaway party for the pastor of a Salem, Virginia parish, people kept slipping us money—a little over $400. That’s when we decided, “OK, we’ll take it—but we’ll give away what we don’t spend in one day.” We gave most to a poor parish in Roanoke; with the rest we had a nice meal at Jersey Lily’s and tipped the waitress $70!

A sight to behold Needless to say we attracted attention. Some thought we were Jedis on our way to a Star Wars convention. Others took us for Shaolin monks. Or Ninjas. Or Amish. At the Lincoln Memorial folks wanted their picture taken with us. By the time we got to Harrisonburg, Virginia, we had already been featured in four newspapers and photographed hundreds of times by motorists. “Francis has this universal appeal,” Ed says. “We entered into that.” Our 10-to-15-miles-a-day pace gave us time to talk with people. They would come to talk to us about “the sacred,” whatever that was to them. We became “ears” for people to tell their stories to. A lot of people wanted to talk about the struggles in their lives. Others said God was working so generously in their lives they wanted to share. Dressed as we were in our habits, it was like a walking sign that said, “Tell us your life’s problems.” And people did. They poured out their hearts. Along the Lee Highway in Fairfax, Virginia, as we neared the end of our journey, Mary Williams, who was running errands with her

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BrOther JOShua VaN CleeF, O.F.M. (inset, top) sands a picnic table for Our lady Queen of Peace Parish in arlington, Virginia in return for the hospitality it offered. the FrIarS log 10-15 miles a day—and their feet show it (inset, above). the FrIarS reaCh their destination: the Franciscan Monastery of the holy land in america, Washington, D.C. (right).

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three children, picked us up in her minivan and took us out to eat at a Chick-fil-A. Williams had grown up on the other side of the woods behind St. Leonard’s, the Franciscans’ school of theology in Centerville, Ohio; her father’s business partner is a friend of Brother Richard’s parents; and she attended the same high school in Ohio Father Mark was from. “It was the oddest experience sitting there at Chick-fil-A with everyone staring at us,” Williams says. “The high point was when the guy dressed up like a cow came out and gave us all high fives. He was in

costume. They were in robes. A lot of people were wondering what was going on.” Williams tipped off the Washington Post, which sent out a reporter and put the our story on the front page of the July 29 edition.

the end and the beginning On July 28 we arrived at our destination: the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America in Washington, D.C. We chose this place because the Holy Land was the birthplace of Christ. At a reception we met with the

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resident priests and brothers, most of them retired. Father Stephen Sabbagh, a 78-year-old veteran of ministry in the Middle East, said to us: “You’re young and enthusiastic and you’re willing to put it into practice, willing to show us new ways, and that’s important—putting the life of Christ into actual being in our times. We oldsters become content with letting things be the way they are. We can’t do that. We have to live every single day. We have to let Christ live through us. You have to teach us how to become new, day by day.” “Is this the end of the road?” we were asked. “It’s really not ‘done

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done,’” Mark says. “In a way it’s just beginning.”

Travel tips for your journey That is vocation: trusting in the Lord in every step you take toward him and with him. Our pilgrimage is very similar to the journey of many men and women who are discerning whether God is calling them to the married, single, priesthood, or religious life. This discernment pilgrimage is filled with anxiety, worry, uncertainty, and unease. We don’t know what the future holds, but we must trust the one who holds our future.

Are you willing to make the first step forward on your pilgrimage? Are you willing to carry nothing for the journey except trust in the Lord? If so, be ready to experience God in new and fantastic ways. Let God’s boundless love and generosity surprise you so much that it becomes no longer a surprise but simple thanksgiving and praise. You don’t need to walk 300 miles with nothing on your back to trust the Lord. You must simply give conversion a place to grow, outside of the safety, security, and comforts of your daily life, and be open to the radiant rays of the gospel. Godspeed. =

6/18/2010 3:26:27 PM

religious life

PHOTO COURTESY OF BROTHER JOHN O’HARA, S.A.

SISTERS, brothers, and priests wear a variety of religious dress as they take part in a 2008 procession to the Louisville, Kentucky cathedral in celebration of the bicentennial of the Archdiocese of Louisville.

Variety can be habit-forming Why sisters, brothers, and priests dress they way they do.

CAROL SCHUCK SCHEIBER

AKE 50 MEMBERS of religious communities, put them in a room, and what’s one of the first things you’ll notice? They all dress differently. Some wear long, flowing habits; some street clothes; some have on a collar; some a modest suit with a veil. Why so many approaches to dress? Each community has different traditions and reasons for the dress they

choose. Yet no matter what they wear, sisters, brothers, and priests agree that the diversity in dress reflects the tremendous diversity within religious life. Just as there are hundreds of communities—each with its own style of prayer, spirituality, and mission—there are many ways to dress within religious life. “One of our great strengths is the diversity of expression you’ll find in religious life,” said Sister Anita Baird, D.H.M.

Habit history Carol Schuck Scheiber is content editor of VISION.

For the first several centuries of religious life, few rules existed regarding clothing. Saint Benedict, in his influential Rule

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written around 530 A.D., advised monks to dress modestly and to give worn items to the poor, indicating that monks dressed much like everyone else. Over time, as religious life became more centralized and regulated, simple clothing, usually in keeping with secular styles of dress, was adopted by religious priests, sisters, and brothers. Habits became a unifying symbol of identity. In the ensuing centuries the clothing of religious life took on many forms. Veils were a sign of modesty and of marriage; they signaled a “bride of Christ,” a concept that continues to this day. The “T” shape of tunics recalled the cross of Christ. The famous abbess and mystic Hildegard of Bingen encouraged her 11th-century nuns to dress in aristocratic red and purple veils in order to offer their beauty to 50

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Are you hungry to serve God? the Lord. In the next century Saint Francis of Assisi opted for coarse, patched clothing and bare feet as a sign of poverty and penance. Apostolic, ministry-oriented women’s orders that sprang up to meet the needs of the poor in Europe and America in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries often wore garb similar to that of widows or peasants. Some groups, such as the Daughters of the Heart of Mary, never embraced a habit in order to serve in places where the church was officially prohibited, particularly in France following the French Revolution. When leaders of the church met in the mid-1960s for the Second Vatican Council, they called on those in religious communities to reexamine and renew their way of life, adapting it to the modern world. In response many men’s and women’s communities let go of garb associated with other centuries. Women modified their habits, made them optional, or chose to wear simple attire adorned with a cross or other symbol of their community. Some men’s congregations began favoring a simple Roman collar or lay clothing much of the time. Many members of religious communities chose to dress in the same manner as those to whom they ministered.

A place for secular clothing Given the variations over the centuries and the many changes ushered in after Vatican II, it is no surprise that today sisters, brothers, and priests dress in many forms. For Franciscan Sister Lovina Pammit, O.S.F., simple clothing with a cross is a comfortable, appropriate choice for her work as a vocation VISION 2011

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Are you willing to respond to today’s challenges with prayer, community, love, justice and peace?

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Inspire - Celebrate - Impact Are you called to serve others as an Edmund Rice Christian Brother?

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minister. Her community, the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, advocates plain clothes in white, black, or gray with an optional veil. But, Pammit says, “The veil was never something I longed to wear.” She likes that her clothing puts her on the same level as everyone she meets and she can avoid being put on a pedestal by those who might glorify her status as a sister. She also appreciates that her more secular style forces her to work harder at expressing her faith in less visible but more deep-seated ways. “I really love that nothing we wear externally can ever replace our internal disposition.” Other members of religious communities echo that sentiment. “My

The value of the outward sign is a key reason that many in consecrated life wear religious garb when they are in public. personal take is that I would rather have people know us by our actions than by a collar,” says Brother Jim McDonald, C.F.C. Most of the men in his community, the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers, dress for ministry in suits and ties along with a congregational emblem. A handful of brothers make use of the community’s traditional habit. Even though he prefers that brothers be recognized through their Christian behavior, McDonald also recognizes the strength of a visible symbol. As a vocation minister he opts for a Roman collar “because it’s an outward sign, giving witness to the church and vocations.”

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Sister Margaret Michael Gillis, F.S.P. of the Daughters of St. Paul addresses the Catholic Women’s Sorority at Texas A&M University.

Randall Light

Students at Villanova University tend to notice groups of Augustinian friars in habit, says Father Kevin DePrinzio, O.S.A. (below, center), here with Father Chris Drennen, O.S.A. (left) and Father Joe Farrell, O.S.A. (right).

The power of a symbol The value of the outward sign is a key reason that many in consecrated life wear religious garb when they are in public and when they are not taking part in sports or manual labor. “A habit is a sign and symbol of who you are,” says Sister Margaret Michael Gillis, F.S.P., a Daughter of Saint Paul who typically wears a knee-length dress and veil. “It’s also a sign and symbol of the kingdom of God. I do think it makes people think of the Lord. Numerous times I’ll be walking down the street and VISION 2011

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people will turn their heads and they might ask, ‘Are you a nun? Would you pray for me?’ . . . People will share their stories and struggles.” For Gillis the constant public witness—and the constant availability to minister that it communicates—was tough for her at first. “But it does stretch your heart,” she says, “and that’s good for me. It has helped me grow in generosity.” She cites an experience that came about because she wears a habit. Gillis was in the hospital at her dying father’s bedside when a young woman asked if she would Enter #187 at VocationMatch.com

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Women of prayer making God’s love visible in the heart of the world

SISTER LOVINA PAMMIT, O.S.F. (right) and Sister Iodete de Miranda, O.S.F., an international member of Sister Lovina’s congregation, the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, have chosen different expressions of their community’s traditions regarding dress.

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come and pray with her own gravely ill mother. Gillis was drained and in need of consolation herself, but she agreed to the request. The next day the young woman left Gillis a card profoundly thanking her for helping prepare her mother for death, which occurred that very night. “I was so moved,” says Gillis, “and I remember thinking, ‘O Jesus, you know that I was resisting at first!’ I began to thank the Lord because through that very small encounter, he stretched me a little bit. He was preparing me, through that family and that moment of prayer, for my father’s own death. I learned that the Lord won’t be outdone in generosity.”

Habits unify and simplify In addition to giving public witness to faith, religious habits unify those who wear them. Identical dress binds VISION 2011

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people together as a group; that’s why schools and sports teams have uniforms, choirs wear robes, and extended families will even get matching T-shirts for reunions. “There is a sense of group identity that I regard as very positive,” says Mercy Sister Doris Gottemoeller, R.S.M., who does not wear a habit herself but values the role it can play. Father Kevin DePrinzio, O.S.A., an Augustinian, agrees: “I like to wear the habit when the other friars around me are wearing it. It points to something bigger than myself.” He says students at Villanova University where he ministers will occasionally see the friars together in habits for feast days and special occasions and are always impressed at the sight. Other religious orders, such as the Brothers of the Holy Cross, also wear habits on special occasions. While habits can build group cohesion and group impact, they are also about simplicity. When a religious habit is your usual daily attire, you don’t need a closet full of clothes. “Habits,” Gottemoeller says, “make a statement about lifestyle, modeling simplicity and poverty. To keep up a wardrobe of several outfits is expensive.” For the generation of men and women who have recently entered religious life, the habit was a powerful draw. A national study of new membership by the National Religious Vocation Conference in 2009 showed a correlation between communities that wear habits and communities that had significant success attracting new members. Coming from a highly secular society, new entrants saw the habit as a visible sign of their Catholic identity and Christian witness. Yet no matter what they wear, VISION 2011

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sisters, brothers, and priests agree that it is the way they live that ultimately will point to God. Whatever the kinds of customs, styles, hemlines, veils, and collars, God is the constant. One of the riches of

No matter what they wear, sisters, brothers, and priests agree that it is the way they live that ultimately will point to God. religious life is that it takes so many forms, and the variety of dress reflects that abundant diversity. = Enter #011 at VocationMatch.com

Have more questions about religious life and Catholic traditions? Check out these online resources at vocation-network.org: • The Religious life Timeline is a brief, illustrated, and downloadable look at religious life through the centuries. (Found under “Listings” and then “Resources.”) • Ask Alice cAmille AbouT cATholicism (Link on homepage.)

• sixTeen quesTions AbouT chuRch vocATions: Offers honest answers to your questions about priests, sisters, brothers, vows, sexuality, community life, and more. (Found under “Guide” then “Articles,” then “Prayer and Discernment.”)

• sisTeR Julie vieiRA AnsweRs youR vocATion quesTions

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religious life Showing off organic produce grown at the Sisters of Providence’s White Violet Center for Eco-Justice in St. Mary-ofthe-Woods, Indiana are Candace Minster (left), education and farm projects manager, and Sister Jean Fuqua, S.P.

Religious communities go green Responding to the call to care for the gift of God’s creation, religious communities are working to be more eco-friendly.

Cliff Terry

everal years ago the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe, Michigan took a hard look at the condition of their motherhouse—a large building that serves as the community’s headquarters and includes a retirement community of sisters. The beautiful Art Deco building had been completed in 1932, one of the largest private construction projects in the United States during the Depression. Cliff Terry is a Chicago-based freelancer and former writer and critic for the Chicago Tribune. Carol Schuck Scheiber, content editor of VISION, and Joel Schorn, VISION managing editor, also contributed to this article.

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Though engineers told the sisters, “This building is going to be here for another couple of centuries,” most of the infrastructure needed to be replaced. The plumbing was bad, and the only way to cool the building in the summer was by opening windows. “We became convinced,” says Sister Janet Ryan, a member of the I.H.M. leadership council and liaison for the motherhouse project, “that we had to become more attentive to sustainable practice and the non-renewable resources of our world so that those who come in the next generation have these resources, and that we should focus on more renewable energy sources.” To put this commitment into action the community decided to undertake a VISION 2011

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need. possibilities.

Worldwide Limitless

From urban parishes to global missions, Salvatorians are in neighborhoods, on street corners and in rural villages in the U.S. and across the globe. Unlimited in their outreach, the Salvatorian Priests and Brothers work side by side with the Salvatorian Sisters, the Lay Salvatorians and lay leaders to proclaim Christ’s love to the world. Find out where a Salvatorian journey may take you… Contact us at vocations@salvatorians.com 414.258.1735, ext. 104.

SALVATORIANS Apostles for our times.

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major renovation of the motherhouse using state-of-the-art green methods. Renovation started in December of 2000 and the sisters moved back in February of 2003. The I.H.M. Sisters are not alone. Across the country—and indeed around the world—a number of Catholic religious orders are “going green” and engaging in eco-friendly practices.

Blue nuns go green As part of the I.H.M. motherhouse renovation, the community installed geo-thermal heating and reduced its use of water by 50 percent and natural gas by nearly the same amount. They also recycled about 42,000 square feet of carpet and “something like 800 doors and windows,” says Ryan. “We salvaged the marble and used it for countertops and window sills. And we had the old Art Deco lamps refitted. We also planted over 58

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100 trees native to Michigan. And we have St. Mary’s Organic Farm, a twoacre community garden where people purchase plots for a minimal amount

“A religious community can live a lifestyle which is less demanding on natural resources and can share more resources with its local community.”

director for the renovation and the Monroe campus long-range master plan. “People could come here and learn about how to live more sustainably in the world today. Education is the I.H.M. congregation’s legacy. We have a tour program in which we bring people in and they watch a DVD called The Blue Nuns Go Green, a reference to the blue habits the sisters once wore. School groups come in, as well as professional associations, architects, engineers, senior groups. They come to see what was done here and what they might do.”

Community: More with less and cultivate their vegetables. It’s great outreach, involving people who would never have any connection with the sisters otherwise.” “The vision was that it would become a kind of a learning laboratory,” says Danielle Conroyd, project

At Saint Norbert's Abbey in De Pere, Wisconsin, Norbertine Brother Steve Herro, chairman of the community’s justice and peace ministry, has been promoting greening efforts. “Environmental concerns have been a passion of mine for many VISION 2011

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SISter BarBara Battista, S.P. with one of the 62 alpacas that are part of the Sisters of Providence’s White Violet Center for eco-Justice in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

years,” he says. “I grew up in the ’70s when Earth Day was spanking new, and we had our first energy crisis. One of the reasons I joined religious life was because a religious community can live a lifestyle which is less demanding on natural resources and can share more resources with its local community. Today, I think young people are aware and concerned.” The abbey decided to buy a portion of its electricity from renewable sources and replaced computer

hardware with EnergyStar equipment. It also determined that cards, envelopes, and newsletters would come from nonbleached recycled paper and that thermostats be lowered. To save energy and reduce the need for air conditioning, 300-watt bulbs were replaced with ceiling fans and energy-efficient bulbs. Converting all exit sign lights to LED bulbs increased bulb life to 219,000 hours. The community also agreed to restrict the purchase of plastic bottled water and juices while promoting the use of tap water and fresh juice. In addition, Herro said, recycling bins for paper, plastic, and glass were made available in common areas, offices, and Norbertine bedrooms throughout the abbey, and toner and ink-jet cartridges were saved and contributed to a fund-raising activity for Our Lady of Lourdes Grade

School. Composting began four years ago, and the community has reconsidered how it deals with food waste. These eco-friendly measures “are partial responses to the Norbertines’ attempt to live out the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change’s call for all members of the church to pray, learn, assess, act, and advocate to in order to limit carbon emission,” Herro says. Some members of the community have signed on to the coalition’s St. Francis Pledge (“We pledge to pray and reflect on the duty to care for God’s Creation and protect the poor and vulnerable; learn about and educate others on the causes and moral dimensions of climate change. . . .”). “If you look at the evangelical vows and the vow of poverty, it’s about doing more with less, using fewer resources so that those with

Greening goes global

eligious communities in the United States aren’t the only ones going green. For 900 years the augustinian monastery of Klosterneuburg has risen above the banks of the river Danube just north of Vienna. though it is one of the oldest monasteries in austria, it has, since 2003, become a leader as well in a quite modern enterprise: the environmentally friendly heating of its immense facilities. two state-of-the-art biomass furnaces have replaced

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a number of obsolete heating systems or systems fired with fossil fuels in the monastery, a leisure center, the hospital, and two municipal buildings in the city of Klosterneuburg. this new equipment has reduced CO2 emissions by 97 percent. Installed underground to preserve the monastery’s façade, the construction of the biomass boilers also allowed the community to build a new wine storage hall (the region is famous for its winemaking) and new underground visitor parking. 59

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CONSECRATION

CONTEMPLATION SISterS Mary Bea Keeley, I.H.M., Carol Janowiak, I.H.M., and Gretchen Webb, I.H.M. stand in front of their Monroe, Michigan motherhouse, which the community renovated into a model sustainable building.

COMMUNITY Carmel offers women a life of deep prayer directed toward union with God, living in a small community where all share friendship with Christ and one another. A Carmelite joyfully offers the totality of her consecrated life for the church and for the world. Solitude and community, prayer and work, silence and recreation, are all united to the unceasing prayer of the Risen Lord and His Eucharistic Sacrifice. We invite you to find out more about this life of prayer, love and apostolic fruitfulness.

less can live more abundantly,” Herro said. “When you have 30 people living together under one roof, sharing computers, televisions, cars, you can be better stewards of resources. Anyone concerned with a good relationship with God is going to embrace the call to be stewards of God’s creation.”

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“We are a reminder to people that there is more out there than consumerism,” says Sister Maureen Freeman, C.S.J., director of the Sisters of Providence’s White Violet Center for Eco-Justice in St. Mary-of-theWoods, Indiana. “We also show the

Tips for a greener lifestyle

uSt aS religious communities are becoming more eco-friendly, there are some simple steps you can take to do the same. • Change to energy-efficient lightbulbs. • turn off computers at night.

Carmelite Monastery 59 Allendale Terre Haute, IN 47802 812-299-1410 ext. 200

Back to the farm

• use both sides of paper; print double-sided if you can; recycle used paper. • take showers instead of baths and shorten your showers.

• recycle glass. • use warm or cold settings on the washer. • turn down your thermostat in winter and up in summer. • turn off lights. • take things you are not going to wear and give them to a charity or someone who will use them. • Stop paper statements and pay your bills online. • Get a reusable bag.

• Don’t use bottled water.

• Buy local products.

• turn the water off when you brush your teeth.

• Walk or ride your bike when you can. VISION 2011

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connection between faith and ecology. . . . When the pope said on [the] World Day of Peace that if you want peace, protect creation, well, we are the face of that in the larger community.” The community has embraced a green ethic on many levels: spirituality, lifestyle, and ministry. The White Violet Center for Eco-Justice (www. whiteviolet.org) operates on 1,200 acres of land the sisters once used for food and income. The center has a staff of eight and sponsors a variety of organic farming, eco-justice education, and advocacy projects, including: • 343 acres of certified organic cropland, growing hay, corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, and rye in rotation. • 7 acres of organic vegetable gardens and orchards. The yield is used for food at the motherhouse and sold at their own seasonal farm stand and the local farmers market. Local people can buy $450 shares in the garden and then receive 18 weeks of fresh, organic produce. • A herd of 62 alpacas provide manure for farming and fiber for yarn that is sold or made into goods for sale. • Four beehives produce honey and wax for lip balm. • Each year some 3,000 school children, scouts, and 4-H club members take part in tours and educational programs. • Some 500 people a year take part in other educational programming, such as a Lenten film festival featuring movies with eco-themes and workshops on earth-centered spirituality, gardening, raising worms, and other topics. • The Center’s Annual Earth Day celebration draws up to 3,000 participants each year • Advocacy efforts focus on one theme each year. This year it is water, and they’ve sponsored action alerts regarding the Clean Water Act and have participated in the “Think Outside the Bottle” campaign to eliminate the use of bottled water. VISION 2011

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The Norbertine community in De Pere, Wisconsin mixes its food waste with leaves and grass clippings to produce a rich, organic compost for fertilizing its garden. Working the compost heap are Father Andy Cribben, O.Praem. (left) and Brother Steve Herro, O.Praem.

These green efforts had their roots in a 1991 community meeting where the sisters resolved to “commit ourselves to deepen our understanding of the principles of ecological justice and environmental responsibility. On this basis of understanding, we will join with other concerned citizens to shape public policy.” In addition to establishing the White Violet Center in 1995, the sisters spent a year studying the environmental economics and theology of Sallie McFague’s Life Abundant. The goal throughout has been to involve the entire community. “We wanted to do something that permeated the whole congregation, that would be transformative,” says Sister Marie McCarthy, S.P., a member of the community’s leadership team. “[The White Violet Center] really has transformed our conscious-

ness.” The community has a greater awareness of the interconnection of things, McCarthy says, and many members have changed behaviors in favor of more green choices: carrying cloth bags to stores, buying organic, buying local, lowering their use of meat, incorporating environmental principles into their ministries, no longer using bottled water, and other measures. They also pray differently now, using more nature-images, singing songs about caring for the earth, and giving gratitude for the earth’s abundance. “We have worked for the last 20 to 30 years on what it means to be called ‘Providence,’” says McCarthy. “We understand that as a call to co-creation. The gift of creation is unfolding, and we’re responsible for how that unfolds. God creates possibilities and we respond to them.” = 61

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religious life

ONe learNS that God comes while sweeping the floor and weeding the garden, in caring for the sick and the elderly, teaching the novices and shearing the sheep.

The secret to a balanced life: liturgy, lectio, labor Three traditional monastic practices allow followers to be brought home to the heart of Jesus.

SiSter Katie McNaMara, O.c.S.O.

n a world that seems at times to be spinning out of control, there is a place apart where life is simple, focused, and down-to-earth. In this refuge one can hear silence, touch solitude, and listen with the ear of the heart. and the best thing about it is that it is forever. Unlike a costly vacation to a resort, where the peace advertised is for a space

Sister Katie McNamara, O.C.S.O., a Cistercian nun, is infirmarian and vocation director of Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey in Wrentham, Massachusetts.

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of time only, the monastic life offers a peace that is not an escape but a return to reality, to that real world for which the human heart was first created. In the cacophony of today’s society the heart is often deafened to the voice of God. In monastic life we are led out into the desert where there is no place to hide and therefore where we can find our true selves in God. The horizons stretch as far as the eye can see, allowing hearts to expand on the journey toward the God who has called us to follow. The wideopen spaces overflow with the freedom found only when one is brought home to the heart of Jesus.

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The Cistercian way of life is lived on the three principles of liturgy, lectio divina, and labor. It is the living out of the gospel in a love that is uncluttered, selfless, and yet always nourished by the desire for more. More of what? Of God. After all, there is a part of the human heart made for God and God alone; as Saint Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless, O God, until they rest in you.”

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Liturgy In the liturgy we experience the joy that is ours in being given the privilege and responsibility of praying the Divine Office, the official and ancient prayer of the church. Seven times a day we gather to “sing unto the Lord.” The first office of the day, Vigils, begins shortly after 3 in the morning with the words, “O

Lord, open my lips.” The last office, known as Compline, completes the monastic day with the words of the final blessing, “May almighty God grant us a peaceful night and a happy death.” It is between these verses of prayer that the monastic lives out her or his daily life. I once heard it said that when we pray the psalms we pray with a

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We make God more deeply known and loved. Join us.

thousands-year-old heart because these are the very psalms Jesus himself prayed. And it is in this ancient prayer of the church that the waters of grace flow to cleanse, refresh, and sometimes flood the soul. All prayer reaches toward the center that is Eucharist, the moment of deepest communion with Jesus.

pleasure, in lectio divina we read slowly, attentively, so that we savor the Word. It is as if we are trying to hear God’s voice, look into God’s eyes, see God’s smile. It is leaning into God, laying our head against God’s chest with our ear to God’s heart listening for God’s heartbeat. Lectio divina does not come to a grinding halt when the book is closed but continues moving forward, bringing us with it as we move throughout our day, and we in turn carry the Word with us to whatever task is at hand and every person we encounter.

Labor As the monastic lives in community, so does she or he work in community. It is important to realize that in maintaining a healthy monastic life the place of work is essential. Not only does it steady us in the midst of daily life but it allows us the privilege of being in union with the poor. Work teaches us not only to

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Lectio

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Lectio divina, or “sacred reading,” is a great monastic practice and is central to monastic life. It is done daily. It is never finished. It never becomes old nor can it ever be put aside or replaced with something else. Lectio divina is the prayerful pondering of the Word of God—that Word that is so mysterious, powerful, purifying, fruitful, and life-giving. It is the monastic’s food and drink. Lectio is the door through which we allow God to enter into a place deep within ourselves where God already is, where God is already waiting for us. In other words, lectio brings us into the depths of our own hearts. Vastly different from the kind of reading that skims a page for information or leisurely reads a novel for VISION 2011

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The Cistercian way of life is the living out of the gospel in a love that is uncluttered, selfless, and yet always nourished by the desire for more. find God in all our actions but helps us to recognize that God is already present as we take our place alongside those who struggle to earn a living. One learns that God comes while sweeping the floor and weeding the garden, in caring for the sick and the elderly, teaching the novices and shearing the sheep. Work in the monastery varies from making food, answering the door or phone, and all the other simple activities that help keep the monastery functioning as a family.

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For the greater glory of God Regardless of what one is engaged

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in at any given moment, liturgy, lectio, and labor are all given for the same purpose: the greater honor and glory of the God who first loved us and gave God’s self for us. The contemplative strives toward a life that sees all through the eyes of Jesus and hears all with the listening heart of Jesus. VISION 2011

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Each of us has only one life to live. To live it for others in a way of life that is hidden in the heart of the church is to answer the call of Jesus that is as ancient as the rising of the sun, as new as each morning’s dew, and as precious as the gift each person is before God. =

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media review

BROTHER David Paul Lange, O.S.B. works on the corpus for the crucifix of St. Boniface Church, Cold Spring, Minnesota.

Inspired images Members of religious communities connect beauty and the sacred— and their religious vocation with their art.

BY JOEL SCHORN

Would you ever think of art as an experience of God, or as prayer? The many sisters, brothers, and priests who are visual artists show how artistic images can reveal the divine and how creativity can be a vocation and a gift of God.

Joel Schorn is managing editor of VISION. He would like to express his profound thanks to the many communities who submitted material for this article— more than could be included in the print version. We’ve included all of the submissions in the online version of this article at Vocation-Network.org.

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Artist and monk: A common vocation “The monastic life and its contemplative flavor,” says Brother David Paul Lange, O.S.B. of St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota, “is very conducive to making art. For centuries monasteries have been the centers of artistic creativity where artisans and craftsmen have found a ready home. But there may be a tension between the two because as artists we are caught up in the appearance of things. But in monasteries we rely less on how things appear

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Gear up

for an adventure in ministry!

An adventure that IS your life — quenching your thirst for pro-active commitment and satisfying your desire for prayerful reflection. Franciscan Friars of the Atonement find both challenge and purpose in directing thriving social, ecumenical and pastoral ministries over three continents. Join us, and you will become a part of a spiritually-strong brotherhood that is resourceful, fulfilled, and giving of self. Our tradition boldly proclaims: “we joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” Romans 5:11 Discover the depth and diversity of our community and see if it’s the vocation for you. Contact the Atonement Vocation Office at

1-800-338-2620, ext. 2126. Franciscan Friars oF the atonement

United States • Italy • Canada • England • Japan

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we experience art, and not just overtly religious art, we encounter Mystery. We’re connected to and one with something bigger than ourselves. To be able to make a painting, drawing, or linocut and provide this experience for people is very enriching.” In addition to his art, Moran serves as chaplain of the Supportive Care Program of St. Vincent’s BrOther David Paul Lange, O.S.B.’s design for the St. Boniface Church crucifix Hospital and conducts painting classes for senior citizens in New and we look beyond the surface York City. for something deeper. It makes for creative dialog.”

Windows to mystery and grace Sister Jeana Visel, O.S.B., a Benedictine sister of Ferdinand, Indiana, got started painting icons when a friend gave her a Christmas present of Peter Pearson’s guide to painting icons, A Brush with God. Following his directions she soon figured out the basics, and as she discovered the more spiritual dimensions of the craft she became hooked. She also studied with Russian iconographer Xenia Pokrovsky and her assistant Marke Czarnecki to learn the traditional egg tempera technique and more about icons’ place in the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition. “Before, during, and after the creation of the icon,” Visel says, “you pray with the person you depict and come to see how they reflect the image of God. I become a more centered, grounded person when I paint.

Work of art, work of prayer “At this point in my life, my faith is about an encounter with or an openness to Mystery, to God,” says Passionist Brother Michael Moran, C.P. “The process of making art is prayer or meditation. Any time

Angel (right) by Brother Michael Moran, C.P. (above)

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My hope is that in praying with the art I bring to the world others also will be able to connect more completely with God. An icon should be not just religious art but a window through which we can enter the realm of mystery and grace.”

The Visitation (above) by Sister Nancy Raboin, P.H.J.C.

The Holy Family (at left) by Sister Jeana Visel, O.S.B.

Connecting with stories The Sisters of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, says Sister Nancy Raboin, P.H.J.C., have always given her space to integrate creating art with her prayer, communal, and ministerial life. In response she creates art based in women’s spirituality, which, she says, “is an invitation to the viewer and myself to look at traditional scriptural stories handed down VISION 2011

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to us in both written and verbal form, such as the stories of the Annunciation and the Visitation, in a deeper way versus a static and staid way. One of the most important understandings I have gleaned from creating artwork is that it must provoke feeling.” She works in watercolor, color pencil, acrylic, pen, and ink.

Helping people see things differently Sister Alma Mary Anderson, C.S.C., a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, is a professor of graphic design and computer graphics at Indiana State Univer-

BrOtHer John J. O’Hara, S.A.’s Jacob’s Ladder

belief that the obligation and joy of creativity is to reach out and touch a mind, a heart, a belief, and stretch it further,” Anderson says. “A quote I have heard for years, attributed to nearly everyone, is: ‘A mind, like a rubber band, once stretched never returns to the size it was.’ It is being a stretcher and a stretchee that is the operant part of my being a religious and my being a part of the art and design fields,” she says.

the Creator’s presence in the faces of those around me. Through my camera’s lens I was able to share with others, in some small way, the wonder I was experiencing.” O’Hara facilitates workshops that “explore the expression of one’s spirituality through the

the wonder of creation

Seeker by Sister Alma Mary Anderson, C.S.C.. (Used with permission of Sisters of the Holy Cross, Inc.)

sity in Terre Haute. In addition to teaching, Anderson is a scientific illustrator for environmental health and safety textbooks. As a freelance graphic artist, she has designed books, logos, and websites. “Much of my work, whether design or art, is created within my 70

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With studies in both photography and theology and professional experience as a commercial and advertising photographer, Franciscan Friar of the Atonement Brother John O’Hara, S.A. brings a unique perspective to the spirituality of the photographic medium. He says: “When I discovered my position within the spirituality of Saint Francis of Assisi, I realized that my interest in nature and the human condition reflected that of the creational approach presented by Francis. I slowly came to realize that my images were a reflection of the awe I experienced in nature and

SISter Margaret Van Kempen, O.S.B. studied shibori-making with nationally recognized fiber artists and trained in weaving with monk-artists at Blue Cloud Abbey in South Dakota, Benedictine monks at Christ in the Desert Monastery in New Mexico, and a master weaver in rhode Island.

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photographic process” and “the idea that what one photographs is a reflection of the mind, heart, and soul” (spiritualityandphotography. org). He is also currently the director of vocations for the Atonement Friars and has worked with hospice since the mid-1980s.

A focus on mystery “To me it seems natural that the visual arts and natural sciences flourish within, and flow from, a life of Benedictine monasticism, for I believe each contributes to the monastic vision: a vision of God present in the ordinary and the daily, and revealed in beauty,” says Sister Margaret Van Kempen, O.S.B., a sister of Saint Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph,

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Minnesota. A retired college science teacher, she is a skilled fiber artist well known for her woven vestments and liturgical cloths and also for her arashi shibori scarves: colored works of dyed silk scarves produced by pole-wrapping silk, binding it with string, and compressing it to create tiny pleats. “All that is mysterious and beautiful in nature is a reflection of some aspect of God’s mystery and beauty,” she says. “In a world where we are not only surrounded by God’s beauty but also by violence, one needs to focus on that which is beautiful. Doing so elevates us to the level of the eternal and gives a spiritual meaning to our lives.” See more of her work at sbm.osb.org/ mvankempen.

In love with creation Friar Vince Petersen, O.F.M. Conv. is a member of the Conventual Franciscan’s Our Lady of Consolation Province in New Mexico. Originally from rural Minnesota, he became “enchanted with the colors and the drama of the Southwest,” he says. He has a bachelor of arts degree in studio arts from St. Louis University and a master of divinity degree from Washington Theological Union. He lives with five other friars at Holy Cross Retreats in Las Cruces, New Mexico and is pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe parish. “As part of my mission as a Hidden Prayer by Friar Vince Petersen, O.F.M. Conv.

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Ruth; random stitch free-motion embroidery by Father Frank Sabatté, C.S.P.

Franciscan,” he says, “I want to teach people how to see. That is, I want them to fall in love again with the divine image that is hidden within all of creation. Every painting is an icon of God. The earth is the primary revelation of God. To understand this is to begin to save the planet.”

Dominicans then and now In Sister Thoma Swanson, O.P.’s watercolor The Dominican Family Under Mary’s Mantle, Mary holds open her mantle at the request of Saint Dominic, who has been looking all over heaven for his brothers and sisters. 72

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Giclées—high-resolution ink-jet prints—of Sister Thoma Swanson, O.P.’s The Dominican Family Under Mary’s Mantle have traveled around the world to various Dominican communities.

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He finds that Mary is sheltering members of the whole Dominican family, such as Catherine of Siena, Pope Pius V, Thomas Aquinas and his mentor Albert the Great, Fra Angelico, and the Peruvians Rose of Lima and Martin de Porres as well as contemporary Dominicans—an Asian sister, an African friar, and a sister graduate with her diploma symbolizing the continuing dedication of Dominicans to study and learning. “Creativity is God’s personal gift to an individual,” Swanson says. “Each artist is unique and each is able to reflect through her art a different facet of God’s immensity. Creativity surely marks out the path of the artist to God.”

with the transcendent whether they know it or not. . . . We’re not out to convert people. What we’re trying to get people to understand is that they are already involved in the mystery. It’s really about them teaching us.” Each year Openings stages an exhibition at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in Manhattan. Themes for the shows have included “Freedom and Beauty: The Art of Iraqi Refugees,” “Who, What, Where, When, Why Is

“God Doesn’t Like Ugly” Father Frank Sabatté, C.S.P. first encountered the Paulists while studying art at U.C.L.A., where he earned a B.A. in studio arts (he also has an M.A. in sacred theology from the Catholic University of America). “My passion for art came out of my experience at U.C.L.A.,” he says. “I was drawn to the Paulists because they truly respect the gifts of the individual. I felt that I was part of the church, and that the church needed me. I liked the whole idea of building church.” He has also developed an outreach to artists in New York City. This ministry, called Openings (openingsny.com), is “run for the artists by the artists,” Sabatté says. It provides a forum where young artists can become “more aware of the spiritual mystery they are already involved in. Artists are hard-wired to connect VISION 2011

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an icon when I felt drawn to give my life to God as an I.H.M. sister,” says Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Nancy Lee Smith. “The image was of the Mother of Perpetual Help. . . . Ever since that moment the compelling power of icons has spoken to my heart, never quite leaving me.” Smith’s studies include a degree in fine arts, and she has taught and worked as a chaplain and in retreat and parish ministry. Much later she

Sister Nancy Lee Smith, I.H.M.’s (above) Saint Teresa of Avila (at left)

God,” and “God Doesn’t Like Ugly.” Sabatté (www.sabatte-arts.com/) works in painting, sculpture, and random stitch free-motion embroidery, a type of machine-stitching that allows the artist to move around the fabric in any direction, creating geometric, flowing, or random patterns.

The power of icons “As a college woman in Kirkwood, Missouri, I was kneeling in front of

had an opportunity to immerse herself in icon writing, apprenticing with a master from Moscow. She produces her commissions of both icons and other types of paintings at Saint Joseph Studio (SaintJosephStudio.com) on her community’s motherhouse campus. “Life journeys start with early graces that we seldom understand at the time,” she says. “It’s only in looking back that we begin to see threads of love drawing us all along.”

God as beauty Sister Maria Marcela Machicote, S.N.D., a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, is a temporary professed member of the Sisters of Notre Dame 73

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of Chardon, Ohio. As a child she came to love nature as a way of being close to God. This love led her to become a scientist, focusing on wildlife ecology. Sensing a desire for something more, Machicote entered the Sisters of Notre Dame in the fall of 2005. With the help of a camera and a computer she reconnected during her novitiate with her early experience of God “as beauty, as awe, as grandeur.” Religious life, she says, gave her time and space to explore “new ways of sharing the beauty and awe of God so that others may come to experience it as well.” PhOtOGrAPh by Sister Maria Marcela Machicote, S.N.D.

Writing the holy monk into that which he reads. For Brother Michael Marcotte, O.S.B., me, it is when I copy the scriptures a Benedictine monk of Conception that art is most at the service of my Abbey in Conception, Missouri, has monastic vocation. Calligraphy afbeen a calligrapher for nearly 40 fords a slow pondering of the word, years and is currently art director of stroke by stroke, letter by letter, word the abbey’s Printery House Christian by word. It involves yet another of greeting cards publishing and distrithe senses—that of touch, bution house. a physical involve“Calligraphy touches ment with scripupon the very fabric ture.” of monastic life,” Marcotte says. “Early monks copthe spirit ied manuscripts of nature in order to have Aware of the books available to role of the each monk to read beauty of naduring the periods ture in contemof the day that Saint plation and nurturBenedict prescribed for ing the spirit, Marianist sacred reading. This lectio Brother John divina, or slow CAllIGrAPhy DeSIGN by Brother Lemker, S.M. rumination on the Michael Marcotte, O.S.B. has been a scriptures, is at the nature photographer for the past 25 core of the monastic life—a type of study which gradually transforms the years. His images have been pub-

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lished nationally and internationally and are in private collections.

A ministry in murals “Creating ceramic murals for churches, schools, hospitals, and libraries has become a real ministry for me,” says Sister Jane Mary Sorosiak, O.S.F., a Sister of St. Francis of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes in Sylvania, Ohio. “I believe that art appeals to the spiritual in each of us and should be uplifting. My vocation to religious life has afforded me the opportunity to use my talents in this direction.” After she formulates an idea, Sorosiak makes several small sketches before drawing the full-sized mural on tracing paper. She then rolls out a slab of clay and traces the design onto it, cuts the individual pieces, numbers them, and heats them in a low-fired kiln at 1,500 to 1,800 degrees. After the pieces dry they

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are glazed and high-fired in a kiln at 2,300 degrees. She then cements the pieces in place and adds grout.

Revealing the truth and beauty of God There is a radiance surrounding truth, and this radiance is a sign that truth has an impulse to expand in all directions. The radiance surrounding truth is beauty. In this way, truth is able to penetrate far and wide. The radiance of beauty prepares the way for truth. “This quote from [philosopher] Max Picard, which hangs in my studio,” says Sister Mary Grace, O.C.D., a Discalced Carmelite Nun of the Carmel of Terre Haute in western Indiana, “sums up the rationale for

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Saint FranciS Praising creation (above), a mosaic on the north wall of the Franciscan Center at the Sylvania Franciscan motherhouse, is a 24-by-18-foot ceramic mural Sister Jane Mary Sorosiak, O.S.F. created in her studio and assembled on the building in 1980. BROtheR John Lemker, S.M.’s Mountain reflections (below)

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Come, Lord Jesus by Sister Mary Grace, O.C.D. (above)

all my work in writing icons. Everything I do in this holy discipline is for the purpose of proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ and attracting people to him. “Icons give no leeway for artistic license in the ordinary sense, even though each icon inevitably bears the stamp of the one by whose hand it was ‘written,’ ” she says. “Hopefully, if the artist is a person of spiritual depth, then she is able to disappear even more, letting the holiness of the Lord and his saints shine through in the icon unhindered. This is my ambition. I want to write icons that are ‘mercilessly beautiful’ for the sake of attracting every heart to the truth 76

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and the unsurpassed beauty of the Lord.”

Knowing the Creator Father Richard Canulli, O.S.A. (www. richardcannuli.org), an Augustinian priest and professor of studio arts at Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania, has designed stainedglass and more than 1,000 liturgical vestments. He has also created watercolors, prints, and icons—two of which, Do Not Weep for Me, Mother and Not Made by Hands, are in the collections, respectively, of Cardinal Mar Nasrallah Peter Sfeir, the patriarch of the Maronite Catholic

Church, and of St. Catherine’s Monastery, Sinai, Egypt. Throughout his studies he has also worked in metals, ceramics, oil painting, acrylic painting, and sculpture and is a certified liturgical design consultant. “Creative expression is a process in which one touches spirituality continually, for in creativity we begin to know the Creator,” he says. “As we share the beauty and manifestation of new ideas and forms we explore the potential of ourselves and see the greater self. Art is not a metaphor for creation; it is the continuation of its presence. I most fervently want to impart the spirit of joyous union that comes from the concentration on this spiritual and beautiful journey.”

Illuminating places of faith Sister Emmanuel Pieper, O.S.B. entered St. Walburg Monastery in Covington, Kentucky at the age VISION 2011

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of 17 and has been a professed Benedictine sister for 63 years. She earned a master of fine arts degree and says of her work: “I delight in the opportunity to work for the church, to illuminate the faith. . . . My greatest joy is to see my work in places of worship where people find it uplifting and enriching of their spiritual life.”

Looking deeper Sister Catherine Salani, D.C., a member of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul, has taught, coached, and served as a campus minister at St. John’s University, Queens, New York as well as ministered at the St. John’s Bread and Life Soup Kitchen in Brooklyn, where she provided a

SIStEr Catherine Salani, D.C.’s Woman at the Well from the Well’s Perspective

blend of art and spirituality for the HIV and mothers’ support groups. Salani believes that “art and spirituality are one and the same. Drawing and painting are a form of prayer as much as meditation and gospel sharing. Scripture and nature are two sources where possibilities are teased out and inspiration drawn. It’s a way of experiencing God the Creator that feels most alive and most centered.” She has worked in pen and ink, colored pencil, pastel, and acrylic paint and in realistic, abstract, and graphic design styles. “There are so many layers to visual art, you can always go deeper,” she says. = See the expanded online version of this article at VocationNetwork.org.

RiveR of Peace window (top, left) by Sister Emmanuel Pieper, O.S.B., St. Walburg Monastery, Covington, Kentucky FathEr richard Cannuli, O.S.a.’s (above) christ the Bridegroom mosaic (at left)

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priests Father Jim Kent, O.F.M., Conv. (at left) with Father Bernie Zajdel, O.F.M., Conv. “We have vowed to live quite purposefully in poverty, chastity, and obedience and therefore live amid the rewards and challenges of that life.”

Three ways my religious community makes me the priest I am “I am a Franciscan and a priest,” says Father Jim Kent. “God’s call for me would have it no other way.”

Father Jim Kent, O.F.M. Conv.

was ordained a priest in 1991 with a host of family, friends, and Franciscan friars in attendance. It was a wonderful and Spirit-filled occasion. It’s worth noting, however, that a year earlier I had professed solemn vows to be a Conventual Franciscan for Father Jim Kent, O.F.M. Conv. is a Conventual Franciscan and currently serves as minister provincial for the Province of Our Lady of Consolation. From 1994-2007 he was the province’s vocation director.

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the rest of my life in the presence of those same family, friends, and friars. That chronology is important because it means I was a Franciscan before I was a priest. While there is only one priesthood rooted in Jesus Christ, there are various manifestations of that priesthood. For me, being a Franciscan cannot help but affect the way I am a priest. It’s in my blood and frames the lens through which I see the world. Part of that comes from specific elements of Franciscan life and part from

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Are you on re with God’s love?

Wherever I nd myself, I will imagine that I am in the Cenacle, receivng the gift of the Holy Spirit with Mary and the Apostles. -ST. VINCENT PALLOTI

I have come to cast re upon the earth and O how I wish it were already ablaze!-LUKE 12:49

The Society of the Catholic Apostolate

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IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PROVINCE

PALLOTTINE PRIESTS AND BROTHERS New York, New Jersey, and Maryland

New York and New Jersey

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PALLOTTINE MISSIONARY SISTERS

MOTHER OF GOD PROVINCE

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Missouri, Maryland, and West Virginia

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my own spiritual DNA. Through my Franciscan formation I have embraced quite clearly the path God has called me to and the way in which I am to live my life. The charism of Saint Francis of Assisi is at the heart of who I am as a person, and that affects how I pray, minister, and witness to the gospel. It also colors the way I am a priest to others.

Life together

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“Take in the most abandoned of all, have him sit at table with you and make him one of your own, because this is Jesus Christ.” Blessed Louis Guanella Founder

www.servantsofcharity.org

“Guanellian Priests & Brothers” Proclaiming the Gospel of Life in service of charity, we share

✟ a life in community ✟ daily worship and common prayer ✟ service to the poor and disadvantaged ✟ fidelity to the Pope & the Magisterium

Our mission is a celebration of life as we serve

✟ people with developmental disabilities ✟ troubled youth and the elderly in need ✟ parishes through pastoral ministry ✟ migrants and refugees through outreach

Consider joining our mission in answering Pope Benedict XVI’s call “to live no longer for ourselves but for God, and with God for others.” (Deus Caritas Est no. 33) Father Dennis M. Weber, SdC 1799 S. Sproul Rd. Springfield, PA 19064 (610) 543-3380 e-mail: fr.dweber@chs-adphila.org

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Father David Stawasz, SdC St. Louis Center 16195 U.S. 12 Chelsea, MI 48118 (734) 475-8430 frdave@stlouiscenter.org

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First, I am the priest I am because I live in community with other Franciscans. Some are friar-priests, some friar-brothers. This relational element, which includes ordained and nonordained, gives me a daily experience of living not only with other people but also with my professed brothers. We have vowed to live quite purposefully in poverty, chastity, and obedience and therefore live amid the rewards and challenges of that life. That literally

For me, being a Franciscan cannot help but affect the way I am a priest. impacts my prayer and preaching and how I see myself as a minister of the gospel. One of the features of our Franciscan life is common prayer. While we all have our own private prayers and devotions, we celebrate the Liturgy of Hours together (a series of Psalm-based prayers recited at regular times during the day), and that is crucial. The rhythm of Morning and Evening Prayer together reminds us

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SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING

EXPLOR E A JOUR NEY WITH THE FR A NCISCA NS TOR Following Christ in the footsteps of Saint Francis, we are a Fr aternity of men who freely vow ourselves to living in Communion as brothers

We strive to live the Gospel through Hospitality and Service

FATHER JIM KENT, O.F.M. Conv. presides at Mass.

of our common commitment to God and each other. It is also a discipline that, with all the demands of ministry, draws us together and keeps us focused on God. Even though those of us who are priests have various Mass duties, we also have regular celebrations of the Eucharist only among the friars. The Eucharist was extremely important to Saint Francis, and we find it invaluable to celebrate this sacrament together.

Places to go Second, I am the priest I am because as a Franciscan I have had the opportunity to serve the church in a variety of ministries and places. I have served in parish ministry, in youth and young adult ministry, as director of a retreat and spirituality center, as vocation director, and currently in

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Gentleness Gentlenes s

We seek to address the changing needs of the Church and the world by calling ourselves and others to Pr ayer and

Conversion Mission Statement

“ The Lord Gave Me Brothers” St. Francis of Assisi

THIRD ORDER REGULAR

I M M AC U L A T E C O N C E P T I O N P R OV I N C E Fr. Patrick Foley, TOR, Vocation Director • 1. 8 0 0. 220.0 867 email: frpattor@hotmail.com • www.fr anciscanfriarstor.com Enter #295 at VocationMatch.com

community administration. I have been greatly blessed to have these experiences because what I have learned in each of these ministries has enriched the others. I currently live with nine other friars who minister in a parish, a retreat setting, a hospital, a nursing home, and a soup kitchen. One is recovering from serious medical is-

sues; another is retired from full-time work but volunteers with the poor and brings the sacraments to cloistered nuns. One was a high school teacher for many years; another spent a long time as a missionary in Africa. All their experiences inform the priest I am. As a member of a religious congregation, I know friar-priests who

6/14/2010 9:03:09 AM

leader or the person who heads the worldwide congregation. Because we live in such a brotherhood, our leaders are pretty well known to us, especially at the regional, or province, level.

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have spent their entire lives in parish ministry but never in one diocese or even in one region of the country. Father Wilfred has been a pastor in Chicago and in coastal Georgia. Father Tom has served in parish ministry in Minnesota, New Mexico, and Costa Rica. Experiencing the universal church beyond the boundaries of one diocese or across international borders adds a depth to our service as pastors. It also helps us all be connected to our brothers and sisters in Christ across the country and throughout the world. Being a member of a religious order that has friars spread around the globe has afforded me opportunities to celebrate the sacraments

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from Argentina to Zambia, from Italy to India, from Denmark to Poland to Honduras. To hear the gospel proclaimed in so many languages, to give and receive the Body and Blood of Christ in so many lands, certainly gives my priesthood a depth and breadth beyond compare.

To lead is to serve A third way being in a religious community affects the way I am a priest is the Franciscan approach to governance and authority. Unlike diocesan priests who are accountable to a bishop appointed by the Holy See, Franciscan friars elect their leaders, whether it’s the regional

Through my Franciscan formation I have embraced quite clearly the path God has called me to and the manner in which I am to live my life. That we have a say in who will govern us is important. It opens avenues of dialogue and input. Saint Francis admonished the friars that those in leadership were to be their servants: Thus we call our province leader the “minister provincial.” The vow to obedience comes from the Latin root of that word, which means “to listen.” This listening is a two-way street, first to the one in leadership and ultimately to the individual friar. The role of leadership is also a gift to the members and one that is time-limited. While a diocesan bishop is ordained a bishop for life, our leaders only serve for a certain length of time. A friar might be elected to serve for one to three terms, but eventually he will leave office and return to the ordinary body of friars. I am currently the minister provincial of my province and am provincial to those who at one time were my provincials, including Father

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Different ways to be a priest: Religious order and diocesan Religious oRDeR pRiest

Diocesan pRiest

Where you serve

May change over time, with possibilities perhaps in various states or countries

Usually within a diocese

What you do

Different ministries depending on your community’s commitments and charism

Most often parish ministry

Who holds

Leaders who are members and are elected by members

Bishop of the diocese

Usually with members of your community

Often with members of the parish in which you minister

authority

Pray With

live With

Members of your community

Alone or with other diocesan priests

Commitment

Vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience

Promises of chastity and obedience to the bishop

(These characteristics are generalizations; both groups have exceptions.)

Wayne, into whose hands I professed my final solemn vows. I believe that deepens our fraternal relationship not simply in a democratic but in a very human way. Being a priest within these kinds of structures that are built upon a foundation of service always points me to the humility and other-centeredness of Christ. I am a Franciscan and a priest. God’s call for me would have it no other way. =

Complete a short online profile to find which religious communities are compatible with you. It's free. It's quick. It's easy. VocationMatch.com

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Mount Angel BenedictineAbbey St. Benedict, Oregon

School of the Lord’s Service. Rule – Prologue

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sisters

Sister Patty Ralph, S.S.J. with Sister Mary Rita Boyle, S.S.J., a sister in her community, the Sisters of St. Joseph.

Call me sister “You have to be strong in your identity—who you are and whose you are,” says Sister Patricia Ralph, S.S.J., and “not allow anyone to take your dream away.”

Maureen Daly

ister Patricia Ralph entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, in 1985 when she was 24 and took her final vows in 1994. “I'm going on 25 years and no regrets,” she says.”Absolutely no regrets.” Ralph said that she knew she wanted to be a sister since eighth grade. She Maureen Daly is a freelance writer living in Baltimore where she earned a master of theology degree at the Ecumenical Institute of St. Mary’s Seminary and University. She was an editor for 10 years at Catholic News Service in Washington, D.C.

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was taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph at Blessed Sacrament School in Newark, New Jersey from kindergarten to eighth grade. “I was attracted to their lifestyle, and I thought: I can do that,” she says. The majority of the students were African American, but there were no African-American sisters among her teachers. She says of her teachers: “They were so good to us. We had such fun! We just had a ball and no one ever felt different or excluded.”

“I always knew I wanted to be a teacher” “I always wanted to be a sister and my

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twin didn't. But the funny thing is she entered two years before me, in 1983. I had our room to myself for two years.” Her twin, Sister Lynn Marie Ralph, is a Sister of the Blessed Sacrament and works in her community’s motherhouse in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. For high school Ralph attended Benedictine Academy, run by Benedictine sisters in Elizabeth, New Jersey, a short bus ride from her home. She lived at home during college, graduating from Jersey City State University. “In high school I used to go to the Blessed Sacrament convent a lot for prayer with the sisters and Mass, and I had dinner over there. All through high school I used to help in the elementary school, I volunteered in the classrooms. I learned to be the best first-grade teacher through Sister Grace Christi Costello, S.S.J., the best first-grade teacher I have ever known. “I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. That’s why I kept going back to Blessed Sacrament school, in college, too, and volunteering there. I worked with Sister Maria Raphaela, S.S.J., an excellent music teacher. She did whole musicals with us! Oliver and Purlie and 42nd Street! With elementary kids! And she was the first one to teach us the song ‘To Be Young, Gifted and Black.’ ” Ralph is the sixth of eight children—five boys and three girls. It was a “strong Catholic family,” she said. Both her parents were raised Catholic, her father in Rahway, New Jersey and her mother in Bayonne.

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Join us as a Vowed Sister, Lay Associate, or Volunteer in Mission.

S. Shaun Kathleen Wilson, OSF Director of Vocations . 1.610.777.2967 FollowFrancis@bfranciscan.org S. Lynn Pascoe, OSF - Director Lay Associates . Volunteers in Mission 610.796.8972 LPascoe@bfranciscan.org

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Called to generate compassion and hope in our community of life We live the Gospel We love and serve the poor

The center of family life was her home parish, Blessed Sacrament in Newark. “I just loved it. We had church, not Mass, just praising God and celebrating the blessings.” Ralph’s first teaching assignment was first grade at Holy Name Catholic School in Washington, D.C. It was opened by the Sisters of St. Joseph as a parish school in 1924. In 2008 it became a public city charter school, the Trinidad Campus of Center City Charter Public schools, a six-campus consortium of former parish schools. Ralph and nearly all the faculty and staff stayed with the school as it turned from parochial to public. She now teaches fifth grade in the

“I get support from my own community. They help me keep on keeping on.” 200-student pre-kindergarten-toeighth-grade school. The transition was seamless, she said. She has spent most of the past 25 years at Holy Name, except for five years when she returned to her beloved home parish of Blessed Sacrament. While serving as principal of Holy Name she also earned a master’s degree in education administration at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.

We pray and live in community We invite you to join us . . .

Visit us at: www.franciscansistersusa.org Vocation Oﬃce 513-761-1697, x103 joannjackowski@franciscansistersusa.org 86

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“The spirit is alive and well” Being a minority within a minority— she is the only African American in her community—would have deterred some, but not Ralph. “If

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“They call me Sister P. or Sister Patty, or the little ones say Sister Matricia or Batricia,” says Sister Patty Ralph of her students. “Some even say Miss Sister Patricia.”

anything my sense of vocation has strengthened over the years. Even though I am in a white community, I have the National Black Sisters Conference. I am on the board, and I find that is a source of support. And I get support from my own community. They help me keep on keeping on. It was when I was in formation with my community that I was encouraged to go to the Black Sisters Conference.” She found that quite surprising. “I didn’t know there were so many black nuns.” About vocation she says: “You have to be strong in your identity— who you are and whose you are. Not allow anyone to take your dream away. I always knew this is what I wanted. It was God who gave me my vocation. It was my dream and God’s gift. And gifts have to be nurtured.” Nurturing the gift involves seeking out “people that supported me in my community or elsewhere. Sharing our stories. I love to listen to stories. Did I have to deal with racism? Sure. But I also had support. Racism is a fact. I did not let racism deter me.”

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compassion

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People would ask her, “ ‘Why do you want to do that? You can’t have a family.’ For me, personally, I gained family. Many times I feel like a mom here. The eighth-graders now were my first fifth-grade class. Now they are getting acceptance letters to high school. And mostly to Catholic schools, so something is still here. The spirit is alive and well.” By all accounts Sister Patty is fun. What does she do for fun. “Last Friday we went out and sang karaoke,” she says. “I like to hang out at friends’ houses. I like to go to parties. If you got the G, I got the O. Let’s go! “I love to dance. The music starts, I’m up. The Cuban Shuffle,

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the Electric Slide, the New Jersey strut, the cha-cha—as soon as I hear the music I’m up on the floor. I used to teach liturgical dance, when this

“Did I have to deal with racism? Sure. But I also had support. Racism is a fact. I did not let racism deter me.” was a Catholic school. I dance all the time with the fifth-graders, sometimes to rap, sometimes Motown.” Ralph lives with four other Sisters of St. Joseph in the convent of St. Francis de Sales Church, a 10-minute

drive from her school. They eat together Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Now that her school is a charter public school, Ralph gets a paycheck, not a stipend, and that helps the community. Ralph prays with her community but attends Sunday Mass at Holy Name Parish. “The children say, ‘See you in church, Sister P.’ Then they come and sit right next to me. ‘Why do you have to sit right next to me?’ I ask. ‘Don’t I get enough all week long?’ They call me Sister P. or Sister Patty, or the little ones say Sister Matricia or Batricia. Some even say Miss Sister Patricia. “I say, just as long as you call me Sister, ’cause I earned that title.” 

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A Positive influence in my life . . . “I can speak with some authority about the quality of the lives changed by religious women in this country— the dignity with which you treat the poor; the services you provide for the frightened pregnant girl so that she has the courage to choose life; the care with which you comfort the elderly and sick; the education you insist on for children who are left behind by their school systems.” —Cokie Roberts,

senior

news analyst for

Na-

Public Radio

and

tional

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political commentator

ABC News, speaking 2009 Leadership Conference of Women Religious for

to sisters at the

gathering in

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sisters TheSe village girls in Sudan have never been to school. They are part of the population that Sister Marilyn Lacey’s organization, Mercy Beyond Borders, helps to pursue an education.

Joy I never expected Working with women in Sudan brought a “wild, unexpected, indescribable happiness” for this Sister of Mercy.

SiSter

Marilyn lacey, r.S.M.

’m Sure you’ve seen those “before and after” commercials where some amazing product transforms someone from a nondescript individual into a dazzling starlet. You know what i mean: Only using the right shampoo, wearing the latest fashion, or driving the sleekest

Sister Marilyn Lacey, R.S.M., a Sister of Mercy and author of This Flowing Toward Me: A Story of God Arriving in Strangers (Ave Maria Press, 2008), is the executive director of Mercy Beyond Borders, a nonprofit organization working with displaced women and girls in Southern Sudan to alleviate extreme poverty.

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car (better yet: doing all three) guarantees your life will never be the same. Somehow, though, those promises never deliver. But don’t give up; marvelous transformation is still available to us all. As Christians we call it conversion— God turning our lives around—and it’s central to every vocation. Here’s my own “before and after” story, in the form of personal ads: Before: “Strongly introverted, academically focused, painfully private woman seeks to give her life wholly to God and become a math teacher.” After: “Woman wildly in love with God, totally immersed in working with

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Drawn to outside ministry and contemplation? We call that a balanced life. nourished by our life of prayer in community, we serve as teachers and parish ministers, social workers and food pantry volunteers. our life is one of balance and peace... centered in the monastery... suffused with prayer, meaning and joy.

SiSterS of St. Benedict St. Mary Monastery rock island, iL www.smmsisters.org

to learn more contact Sr. Bobbi Bussan at 309-283-2300 or rbussan@smmsisters.org.

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Sisters of St. John the Baptist

As an international community of women religious, we serve as teachers, administrators, pastoral and social workers, health professionals and caregivers.

We work for the glory of God in the service of our neighbor–especially the youth and children who are poor, abandoned, marginalized and at risk of losing their faith– through evangelization, ed education and human promotion. Is God calling you to respond to these challenges? What is your answer?

For information about the

Sisters of St. John the Baptist, visit our website:

Baptistines.org To spend a day or weekend, email our vocation directors: SR. ELSA JERONIMO, C.S.JB and SR. LICERIA SAYON, C.S.JB.:

Sister Marilyn is surrounded by the Sudanese children she works with.

refugee women and children in Sudan, and passionate about making the world a more welcoming place for the displaced seeks others to join this great adventure.” How to account for such a dramatic change? All the credit goes to God, whose invitation first brought me into the Sisters of Mercy, where I was soon steeped in a tradition of practical compassion responding to contemporary needs. The community taught me to pray, instilled in me a love of scripture, and gave me opportunities to learn from other sisters how to live and move among the poor. Over time the God of mercy led me into ministering full-time with refugees in overseas camps, then to serving in domestic United States resettlement, and now to partnering with displaced women and girls

in post-war Sudan. Along the way I have learned that the secret to joy lies in welcoming strangers.

A whole new way of loving I am not by nature a very welcoming person. I avoid casual conversations in public places. I bury myself in a book or pretend I’m sleeping on a plane. I rarely talk to anyone in the grocery line. I can walk through crowded rooms without ever making eye contact. That’s me. Over the years, however, as my relationship with God has deepened and I have become aware of God’s stubborn tendency to dwell with the poor and marginalized (as described in so many gospel stories), I have felt myself drawn to be with this God among the forgotten peoples of

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ROOTED IN the world. As a result, an undeniable “turning” is taking place in my outlook and behavior. The change has been wonderful. It began when I got involved as a volunteer with refugees arriving in the San Francisco Bay Area and became especially close to a Hmong family from Laos. One night I dreamt that I saw their five children in a schoolyard. As the bell for class was ringing, I dropped my books and scooped up 5-year-old Chai into a bear hug. In response to my asking what they were doing here at this school, Chai grinned at me and said, “We’re here to teach you a new way of loving!” A new way of loving? I woke up with that phrase burning in my consciousness. It seemed a clear invitation from God, a call within a call, to leave behind my secure niche in the classroom and move into refugee

PRAYER NURTURED IN

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MINISTRY

The secret to joy lies in welcoming strangers. work. Because I am part of the larger Sisters of Mercy community, I was able to make this shift rather easily, and I soon found myself in a refugee camp on the Thai-Lao border. Unable to speak the local lanIHM Ad_041310.indd guage, utterly unfamiliar with Asian customs, entirely out of my area of competence (which had been in teaching math and theology), and spending my days swatting mosquitoes and sweltering in a barbedwire-enclosed camp housing 14,000 refugees, I discovered I had never

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Sister Marilyn helps out in a classroom in Narus, Sudan.

been happier. No one was more surprised than me. During my year in that camp I learned that the word Chai means “heart.” As I moved from my head to my heart, from control to Enter #007 at VocationMatch.com

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As I moved from my head to my heart, from control to surrender, from perfection to compassion, whole new ways of being opened up to me. surrender, from perfection to compassion, whole new ways of being opened up to me.

Welcome wagon Who knew that joy comes not from protecting one’s life or private space but rather from inviting others in? Who knew that joy comes from the relaxed admission of one’s limitations and mistakes rather than an

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anxious striving to do all things well? Who knew that the welcoming of refugees would lead to a lifetime of cross-cultural blessings? Who knew that opening up to such “otherness” increased the likelihood of meeting the living God? Who knew? I certainly didn’t, but I’m ever so grateful for the invitation to learn. After I returned from the refugee camp experience I spent many years managing the refugee programs at a Catholic Charities office in California. There my colleagues and I had the privilege of welcoming at the airport hundreds of arriving refugees each year from throughout the world. We were responsible for housing them, teaching them English, preparing them for employment, and

providing other services. It’s challenging, heart-expanding work.

Love comes tumbling in One of the last refugees I welcomed before moving on to my current ministry was Nadine, a Burundian woman who arrived alone. In the chaos of earlier war years she had lost contact with her entire family. On the night she arrived we knew only a few facts about her: name, age (22), religion (Catholic), and medical status (brain tumor). We immediately arranged for treatment at a local university medical center, but her tumor was inoperable, and as it grew she began to lose her vision. Knowing that her condienter #037 at VocationMatch.com

Mercy in Sudan

y curreNt MINIStry is with the nonprofit organization Mercy Beyond Borders. Our focus is with refugees in Southern Sudan, a country emerging from decades of civil war and still reeling from widespread violence. though we are not well-known yet in the united States, the women and girls of Sudan certainly know who we are. they know Mercy Beyond Borders stands with them. they know we are staunch promoters of the education of girls (in a part of the world that has never valued girls or allowed them to attend formal schooling. they know we are working to improve maternal/child health, and they know we are funding

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women’s micro-enterprise efforts. Slowly, slowly (poh-lay, poh-lay in KiSwahili) Mercy Beyond Borders is connecting these displaced persons with resources that enable them to move up from extreme poverty. I am in and out of Sudan several times each year, dodging scorpions and stray bullets and meeting inspiring people. Much of the time I travel around the u.S. giving presentations about our work, educating Americans about the ways we can live the solidarity to which the gospel calls us and therein discover the wellspring of joy that surprised Julia last August (see story above). If you are interested, visit mercybeyondborders.org.

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These Sudanese girls looking out a classroom window are among the people Sister Marilyn Lacey reaches in her current ministry, Mercy Beyond Borders.

tion was terminal, we enlisted the help of three women volunteers from a local church to befriend Nadine. Then I challenged them: “Find Nadine’s family.” Find one displaced Burundian refugee family somewhere in Africa? How? The United Nations couldn’t find them. The International Red Cross couldn’t find them. Gently I suggested to the three volunteers that the Catholic Church had a wider network than any institution in the world; why not work through parish links in the heart of Africa? After many months the improbable search succeeded. The volunteers—these three ordinary suburban women—found someone who found someone who found someone who found Nadine’s displaced

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family in a small village outside of a refugee camp in Tanzania. Then the women worked through their local congressperson and the U.S. State Department to obtain official permission for Nadine’s parents and siblings to be processed as refugees and join Nadine in California. The process took three long years, but last August it resulted in the family’s arrival. Picture the scene: a cluster of women in the main lobby of the airport. Nadine, now entirely blind, is so excited she literally cannot stand still. Her case worker from Catholic Charities is with her, as are the three faithful volunteers. One of the volunteers has brought along her 9-year-old daughter, Julia. Suddenly the case worker shouts out,

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“I see them coming!” Nadine puts both arms straight out in front of her and starts walking forward. She literally falls into the embrace of her parents. Nadine is crying. Her parents and siblings are crying. The case worker is crying. The three volunteers are crying. Everyone is crying, except Julia. She is watching this reunion with eyes wide open. Then she turns to her mother, clutching her own hands over her heart, and blurts out, “Mom, I have a feeling in my heart that I’ve never felt before. Can I do a cartwheel?” And right there in the lobby, Julia does several spontaneous cartwheels.

Happiness must be shared That is the kind of joy I’m talking about when I say that opening our lives to strangers brings a wild, unexpected, indescribable happiness that simply must be shared. That is the kind of joy Jesus hinted at when he promised, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). What things? Follow me; give away your riches to the poor; open your gate to the beggar who lies outside; welcome the stranger; meet me in the least of your brothers and sisters. That is the kind of joy that abounds when we allow our lives to be led by the God who dwells with the poor and forgotten. For me, being a Sister of Mercy has been the path to this unexpected joy—and I am so grateful for the gift of this vocation! =

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brothers

Brother Patrick Cousins, S.C. at Canyon de Chelly in the Navajo Nation of Arizona, where he takes student volunteers on hikes during service projects.

Brotherhood made simple If you are a brother, serving God by serving others is going to be the center of your life. It’s that simple.

Brother Patrick Cousins, S.C.

s a doctoral student in the religion department at Syracuse University, I sometimes find myself getting sucked into all the usual angst that can go with graduate school: What should my dissertation topic be? Am I in the right classes? Will I be competitive in the job market? As a Brother Brother Patrick Cousins, S.C. is a member of the New Orleans Province of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.

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of the Sacred Heart, on the other hand, my primary concern is that my academic work sharpen my awareness of the needs of the world and better poise me to meet those needs, not to build a good résumé. Brotherhood at its core is intensely practical: We are men trying to serve God by serving humanity. That service can take any number of forms, and often very everyday ministries, but beyond the bounds of our jobs, being available to respond when needs arise is a major part of our lives. To my mind each of those responses is brotherhood made simple.

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The ministry of the doorbell Most summers I try to spend a few weeks at a mission parish run by one of our brothers in the middle of the Navajo reservation in Arizona. Going out there for the first time as a college student 15 years ago was an integral part of my discernment to enter religious life. Being able to do good for people, live simply in community, and really pray honestly about my life with other people was the kind of life I was looking for when I first went there, and that’s what I found with the brothers. Admittedly it’s mostly for self-

Brotherhood at its core is intensely practical: We are men trying to serve God by serving humanity. ish reasons that I go there now. The brother who lives there, Brother John Hotstream, has been a great friend of mine for a long time; I love the geography of that part of the country, and it’s the kind of place where a little help can go a long way. Quite a few groups from high schools and parishes all over the country do week-long immersion trips there in the summer, so whenever they are around I help keep their time moving smoothly: cooking, driving groups to work sites, working with students. Even though we get a lot done we do it at

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Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd Ordinary men

striving to follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by ministering to society’s most abandoned and disadvantaged. 815.472.3131

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Taking a break from planting cypress saplings in St. bernard Parish, Louisiana—part of the reconstruction efforts after Hurricane katrina—are brother Patrick Cousins, S.C. and Syracuse University student volunteers kristin girouard and David gay.

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a humane pace: prayer over the daily readings together before breakfast, a few hours of work, lunch with whoever shows up at the mission, time for a little siesta, and another couple of hours of work before dinner. Brother John calls the activities there the “ministry of the doorbell”: Whatever people need done, he helps to the degree that he is able, and every day brings something different. Some days that means chopping firewood for the grandma down the road who still uses a woodburning stove but can’t chop wood anymore. Other days it’s helping someone put up sheetrock, or fixing a fence, or taking a neighbor to the hospital. Sundays we prepare liturgies and spend the morning visiting with parishioners, and when groups are around we may give them a taste

of the local life: hiking down Canyon de Chelly National Monument, watching a local woman weaving a Navajo rug, joining in a song-anddance. This past summer I spent three wonderful weeks there, and in addition to the usual round of work I did a few minor repair jobs around the mission itself: replacing a faucet, shampooing the carpets, installing a screen door. None of those little jobs took much know-how (although a little more know-how with the screen door wouldn’t have hurt!), but they were what was needed at that moment. Brotherhood made simple.

“Nothing special” Here in Syracuse my community

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lives down the street from a community of young people who are volunteering for a year with the Conventual Franciscans in Syracuse. A few months ago one of the volunteers who works at a free clinic run out of

Being available to respond when needs arise is a major part of brothers’ lives. the Franciscan parish in town called me during dinner and asked, “Do you speak French?” A patient who speaks only French had just come to the clinic, and the person who usually translates wasn’t there that day, so the doctor couldn’t communicate with her. My French is a little

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rusty, but I figured I could probably make it work, so I drove over to the clinic and met the patient—a lovely woman from Niger named Adamah. We got through her interview with the doctor, and I stayed around to talk to her a bit: Her son had recently died, she had just come to the United States a few weeks before I met her, and she was staying with another woman from her hometown, the only person she knew here. I gave her my number to call if she needed anything, and almost as soon as I got home she called me. Her friend wanted to meet me, so I drove back out and met them at their house for a long conversation. I’m still keeping in contact with Adamah, and because some of the brothers in my local community teach English to refugees and recent

immigrants, I am trying to connect her with that program so she can start learning English. There was nothing special about any of my time with Adamah, no skills required except a little bit of French, but it

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neighborhood of 4,000 cypress trees. Because I know the city I played tour guide, which entailed everything from chauffeuring students around town to introducing them to the local fare: beignets and muffuletas, king cake and crawfish. This response to a call to serve involved nothing more complicated than driving a carful of students and knowing how to shuck oysters, but it helped the students have a richer experience and made it easier to do the good we hoped to do. Brotherhood made simple.

A passion to serve

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opened the door, I pray, to making her transition to a strange country a little easier. Brotherhood made simple.

Doing good made easier Every winter break the Catholic Center at Syracuse University offers a trip to New Orleans to do hurricane relief work. This year the pastor was looking for a few “old people” (that is, old enough to rent a car) to help facilitate the trip. Because I grew up just outside New Orleans, I was going to be there anyway, so I was happy to help. Around 20 students from Syracuse spent the week at Camp Hope in St. Bernard Parish, working on houses and helping to redevelop the ecosystem in our little corner of southeast Louisiana. In the week we were there my group planted somewhere in the

These are a few examples from my own life, but each of us brothers has a similar collection of stories about the ordinary ways we all try to be there when people are in need, because that’s what being a brother is all about: being consumed by a passion for the coming Reign of God.

Our desire as brothers is to be at that place where the cry of the poor meets the ear of God, whatever form that might take. The single most often quoted part of my community’s Rule of Life is: “To be a member of the Institute today is to believe in God’s love, to live it, and to spread it” (no. 13). That’s what brotherhood is about, at its heart: at once utterly simple and utterly elusive, the task of a lifetime that we all only barely begin. For most of us our call to service

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Norbertines Founded 1121

Ever ancient – Ever new

Siempre antiguo – Siempre nuevo

Community at the Service of God’s People Comunidad al servicio del Pueblo de Dios

St. Norbert Abbey De Pere, WI www.norbertines.org vocations@norbertines.org Santa Maria de la Vid Priory Albuquerque, NM www.norbertinecommunity.org vocations@norbertinecommunity.org St. Moses the Black Priory Raymond, MS www.stmosestheblackpriory.org norbertines-ms@hotmail.com

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takes shape in a privileged way in schools, but our desire as brothers is to be at that place where the cry of the poor meets the ear of God, whatever form that might take. One of our retired brothers spends his days doing maintenance and repair work for a community of sisters who run a nursing home. Another brother has taken groups of students to Zambia every summer for the past few years to do service in one of our schools. Several of the men in my house teach English to refugees. All are rooted in the same call to meeting the needs of the world, and that’s what we all share as brothers, no matter where we live or how diverse the ways we serve. Of course you don’t have to be a brother to find ways to serve people, but if you are one, service is going to be front and center in your life. It’s that simple. = Call: (508) 993-2442 ext. 0 Write: PO Box 111, Fairhaven, MA 02719 Email: frlifrak@sscc.org VISION 2011

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missionaries Babies get plenty of love from Sister Agnes Perrin, N.D.S., Feten, a local childcare worker, and Sister Araceli Medina, N.D.S. The Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion cosponsor the nursery in Nabeul, Tunisia as part of an outreach to unwed mothers.

Catholic sisters thriving in a Muslim world Catholic sisters have quietly carved out a Christian presence of loving service in the largely Muslim North African country of Tunisia.

Pat Morrison

n modern-day Tunisia a small community of Catholic sisters helps care for babies whose young mothers face difficult choices. Three members of the international Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion help staff a small nursery in the Tunisian coastal city of Nabeul. Up to 14 infants, from new-

Pat Morrison is a Catholic journalist who has reported widely on the Middle East, Tunisia, and the Muslim world. A vowed lay woman in the Carmelite tradition, she is a member of the Association of Contemplative Sisters. She lives in Dayton, Ohio.

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borns to about nine months, are cared for with the help of the sisters and nine local Muslim women who are professional child-care workers. The nursery provides a loving, homelike environment for babies while their unwed mothers decide if they are able to keep them. These sisters are part of an impressive network of ministries in Tunisia provided by 13 different communities of Catholic sisters. Schools, learning centers, libraries, kindergartens, nurseries, and health clinics dot the length and breadth of the country. With the exception of tourists and the European expatri-

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Sr. Janet Hockman, M.M. P.O. Box 311 Maryknoll, NY 10545 email: vocation@mksisters.org http://maryknollsisters.org (914) 941-7575 ext. 5612

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Catholic-Muslim cooperation is the norm at the White Sisters’ library and learning center in the Tunis suburb of La Marsa. Here Sister Simone Verges, M.S.O.L.A. (right) and Lynda, the assistant librarian, help Ahmed, 10, check out a book.

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ate community, all the people served by these institutions are Muslim.

Helping mothers in crisis The nursery in Nabeul, with its soothing pastel walls, array of brightly colored toys, and cribs arranged according to infants’ ages, is in a quiet residential neighborhood. It receives some financial assistance from the municipality “and mostly from people’s good hearts,” says Sister Araceli Medina, N.D.S., a native of El Salvador, in her native Spanish, adding, “Muslim hearts and Christian hearts!” Though Tunisia is a model of tolerance and progress in the Muslim world, an unmarried mother often faces rejection from her family, isolation during her pregnancy, and

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the challenge of raising the child on her own with limited or no financial resources or job skills. While adoption is frowned upon or forbidden in some Muslim nations, Tunisia permits and encourages it if the single mom can’t provide for the child. This nursery, then, provides a

“They know we don’t evangelize, but that we respect their religion and truly care about their children.” critical option for unwed mothers. Social workers help each mother assess her job skills and education and family support system to determine if she has the means to support and care for the child long-term. And with her infant expertly cared for during this time, the mother can

work on developing professional skills and finding a job—a vital element if she wants to keep her baby. At least 50 percent of the mothers opt to keep their babies.

Providing books and tutoring Another religious order of sisters in Tunisia also focuses its attention on children. In La Marsa, a scenic suburb of Tunis, two Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (popularly known as the White Sisters) staff a children’s library and learning center. Sister Micheline Laroche, M.S.O.L.A., a native of Cap-dela-Madeleine in Quebec, Canada, worked for many years with children in a government health center in the African country of Mauritania. Sister Simone Verges, who is from the Auvergne region of France, is a veteran of 48 years of service in Algeria, where she taught and worked with

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women. The two sisters in La Marsa constitute one of four White Sisters communities in Tunisia, with a total of 14 members. Both Laroche and Verges bring energy and expertise to their work with the children of Tunisia as well as providing help at nearby St. Cyprian Parish with liturgy and other parish activities. For nominal annual dues, neighborhood children come to use the library and learning center and receive tutoring from the sisters and their lay colleagues, both Muslim and Catholic. “We help them choose a book to help with their homework,” explained Laroche, “or help them with French or Arabic.” Arabic is Tunisia’s official language, but French is a close second and popular as the language of business. French isn’t formally taught in schools until third grade, so children may have a hard time with the grammar once they start to study it. “Some can speak French well, but can’t write it,” Laroche explained. And although all Tunisian children speak Arabic and can write it very well, they still may need some assistance with it. The bright, well-stocked library is a busy place. Verges and Lynda, a Muslim woman who is assistant librarian and tutors the children in Arabic, help children choose books for their homework. Delphine Renard, a lay volunteer with the French-based Catholic nongovernmental organization Fidesco, tutors others in French. The sisters’ library and learning center is also a microcosm of the Catholic-Muslim cooperation and mutual respect that is a hallmark of Tunisia. “People trust us as religious

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Fr. John Converset PO Box 138 Montclair, NJ 07042 (973) 685-6338 abuna_1@yahoo.com

Fr. David Bohnsack Fr. Angel Camorlinga 5512 S. Hyde Park Blvd. 1615 E. 31st St. Chicago, IL 60637 LaGrange Park, IL 60526 (773) 480-2522 (708) 354-1999 revdavemccj@gmail.com angelcamorlinga@yahoo.com

Fr. Manuel Baeza 645 S. Aldenville Ave. Covina, CA 91723 (626) 339-6732 joebg7@yahoo.com

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How do Catholic priests, brothers, and sisters work in Muslim countries?

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and respect us as educators,” said Laroche. “They know we don’t evangelize, but that we respect their religion and truly care about their children.”

reaching out to the poor To find a third group of sisters shaping a Catholic presence in Tunisia, one must leave La Marsa and travel southwest to the middle of the country, to the edge of the Sahara Desert. Here Franciscan Missionaries of Mary live among the unemployed and working poor of the Doualy quarter of Gafsa. The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary came to Gafsa in 1968 at the bishop’s invitation to help provide health care and social services. They’ve been here ever since. Like many ministries religious communi108

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N GeNeral when a country has adopted an Islamic constitution it means that no proselytizing or open religious teaching by other religions is allowed. Of course there’s a vast difference among Muslim nations as to how this ruling is applied. But how do members of Catholic religious communities spread the Good News of Jesus when they are not permitted to evangelize? One answer comes from the life of Saint Francis of assisi. In his 1221 Rule for his new order, he stipulated that while the brothers needed permission to embark on a preaching ministry, “let all the brothers, however, preach by their deeds.” That is definitely the mission of the Catholic Church in Tunisia. according to Tunis archbishop Maroun lahham, “Here in Tunisia, in the Maghreb [the North african nations of Tunisia, algeria, libya, Morocco, and Mauritania], the best way of evangelizing is to live,” to be a presence. Though Catholics make up only 1 percent of Tunisia’s 11 million people, and Islam is the nation’s official religion, the former

ties engage in, the number of services provided outstrips the number of sisters in the tiny Gafsa community. Much of their work involves supporting families and the elderly poor and empowering women. Carpet weaving, the region’s specialty, is largely women’s work, done at home. But traditionally women have not earned a living wage from it. The sisters have helped the Gafsa

French colony has had a 150-year relationship with the Catholic Church, and that familiarity is one factor in Tunisians’ comfort level with the church and its representatives. But more than length of presence, lahham said, “I would say it’s the quality of our presence.” The archdiocese and Catholic religious orders sponsor or staff a large hospital, several clinics, more than a half-dozen libraries and study centers, and nine schools from kindergarten through high school and professional courses. additionally, religious women and men work with governmentsponsored institutions and municipal governments in programs for women, children at risk, nurseries, the elderly, and mentally and physically disabled children and adults. Tunisian Muslims also appreciate Catholic institutions because they know the church shares their own moral standards, especially family values and modesty in dress, and will teach and uphold them. “everybody knows the sisters,” said one Tunisian who works in the tourism industry. “Tunisians know what they bring to our people.” —Pat Morrison

women form a cooperative where all the weavers share in the profits. They’ve also helped the women price their wares competitively and market their handiwork more widely. Sister Renee Mignot, F.M.M. is a nurse and a veteran of many years of service in Tunisia. Before Tunisia’s independence from France, Mignot worked in hospitals, both Catholic and military. But when many of the VISION 2011

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French left the country in 1956, much of the health care for the people in the outlying areas left with them. The newly independent Tunisian government was just getting on its feet; many needs were still unmet in the cities, even more so in the countryside. It was then, against prevailing male advice, that the intrepid nun decided she needed to do something. Mignot got a Jeep and took to the road—a young foreign woman and a Catholic sister, alone—to bring medicine to Tunisia’s poorest desert villages. For 12 years, with her Jeep, medical bag, and not much else, she traveled among the poorest moun-

“We aim to be a presence among the people. They know us. They know we love them.” tain communities of Kasserine and Chebika at the northwestern edge of the Sahara. “The people needed the medicine,” she explained undramatically and with a shrug. “I had to go.” Today Mignot serves primarily from the sisters’ modest home, welcoming the poor who come to the door and preparing packages of food and medicine for them. Sister Monique Decaux had brought her community of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary to Tunisia from France in 1946. Her portrayal of her community’s work could describe the whole mission of the church in Tunisia. “We aim to just be a presence among the people,” she said. “They know us. They know we love them.” = VISION 2011

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Sister Micheline Laroche, M.S.O.L.A. helps Fatima, 12, with a French reading assignment at the library and learning center her community, the White Sisters, run in La Marsa, a suburb of Tunis. Daily prayer sustains the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in their work among the poor of Gafsa, Tunisia. In the sisters’ chapel are Sisters Helene Delattre, F.M.M., Renee Mignot, F.M.M., Monique Decaux, F.M.M., and Aleyamma Parayankarryl, F.M.M.

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being Catholic It IS important to gather, to be present, to take time, to allow the prayers and rituals of the Eucharist to form and sustain us.

What does it mean to be Catholic? Participating in Mass, embracing the sacraments, belonging to a community, calling on the saints, and promoting human dignity: All these are what it means to be Catholic.

or 14 years Father Joseph F. McGlone was my pastor at CorPeggy H. ekerdt pus Christi Church in auburndale, Massachusetts, and in those years he created a home for these transplanted by

Peggy H. Ekerdt is a pastoral associate at Visitation Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri where she directs pastoral care, adult formation, and marriage preparation. She is grateful to her mother, Joann McNulty Heinzmann, who planted the seeds and continues to provide a model of what it means to be Catholic. She is also indebted to her family, religious communities, and parish communities for modeling the faith.

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Midwesterners—my husband and me. In opening the door to us, as he did for everyone, and accepting the gifts we brought, Father Joe gave us a parish home as he welcomed us with joy and affirmation. Because Joe McGlone had a marvelous and pervasive theology: God loves you and you are good. He himself was the very image of that great love. His death coincided with the deadline for this article, and it is a powerful influence on me as I consider what it means to be Catholic. Father Joe led a parish community where sacraments were celebrated with faithfulness and joy, where Christ’s love and presence

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Answering HIS Call Josephite Brothers & Priests Extending Our Hands and Hearts in Service to Our African American Brothers & Sisters

Proclaiming the Good News for over 130 years through Apostolic, Parish and Educational Works as the needs and times require.

joSepHIteS tHe

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Sisters of Christian Charity Transformed by a Eucharistic lifestyle, we are impelled to give and receive Christ’s love, joy, peace, and healing for the life of the world. May God grant us a spirit of joyousness and hearts full of love and gentleness toward all. Eastern Province Sr. Bernadette McCauley, SCC 350 Bernardsville Road Mendham, NJ 07945 973-543-6528, x 274 sbernadette@scceast.org www.scceast.org

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Western Province Sr. Carol Bredenkamp, SCC 2041 Elmwood Ave. Wilmette, IL 60091 847-920-9341 callscc@sccwilmette.org sccwilmette.org

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were preached faithfully and honestly (if repetitiously!), where everyone knew they were an important and integral part of the parish community, where service and concern for the poor were essential to living the faith we professed, and where the people of God were told they had a job to do: take their faith and live it in the world. It was not a perfect place; no parish is. But it was the place where we came each week to find God in the Word, in the Eucharist, and in one another. It was the place where we came to be nourished. It was the place that helped us know what it means to be Catholic. Now, 21 years later, these are the lessons that remain.

One in the Eucharist To be Catholic means we present ourselves each week at Sunday Mass.

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More than many other Christian denominations, Catholics place great emphasis on the Sunday gathering. Not long ago, on a Sunday morning, a snowstorm stalled the entire city. As people trooped into church that morning, many reported with an attitude akin to pride that on the long list of weather channel church cancellations there was not one Catholic Church. Yes—we show up on Sunday! Perhaps we come to fulfill Jesus’ command to “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). Or to give thanks or ask for help. Maybe the music lifts our hearts or the homilies inspire our souls. Maybe it is what we do simply because that is where we belong. But if we are Catholic, we come to Mass on Sunday. The practice of weekly worship goes back to our faith’s earliest days, a tradition maintained for 2,000 years. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “It was above all on ‘the first day of the week,’ Sunday, the day of Jesus’ resurrection, that the Christians met ‘to break bread.’ From that time on down to our own day the celebration of the Eucharist has been continued so that today we encounter it everywhere in the church with the same fundamental structure. It remains the center of the church’s life” (no. 1343). Though Catholics may rarely articulate the church’s stated belief that the Eucharist is the “source and summit of our faith,” our presence each Sunday says at some level that each of us knows that it is important to gather, to be present, to take time, to allow the prayers and rituals of the Eucharist to form and sustain us.

Strengthened by sacraments To be Catholic means that we rec-

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in prayer

in action

in community

in ministries

THE AWESOME POWER OF

We invite you to live out His awesome power with us.

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ognize and celebrate the presence of God and the gift of grace not only in the celebration of the Eucharist but also in the other sacraments of our faith: Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony. Whether it is the imposition of hands during the sacrament of penance, the immersion of an infant in the baptismal waters, the promises made by a bride and groom, the anointing of a sick person, the prostrate body of a man about to be ordained, or the reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation, all express and evoke the divine presence in the very midst of life. The prayers of anointing give one particular testament to this truth. As family and friends gather around someone who is sick or facing surgery, they hear these words: “Lord, through this holy anointing grant N. comfort in her suffering. When she is afraid, give her courage, when afflicted, give her patience, when dejected, afford her hope, and when alone, assure her of the support of your holy people.” It is a magnificent example of how, with word, ritual, and objects, the sacraments nourish, strengthen, and express our faith that God is with us.

Community counts To be Catholic means to believe in the importance of community. After Jesus died his followers did not disband but clung to one another. They remembered his promise to be present “where two or three are gathered in my name” (Matthew 18:20) as well as his parting words to “love one another as I have loved 114

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A Positive influence in My life . . .

“In the seventh grade at st. Bonaventure school in Buffalo, new York, sister Mary Lucille, a sister of Mercy, was both impressed and yet concerned by—shall we say—my excessive energy in class. she expressed that in her words, ‘We have to channel that energy, timothy,’ because I was prone to mischief. One day she told me, ‘I’m going to start a school newspaper and you’re going to

you” (John 15:12). Fast forward 2,000 years and this message has taken hold. It is the word community that most often comes to the lips of those I have asked what it means to be Catholic. In community we find a home, a place to belong, to be known, and to share our hopes and fears. This community is not only a select group of friends. It is the comVISION 2011

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be the editor. this means that you have to give out assignments, you have to edit the copy, you have to write your own articles, you have to go around and interview students, teachers, and administrative people, and publish the paper. You have to distribute it. You have to decide whether you’re going to charge for it, or if you’re going to have a fundraiser to underwrite the cost.’ It became this extraordinary project that I threw myself into and so did all my friends. If left us little time to get in trouble because we were so devoted to the paper . . . .”

—The

laTe Tim RusseRT, foRmeR hosT of “meeT The PRess,” on sisTeR of meRcy maRy lucille socciaRelli, fRom The Person Who Changed My Life: ProMinenT aMeriCans reCaLL Their MenTors

munity that in times of solidarity and of turmoil calls us to love one another. It is the community where we are invited to work out human differences and claim God’s unconditional love and be that love made visible in the world. The name that faith assigns to this community is the Body of Christ, and it is within this Body, throughout the frequent messiEnter #285 at VocationMatch.com

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ness of human life, that the truth remains. “God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it” (1 Corinthians 12:24-26).

Saints with us To be Catholic means to believe in the communion of saints, strikingly depicted in artist John Nava’s tapestries that line the nave of Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in Los Angeles. The tapestries’ startlingly real images make it easy to imagine and even believe that the saints walk among us, inspiring us by the wit-

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ness of their lives. Indeed, our ancestors in faith have left a rich heritage of practices and spiritualities that continue to form us today. Whether it is Teresa of Avila’s intimate and easy conversations with the Lord, the insights of Ignatius Loyola, the Rule of Benedict, the simplicity of Francis and Clare, or the storied faithfulness of our own deceased loved ones, these “witnesses,” the Catechism says, “who have preceded us into the kingdom . . . . contemplate God, praise him, and constantly care for those whom they have left on earth” (no. 2683).

Human dignity front and center To be Catholic also commits one to the belief that all of God’s children are our sisters and brothers; every human person is made in God’s image. Thus we know that we have a responsibility to care for our neighbors, to ensure the dignity of all people, and to protect especially the poor and vulnerable. Several years ago I climbed into an airport shuttle and was surprised to see that my companion was a former U.S. senator from a neighboring state. When she learned that I was going to a Catholic conference, she said, “All I know of the Catholic Church is from my work in the Senate with Catholic Relief Services. It is an amazing organization that has done wonderful work helping people all around the world.” In that moment I felt a deep sense of gratitude to CRS. And perhaps I felt a bit of pride as well because that work does not belong to a single Catholic agency. The

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great body of teaching that outlines the social doctrine of the Catholic Church calls each and every Catholic to figure out his or her own way to live the love of God in the world, caring for and speaking on behalf of the immigrant, the unemployed, the sick, the unborn, the prisoner, the poor and oppressed. Every Catholic is asked to pro-

mote the common good—not only personal good, not the good of the powerfully elite, but the common good, seeking justice above all. For we are the Body of Christ, sent into a world both challenged and graced, to be instruments of change and a community of faithful courage and compassion. That is what it means to be Catholic.

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New life—eternally When we moved from Boston 21 years ago, there was an anticipation of new life but also great sadness as we left the Catholic community that had welcomed us, witnessed our daughters’ Baptisms and First Communions, and helped us begin to form them in faith. It was the Catholic community that had taught us to pray more deeply. It was the Catholic community where we had cooked meals for a soup kitchen and shared daily food runs to distribute day-old

In community we find a home, a place to belong, to be known, and to share our hopes and fears.

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We are called to pray, to study, to teac h t h e T r u t h

21 Schuyler Avenue Stamford, CT 06902

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bakery goods. It was the Catholic community that had made us aware of our own God-given goodness. We were leaving, and it felt like a death. Father Joe gave us one piece of advice as we left town. Get settled, he said, and then go introduce yourselves to your new pastor. Go on, he said, there will be new life. It is not something we would have done on our own—but we did as he suggested. And in doing so we found another parish home to embrace, support, and challenge us. We found another place where we could practice and nurture our Catholic faith. Now as we prepare to board a plane to Boston, we know we need the rituals of our Catholic faith as we celebrate the life and faith of Father Joseph F. McGlone and confirm our hope in the promise of new life. It is our turn to say: Go on, introduce yourself, Joe McGlone, and you will find new life. =

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How you become a “new person” as a sister, brother, or priest

o be a Christian is to be called to constant renewal and conversion. For those who join a religious community, they will not only

dig deeply into what it means to be a Catholic Christian, but they will also take on a new identity as Sister, Brother, or Father. Furthermore, they’ll become immersed in the particular personality—or charism—of their community. How does all this shifting of identity happen? It takes place through what religious communities call formation, a process that takes several years and involves several steps. When people are getting serious about the possibility of religious life, they will usually live for six months or possibly a year or more with a community, sharing in the day-to-day life of prayer, ministry, and community. Different communities give different names to people in this period, calling them postulant, candidate, or aspirant. The newcomer gets a taste of what it means to be a member of the community by being immersed in it. Formation begins in earnest as a novice. During the one-to-twoyear novitiate, the novice experiences intensive prayer and reflection and studies theology as well as the history, spirituality, and constitutions of the religious order. Men who prepare for priesthood will undertake a formal program of studies for ordination after the novitiate.

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These studies along with living, working, and praying with the community slowly begin to shape a newcomer’s heart and understanding of God, self, and the world. Newcomers slowly integrate into the group and begin to see themselves as a “Franciscan” or a “Dominican,” just as they see themselves as a member of a family. The early years of formation are an intense period of adopting a new identity, but religious communities see formation as the effort of a lifetime and frequently offer members days of reflection or similar programs to foster ongoing spiritual and personal growth. —Carol Schuck Scheiber, content editor of VISION

Have more questions about Catholicism and religious life? Check out these online resources at vocation-network.org: • Sixteen questions about church vocations: Offers honest answers to your questions about priests, sisters, brothers, vows, sexuality, community life, and more. (Found under “Guide” then “Articles,” then “Prayer and Discernment.”)

• Sister Julie Vieira answers your vocation questions (Link on homepage.) • Ask Alice Camille about Catholicism (Link on homepage.) • The Religious Life Timeline is a brief, illustrated, and downloadable look at religious life through the centuries. (Found under “Listings” and then “Resources.”) VISION 2011

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being Catholic We Get tO reclaim all hours of our experience as holy hours when we pass these simple beads through our hands.

Full of grace: Reclaiming the rosary Praying the mysteries of the rosary we weave our intentions, thoughts, imagination, emotions, and desire for union with Christ.

Alice

cAmille

he reCenT resurgence in the rosary’s popularity has made it much more than the fashion accessory singer Madonna inaugurated a few years ago. From kitsch to cool to contemplative tool again, in a single generation! not bad for

Alice Camille, M. Div., is the author of The Rosary: Mysteries of Joy, Light, Sorrow, and Glory and other titles available at www. alicecamille.com.

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a devotion that’s been kicking around the church in various forms for almost a millennium. Catholicism was “Marian” a generation ago—or at least, the church gave Protestants plenty of reasons to see it that way. While other Christians adhered to Jesus and the Bible, Catholics prayed to Mary and the saints. That was a false dichotomy, of course, based mostly on externals: Some older Catholic churches were miniature museums of sacred art, with varying degrees of

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SOLVANG, CA 1-805-688-4815 vocations@olacapuchins.org WEB: www.olacapuchins.org

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FIND OUT WHO WE ARE AND YOU JUST MIGHT DISCOVER WHO YOU ARE. Ever consider making God’s work your life’s work? Consider the Sisters of Mercy, the largest order of religious women in the U.S. • Join us in making the world a better place. • Join us everywhere from Capitol Hill to underserved inner cities. • Join us in community and prayer. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, we’d love to chat with you.

good taste on display. Thoughtful Catholics always understood that they didn’t worship Mary, because worship is reserved to God alone. It is veneration of Mary that honors her crucial role in the story of Jesus and the life of the church.

“Call your Mother!” When the Second Vatican Council swept the halls of Catholicism with broad reforms in the late 1960s, the way Catholics expressed their identity on the street changed, too. The church was moving toward a deepened engagement with the modern world. Catholics were all invited to move with it, surrendering a bit of the otherworldly focus that made them seem separate and their witness perhaps too hidden. For some that movement into

Rosary resources

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online rosaries www.comepraytherosary.org/ www.tu-newman.org/rosary.html www.virtualrosary.org/ Reading Second Vatican Council, The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium), nos. 52-69 Pope Paul VI, Marialis Cultus (1974) Pope John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae (2002) These documents are available on the Vatican website, www.vatican.va/.

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the marketplace made scripture and social justice teaching of more practical use than rosaries and statues. When Catholics turned their attention to the modern world in teaching and testimony, many left relics of the otherworldly—the incense and devotions—behind. In driving terms, that’s called an overcorrection. And it often lands

Veneration of Mary honors her crucial role in the story of Jesus and the life of the church. you in a ditch. It rarely helps to replace one dichotomy with another. Minimizing Mary’s role in Catholic identity devalues the critical human response to God’s initiative that she embodies so beautifully. At the same time, to correct maximizing Mary to the diminishment of Jesus it was perhaps necessary to move a few statues from the center of our worship space, not to mention our mental space. Yet renewed interest in traditional prayer forms today makes the rosary T-shirt logo sound like wisdom: “Call your Mother. She hasn’t heard from you in decades.” Reclaiming the rosary goes hand in hand with a restoration of Mary’s rightful role in Catholic consciousness. What we say about Mary is also necessarily a statement about the church. She is what we must become. Mary models our Christian vocation and shows us how discipleship is done. All teaching about Mary

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FRANCISCAN SISTERS OF CHICAGO

Sister Lois Marie Rossi, Vocation Minister 773-328-5566, vocations@chicagofranciscans.com Carol Lackie, Vocation Coordinator 630-243-3555, clackie@chicagofranciscans.com

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Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities Come join us, as we create a new Franciscan vision for the future.

Sister Joselle Orlando jorlando@sosf.org

•

Sister Rosemary Hendry From left, Sisters Amy Williams, Kimberly Clouse and Laura Hackenberg are oo temporary professed.ooooooo professed.

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relates to her primary relationship to Jesus. Or as a priest I know likes to say, “We’d never have heard of Mary at all if her son hadn’t turned out so well.” Our veneration of Mary is not a cult of personality. She’s not a celestial celebrity; she’s better than that: She’s the one who assures us that

saying yes to God, fully and completely, is possible.

Pray, reflect, repeat So how does the rosary assist us in becoming more like Mary, that is, “full of grace”? It offers a unique view of the Christian story through

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How to pray the rosary There are 20 mysteries divided into the following four sets to be meditated upon each week: Joyful Mysteries (Mondays and Saturdays; Sundays during the Christmas season) WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? . Living in community according to the Rule of St. Benedict. .

Following a daily schedule that balances prayer and work. . Ministering to God’s people . Serving as a sign of hope and Good News.

The Annunciation to Mary The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth The Birth of Jesus The Presentation of Jesus The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple Sorrowful Mysteries (Tuesdays and Fridays; Sundays during Lent)

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Have more questions about prayer and religious life? Check out these online resources at vocation-network.org: • Sixteen questions about church vocations: Offers honest answers to your questions about priests, sisters, brothers, vows, sexuality, community life, and more. (Found under “Guide” then “Articles,” then “Prayer and Discernment.”)

• Sister Julie Vieira answers your vocation questions

(Link on

homepage.)

• Ask Alice Camille about Catholicism (Link on homepage.) • The Religious Life Timeline is a brief, illustrated, and downloadable look at religious life through the centuries. (Found under “Listings” and then “Resources.”)

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The Agony of Jesus in the Garden Jesus is Scourged Jesus is Crowned with Thorns Jesus Carries the Cross to Calvary The Crucifixion of Jesus Glorious Mysteries (Wednesdays and Sundays) The Glorious Resurrection of Jesus The Ascension of Jesus The Descent of the Holy Spirit The Assumption of Mary into Heaven The Coronation of Mary as Queen

the heart of the woman from Nazareth. Mary was the first to ponder the greatest events of salvation history. Through Mary’s eyes we reflect on these moments of joy, light, sorrow, and glory and can appreciate the rhythms of life in their sacred dimensions. Birth and death, joy and grief, expectation and loss are not only details of our humanity but mysteries connected to sin and grace. We

Luminous Mysteries (Thursdays) The Baptism of Jesus The Wedding at Cana The Proclamation of the Kingdom The Transfiguration of Jesus The Last Supper To begin: 1. Make the Sign of the Cross and say the Apostles’ Creed. 2. Say the Our Father. 3. Say three Hail Marys. 4. Say the Glory Be to the Father. 5. Announce the first mystery, then say the Our Father. 6. Say 10 Hail Marys while meditating on the mystery. 7. Say the Glory Be to the Father. 8. Announce the second mystery; then say the Our Father. Repeat 6 and 7 and continue with the third, fourth, and fifth mysteries in the same way. 9. Conclude with the Hail, Holy Queen prayer and the verse “Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God” and response “that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.”

get to reclaim all the hours of our experience as holy hours when we pass these simple beads through our hands. One objection onlookers have to the rosary is that it appears to be a magical device. Although a rosary may be blessed, Catholics attribute no magical power to its beads. The repetitions of prayers may sound like an incantation, but repetition is a

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feature, not a formula. So why do we say the same prayers over and over? Does saying something 10 times, or 50 times, make it more sincere? Ask Saint Peter, who after the resurrection was asked three times: “Simon, son of John, do you love

Mary is what we must become. She models our Christian vocation and shows us how discipleship is done. me?” (John 21:15-17). Peter needed to repeat his answer more than Jesus needed to hear it—he’d recently denied his friend and teacher that same number of times. If you’re quite sure you haven’t turned from grace 50 times, I’m sure one Hail Mary will suffice. Many of us would more likely go another time around those beads. Repetition is also liberating: It frees the mind to widen into the unconscious. Don’t you often think better when you’re doing some task you know by heart? Apart from the mechanics of it the rosary offers us a multiplication of ways to pray. It’s scripture meditation, petition, song of praise, and instruction on the faith all at once. Pope Pius XII called it a “compendium of the entire gospel,” tracing beliefs about the Incarnation, Epiphany, kingdom of God, Eucharist, Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection in jewel-like cameos. Cardinal John Henry Newman declared that the rosary provides us with a way of “holding in our hands

Fr. Joe Matteucig, sx 101 Summer St. Holliston, MA 01746 Phone: 508-429-2144 Email: pino.ma@gmail.com

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Do everything out of love for God, with God in order to come to God

all that we believe”—and it’s a whole lot easier to put a rosary in your pocket than, say, The Catechism of the Catholic Church! The most-repeated prayer of the rosary is the Hail Mary, which is part scripture—Hail Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb (Luke 1:28, 42)—and part supplication—Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Pope Paul VI emphasized how the Hail Mary hinges on the fatefully placed name of Jesus at its center of gravity. He compared the rosary to weaving cloth on a loom, identifying the Hail Mary as the warp upon which the mysteries of our faith are woven. Along with these mysteries we also weave our intentions, thoughts, imagination, emotions, and desire for union with Christ. That’s a tall order, which is why the rosary benefits from a lingering pace. Silence and vocal prayer are its alternating energies. If we race through it we miss the graced encounter that lurks between the beads. When teaching scripture, rabbis have noted, God speaks in the white space around each letter as much as in the words themselves. White space, or silence, is often where God offers a fresh response to our prayer.

The test of time

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Perhaps the most convincing evidence of the rosary’s success is its longevity in practice. In the Middle Ages a rosarium was the term for a collection of devotional readings, but praying on knotted strings had been

a poor person’s devotion 300 years earlier. At a time when few were literate but many wanted to share in the prayer of the monasteries that loomed above town, reciting 150 paternosters (Our Fathers) was as good as chanting 150 psalms as the monks did. Starting in the 13th century religious orders such as the Franciscans, Servites, Cistercians, and Dominicans promoted and expanded

Mary is the one who assures us that saying yes to God, fully and completely, is possible. the rosary. Its form remained fairly constant until the 20th century, when Father George Preca of Malta, recently canonized, offered a new set of mysteries on the public ministry of Jesus, including the Beatitudes. Admiring the innovation, Pope John Paul II chose to focus on five moments of “epiphany” in which Jesus revealed his divine origins and added the Proclamation of the Kingdom to Preca’s reflections to create the Luminous Mysteries. The rosary’s thoughtful and deliberate history demonstrates that this practice is hardly a theological sideshow in the life of the church. It incorporates the highlights of Christian scripture, doctrine, and liturgy in an entirely accessible prayer form that the humblest person can learn. Even a Doctor of the Church can benefit from its wisdom, as Saint

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Teresa of Avila did. Toward the end of her life, after the great revelations and ecstasies abandoned her, she focused on the spiritual benefits of one simple prayer: the Hail Mary.

Missionaries among the poor and abandoned. . .

A prayer for everyone Pope John Paul II suggested that the rosary, while composed of simple parts, is hardly simplistic. Contained in each drama of its decades is a contradiction: The joy of finding a child also implies the terror of losing one. Presenting a child to God means also surrendering him to his destiny. Christian joy, the pope wrote, is not uncomplicated nor does it imply freedom from care. Adopting the practice of the rosary prepares us for Christian life as a whole, in which mysteries of joy, light, sorrow, and glory often exchange places in short order. The rosary is a traditional prayer, yet its evolution suggests that it also contains much room to breathe in modern times. It can be prayed alone or with others. It is appropriate as family prayer, in preparation for Mass, or to console mourners at a wake service. Pope John Paul recommended it as a prayer for peace, based on the mystery of Christ who is our peace. A “rosary personality,” he suggested, is a witness against violence, injustice, arrogance, and intolerance in any form. “In turning our eyes to Jesus and Mary, we might regain the ability to look one another in the eye,” the pope said (Rosarium Virginis Mariae, 41). In which case praying the rosary isn’t only what traditional Catholics do. It’s what all Catholics might want to do more. =

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Is G od calling you? Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity

800.298.5602 • vocations@TrinityMissions.org www.MissionaryServantsVocations.org Enter #284 at VocationMatch.com

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being Catholic

Photo courtesy Saint Meinrad Archabbey

“Singing what we believe, we are privileged to let others access the tradition that has shaped and sustained us.” Staff and interns for Saint Meinrad’s One Bread, One Cup summer youth conference sing in the Saint Meinrad Archabbey Church during the ordination of Father Christian Raab, O.S.B.

Don’t keep from singing Why do we sing in church? A teacher of liturgy counts the ways.

Father Godfrey Mullen, O.S.B.

he Three Kings were coming to my parish on Epiphany, and I was to be the third king, singing my appropriate verse of the song named after the wise and holy trio. It was my first time to sing alone in front of a group.

Father Godfrey Mullen, O.S.B. is a Benedictine monk of St. Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, Indiana. Vice rector of Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology, he also teaches liturgy there and is interim manager of One Bread, One Cup, an annual liturgical conference for high school youth and campus and youth ministers.

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And I was petrified. “Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume / Breathes a life of gathering gloom; / Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, / Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.” What words for a sixth-grader to sing! But I remember them today, more than 30 years later. When I’m having a day that is less than perfect, I sometimes claim that myrrh again as mine. Those lyrics have stuck with me, partly because the melody was so memorable. In the church we have been given the gift of singing as a way of participating in the liturgy. In the church each member has been given a voice in order to raise a song of thanks and praise

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The Redemptorists

CONGREGATION OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER

How do I know?

To know more about a vocation as a Redemptorist priest or brother,

please visit our website: www.redemptorists.com. Enter #135 at VocationMatch.com

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to God each and every day. In the church singing provides the opportunity to welcome God’s presence and acclaim God’s power. In the church our singing opens for us a new way to remember God’s spoken Word and powerful consolation and God’s commands and hopes for us. We sing because God created us to sing, to God’s glory and honor. We sing precisely because singing reminds us of God’s Word. In 2007 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued their most recent document on liturgical music, titled Sing to the Lord: Music in Divine Worship. In it they ask: Why do we sing?

God is present

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What is your heart burning for? With our hearts on fire for God and God’s people we want to be prophetic witnesses of God’s love and kingdom among us. Could this also be your calling? Consider the

Sisters of St. Rita, O.S.A .

USA G ERMANY S WITZERLAND

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Augustinian Sisters of St. Rita

“When His people sing, God is present among them” (Sing to the Lord, no. 1). Having gathered in the name of the Trinity, we know God is present in our midst (Matthew 18:20). When we lend our voices to the communal voice of the church, we can be all the more certain that our singing acclaims the beauty of God. From the psalms of old to inspiring sacred music of our own time, we are given melodies and lyrics to sing so that God’s presence might rightly be acknowledged. We sing in gratitude for God’s everlasting presence.

Sing to spread faith “Singing makes the melodies of our faith accessible to others” (Sing, no. 2). Hum a few bars of “Jingle Bells” or “Happy Birthday” in a room full of people and watch the effect. The

CONTACT :

Sr. Angelica Summer, O.S.A. sr.angelica@sbcglobal.net TEL : 262/639-1766 WEBSITE : www.sistersofstrita.org EMAIL :

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happiness of our own hearts, the faith that wells up from our souls, the joy of our worship overflows from within us and spreads to those around us. Singing what we believe and, even more important, singing the Word of God handed on to us, we

We sing to spread the Word of God to others. are privileged to let others access the tradition that has shaped and sustained us. Music can become a wonderful tool for evangelization in each believer’s life, especially when music seems so pervasive in our culture. The message becomes more accessible to more people as they hear and remember some ancient truth of faith sung in a melody that touches them to the core. We sing to spread the Word of God to others.

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Sing for strength “This common, sung expression of faith within liturgical celebrations strengthens our faith when it grows weak and draws us into the divinely inspired voice of the church at prayer” (Sing, no. 5). The discipline of communal prayer, especially the Liturgy of the Hours, calls the Christian faithful to pray however they may feel. That discipline moves individuals to join the communal voice, transfiguring individual efforts by the light of the community’s praise of God. The Liturgy of the Hours is an-

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other opportunity for the one praying to remember the intentions of all the church but also the honor of speaking the Word of God for those who do not have the ability, the time, or the opportunity to pray the church’s public prayer. And so the commitment to this regular prayer can be a genuine sacrifice when it is difficult and can be an authentic source of strength when our faith or morale lags. We sing for strength when we are weak. We sing to support the harmonious voice of the Body of Christ.

Sing your faith in the Resurrection

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The basic melody of the liturgy is a “canticle of victory over sin and death” (Sing, no. 7). Not unlike the

Photo courtesy Saint Meinrad Archabbey

“In the church each member has been given a voice in order to raise a song of thanks and praise to God each and every day.” Guests sing in the Saint Meinrad Archabbey Church during the inauguration of President-Rector Father Denis Robinson, O.S.B.

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strengthening of weakened faith, the undying lyrics of the liturgy are the song of the Resurrection. Sung first by the women at the tomb and taken up later by the other disciples, the joy of Easter is sung in the hearts of Christian believers because life has conquered death, once and for all, yesterday, today, and forever. Regardless of the type or weight of the cross we may be carrying today, the paschal tune of hope plays through our living. We sing to inspire hope in the resurrection.

Sing to do God’s work “Charity, justice, and evangelization are the result of liturgical celebration” (Sing, no. 9). Just as singing is so central to the work of the church, it creates a memory that reminds us of an ethical commitment to life that Catholics have, particularly having celebrated the Eucharist. The liturgy,

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The joy of Easter is sung in the hearts of Christian believers because life has conquered death, once and for all, yesterday, today, and forever. the church’s source of all power and the summit toward which all its work is aimed, calls for music that creates memory for us. As our memory is shaped by our regular encounter with the Christian peace that we experience in the liturgy, it rises up within us when the decisions of daily living are less clear.

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What do you have to lose?

Come and experience a community of Benedictine monks, founded on an excellent liturgical tradition, who are seeking God and serving the Catholic Church.

Everything. www.saintmeinrad.edu

Office of Monastery Vocations 100 Hill Drive St. Meinrad, IN 47577 (812) 357-6611 vocations@saintmeinrad.edu www.saintmeinrad.edu

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We sing to remind ourselves of the light we’ve promised to live every time we go to Mass. Enter #261 at VocationMatch.com

We sing a memory of myrrh that refuses to end up only in the stable, on the cross, or in the grave but also in an empty tomb. We sing a memory of fearlessness when we join the psalm: “The Lord is my light and my salvation, of whom should I be afraid?” We sing a memory of stability when the words of the hymn spill out of us: “The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord.” And 134

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these memories stand as a clarion call to a life of charity and justice, the work of all Christ’s followers as we spread his gospel. We sing to remind ourselves of the light we’ve promised to live every time we go to Mass.

Why we sing In the end we are moved to song because God is present. We sing that

the faith might spread. We sing for our own strength and the strength of the church’s voice. We sing because of our faith in the Resurrection. We sing for accountability in the Christian life. We sing because God gave us mouths and voices, hearts and minds to remember God’s Word and words about God in the beautiful and memorable melodies of God’s beloved people. We sing to God. We sing for us. = VISION 2011

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A Positive influence in My life . . . “As A young girl i was blessed with a front-row seat to the best of all sisterhoods.” —Marlo ThoMas, acTress, on

caTholic sisTers

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Have more questions about catholicism and religious life? Check out these online resources at vocation-network.org: • Sixteen queStionS about church vocationS: Offers honest answers to your questions about priests, sisters, brothers, vows, sexuality, community life, and more. (Found under “Guide” then “Articles,” then “Prayer and Discernment.”)

• SiSter Julie vieira anSwerS your vocation queStionS

(Link on

homepage.)

• aSk alice camille about catholiciSm (Link on homepage.) • the religiouS life timeline is a brief, illustrated, and downloadable look at religious life through the centuries. (Found under “Listings” and then “Resources.”)

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www.nazarethcsfn.org Enter #155 at VocationMatch.com

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the art of discernment

Patrice Tuohy

Art by Sister Mary Southard, C.S.J. (center), (clockwise from upper left) Sister Patricia Reid, R.S.C.J., Sister Marguerite Niesen, P.H.J.C., Sister Maria Liebeck, D.C., Brother Cletus Behlmann, S.M., Sister Josephine Pate, C.S.J.P., Sister Clarice Steinfeldt, S.D.S.

Mysterious encounters

rt itself is an encounter with mystery, and as such it is inherently sacred. We approach mysterious art forms with trepidation, but as we contemplate them, we are stirred and often called—the art speaks to us, draws us in, inspires us to feel and act. This sense of call and connection is what leads to a vocation. Vocations take many forms. For some art becomes their vocation. For others marriage, priesthood, or religious life is their chosen path, and for still others, like the artist-religious featured in our story “Inspired images” on page 66, their commitment to their craft and to their vowed religious life are intertwined. Whatever form your vocation takes, it is essential that it be creative—that is, lifegiving and divinely inspired. Don’t settle for anything less. Take time to contemplate the mystery you encounter on each step of your life’s journey. Allow yourself to be stirred and drawn to the unknown. If you do, you will find yourself doing, seeing, and being in ways beyond your wildest imagination. Your life will become art, which is a sacred thing.

Patrice Tuohy is executive editor of VISION and co-publisher of TrueQuest Communications. 136

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org Men’s Religious Communities directory

Alexian Brothers (C.F.A.) “The love of Christ compels us” to dedicate our lives to care for sick, poor, dying, and marginalized people in our society in collaboration with others. Daily Eucharist, communal prayer and private prayer support us in our way of life. The foundation in the religious life of prayer and life in community sustains us in Christ’s healing mission. “Whatever you do for one of these least brothers of mine, you do for me.” (Mt 25:40) We provide health care services in a hospital network. We provide health care and housing services for older adults in a variety of settings: adult day care, P.A.C.E., assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and retirement communities. We provide transitional housing for people with AIDS. We have medical missions in the Philippines and Hungary. Director of Vocations: Br. Dan McCormick, C.F.A., 3040 W. Salt Creek Lane, Arlington Heights, IL 60005; 1-800-556-0332; e-mail: dmccormick@alexianbrothers.net; website: http://www.alexianbrothers.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 2. Code #141.

Augustinian Friars (O.S.A.)—Province of St. Joseph, Canada Augustinians in Canada minister to pilgrims and retreatants at the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace near Toronto. We also serve in four parishes in the Toronto and Vancouver archdioceses. Our province has traditionally fostered theological study and pastoral service in a setting of common life, liturgical celebration, and fraternal support. Vocation Director: Fr. Francis Galvan, O.S.A., Augustinian Monastery, P.O. Box 550, King City, Ontario, Canada; (905) 833-5368; e-mail: galvanfg@gmail.com. See ad on page 50. Code #207. Augustinian Friars (O.S.A.)—Province of St. Thomas of Villanova The Villanova Province consists of over 200 friars living in communities in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Florida, with missions in Japan, Peru, and South Africa. With two institutions of higher learning, three high schools, a retreat house, and a number of parishes along the East Coast, we friars are found in various types of ministries and settings, working with the People of God and striving to be united in mind and heart intent upon God, as St. Augustine challenges us. Vocation Director: Fr. Kevin DePrinzio, O.S.A., St. Thomas Monastery, 800 Lancaster Ave., Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085; (610) 519-7548; e-mail: vocations@augustinian.org; website: http:// www.augustinian.org. Latino inquirers please contact: Fr. Luis Madera, O.S.A., Casa Agustin, 16401 N.W. 37th Ave., Miami Gardens, FL 33054; e-mail: vocaciones@losagustinos.org. See ad on page 50. Code #207. Augustinian Friars (O.S.A.)—Western Province The Augustinians in the West are a small fraternity who work with and minister to both Anglo and Hispanic. No human being is a stranger to an Augustinian. We minister to youth at St. Augustine High in San Diego and Villanova Prep School in Ojai. We minister in seven parishes in Oregon and California. We serve the poor in Tijuana, Mexico, where we conduct an orphanage. We enjoy pioneering efforts and in the past two decades have established a high school in California’s Central Valley, a retreat center in Oregon, and low income housing for families in south San Diego. Vocation Director: Fr. Tom Whelan, O.S.A., 108 Cole St., San Francisco, CA 94117-1116; (415) 387-3626; e-mail: osacole@pacbell.net. See ad on page 50. Code #207. Augustinian Monks of the Primitive Observance

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Augustinians of the Assumption (A.A.)—The Assumptionists are an international Augustinian congregation in the spirit of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Since our foundation over 150 years ago, we have lived in “apostolic community,” balancing a common life where we strive to be brothers of one mind and one heart intent upon God and an active engagement in the world where we try, in the footsteps of our founder, Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon (see Wikipedia article), to address the modern ills of indifference, ignorance of the faith, and unbelief. We are a world-wide congregation of 1,000 religious located in 30 countries. We have acquired experience in, and a reputation for, education in all its forms, journalism, ecumenism, pilgrimages, foreign missions and popular evangelization, to name a few. Contact: Fr. John L. Franck, A.A., Emmanuel House, 512 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA 01609; (508) 767-7517; e-mail: jlfranck@aol.com; website: http://www.assumption.us. Code #328.

Barnabite Fathers and Brothers (C.R.S.P.) [Clerics Regular of St. Paul] The Barnabite Fathers, the Clerics Regular of St. Paul, inspired to follow the spirit of St. Paul by their founder, St. Anthony M. Zaccaria, profess solemnly the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and live in communities that, from our beginnings in 1530, have been characterized by an intense life of interior renewal, centered on Christ Crucified and on the Eucharist, by a remarkable communal spirit, and dedication to spiritual renewal whose true purpose is the genuine honor of Christ, genuine availability to one’s neighbor and profound humility. We serve in the United States, Canada, Asia, Europe, and South America in a variety of ministries including Spiritual Centers, parishes, Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, NY, education, and the missions. For information see our website: http://www. catholic-church.org/barnabites or contact Rev. Peter M. Calabrese, C.R.S.P., P.O. Box 167, Youngstown, NY 14174-0167; (716) 754-7489; e-mail: BarnabitesUSA@fatimashrine.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 102. Code #254. Basilian Monks (O.S.B.M.)—Exarchic Greek Abbey of St. Mary of Grottaferrata We constitute one Catholic Order of Byzantine-Greek Rite, established in 1004, fifty years before the separation between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Our ascetic life is based on the integral observance of the Holy Gospel according to the spirituality of the Holy Greek Fathers, transmitted to us especially by our Holy Founders Nilus and Bartholomew. Our days are organized around the Liturgy, personal prayer, and work: spiritual direction, maintenance of our monastic library open to the public, publication of periodicals and books, restoration of ancient books, teaching at our Monastery high school, monastic museum, and cultivating the earth. We are committed to service for the unity of Christians, particularly between Catholics and Orthodox, and we contribute to the dialogue with daily efforts in conversion, penance, asceticism and prayer. Our lives are animated by the desire to live and accomplish the prayer of Jesus to the Father “so that they may all be one.” God calls you. The Church needs you. Come join us! Fr. Antonio Costanza, O.S.B.M., Corso del Popolo, 128, I-00046 Grottaferrata (Rome) Italy; 0039.06.9459309; fax: 0039.06.9456734; e-mail: segreteria@ abbaziagreca.it; website: http://www.abbaziagreca.it/en. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #308. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Conception Abbey The simple existence of the monks of Conception Abbey is defined

in the order’s motto: Ora et Labora (“Pray and Work”). Conception monks gather six times a day for common prayer. Individual prayer, or Lectio Divina, is also an essential part of daily life. As members of the faculty of Conception Seminary College, the monks provide formation for young men pursuing a priestly vocation. The monks welcome guests to the abbey and offer a wide array of retreats, tours, and youth programs. They provide pastoral care in hospitals, convents, and parishes in four states, and spread the Gospel of the written word through their Printery House. The monks tend the abbey grounds and care for farmland and orchards. They are carpenters, historians, writers, scholars, teachers, musicians, and artisans. Fr. Benedict Neenan, O.S.B., P.O. Box 501, Conception, MO 64433; (660) 944-2859; fax: (660) 944-2800; e-mail: monks@conception. edu; website: http://www.conceptionabbey.org. Code #247. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Marmion Abbey We are Benedictine monks, priests and brothers in Christ, brought together by the Divine Call, sharing our lives and seeking God under the guidance of the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict and the inspiration of the Gospels. Our prayer, both personal and liturgical, is the most important aspect in our monastic life. The monks of Marmion Abbey have always been closely identified with education. The monks conduct an all-boys, college-prep, Catholic high school known as Marmion Academy. The monks continue to serve as administrators, teachers, chaplains, coaches, librarians, and support staff. Since 1965, Marmion Abbey has had a monastic foundation in Guatemala. Marmion’s priest-monks also provide pastoral assistance to the Catholic parishes of the local Church in Aurora. The monks of Marmion Abbey have been engaged in the work of farming, at our Abbey Farms. We invite you to enter into our school for the Lord’s Service. Br. Martin de Porres Gardiner, O.S.B., 850 Butterfield Rd., Aurora, IL 60502; (630) 897-7215 ext. 341; e-mail: vocations@marmion.org; website: http://marmionvocations.org Code #355 Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Mount Angel Abbey Mount Angel Abbey in Saint Benedict, Oregon, is a community of 59 priests and brothers, living and working together according to the Rule of St. Benedict. We are pastors, scholars, teachers, artists, artisans, and skilled and unskilled laborers. We range in age from 23 to 94 years old. Our primary apostolate is the monastic life of prayer and work. Since 1889 we have operated Mount Angel Seminary; the largest College and Graduate Seminary in the Western United States training men for the diocesan and religious priesthood. Our Abbey Library is a world-class architectural structure with an outstanding collection available to our monks, students and the general public. Our guest house hosts and sponsors retreats for groups and individuals. Monastic Discernment Retreats are held quarterly. Contact Fr. Odo Recker, O.S.B., Mount Angel Abbey, One Abbey Drive, Saint Benedict, OR 97373; (503) 845-3123; e-mail: abbeyvocation@ mountangelabbey.org; website: www.mountangelabbey.org. See ad on page 83. Code #365.

Men’s communities

Augustinian Friars (O.S.A.)—Midwest Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel The Augustinians are called to deepen their interior life through prayer and respond in service to the needs of the church. Our service to the church is nurtured by a commitment to individual and communal prayer and a dedication to build community among our members, as well as within our apostolates. Like Augustine, we believe God is at the very core of the human heart, and we strive to be “one mind, one heart” in God. The Midwest Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel has 100 priests and brothers involved in a variety of work. Our apostolates include (and are not limited to) work in parishes, high schools, universities, hospitals, retreats, and foreign missions. Vocation Office, 7740 S. Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60620; (773) 776-3044; e-mail: vocations@midwestaugustinians.org. See ad on page 50. Code #207.

(O. S.A.prim.)—When God calls, He desires an open ear, a willing heart, and courage and grace to obey! For those the Lord is calling to the Augustinian Monks our prayer is the prayer of Pope John Paul II on the 1650th anniversary of St. Augustine’s birth, November 14, 2004: “Give them the courage to undertake the path toward that ‘interior man’ where the One awaits who alone can give peace to our restless hearts.” We are a Roman Catholic monastic contemplative community of men, captivated by the love and mercy of the Lord, who revere His Church, its teachings and liturgy, following the footsteps of St. Augustine in finding the awesome friendship of God, the eternal Truth, through living a life in community with our brothers. Augustinian Monks of the Primitive Observance, 2075 Mercers Fernery Rd., DeLand, FL 32720; (386) 736-4321; e-mail: monks@augustinianmonks.com; website: http://www. augustinianmonks.com. Code #020.

Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Mount Saviour Monastery Mount Saviour is a small contemplative community of men seeking God together through an ever more complete availability to God. That “in all things God may be glorified” we strive to witness to God’s presence in the world by living a simple, genuine and full monastic life through a harmonious balance of prayer, study, work, hospitality and leisure. We support ourselves by work within the enclosure of the monastery. Our location is rural and picturesque and provides a peaceful environment that encourages us to listen for the voice of God. To men who believe seeking God to be primary in their lives— come join our family. For more information, to arrange a visit, or for a free copy of our documentary “The Everyday” contact: Vocation Director, Mount Saviour Monastery, 231 Monastery Rd., Pine City, NY 14871; (607) 734-1688; e-mail: vocations@ msaviour.org; website: http://www.msaviour.org. Code #217. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Newark Abbey What are Monks doing in the City? The Benedictine Monks of Newark Abbey have been in the center of Newark, New Jersey since 1857. Living in community according to the Rule of St. Benedict. We follow a daily schedule that balances prayer and work. We serve the people of God through our ministries in Saint Benedict’s Preparatory School, Saint Mary’s School, and Saint Mary’s Parish. We offer assistance to local parishes, chaplaincies in hospitals and colleges/universities. So why don’t you

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priests

A taste for diversity and dialogue Father Tinh van nguyen, S.V.D. Father Tinh Van Nguyen, S.V.D. took a chance when he entered seminary several years ago. But risks were nothing new for him, having tried his hand at everything from flying planes (during a stint in the U.S. Navy) to commercial fishing to brokering deals for a painting company. “Religious life is a way of life for me now,” he says. COMMUNITY: Society of the Divine Word FAVORITE WAY TO PRAY: Sitting in solitude and complete silence. BEST PART OF LIVING IN COMMUNITY: I get to see friends from China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Mexico, Brazil. . . . We have a great mix of people, and community is a great place to meet people and make friends for life. NICKNAME: Tinman ADVICE FOR THOSE CONSIDERING RELIGIOUS LIFE: I had three wonderful friends who walked with me prior to entering religious life and helped me decipher the messages in my head. You need someone to guide you—talk to someone such as a vocation director.

Photo by Lloyd Degrane

WHAT I DO FOR FUN: I love boating, jet skiing, scuba diving. And I love to tweak high-performance Japanese engines and cars at auto mechanic shops. MOST EXCITING ASPECT OF MISSION: I’m really drawn to ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. I like to ask: What does God look like on the other side of town?

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org come live the Rule of St. Benedict with us! Men ages 21-35 may contact the Vocation Director, Br. Patrick Winbush, O.S.B., Newark Abbey, 528 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd., Newark, NJ 07102; (973) 792-5772; e-mail: vocations@sbp.org; website: http://www.newarkabbey.org. See ad on page 124. Code #182. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Anselm’s Abbey Set in its peaceful 40 acres in northeast Washington, DC, St. Anselm’s is a community of men dedicated to seeking God in prayer, work, and living a communal life under the Rule of St. Benedict and an abbot. Central to the common life are praying the Divine Office in choir and personal prayer, so “that nothing be preferred to Christ”; and manual and scholarly work, so “that in all things God may be glorified.” The monks share their life with others by teaching in the Abbey school—on site with 250 male students in grades six through twelve—and at the nearby Catholic University; in offering hospitality, spiritual direction, and giving retreats; in chaplaincies and parish assistance. St. Benedict insists in his Rule that newcomers be warned of the hardships monastic life entails, and that the beginning is bound to be difficult. But he promises that fidelity to the discipline of the monastic life will lead to “hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love.” Contact: Vocation Director, St. Anselm’s Abbey, 4501 S. Dakota Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20017; (202) 269-2335; e-mail: vocations@stanselms.org; website: http://vocations.stanselms.org. Code #204.

Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Gregory’s Abbey St. Gregory’s Abbey, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, is a community of 28 priests and brothers, living and working and praying together according to the Rule of St. Benedict. Our French founders established the Catholic Church in what eventually became Oklahoma. Over the years we have responded to be of service to the still mission Church of Oklahoma and continue to serve as a spiritual resource in the state. Today our main apostolates are St. Gregory’s University, a liberal arts college striving to educate our students in the Catholic tradition, and the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art. Monks help to carry out the activities of the monastery, from retreats and management and formation to groundskeeping and health care for our own members. Community members also serve in parishes and in programs for the handicapped. Contact: Fr. Charles Buckley, O.S.B., St. Gregory’s Abbey, 1900 W. MacArthur St., Shawnee, OK 74804; (405) 878-5462; e-mail: vocations@stgregorys.edu; website: http://www.monksok.org. Code #349. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint John’s Abbey Saint John’s Abbey is a Benedictine monastery of 150 monks; living, praying, and working together amid 2600 acres of woods, lakes and prairies in central Minnesota. Our Apostolates include: Spiritual Retreats, Woodworking, Saint John’s University, School of Theology, Preparatory School, Liturgical Press, Hill Museum and Manuscript Library, Saint John’s Bible and the Arboretum. We live a life steeped in a rhythm of prayer and work. In addition to private prayer, five times a day we gather for common prayer, including daily Eucharist. Our work varies depending upon the interests and talents of each monk. Through a balance of work and prayer, living in community and following the Rule of Saint Benedict a personal vocation is realized and fostered; helping to motivate the individual as well as the community to a greater unity as brothers in Christ and a more intimate and meaningful relationship with God. See our

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enter #177 at VocationMatch.com website for details: http://www.abbeyvocations.com. Brother Paul-Vincent Niebauer, O.S.B., Vocation Director, Saint John’s Abbey, Box 2015, Collegeville, MN 56321; (320) 363-2548; email: vocations@osb.com. Preferred age for monk candidates: 23-40. Education: high-school diploma, minimum. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 100. Code #132. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Louis Abbey The monks of Saint Louis Abbey continue the English Benedictine Congregation’s centuries-long tradition of blending monastic prayer with apostolic work. This tradition came to Saint Louis, MO in 1955, when the first three English monks founded a monastery and soon thereafter a school for very talented young men. This year the community of about thirty includes some of those founders, some additional English monks, and many Americans of various ages. As for the prayer life, the monks offer God praise daily through the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, five communal offices (including Latin Vespers for Saturdays, Sundays, and solemnities), private lectio divina, and private meditation. As for the work, about 15 monks work in the abbey’s 400-student high school, two monks run its 1000-family parish, and one monk serves as the Rector for a small but growing Latin oratory. All of these apostolates occur on the abbey’s 150-acre suburban campus. The monks are required to wear their habits most of the time. Vocation Director, 500 S. Mason, Creve Couer, MO 63141; (314) 434-3690 ext. 362; e-mail: brjohn@priory.org; website: http://www.stlouisabbey.org. Code #332. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Mary’s Abbey Maybe your place in God’s plan is our place, Saint Mary’s Abbey at Delbarton. Located in the hills of Morris County, NJ, our community of 45 monks seeks God by personal and communal prayer, and a variety of ministries. We are teachers and administrators at a preparatory school for boys and preachers and counselors at our retreat center. We serve as chaplains at local colleges and pastors in area parishes. We invite men (ages 20-45, college graduate or equivalent in life experience) to share our vision. Click on our website for up-to-date vocation and discernment retreat information. Vocation Director, 230

Mendham Road, Morristown, New Jersey 07960-4899; (973) 538-3231, ext. 2111; e-mail: vocations@delbarton.org; website: http://www.osbmonks.org. See ad on page 118. Code #088. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Meinrad Archabbey Saint Meinrad Archabbey is a Roman Catholic monastery located in rural southern Indiana, where the 1,500-year Benedictine tradition continues on American soil. Monks live a common life of shared work and prayer, according to the Rule of St. Benedict. They live lives set apart, seeking God in word and sacrament; and lives for others, serving the Church through prayer and mission. As their founding apostolate, the monks operate a seminary for the formation of priests, permanent deacons and lay ministers, and offer pastoral assistance to local parishes. Other works include a retreat center, an oblate program, Abbey Press and Abbey Caskets. Saint Meinrad is a spiritual center for many people of faith. It is a place where prayer shapes life and nurtures outreach. Perhaps you would like to become a part of us and what we do! A formal comeand-see experience, “A Monastic Observance,” is scheduled each year, December 26-Jan. 1. Visits can also be arranged at other times, with accommodations in the Guest House and Retreat Center. Office of Monastery Vocations, 100 Hill Drive, St. Meinrad, IN 47577; (812) 357-6611; e-mail: vocations@ saintmeinrad.edu; website: http://www.saintmeinrad.edu. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 134. Code #014.

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Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Bernard Abbey St. Bernard Abbey is a vibrant and spirited monastic community that follows the 1,500-year Benedictine tradition of “Ora et Labora” (Prayer and Work). Our ministries include: education, hospitality, parish ministry and spiritual retreats. By our very monastic lives, we seek to convey the way of Jesus through simplicity, humility, obedience, and service to each other and the local and regional community. Established in 1891, in the picturesque Appalachian foothills of northern Alabama. Today, well over a century later, St. Bernard Abbey combines its contemplative prayer with its ministerial apostolates. If you are between the ages of 18-45, you are welcome to visit as you discern your vocation to religious life. St. Bernard sponsors three “Come and See” vocation discernment retreats a year; please refer to our web page for further information about our retreats. You may also contact our Vocation Director, Br. Jacob Amos, O.S.B., or one of the Assistant Directors, (256) 734-8291, ext. 7137. Our e-mail: stbernardmonastery@yahoo.com; website: http://www.stbernardabbey.com, or you may contact Br. Jacob direct: (256) 255-5828, or e-mail: brjacobosb@yahoo.com Code #248.

Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Vincent Archabbey From a Benedictine monastery in Bavaria came the founder of the first Benedictine monastery in the United States. The name of this German monk was Boniface Wimmer. In the year 1846, Wimmer and a humble group of followers settled among the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in southwestern Pennsylvania. This was the beginning of Saint Vincent Archabbey. Today we are a community of nearly 165 monks living, praying, and working together under the Rule of Saint Benedict. Our community’s education apostolate includes a college, seminary, and high school. Our parochial ministry involves parishes in the following dioceses: Archdiocese of Baltimore, in Maryland; the Pennsylvania Dioceses of Altoona-

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Who will give cancer-stricken kids a summer they’ll always remember? Ben Consigli will. He’s a Marist Brother. Brother Ben Consigli, F.M.S., is a Marist Brother who has taught in Marist schools and is now Provincial, USA Province. To explore vocations or learn more about The Marist Brothers visit www.maristbr.com.

Real brothers. Real stories. A real difference. 1241 Kennedy Blvd., Bayonne, NJ 07002 • (201) 823-1115 • www.maristbr.com enter #298 at VocationMatch.com

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Johnstown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh; the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia; and the Diocese of Savannah, Georgia. Members of our community also serve as chaplains to the local hospitals and prison. Saint Vincent also has foreign missions (priories) in Taipei, Taiwan and Vinhedo, Brazil. For information contact: Vocation Director, Saint Vincent Archabbey, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650-2690; (724) 532-6655; e-mail: vocations@stvincent.edu; websites http://www.stvincentmonks.com or http://www.svamonks.org. See ad on page 141. Code #243. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Subiaco Abbey, responding to a divine call to monastic life in Subiaco, Arkansas. Brothers and priests of this abbey form a community of committed men who never let a day go by without celebrating Mass and Liturgy of the Hours together. From their prayer life, everything else revolves and evolves. The abbey sponsors an academic academy for young men pursuing secondary education on the abbey’s 1,200 acre campus. Some monks serve as teachers and mentors. Others live out the Benedictine motto “pray and work” in parish ministry or as chaplains, conducting retreats and providing welcoming Benedictine hospitality. Still others fill a myriad of valuable works in the monastery, including but not limited to—carpentry, maintenance, farming, tending vineyards, laundry, grounds beautification and tailoring. For more information or to arrange an up-close-and-personal look at Subiaco Abbey, contact Brother Francis Kirchner, O.S.B., 405 N. Subiaco Ave., Subiaco, AR 72865; 479-934-1047; e-mail: brfrancis@subi.org; website: http://www.subi.org. Code #256. Brothers of Charity The Brothers of Charity, an international congregation of religious brothers, inspired by their Belgian founder, Servant of God, Rev. Peter Joseph Triest, and motivated by the spirituality of Saint Vincent de Paul their Patron, passionately live their vocation, charism, and mission as a community of brothers for those in need of a brother. Believing in the value of all human beings however disfigured by their miserable condition, the brothers strive to reach them through the Love of God in the hope they may experience the joy of the Resurrection. With headquarters in Rome, the congregation of nearly 600 brothers, 150 associate members and thousands of co-workers render compassionate and professional assistance to those who least expect it in 30 countries and four continents. Our charitable works include ministry with mentally ill, deaf, physically and developmentally disabled, homeless, AIDS, drug and alcohol dependent, psychologically distressed, mobile health clinics, and the full spectrum of childhood education. Contact: Br. John FitzGerald, 7720 Doe Lane, Laverock, PA 19038; (215) 887-6361; e-mail: jfitzfc@aol.com or Br. Donald Joyal, 1359 Monroe St., NE, Washington, DC 20017; (202) 636-4306; e-mail: donald.joyal.fc@fracarita.org; website: http://www.brothersofcharity.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. Code #342. Brothers of Christian Instruction (F.I.C.) Our community of Brothers was founded to “make Jesus Christ known” according to Fathers John de La Mennais and Gabriel Deshayes who established the congregation at Saint Brieuc, Brittany, France in 1819. Today, with nearly 900 members in 24 countries, the Brothers’ educational mission is primarily as teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators in Catholic high schools

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and colleges. Brothers may also minister as retreat directors, spiritual directors and counselors, pastoral associates, and in foreign missions especially in East Africa, Japan, and the Philippines. In the United States Brothers are called to live a simple, prayerful, community lifestyle in Alfred, ME, Fall River, MA, Plattsburgh, NY, and at Walsh University, North Canton, OH. Single, Catholic men seeking to become Brothers and those interested in Associate membership should contact: Bro. Guy Roddy, 2020 East Maple St., North Canton, OH 44720; (330) 490-7064; e-mail: ficbros@yahoo.com; website: http://www. ficbrothers.org. See ad on page 147. Code #206. The Brothers of the Christian Schools (F.S.C.) Founded by St. John Baptist de La Salle in 17th-century France, The Christian Brothers have more than 5,000 members in the world as elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers, university professors, counselors, missionaries, social workers, youth ministers, campus ministers, administrators, and retreat directors. In the United States and English-speaking Canada, approximately 800 Brothers serve in one of four provinces. Energetic, generous, and committed men are invited to live and to share the educational challenges of bringing Christ’s Gospel message to youth of all backgrounds, including the marginalized and those in need. Vocation Director, Christian Brothers Conference, Hecker Center, Suite 300, 3025 4th Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20017; (202) 529-0047; e-mail: rschieler@ cbconf.org; website: http://www.brothersvocation.org. Code #100. Brothers of the Sacred Heart (S.C.) “A call to be a Brother is a vocation to be the living, human memory of Jesus.” The Brothers of the Sacred Heart are a religious congregation of men who were founded in Lyon, France in 1821. Their mission is the evangelization of young people who are poor and without hope. Ministries include: teacher, campus minister, social worker, counselor, administrator, parish ministry, nursing, retreat director, youth minister, coach, home and foreign missionary. Today the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in the United States work in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arizona, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and England. Visit our website at: Brothers of the Sacred Heart, http://www.brothersofthesacredheart.org. Br. Chris Sweeney, SC, (504) 352-9940; e-mail: brochris66@hotmail.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 102. Code #203.

Capuchin Franciscan Friars (O.F.M. Cap.) The Capuchins are a distinctive Order within the Franciscan family. They are an evangelical brotherhood of men who preach, serve the physically and spiritually poor, teach, administer the sacraments, cook, and counsel in various settings in North America. Some friars are also missionaries in Africa, Asia, Central America, and the South Pacific. There are approximately 11,000 Capuchin friars worldwide, with about 800 of those living within nine provinces throughout Canada and the U.S. For more information contact the Capuchin Vocation Office nearest you. California: P.O. Box 618, Solvang, CA 934640618, (805) 686-4127, e-mail: vocations@olacapuchins.org, website: http://www.olacapuchins.org. Colorado: (303) 9811111, e-mail: vocations@capuchins.org, website: http://www. capuchins.org. Pennsylvania: (888) 263-6227, e-mail: brtom@

capuchin.com, website: http//www.capuchin.com. Midwest USA: (773) 475-6206, e-mail: vocation@capuchinfranciscans. org, website: http://www. capuchinfranciscans.org. New York/ New England: (212) 567-1300, e-mail: brotimjones@yahoo. com, website: http://www.capuchin.org/vocations. New Jersey/ Southeast USA: (201) 863-3871, e-mail: capuchinlife@aol. com, website: http//www.capuchinfriars.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 121. Code #091. Carmelite Friars (O. Carm.)—St. Elias Province Carmelite Friars are consecrated religious men who seek the face of God. Following after the great Prophet Elijah, the Carmelite Friars hear God’s voice and respond. Founded as one of the first religious orders to be named after the Blessed Virgin Mary, we carry on the 800 year tradition of prayer, brotherhood, and work. While the types of work vary, Carmelites are firmly rooted in the presence of God. Our saints give heavenly witness to the many blessings God has bestowed on the Order of Carmelites. Contact Brother Robert E. Bathe, O.Carm, P.O. Box 3079, Middletown, NY 10940; (845) 344-2225; e-mail: vocation@ carmelitefriars.org; website: http://www.carmelitefriars.org. Code #307. Carmelites (O. Carm.)—Most Pure Heart of Mary Province Carmelites strive to live in God’s presence, “in allegiance to Jesus Christ,” through prayer, community, and ministry. We are engaged in various apostolic ministries to serve the Church, including a wide range of educational, parochial, and spiritual opportunities. We are teachers, pastors, campus ministers, chaplains, counselors, retreat directors, authors, missionaries, and spiritual directors. Members of our Carmelite Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary serve in many dioceses and archdioceses throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Peru. For more information about the Carmelites, please contact Fr. Sam Citero, O.Carm., Director of Vocations, 1600 Webster St., NE, Washington, DC 20017; (202) 526-1221 ext. 109; e-mail: frsam@carmelites.net; website: http://www. carmelites.net. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 113. Code #112. Claretian Missionaries (C.M.F.) [Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary] The Claretians are a Roman Catholic community of priests and brothers dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Jesus in more than 60 countries. Our ministries are devoted to social concerns and issues of justice and peace in parishes, foreign missions, and publishing. We reach out to young people in the inner city and on college campuses. We also serve as doctors, teachers, parish priests, and in many other roles. The Claretians were founded by St. Anthony Claret, who embodied the special charisms of community, mission, evangelization, and spirituality. Contact: Mario Delgado, Vocation Director, Eastern Province, 205 W. Monroe Street, Room 3001, Chicago, IL 60606; (312) 236-7846; e-mail: vocations3001@claretians. org; website: http://www.claretianvocations.org. Code #092. Comboni Missionaries (M.C.C.J.) Over 4,000 priests, brothers, sisters and lay missionaries in 41 countries around the world, this institute focuses on those St. Daniel Comboni loved as “the poorest and most abandoned people in the world.” In Africa, the Americas, and Asia, their apostolic work consists of evangelization—quite often first evangelization—empowering people in the process of ministering to their own needs within the religious and the broader human contexts. In North America, the priests and brothers do ministry among the poor in New Jersey, Ohio, California, Illinois, and Ontario. The sisters work among the poor in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania and Illinois. Persons interested in checking out vocational opportunities for Comboni priests, brothers, sisters or lay missionaries can use the contact information that follows; their inquiries will be directed as appropriate. North American Province, 1318 Nagel Road, Cincinnati, OH 54255; (513) 474-4997; e-mail: info@ComboniMissionaries. org; or Fr. Angel Camorlinga, (708) 354-1999; e-mail: angelcamorlinga@yahoo.com; Fr. David Bohnsack, (773) 480-2522; e-mail: revdavemccj@gmail.com; Fr. Manuel Baeza, (626) 339-6732; e-mail: joebg7@yahoo.com; Fr. John Converset; (973) 685-6338; e-mail: abuna_1@yahoo.com; website: http:// www.ComboniMissionaries.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 107. Code #123. Congregation of Christian Brothers (C.F.C.) We seek Catholic men to join with us; men who sense a call to live in prayerful community and who wish to minister in the educational apostolates of the Church, especially to youth.

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org We are seeking men with the religious inspiration and dedication necessary to place their gifts, talents, and possessions to meet the needs of God’s people. Brothers serve in elementary and secondary schools, and colleges; are involved in Youth Ministry; conduct missionary work around the world; provide education services for adults; bring their talents and skills to assist parish and diocesan ministries; give material support to and teach migrant farm workers; minister at hospitals, with the homeless, and offer services to refugees. Are you called to serve others as an Edmund Rice Christian Brother? Br. James R. McDonald, C.F.C., 10001 S. Pulaski Rd., Room 111, Chicago, IL 60655-3356; (773) 429-4496; e-mail: bromaccfc@yahoo. com; website: http://www.edmundricebrothers.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 51. Code #095.

We live with the risen crucified Lord transforming us in body, mind, and spirit to be witnesses of His risen life and new creation. Our religious habit, marked with the red and white cross, reminds us daily of our oneness with Christ as cross-bearers. The Rule of Augustine guides us in fraternal life as we help one another to live the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and to serve others. We invite you to consider Crosier religious life. We are an international Order founded in Belgium in 1210 and headquartered in Rome. We have U.S. communities in Onamia, Minnesota and Phoenix, Arizona. Contact: Fr. Dave Donnay, O.S.C. or Fr. Charlie Kunkel, O.S.C.; 4332 N. 24th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016; (800) 407-5875; e-mail: vocations@ crosier.org; website: http://www.crosier.org. Code #099.

Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.) The Congregation of Holy Cross was founded in post-revolutionary France in 1837. Blessed Basil Moreau, a priest of the diocese of LeMans, France, began a community of priests, brothers and sisters, to educate the children of LeMans and to assist in the diocese as auxiliary priests. In just four years, Blessed Basil sent seven brothers and a priest to the United States as missionaries. A year later in 1842 these men began the school in northern Indiana that was eventually to become the University of Notre Dame. Since then, the priests and brothers have begun five other institutions of higher learning: St. Edward’s University (Austin, TX), the University of Portland (Portland, OR), King’s College (Wilkes-Barre, PA), Stonehill College (North Easton, MA), and Holy Cross College (Notre Dame, IN) and many high schools. Today, Holy Cross religious serve in parishes, schools, and missions in 15 countries around the world from North and South America to Africa, Asia, Europe and Haiti. To learn more visit us at http://www.holycrosscongregation.org. For further information about a brothers’ vocation, contact: Br. Jonathan Beebe, C.S.C. at holycrossvocations@earthlink. net or visit their website at http://www.holycrossbrothers.org. Those interested in priesthood, contact: Fr. James Gallagher, C.S.C. at vocation.1@nd.edu or visit their website at http:// holycrossvocations.org. See ad on page 19. Code #097.

Divine Word Missionaries (S.V.D.) As Divine Word Missionary priests and brothers, we are men of prayer and faith, serving where the Gospel has not yet been preached, or where the local church is not yet viable. Each of us is involved in a particular, unique ministry as we spread the Word of God. There are over 6,000 of us ministering in over 70 countries worldwide. As one of the largest international missionary congregations in the Catholic Church, we believe that His Mission is our Mission. Our steady growth is a result of our response to the changing needs of the Church and the people we serve. Internationalism, education and professional skills are the foundations of our society. We offer five formation programs: Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa; an Associate Program for college graduates; Brother Formation Program; our Novitiate is in Techny, Illinois; and Divine Word Theologate in Chicago. For more information, contact: Vocation Director, Divine Word Missionaries, P.O. Box 380, Epworth, IA 52045; 800-5533321; e-mail: svdvocations@dwci.edu; website: http://www. svdvocations.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 139. Code #177.

Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata (C.S.S.) Stigmatine Priests and Brothers belong to an international community headquartered in Rome, with houses in the U.S., Italy, England, German, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Botswana, Brazil Paraguay, Chile, India, Georgia (Russia), the Philippines, and Thailand. St. Gaspar Bertoni founded in 1816 and entrusted the Congregation to the protection and patronage of Mary and Joseph, the Holy Spouses, because their marriage prepared, welcomed, and educated the mission of the Son of God. CSS motto, “Euntes Docete” is Latin for “Go Forth and Teach.” Apostolic work: seminary formation, spiritual direction, counseling, retreats, campus/youth/parish ministry, voluntary foreign missions, parish missions. Stigmatine formation offers a customized academic program based on individual background, but maintains a common character by the quest to unity in life through contemplation and apostolic activity, shared fraternity, dedication to work, quest for excellence, coupled with humility. Men ages 18-45 are invited to contact Fr. Geoff Deeker, N.A. Province, 554 Lexington St., Waltham, MA 02452-3097; e-mail: geoffd@stigmatines.com; website: http://www.stigmatines.com. See ad on page 133. Code #046. Crosier Fathers and Brothers (O.S.C.) For 800 years we Crosiers have marked each day celebrating the Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharist as a community of priests and brothers.

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The Dominicans (O.P.) [Order of Preachers] Pope John Paul II, when he received the General Council of the Dominicans in his private library, told them: “Only those who have the experience of God can speak of him convincingly to others. At the school of Saint Dominic and of all the Dominican saints, you are called to be teachers of truth and of holiness.” Dominic de Guzman (1170-1221) was on fire with the love of God when he found the Order of Preachers (the Dominicans) and gathered around him a group of men dedicated to preaching the truth of God’s endless love. Since that time Dominicans have continued their legacy of preaching in any given time or place, and in the most effective and suitable ways, the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Feel free to contact any of the four geographic Provinces for more information: Central United States, St. Albert the Great Province; e-mail: wisdomop@yahoo.com; (312) 243-0011 ext. 725; website: http://www.domcentral. org. Eastern United States, St. Joseph Province; e-mail: vocations@dominicanfriars.org; (800) 529-1205; website: http://www.dominicanfriars.org. Western United States, The Most Holy Name of Jesus Province; e-mail: vocations@ opwest.org; (510) 596-1821; website: http://www.opwest.org. Southern United States, St. Martin de Porres Province, email: frdavid@dominicanvocations.com; (504) 837-2129 ext. 29; website: http://www.dominicanvocations.com. See ad on page 34. Code #228.

Edmundite Fathers and Brothers (S.S.E.) [Society of St. Edmund] The Society of St. Edmund is a clerical religious congregation of pontifical right dedicated to evangelization whose priests and brothers share a common life and profess the public vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. It was the original purpose of the Society to work for the glory of God and the salvation of neighbor through preaching. By preaching we understand both the witness of our common and personal pursuit of holiness and the service of the Gospel. Fr. Stanley Deresienski, SSE, Vocation Director,, 270 Winooski Park, Colchester, VT 05439; (802) 654-2273; Fax: (802) 654-3409; e-mail: sderesienski@smcvt.edu; website: http://www.sse.org. See ad on page 14. Code #119.

Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn (O.S.F.) The Religious Brothers of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, known as the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, were founded in 1858 in Brooklyn, NY, USA. We are a Community of all Brothers living in the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Our evangelical Franciscan life is composed of prayer, community life, and apostolic work meeting the needs of God’s people,

www.stvincentmonks.com www.svamonks.org

Enter #243 at VocationMatch.com mostly through secondary and higher education as well as other service apostolates. The religious habit, worn by the Brothers consists of a simple black tunic and capuche and girded at the waist with a white cord with three knots at the right. From the cord on the left is suspended the Franciscan Crown (seven decade rosary). Initial Formation consists of at least one year of Candidacy, one year of Canonical Novitiate, three years of Temporary Vows after which Perpetual Vows are taken. For more information contact the Vocation Director: Brother Louis Miritello, OSF; e-mail: LMiritello@sfponline. org; (631) 418-8522; website: http://www.franciscanbrothers. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #102.

Men’s communities

Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (S.S.C.C.) The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary consists of priests, brothers and sisters. We also have a secular branch of affiliated lay people. Our Gospel lifestyle is centered in Eucharistic celebration and adoration, in living communally with a family spirit, and in apostolic service to the poor and unevangelized. Our members strive to contemplate, live and proclaim God’s love, symbolized by the joined Hearts of Jesus and Mary surrounded by a crown of thorns. Like those hearts, we are united in suffering and in joy. Saint Damien of Molokai is our most famous missionary, known for his service to victims of Hansen’s Disease (leprosy). Serving them cost him his life, making him our icon of Christ and inspiring us to live with the same human compassion and religious zeal for our faith. Contact: Fr. Richard Lifrak, P.O. Box 111, Fairhaven, MA 02719; (508) 993-2442 ext. 0; e-mail: frlifrak@sscc.org; website:; http://www.sscc.org. See ad on page 103. Code #230.

Franciscan Brothers of Peace (F.B.P.) We are a group of strongly Pro-Life Religious Brothers dedicated to giving our lives for love of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Catholic Church, striving to live a life of prayer and repentance. We live, pray, and minister together as Brothers, and live solely on Divine Providence. We are committed to living and proclaiming The Gospel of Life, devoting ourselves to serving and defending the most vulnerable of our society: the pre-born child, the severely disabled, the poor, and the homeless. We were founded by faithful Catholic young men who began a common life together in 1982, with Brother Michael Gaworski emerging as the founder of what would become the first Religious Brotherhood established in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, under the authority of its archbishop. We invite men, age 18-35, to contact us for more information. Br. Joseph Katzmarek, fbp, Queen of Peace Friary, 1289 LaFond Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55104-2035; (651) 646-8586; e-mail: vocation@brothersofpeace.org; webiste: http://www. brothersofpeace.org. Code #006 Franciscan Friars (O.F.M.)—Province of the Immaculate Conception The Province of the Immaculate Conception began in 1855 when Friar Panfilo da Magliano came from Italy to minister to Catholics in Upstate New York. He founded St. Bonaventure University, two Provinces and three groups of women religious, and his brothers spread throughout New York

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org emphasis on giving a voice to the marginalized in our society. See our website (www.franciscan.org) for more information. Or contact our Vocation Director, Fr. Don Miller, O.F.M. at (513) 542-1082, at sjbvocations@franciscan.org, or at Vocation Office, 5000 Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45223-1213. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #233.

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and New England to spread the Good News. Today, faithful to the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, we minister in New York, New England, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Florida, Toronto, Canada; and our mission in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala administering parishes, schools, retreat centers, reaching out to the poor, and anywhere that God leads us. If you are between the ages of 18-38 and would like to explore the possibility of a life with us contact our Vocation Office at 800-521-5442; or vocations@icprovince.org. Visit our website: www.liveradically.org. See ad on page 82. Code #370. Franciscan Friars (O.F.M.)—Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus Holy Name Province is the largest community of Franciscan friars in the United States. An evangelical and missionary fraternity of more than 350 men, we serve the people of God in a wide variety of ministries—colleges, parishes, urban ministry centers, and social outreach—along the East Coast as well as in foreign countries. Rooted in the Catholic and Franciscan tradition, we seek to bring the Gospel into the everyday experience of all people through teaching, popular preaching and pastoral leadership. We foster Christian discipleship by collaborating with those whom we serve and by standing in solidarity with all people, especially the alienated, the immigrant, and the poor. If you are between the ages of 21 and 38 and would like more information on the Franciscan friars, please contact Fr. Brian Smail, OFM, Vocation Director, at 1-800-677-7788 or vocation@hnp.org, or visit our website at http://www.BeAFranciscan.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #313. Franciscan Friars (O.F.M.)—Province of the Most Sacred Heart We welcome you to the Franciscan vision of the world, a world where love is more powerful than hate, forgiveness more powerful than revenge, hope more powerful than despair, community more powerful than isolation and God is more powerful than all that mitigates against goodness and hope. Become an instrument of change. Become a messenger of peace. Belong to something bigger than yourself. . .WWW.BEFRANCISCAN. COM. Contact: Fr. John Dombrowski, OFM Vocation Director, Sacred Heart Province; e-mail: vocation@befranciscan.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See our ad on page 37. Code #283. Franciscan Friars (O.F.M.)—Saint John the Baptist Province We Friars of Saint John the Baptist Province are part of the world-wide Franciscan Order which was founded by Saint Francis of Assisi over 800 years ago. The first members of our Province arrived in Cincinnati, OH in 1844. Since then we have been serving the Catholic Church in a wide variety of ministries. Presently we serve in schools (high schools and universities), parishes, hospitals (as nurses and chaplains), inner city ministries, retreat ministry, publishing (books, catechetical aides, CDs and audio books at Saint Anthony Messenger Press), and foreign missions. In all of our ministries we preach the Good News of Jesus by both word and action with a special

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Franciscan Friars, Conventual The Conventual Franciscans are one of the three branches of the First Order of St. Francis. The word Conventual is derived from the Latin convenire, “to come together”; hence we live together in “convents” or friaries. Our Order is spread throughout the world, and includes about 4500 priests and brothers who are all commonly called Friars. There are five provinces in North America, and a jurisdiction in the UK and Ireland. We wear a black or gray habit with a simple three-knotted cord representing our Vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience. The Spiritual Center of the Order is in Assisi, Italy, where our Friars care for the Basilica of St. Francis, which includes his tomb. In addition, the Conventuals are the Vatican confessors at St. Peter’s Basilica. In Christ’s name, we continue the ministry of healing so fundamental to the understanding of Saint Francis. For more information go to our website. Friar Paul C. Schloemer, OFM Conv., Province of Our Lady of Consolation Vocation Office, 6901 Dixie Highway, Louisville, KY 40258; (800) 424-9955 or (502) 933-4439; e-mail: franvoc@aol.com; website: http:// www.franciscans.org. Code #098. Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular (T.O.R.)—Immaculate Conception Province Mission Statement: “Following Christ in the footsteps of Saint Francis, we are a fraternity of men who freely vow ourselves to living in communion as brothers. We strive to live the Gospel through gentleness, hospitality, and service. We seek to address the changing needs of the Church and the world by calling ourselves and others to prayer and conversion.” Our friars use their gifts to respond to the needs of the Church and world serving as parish priests, retreat directors, educators, chaplains, campus ministers, artists, advocates for ecological and social justice and pastoral ministers. The strength of our formation program is its flexible response to each person’s unique personality and gifts. Our friars serve in Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Virginia, Florida, Texas, Ohio and Minnesota. For more information contact: Fr. Patrick Foley, T.O.R., Vocation Office, 3811 Emerson Avenue, North, Minneapolis, MN 55412-2038; 1-800-220-0867; e-mail: frpattor@hotmail.com; website: http://www.franciscanfriarstor.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 81. Code #295. Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular (T.O.R.)—Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus We are a religious community of priests and brothers who follow the crucified and risen Christ in the spirit of St. Francis. We are committed to a life transformed by prayer and service; to personal and communal conversion of heart, mind, and soul; and to bearing Christ to a broken world. We actively embrace the NEW EVANGELIzATION of Pope John Paul II. Our priest and brother Friars serve as educators, parish ministers, promoters of church renewal, advocates of social justice, hospital chaplains, and foreign missionaries. We administer two institutions of higher learning: St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania and Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio. If you are between the ages of 20-35 and would like more information on the Franciscan Friars, T.O.R., please write, call, or visit our website at http:// www.franciscanstor.org. Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Vocation Office, P.O. Box 104, Loretto, PA 15940; (814) 693-2889; e-mail: vocations@franciscanstor.org. See ad on page 42. Code #232. Franciscan Friars of the Atonement (S.A.) The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement have long been leaders in the worldwide ecumenical movement to heal divisions within Christianity. In 1908 we began an annual prayer movement (January 18-25) that developed into the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Today, the Friars mission of “at-one-ment” includes dialogue among Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists; serving the homeless and those suffering from alcoholism, drug addictions, and HIV/AIDS; preaching the gospel in parishes around the world, and offering respite and hope to those in need of spiritual renewal. In the tradition of St. Francis of Assisi, we offer a prayerful communal life with active service to the Church in the United States, Canada, Japan, Italy, England and soon, Kenya, Africa. Inquire about our “Come

and See” programs offered each year in March and October. During Easter Week we offer a Vocation Discernment Retreat Week in Rome and Assisi, Italy for men who have previously attended a “Come and See” at Graymoor. We sponsor a College Age Discernment Program in conjunction with Stonehill College, Massachusetts. Contact Vocation Office, P.O. Box 300-Graymoor, Garrison, NY 10524; (800) 338-2620, ext. 2126; fax: 845-424-2170; e-mail: vocdirector@atonementfriars. org; website: http://www.atonementfriars.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 67. Code #003. Franciscan Friars of the Holy Land (O.F.M.) The Custody of the Holy Land, considered one of the most important of all the Franciscan provinces, includes the land where Jesus was born, lived, and died, and rose from the dead. The Franciscans have maintained a presence in the Holy Land for more than 800 years. Friars representing more than 20 countries, including the United States, staff and maintain churches and shrines in 33 cities throughout the Holy Land, as well as perform charitable, educational, and social works for the welfare of all who live in or come to the Holy Land. Friars also provide assistance to schools, orphanages, and parish centers, and participate in ecumenical, scientific, and cultural works entrusted to the Custody. In the United States, contact: Fr. Jacob-Matthew Smith, O.F.M., Vocation Director, Franciscan Monastery, 1400 Quincy St., N.E., Washington, D.C. 20017; (202) 256-6800 ext. 334 (daytime) or ext. 852 (evenings); e-mail: Vocation@ myfranciscan.com; website: http://www.myfranciscan.org. See ad on page 99. Code #276.

Glenmary Home Missioners (G.H.M.) We are a society of priests and brothers who, along with lay co-workers, serve the spiritual and material needs of the people in Appalachia, the South, and Southwest. As home missioners, we form and nurture Catholic faith communities in areas where the Church has never been established. We are committed to doing God’s work in rural America through ministries of ecumenism, evangelization, social outreach, and service to the poor and neglected. We staff over 50 missions and ministries in 14 dioceses as well as a research center and a pastoral center focusing on rural ministry. Fr. Steve Pawelk, Glenmary Home Missioners, P.O. Box 465618, Cincinnati, OH 45246-5618; (513) 881-7411; e-mail: vocation@glenmary.org; website: http://www.glenmary.org. See ad on page 52. Code #103.

Jesuits (S.J.) [Society of Jesus] United States Jesuit Conference: 1016 16th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036; (202) 462-0400; e-mail: usjc@jesuit.org; website: http://www.jesuit.org. California: P.O. Box 519, Los Gatos, CA 95031-0519; (408) 884-1613; e-mail: formation@calprov. org; website: http://www.jesuitscalifornia.org. Chicago: 2050 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614-4788; (773) 975-6363; e-mail: vocations@jesuits-chi.org; website: http://www. thinkjesuit.org. Detroit: 7303 W. Seven Mile Road, Detroit, MI 48221-2121; (313) 861-7500; e-mail: jesuitvocations@ gmail.com; website: http://www.thinkjesuit.org. Missouri: 4511 West Pine Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63108-2191; (314) 361-7765; e-mail: vocation@jesuits-mis.org; website: http:// www.jesuits-mis.org. New England: P.O. Box 9199, Watertown, MA 02471-9199; (617) 607-2800; e-mail: vocations@ sjnen.org; website: http://www.sjnen.org. New Orleans: 710 Baronne St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70113; (504) 571-1055; e-mail: vocations@norprov.org; website: http:// www.norprov.org/vocations/. New York/Maryland: 39 East 83rd Street, New York, NY 10028-0810; (212) 774-5500; e-mail: vocations@nysj.org; or e-mail: vocations@mdsj.org; website: http://www.jesuitvocation.org. Oregon: P.O. Box 86010, Portland, OR 97286-0010; (503) 226-6977; e-mail: slantry@nwjesuits.org; website: http://www.nwjesuits.org. Wisconsin: 3400 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53208; (800) 537-3736 ext. 231 or (414) 937-6949 ext. 231; e-mail: vocations@jesuitswisprov.org; website: http://www.thinkjesuit.org. Upper Canada: 43 Queen’s Park Crescent East, Toronto, ON M5S 2C3; (416) 962-4500; e-mail: vocation@ jesuits.ca; website: http://www.jesuits.ca. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #104. Josephite Fathers and Brothers (S.S.J.) [The Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart] We are involved in ministry within city and rural settings. Our involvement includes parish ministry, hospital, prison and first responder chaplaincies, campus ministry, and operating one high school, St. Augustine’s in

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org New Orleans. Our Major Seminary in Washington, DC, where our seminarians reside as they pursue their graduate degree in theology, also houses The Josephite Pastoral Center that is dedicated to promoting religious education material that is centered in the African-American Community. Apostolic Work: The Josephite Society is dedicated to spiritual educational and social ministry to the African-American community and has worked exclusively in the African-American community since 1871. The Josephite Society affords its members the mutual support of community life in an active ministry. Currently serving in the Archdioceses of Baltimore, Galveston-Houston, Los Angeles, Mobile, New Orleans, Washington and in the Dioceses of Arlington (VA), Baton Rouge, Beaumont, Biloxi, Jackson (MS), and Lafayette. Rev. Peter C. Weiss, S.S.J. and Brother Louis, S.S.J. serve as Vocation Ministers. Josephite Vocation Department, 1200 Varnum Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017-2796; (202) 832-9100; fax: (202) 832-9099; e-mail: vocations@josephite.com; website: http://www.josephite.com. See ad on page 112. Code #192.

Little Brothers of Saint Francis (L.B.S.F.) We are a contemplative community of brothers who live the “Hidden Life of Nazareth” in prayer and Eucharistic adoration among Christ’s poor in the inner-city ghettos, favelas, or barrios of the world. We have an evangelical street ministry of friendship to destitute homeless and the poorest of the poor. We seek to make a total gift of self to God while living a fraternal life in radical Gospel poverty. Vocation Director, 785-789 Parker Street, Boston, MA 02120; (617) 442-2556; e-mail: lbsfvoc@gmail.com; website: http://www.littlebrothersofstfrancis.org. See ad on page 64. Code #158

Marianists, Province of Meribah (S.M.) As Marianists, we dedicate our lives to Mary. We are honored to follow her example of humble service and faithful discipleship in every aspect of our life. We are a religious community of Brothers and Priests committed to living the challenge of the Gospel together in community. At the center of our lives are the two tables: the altar—the table of faith and sacrifice, and the dining table—the table of fraternity and fellowship. We have committed ourselves to the service of Christ and his Church through the apostolate of education. We form a new family, based on the Gospel of the Lord, in which we share in common prayer, friendship, possessions, work, successes, and difficulties. We aim to make family spirit the distinctive mark of our communities, growing in the characteristics of Mary, particularly her faith, humility, simplicity, and hospitality. Vocation Director, Brother Michael Gillen, S.M., Kellenberg Memorial High School, 1400 Glenn Curtiss Blvd., Uniondale, NY 11553; (516) 292-0200 ext. 287; e-mail: bromichael@kellenberg.org; vocation blog: intothedeepblog. net; website: http://www.provinceofmeribah.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 82. Code #334. Marianists, Society of Mary (S.M.) Blessed William Joseph Chaminade founded the Society of Mary (Marianists) in France in 1817. The Marianists are an international Catholic religious order of brothers and priests. Almost 500 serve in the Province of the United States, which includes India, Ireland, Mexico and the Philippines. In the United States, Marianists sponsor the University of Dayton in Ohio, St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Chaminade University of Honolulu, and high schools, parishes, and retreat centers. The mission of the Marianists is to spread gospel values, educate students, work in lay formation, and serve the poor. Marianist National Vocation Office, 4425 W. Pine Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108-2301; (314) 533-1207;

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Marist Brothers (F.M.S.) Founded in 1817 by St. Marcellin Champagnat, the Marist Brothers work to make Jesus Christ known and loved through the Christian education of young people, with special attention to the most neglected. St. Marcellin gave his community the name of Mary because he wanted them to live according to her spirit. Following the example of St. Marcellin, more than 3,700 Marist Brothers work with their lay colleagues and other members of the Marist family to put into practice their motto: All to Jesus through Mary; All to Mary for Jesus. Present in 78 countries, the Marist Brothers work in all levels of education and a variety of education-related ministries. Br. Michael Sheerin, F.M.S., Marist Brothers Vocation Office, 1241 Kennedy Blvd., Bayonne, NJ 07002; (201) 823-1115; e-mail: vocations@ maristbr.com; website: www.maristbr.com. See ad on page 140. Code #298. Marist Fathers and Brothers (S.M.) [Society of Mary] Marists believe that they are called by Mary to live in her Society, a religious community of prayer, fellowship and Gospel ministry to the Church and the world. Marists carry out the Gospel ministry in schools, parishes, and chaplaincies in the USA and in other countries throughout the world, including foreign missions. The Marists accept candidates for the priesthood and brotherhood who are between the ages of 21 and 40 and offer discernment programs and Come and See days and weekends. For more information please contact the Vocation Office of the Marists at 2335 Warring St., Berkeley, CA 94704; toll free: (866) 298-3715 or (510) 486-1232 or (617) 262-2271 (the Boston area), or e-mail us at maristvocations@ sbcglobal.net or visit us on line at www.maristsociety.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 119. Code #107. Maryknoll Congregation and Society (M.M.) To mention Maryknoll is to mention Mission. Maryknoll is the popular name for the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, established by the U.S. Bishops in 1911 to represent the Church of the United States in the work of foreign missions. We are from the Church in the United States, but our principal work is overseas. Currently numbering some 480 priests and brothers working in some 28 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, in solidarity with the poor in witnessing to the Kingdom of God. Contact: Fr. Dennis Moorman, M.M., Vocation Ministries, P.O. Box 305, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0305; (914) 941-7590, ext. 2416; e-mail: vocation@maryknoll.org; website: http://www.maryknollvocations.org. See ad on page 105. Code #199. Missionaries of the Holy Family (M.S.F.) The Missionaries of the Holy Family were founded as a religious community in 1895 in Holland. Today, we minister throughout the world. We base our community life on the model of the Holy Family who lived simple lives in faithful response, love, and care to the mission of Jesus. Our founder taught us to seek out and encourage vocations. We strive to live a missionary spirit by bringing the Gospel message wherever it is not sufficiently proclaimed. Here in North America, we are involved as priests and brothers in parishes, schools, hospitals, and missions. Our work reflects the care and concern we have for family life. Vocation Director, 3014 Oregon Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118; (888) 4 THY WILL; (888) 484-9945; e-mail: Vocations@MSF-America.org; website: http://www.MSF-America.org. See ad on page 80. Code #129. Missionaries of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S) We are a society of apostolic life, priests, brothers and lay associates sharing a common mission: to renew the Church through the ministry of the Word and the saving power of Christ’s most Precious Blood. Founded in 1815 by St. Gaspar del Bufalo, our congregation carries out a variety of ministries as pastors, teachers, chaplains, youth ministers, retreat directors, mission preachers and campus ministers, both in the U.S. and abroad. We reach out to those on the margins of society—and to each other as we build a community where members find peace and new energy. Cincinnati Province (Eastern U.S., including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, California as well as Chile, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia), (937) 228-6224; e-mail: vocation@cpps-preciousblood.org. On the web at www.cpps-preciousblood.org. Kansas City Province (Western U.S., including Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Colorado, Illinois, Texas, California as well as Vietnam), (816) 781-4344; e-mail: voc.office@yahoo.com. On the web at www.kcprov.org. See ad on page 114. Code #108.

By our example, our work, our service to others . . . for the honor and glory of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Enter #133 at VocationMatch.com Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (M.S.C.) Building a Civilization of Love. “The spirit of our Congregation is made of love and kindness, humility and simplicity; but above all, it is a spirit of love for justice and concern for the welfare of all, specially the poorest one.” (MSC Constitutions #13). The MSC are active in 54 countries, most of which are poor and developing nations. The MSC USA Province serve parishes, hospitals, schools, prisons, and conduct special retreat programs to find healing, love, and joy. The MSC USA Province also supports activities and missions in Colombia (South America) and in countries in the South Pacific, South Asia, and Africa. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be Loved Everywhere! Contact: Fr. Andrew Torma, MSC, Vocation Director, 4821 S. Hermitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60609; (630) 862-0979; e-mail: vocation@misacor-usa.org; website: http://www.misacor-usa.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. Code #130.

Men’s communities

Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd (B.G.S.) Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd are ordinary men striving to follow the example of Jesus the Good Shepherd. We are called upon to be risk takers. . . to be ready and willing to risk all for the sake of the man, woman or child who is lost, abused, alone, frightened and bewildered in a world of high-tech productivity and fast paced living. Impelled by conviction and the spirit of “Charity Unlimited. . . Never Stop Loving,” to be available, hospitable, flexible, adaptable and respectful of life, we seek every opportunity to discover the presence of God in the simple movement of the very ordinary, through various forms of direct service to the homeless and the hungry, the elderly and the dying, the battered and the abused. We seek to provide hope to the hopeless, love to the loveless, a sense of dignified purpose to the aimless, and faith to the faithless. Vocation Director, e-mail: info@lbgs.org; website: http://www.lbgs.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 99. Code #344.

website: http://www.marianist.com/vocations. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 146. Code #105.

Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (M.SS. CC.) We are a religious community of priests and brothers dedicating our lives to God through service to our brothers and sisters in the localities of Italy, Argentina, the United States, India, Slovakia, Nigeria and Indonesia. As missionaries, our outreach is to those in need, whatever those needs may be. In the United States, we currently serve in parish ministry, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, retreat work, and spiritual direction. Our founder, Saint Gaetano Errico, calls us “to labor selflessly . . . to make known to all people the deep and tender love of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and to kindle this love in the hearts of all . . .” Vocation Director, P.O. Box 189, Linwood, NJ 08221; (609) 927-5600; e-mail: mssccusa@aol. com; website: www.missionofsacredhearts.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 143. Code #133. Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.) Serving in over 70 countries, the Oblates are an international Congregation of about 4,400 priests and brothers sent to preach the Good News to the poor. Called “specialists in difficult missions,” we are committed to carrying the Gospel to others in the spirit of St. Eugene de Mazenod. We fulfill

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brothers

Committed to care Brother exequiel mapa, C.F.A. Brother Exequiel Mapa, C.F.A. had a rewarding career as an ER nurse when he felt a yearning to be part of something greater than himself. At first he thought he needed to become a monk or a priest, but over time he realized that as a brother he could remain a nurse while living in a community of prayer and support.

COMMUNITY: Alexian Brothers CURRENT MINISTRY: Brother-nurse to seniors who live at the Alexian Village of Tennessee retirement community. THE BEDROCKS OF COMMUNITY LIFE: We highlight prayer, Eucharist, and meal times together. These are not only our spirituality checklist; they are conscious efforts to come together for God’s sacramental action. WHAT I DO FOR FUN: Gardening, swimming, playing lawn and table tennis, working out, caring for and breeding fish and birds. BEST PART OF MINISTRY: My hands-on skills as a registered nurse can be a celebration of God’s healing love and care. If I become attuned to God, I can be a conduit of grace to others.

Photo courtesy of the Alexian Brothers

FAVORITE SAINT: Mother Teresa. I am moved by her strong faith and her connection to God’s little ones. WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING A BROTHER: It allows me to be who I am and gives me a lot of options for ministering to God’s people. FAVORITE WAY TO PRAY: Personal prayer and meditation. BEST-LOVED MINISTRY: Teaching high school. I learned a lot from the students! 144

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org our mission in and through community. Wherever we work, our mission is especially to those people whose condition cries out for salvation and for the hope, which only Jesus Christ can fully bring. We give them our preference. In our mission we are dedicated to Mary Immaculate who is our patroness. If you are between ages 18 and 37 you are invited to contact the vocation office. Oblate Vocation Office, 327 Oblate Drive, San Antonio, TX 78216-6602; English & en español: (800) 358-4394; e-mail: vocations@omiusa.org; website: http://www.omiusa.org. See ad on page 130. Code #109. Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity (S.T.) We are religious priests and brothers dedicated for ministry to poor and forsaken persons in the U.S. and Latin America. We work hand in hand with other men and women to witness to the love of God. Our chief effort is to develop a missionary spirit in the laity, with the goal that every Catholic be an apostle. In the U.S., we serve in inner-cities and rural areas; we toil in immigrant communities, minister in prisons, and manage lay development centers. In every place we are, we always learn more deeply of God from the people with whom we serve. As Pope John Paul II says: “The Church needs your energies, your ideals, your enthusiasm to make the Gospel of Life penetrate the fabric of society.” So we dare you to stand with us. . .in the Spirit and in Christ. . .to live in God’s service. For more information please contact: Vocation Office, 9001 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20903; (800) 298-5602; e-mail: vocations@trinitymissions. org; website: http://www.MissionaryServantsVocations.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 127. Code #284.

Norbertine Fathers and Brothers (O. Praem.) [Canons Regular of Premontre]—St. Moses the Black Priory Have you thought that your life might be different, more meaningful and more directed toward God? Wondered how your own particular talents and gifts might be enhanced in service to the Church? Looking for ways to give witness to peace and justice? To reduce conflicts between and among all people? Come, see the diversity of ministries available including parish ministry, college/university teaching, campus ministry, spiritual direction, and prison ministry. Begin your journey today. Come and see! Men with some college background are invited to the Norbertine Priory of St. Moses the Black, For more information, please contact: Vocation Coordinator, 7100 Midway Road, Raymond, MS 39154; (601) 857-0157 ext. 218; e-mail: norbertine-ms@hotmail.com; website: http://www.stmosestheblackpriory.org. See ad on page 103. Code #110. Norbertine Fathers and Brothers (O. Praem.) [Canons Regular of Premontre]—Sta. Maria de la Vid Priory The Priory was established in 1985 as a foundation house from St. Norbert Abbey, DePere, WI. Our goal is to become an abbey in New Mexico. Priests, brothers, and seminarians live together, nurtured by the Eucharist, Morning and Evening Prayer, and by our communal interaction. From the community base, we serve in parishes, hospitals, schools, and in a variety of different ways in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Our ministry is broadly multicultural particularly to Hispanics, Native Americans, and Anglos. On our 70-acre property we also offer a “place apart” to the spiritual seeker and retreatant in our hermitages and guest house. We invite men discern-

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Norbertine Fathers and Brothers (O. Praem.) [Canons Regular of Premontre]—St. Norbert Abbey The Norbertines of St. Norbert Abbey are dedicated to living a communal, active-contemplative lifestyle according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ following the Rule of St. Augustine. We profess Solemn Vows, committing ourselves to the apostolic life and a life of conversion. Our membership consists of 67 men living primarily at St. Norbert Abbey, and other houses in De Pere, WI, Albuquerque, NM, and Raymond, MS. As Canons Regular, our first ministry is living the common life devoted to the sung choral office, Eucharist, and common table. From this common life flow various ministries including hospitality and retreats, parish ministry, education and administration at St. Norbert College and Notre Dame de la Baie Academy, and numerous other ministries as needed in the local church. Qualified candidates ordinarily have, or are in the process of completing, a college degree and are ready and willing to live unselfishly in a communal lifestyle. Contact the Vocation Coordinator, 1016 N. Broadway, De Pere, WI 54115; (920) 337-4333; fax: (920) 337-4328; e-mail: vocations@norbertines.org; website: http://www.norbertines.org. See ad on page 103. Code #110.

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (O.S.F.S.) The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales are priests and brothers, dedicated to living Jesus’ gentleness and humility in the spirit of St. Francis de Sales. We believe that the Gospel message and teachings of the Catholic Church hold rich meaning and deep hope for all men and women. Living in community, we are parish priests, teachers and professors, campus ministers, missionaries, chaplains, social workers, and counselors. We serve throughout the United States, from California to Washington, D.C., from Canada to Florida. We invite you to join us in growing toward all that God has planned for you. For more information about the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, please contact: Director of Vocations, 721 Lawrence Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017; (202) 269-9410 ext. 15; e-mail: dheet@oblates. org; website: http://www.oblates.org/vocations. See ad on page 115. Code #285 Oblates of the Virgin Mary (O.M.V.) The Oblates of the Virgin Mary are a religious community of priests and brothers. Living the charism of their Founder, the Venerable Fr. Bruno Lanteri, they cultivate a deep personal relationship with Christ through His Word and in the Eucharist. The Oblates are consecrated to Mary and profess a strong adherence to the Magisterium and the Holy Father. Their apostolic goals include: the formation of the laity and the clergy, combating modern errors in faith and morals, upholding solid doctrine, giving the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and parish missions, the diffusion of Catholic teaching through books and other means of communication, and foreign missionary activity. Preferred age: under 40. Education: college/higher education preferred. Vocation Director, Fr. Jeremy Paulin, OMV, 1105 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215; (617) 8692429; e-mail: vocations@omvusa.org; website: http://www. omvusa.org. Code #111 Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary We are a Eucharistic and contemplative community consisting of priests, brothers, and sisters, who wear a full habit, as well as lay “external” members, all of whom are consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Our daily schedule, besides Holy Mass, includes: 15 decade Rosary (20 on Thursday), Divine Mercy Chaplet, Liturgy of the Hours, and time for silent adoration, all before Our Lord Jesus, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. After being filled with the love and mercy of Our Savior, we go forth to be His reflection to others through various corporal works of mercy. Contact: Vocation Director, 48765 Annapolis Rd., Hopedale, OH 43976; (740) 946-9000; e-mail: twohearts1@mac.com; website: http:// www.heartsofjesusandmary.org. Code #271.

Pallottines (S.A.C.) [The Society of the Catholic Apostolate] Founded by St. Vincent Pallotti in 1835, serves

Saint Norbert was about 40 when he founded the NORBERTINE Community. We consider men ages 21-50.

We’re ready when you are. Contact us. Fr. John Joseph Novielli, O.Praem. Vocation Director, Daylesford Abbey 220 S. Valley Rd., Paoli, PA 19301 610-647-2530, ext. 127 jnovielli@daylesford.org

www.daylesford.org enter #289 at VocationMatch.com as an active apostolic community within the mission of the Church of the United States. We are more than 2,400 priests and brothers engaged in many apostolates, which include parish ministry, education, prison ministry, retreat work, youth ministry, lay ministry formation, and hospital and military chaplaincies. Pope John Paul II spoke of the Pallottines as “...a bridge between the clergy and laity in order to give life again to that apostolate which unites the faithful to the work of evangelization and sanctification....” Consider this a personal invitation to take a serious look at becoming a Pallottine. If you have felt a ‘Yes’ within yourself to get more information, we invite you to contact either of our vocation offices: Immaculate Conception Province (Eastern United States): 1-800-APOSTLE; website: http://www.sacapostles.org; e-mail: Vocation@sacapostles.org; or mail Vocation Director, Pallottine Vocation Office, 5552 Route 70, Pennsauken, NJ 08109. Mother of God Province (Midwestern United States): (414) 259-0688 ext. 155; website: http://www.pallottines.org; e-mail: vocationspall@gmail.com; or mail Pallottine Vocation Director, 5424 W. Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53208. See ad on page 79. Code #239.

MeN’S cOMMuNItIeS

Norbertine Fathers and Brothers (O. Praem.) [Canons Regular of Premontre]—Daylesford Abbey As the one and only Abbey within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Daylesford Abbey occupies 130 acres of countryside in Paoli, Pennsylvania. Our roots go back to Premontre, France in 1120 when St. Norbert founded the Community. A Roman Catholic Order of Priests and Brothers, we Norbertines live an active liturgical, apostolic, and eccesial life dedicated to serving the local Church through our liturgical prayer life celebrated in the Abbey Church. In our ministries inside and outside the Abbey, we are nourished by an activecontemplative prayer life. We Norbertines daily break bread at two tables: the Eucharistic table of the Lord and the table of hospitality. Daylesford Abbey is a healing and reconciling community. We invite men ages 21-50 to contact us if our community might be where God is calling them. For more information contact Fr. John Joseph Novielli, O.Praem., 220 South Valley Road, Paoli, PA 19301; (610) 647-2530 ext. 127; fax (610) 651-0219; e-mail: jnovielli@daylesford.org; website: http://www.daylesford.org. See ad on page 145. Code #289.

ing a vocation to come as observers and live for a time the rhythm of our life. Vocation Coordinator, 5825 Coors Road, SW, Albuquerque, NM 87121-6700; (505) 873-4399; e-mail: vocations@norbertinecommunity.org; website: http://www. norbertinecommunity.org. See ad on page 103. Code #110.

Passionists (C.P.) Passionist priests and brothers take a unique vow to promote the memory of Christ’s passion and God’s redeeming love for us through their life of contemplation, community and ministry to the crucified of today. Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, Passionists reach out with compassion to those who suffer or are marginalized—the disabled, the sick, the dying, the impoverished, those who grieve or are alone—and offer opportunities for all to experience spiritual growth and healing. Prayer and a rich community life support the special Passionist charism. Ministries include preaching, retreat center programs, parish, radio and TV ministry, and chaplaincies. Both Provinces have members missioned in other countries. Interested in male candidates, 18-40 years old. Western Province: Fr. Christopher Gibson, C.P.; (773) 631-6336 and cell (773) 266-1942; e-mail: vocationdirector@passionist. org; website: http://www.passionists.org. Eastern Province: Fr. William Maguire, C.P.; (412) 325-8041; e-mail: spocvocations@cpprov.org; website: http://www.thepassionists.org. Code #113.

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org The Paulist Fathers (C.S.P.) The Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle (The Paulists) founded by Servant of God, Isaac Hecker, is the first North American community of priests. Paulists minister through their mission of Reaching Out (Evangelization), Bringing Peace (Reconciliation), and Seeking Unity (Ecumenism and Interreligious Relations). Paulists are in 18 cities in the United States and Canada. We serve as campus ministers and parish priests. We lead parish missions, and publish through Paulist Press. We proclaim the Good News through the Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association and work in media-related endeavors through Paulist Productions. We find young adult seekers through BustedHalo.com. Training includes a year novitiate and graduate theological studies in Washington, DC. Contact: Fr. Dave Farnum, C.S.P., Director of Vocations, 415 West 59th Street, New York, NY 10019-1104; (800) 235-3456 or (212) 757-4260; e-mail: vocations@paulist.org; website: http://www.paulist.org/vocation. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 49. Code #114.

Men’s coMMunities

Piarists (Sch.P.) Founded by St. Joseph Calasanctius in 1617, Piarists profess a special fourth religious vow to educate youth, especially the poor. Our schools are concerned with both the spiritual and academic achievement of our students. Our motto, Pietas et Litterae, expresses both our work and charism. We are an International Order in 32 countries, and in the United States are represented in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Puerto Rico, and Los Angeles, We have schools, parishes, Spanish ministries, foreign missions, a summer mission in Mexico, and a school and Appalachian Mission in eastern Kentucky. Rev. David Powers, Sch.P., Vocation Director, 99 Martha’s Vineyard, Prestonsburg, KY 41653; (610) 5648893; e-mail: dariff@hotmail.com; website: http://www. piaristusa.org. Code #195. PIME Missionaries [The Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions] PIME is an International Society of Apostolic Life of priests and brothers who dedicate their lives to the mission among non-Christians in foreign countries. We strive to be creative in our missionary presence, proclaiming the Gospel and promoting dialogue among religions and cultures. Working among the poorest people in the world, we are engaged in human development, promotion of peace and justice, and pastoral care of newly founded Catholic communities. The initial formation for candidates takes place in the North American region at our House in Detroit. Our formation and training program is flexible. We are able to adapt our program to meet the needs of each individual as much as possible, according to one’s academic background and life experiences. Check us out at www.pimeusa.org. PIME Missionaries, 17330 Quincy St., Detroit, MI 48221; (313) 342-4066; fax: (313) 342-6816; e-mail: outreach@pimeusa.org; website: http:// www.pimeusa.org. See ad on page 37. Code #134. Presentation Brothers (F.P.M.) The Presentation Brothers are an international Roman Catholic Congregation of religious brothers working in several countries. We are men who believe that Jesus Christ is calling us to serve him and his people in a radical way. We live our baptismal promises through sharing all that we earn and by devoting our lives to the service of people. We take three vows: chastity, poverty, and obedience and we live together in small groups called communities where we support one another and live out this challenging lifestyle. We are teachers, social workers, pastoral workers, chaplains. Regardless of the work we do, it is all “Ad Majorem Die Gloriam”--for the greater glory of God. Today we work in Ghana, Nigeria, West Indies (St. Lucia and Grenada), USA, Canada, Ireland, England, Slovakia, and Geneva. Vocation Director, 1602 Pettis Blvd., Kissimmee, FL 34741; (407) 846-2033; e-mail: sebow@juno.com; website: http://www.presentationbrothers.com. See ad on page 101. Code #115. Priests of the Sacred Heart (S.C.J.) We are an apostolic international congregation of Brothers, Deacons, and Priests inspired by the mystery of God’s love expressed in the heart of Christ. Fr. Leo John Dehon, our founder, was convinced that the best way to respond to our experience of God’s love is by reaching out to those around us and helping them to experience that same love in their own lives. This often means addressing unjust situations and circumstances that prevent people from reaching their full potential. Much of our work in the U.S. is with the poor and working class. Foreign mis-

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sions are available. We prefer candidates 18-40 (will consider to age 45) with religious and/or social involvement, a solid academic background, and appropriate work history. Vocation Director, P.O. Box 206, Hales Corners, WI 53130-0206; toll free (800) 609-5559; fax: (414) 529-3377; website: http:// www.scjvocation.org. Code #116.

The Redemptorists (C.Ss.R.) [Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer] The Redemptorists are a community of apostolic men—followers of Jesus Christ the Redeemer and disciples of St. Alphonsus Liguori. As a religious congregation of priests and brothers, our mission is to proclaim the Good News of plentiful redemption to the poor and most abandoned. Our work in parishes, retreat houses, parish missions, and foreign countries, as well as special apostolates, e.g. migrants, prisoners, and young adults, serves as pathways for Christ’s love. Like the apostles we live and work together; we combine our prayers and deliberations, our labors and sufferings, our successes and failures, and our talents and material goods in service to the Gospel. For more information, visit our website: http://www.redemptorists.com or contact the Vocation office: Fr. Richard S. Bennett, C. Ss.R.; e-mail: richard859@aol.com; telephone: (617) 817-9425. See ad on page 129. Code #135.

The Salesians of Don Bosco (S.D.B.) For over 150 years under the teachings of St. John Bosco, Salesian Brothers and Priests have been inspiring young people to live lives of faith. We are looking for men who want to dedicate their whole life to Christ, the church, and the young. As a Salesian priest or brother you will evangelize and achieve sanctity by accompanying youth toward holiness. Salesians serve in various capacities: youth ministers, teachers, coaches, technical instructors, guidance counselors, and friends to the young. We live in community and work together in a common mission. In the United States, Salesians operate 25 youth oriented parishes, 10 high schools, seven boys and girls clubs, and three retreat houses. Fr. Franco Pinto, S.D.B., Salesian Vocation Office, 315 Self Place, South Orange, NJ 07079; (973) 761-0201; e-mail: salvoc@aol.com; website: http://www. salesianvocation.com or Fr. Chin Nguyen, S.D.B., Office of Vocation Office, P.O. Box 1639, Rosemead, CA 91770; (626) 280-8622; e-mail: info@salesianvocation.org; website: http:// www.salesianvocation.org. See ad on page 111. Code #117. Salvatorians (S.D.S.) [Society of the Divine Savior] The Salvatorians were founded to use “any means which the Love of Christ inspires” to bring the Gospel to the world. We are multi-cultural and fully embrace the Spirit of Vatican II. Our members collaborate closely with the Salvatorian Sisters, the Lay Salvatorians, and the people we serve. We are involved in parishes, foreign missions, education, hospital chaplaincies, youth ministry, counseling, campus ministry, and specialized ministries. Our members serve in the Archdioceses of Milwaukee, Portland, and Washington and in the Dioceses of Bismarck, Birmingham, Green Bay, Harrisburg, LaCrosse, Nashville, Oakland, Orlando, Phoenix, St. Cloud, Sacramento, Savannah, and Tucson. American Salvatorians are also serving in the Philippines; Rome, Italy; and Tanzania, East Africa. Contact us at vocations@salvatorians.com; (414) 258-1735 ext. 104; 1735 N. Hi-Mount Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53208-1720; website: http://www.salvatorians.com. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 57. Code #145. Servants of Charity (S.C.) Our priests and brothers strive to imitate Jesus, the Good Samaritan, by bringing the Father’s healing love to the suffering in body and spirit. Founded by Blessed Louis Guanella in 1908, we are now represented in 19 countries. Our Province (United States, Philippines, and India) provides “Bread and Lord” especially to people with developmental disabilities as well as serving abandoned children, the elderly, children in need, and parishes. The Servants of Charity also have a ministry known as the Pious Union of St. Joseph, an association of the faithful praying for the suffering and dying. We seek men hungry to live a life of personal love of God expressed in prayer, community life, simplicity, hospitality, compassion toward the suffering, and in communion with the teaching and tradition of the Catholic Church in its entirety. We offer a life of “Prayer and Suffering” lived within a community of sinners who want to be saints. Fr. Dennis M. Weber, S.C., 1795 South Sproul Road, Springfield, PA 19064; (610) 328-

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mail: somascans@yahoo.com. For more information please visit: http://www.somascans.org. See ad on page 42. Code #120.

Servants of Mary, Friars (O.S.M.) Founded in 1233, we bring the compassionate presence of Christ to the world through lives lived in community, serving the needs of others in a variety of ministries, while looking to Mary as the example of life and service. The Servite Friars, with Servite religious sisters, cloistered nuns, and Secular Servites, form an international community of over 10,000 members. For more information on the Servite Friars please contact the Vocation Director: Fr. Paul Gins, OSM at Servite Vocation Director, 1922 W. La Palma Ave. Anaheim, CA 92801; e-mail: osmvocations@aol.com; website: http://www.servite.org. See ad on page 27. Code #159.

Spiritans (C.S.Sp.) [Congregation of the Holy Spirit] For over three centuries Spiritans have crisscrossed the globe— living particularly among people who are suffering, being a pastoral presence and advocate for justice, and teaching the message of the Gospel. In parishes, schools, and missions we go where there is a need, bearing God’s Spirit of joy and hope. Today Spiritan Priests and Brothers are over 3,000 strong, an international congregation on an adventure of the Spirit. We are committed to the poor, dedicated to justice, and open to all cultures, and grounded in community and prayer. Vocation Office, Fr. Brandon Nguyen, C.S.Sp., 8426 S. Marquette Ave., Chicago, IL 60617; (501) 908-6188; e-mail: vocations@duq. edu or brandon7cssp@aol.com; website: www.spiritans.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 29. Code #164.

Society of African Missions (S.M.A.) We are an international community of 1,200 missionaries: priests, brothers, and laity. Our ministry is among the different peoples of Africa and those of African descent. At this time there is not a program for brothers in the United States. We come from Africa, Argentina, Europe, India, the Philippines, and North America. With over 150 years of missionary service, we strive to witness by word and life to the gospel of Jesus Christ in its totality through a variety of ministries. These include parish, health care, education, street children, people with handicaps, refugee relief, and village development ministries. S.M.A. Vocation Director: Deacon Keith McKnight, S.M.A., 23 Bliss Avenue, Tenafly, NJ 07670; toll free, (888) 250-4333 or (201) 567-0277; e-mail: deaconkm@smafathers.org; website: http://www.smafathers. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 131. Code #136.

Trappist Cistercian Monks (O.C.S.O.) The monastery is located in the wooded hills and hollows of southwest Missouri. This location is ideal for prayer but makes it difficult for us to earn our living, so we have a fruitcake industry. Our call is to leave all and follow Christ on a desert journey in a community of brothers. Our guide is the Benedictine monastic way in the contemplative tradition of St. Bernard of Clairvaux and Thomas Merton. Our task is to glorify God and to build up the body of Christ by a life of intercessory prayer and sacrifice. We have room for brothers and priests, and are flexible regarding age and education. Br. Francis Flaherty, O.C.S.O., Assumption Abbey, RR5, Box 1056, Ava, MO 65608; (417) 683-5110; e-mail: avavocations@hughes. net; website: http://www.assumptionabbey.org. See ad on page 126. Code #121.

Society of Mary (S.M.) (See Marist Fathers and Brothers)

Trinitarians (O.SS.T.) Founded in 1198 through the vision of St. John DeMatha, the Trinitarian priests and brothers bring the redemptive love of Jesus to those they serve. The earliest Trinitarians, through every possible means available, sought freedom for those held captive for their faith. Through their work for the poor, those who suffer religious persecution, and in parishes, schools, missions, prisons, and hospitals, they strive for the freedom of all people. Trinitarians live in small, intimate communities and enjoy common prayer. Their purpose in loving is freedom and dignity. They number 75 members in the United States and more than 700 worldwide. Candidates, ages 18-40, with a minimum of a high school diploma, are considered. Vocation Director, P.O. Box 5719, Baltimore, MD 21282-0719; (800) 525-3554 or (410) 484-2250; e-mail: vocations@trinitarians.org; website: http://www.trinitarians.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #122.

Society of St. Paul The Society of St. Paul is an international congregation of priests and brothers founded by Blessed James Alberione for the sole purpose of bringing Christ to the world today through the means of communication. The priests and brothers share a common life style and profess the vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and fidelity to the Pope. Fortified by an intense spiritual life consisting of daily meditation, mass, recitation of the liturgy of the hours and one hour adoration before the Blessed Sacrament as well as personal prayer so that by living Christ in their lives they may give Christ to others through their apostolate. Paulines in imitation of St. Paul, who preached and wrote about Jesus Christ, are on fire to spread the good news of Jesus Christ in the most rapid and far reaching ways. Through books, magazines, tapes, videos, CD’s, radio, television and the Internet, Christ is preached to millions of people around the world. For information write or call: Society of St. Paul, Vocation Office, 2187 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10314; (718) 982-5709; e-mail: Vocation@stpauls.us; website: http://www. vocationoffice.org. Code #149.

Viatorians (Clerics of St. Viator) Viatorians are religious priests, brothers, and lay associates sent by the Catholic Church to teach the faith and proclaim Jesus Christ as Gospel. In parishes, schools, and a variety of ministries, Viatorians work with Christian communities to live, deepen, and celebrate faith. A priest of the Archdiocese of Lyons, France, Father Louis Querbes founded the Viatorians in 1831 as an association of lay and religious school teachers to catechize and serve as animators of the liturgy in rural French parishes. As patron saint of the congregation, Father Querbes chose Saint Viator, a young fourth century catechist-lector of the cathedral church of Lyons. Today approximately 600 religious and nearly 300 lay men and women serve the church in 16 countries. Viatorians of the Province of Chicago minister primarily in Illinois and Nevada in the United States, in Colombia, South America and in Belize, Central America. Contact: Coordinator of Vocation Ministry, 1212 East Euclid Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60004; e-mail: dlydon@viatorians.com; website: http://www.viatorians.com. See ad on page 58. Code #094.

Somascan Fathers and Brothers (C.R.S.) The Somascan Fathers and Brothers minister at the following facilities: Pine Haven Boys Center, a residential treatment center for disadvantaged boys ages 7-15 in Allenstown, NH; Assumption Catholic Church and Christ the King Catholic Church in Houston, TX. Both parishes have a strong presence of immigrants from Latin America. Also in Houston, Somascan Hall, the House of Formation next to the Christ the King Church. All vocation inquiries should be addressed to Fr. Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, Vocation Director: (713) 880-8243; e-

Vincentian Priests and Brothers [Congregation of the Mission (V.C.)] Confronted by the sickness of France in the 1600’s and their spiritual weariness caused by an uneducated clergy in that same period, St. Vincent de Paul committed his life to championing the needs of the poor. Almost 400 years after founding the Vincentians in 1625, his community of priests and brothers continue to spread God’s message of hope to the poor, and to train priests and laity in service to the poor in 53 international provinces on five continents. If you have a desire to be a missionary at home and/or abroad, we urge you to experience

VISION 2011

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Enter #206 at VocationMatch.com the Vincentian challenge! Contact us: 1-800-DePaul-1; website: http://www.vincentian.org. Why not you? Why not now? See ad on page 50. Code #178.

Xaverian Brothers (C.F.X.) [Congregation of the Brothers of St. Francis Xavier] The Xaverian Brothers are vowed laymen dedicated to following Jesus through lives of prayer, community, and service. Inspired by the vision of Theodore James Ryken, our Founder, and by the zeal of Francis Xavier, we strive to live lives rooted in the Good News of God’s saving love for all people. Blending a life of contemplation and action, we are attentive to the call of God’s Spirit to be BROTHERS to the poor and marginalized people in North and South America, Europe, and Africa. Volunteers also share in the life and works of the Brothers in these regions. Vocation/ Volunteer Minister: Br. Jim Connolly, C.F.X., 4409 Frederick Ave., Baltimore, MD 21229; e-mail: jconnolly@xaverianbrothers.org; website: http://www.xaverianbrothers.org. See ad on page 31. Code #198.

Men’s communities

Servants of the Paraclete (s.P.) We are a religious congregation of priests and brothers who dedicate our lives to Christ by assisting fellow priests and brothers who are in need of psychological, spiritual, and vocational support. Founded in 1947 by Fr. Gerald Fitzgerald, s.P. our Congregation has helped more than 5,500 clergy through residential programs based on Eucharistic Adoration, psychological and spiritual counseling, fraternal life in common, and fidelity to the Church. Currently this ministry is being carried out in the USA and the Philippines. If you are interested in finding out more about the Servants of the Paraclete, please contact: Rev. Benedict Livingstone, s.P., e-mail: benedictl@yahoo.com; USA/Europe or Rev. Philip Taylor, s.P., e-mail: philiptsp2003@ yahoo.com; S.E. Asia/Africa; website: http://www.theservants. org. You will receive a warm welcome. Servants of the Paraclete, 6476 Eime Road, Dittmer, MO 63023. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 117. Code #300.

Xaverian Missionaries (S.X.) Serving in 18 countries around the world, the Xaverian Missionaries are an international, multicultural community of over 1,000 priests, brothers, and sisters. In the spirit of our founder Blessed Guido M. Conforti we commit ourselves to live and witness to the Good News of Jesus—the greatest gift we can share with the world—in poverty, chastity, and obedience. We fulfill this mission in and through community. Moved by our passion for Christ and for humanity our mission is directed to non-Christians and among them we choose to work with the poor. It is our desire that our lives and our ministries may always reflect the love of Christ. Through empowerment of local communities, education, inter-religious dialogue, health care, social development, justice and peace, we facilitate the transformation of our world into the “ONE FAMILY” our Founder dreamed. Contact: Fr. Joe Matteucig, sx, 101 Summer Street, Holliston, MA 01746; (508) 429-2144; e-mail: pino.ma@gmail.com; website: http://www.xaviermissionaries.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 125. Code #137.

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Adorers of the Blood of Christ (A.S.C.) The Adorers of the Blood of Christ are courageous, confident, and committed women and we invite you to join us. As adorer-apostles we are called to engage in the ongoing process of transforming the world into “that beautiful order of things which the great Son of God came to establish in His blood,” as our foundress, St. Maria De Mattias, put it. The Adorers of the Blood of Christ are consecrated to Jesus’ redeeming love, and we strive to be His reconciling presence in our wounded world. We are a community of 315 religious women throughout the United States performing the healing ministries of education, environmental work, health care, pastoral work, social justice, and spiritual development. We also have missions in Bolivia, Brazil, Guatemala and Korea. Our international congregation serves in 24 countries on all the inhabited continents. Are you a courageous, confident, committed woman? You can make a difference as an Adorer of the Blood of Christ. For more information, log onto www.adorers.org or contact Sr. Jan Lane at 1-877-236-7377 ext. 1455 (ADORERS) or lanej@ adorers.org See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 85. Code #001. Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (A.S.C.J.) The Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus were founded in Viareggio, Italy, in 1894 by Clelia Merloni. Clelia propelled the life of the Apostles into the heart of the Church by dedicating the Congregation to the loving Heart of Jesus. The motto of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: The Love of Christ Impels us, summarizes the moving force of their lives. Apostles spread devotion to the Sacred Heart by lives of compassion and holiness. As consecrated women of the Church, they imitate the life of Christ in the world today through education, health care, pastoral ministry, social services, human development, and missionary activity. An international Congregation, they serve in Italy, Albania, Switzerland, Chile, Mexico, Benin, Mozambique, Taiwan, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, the Philippines, and the United States. Sr. Colleen Smith, Mount Sacred Heart Provincialate, 295 Benham Street, Hamden, CT 06514-2801; (636) 464-0163; e-mail: vocations@ ascjus.org; Congregation website: http://www.ascjus.org. See ad on page 23. Code #267. Augustinian Nuns (O.S.A.) “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless, until they rest in you.” These words of Saint Augustine speak to the heart of human experience as profoundly today as they did in the Third century. We are a contemplative monastic community of women who follow the tradition and Rule of Saint Augustine. Through our life in community and our ministry of prayer we give witness to the presence and love of God in our world. Our work is carried out within the monastery and through our prayer we embrace the world and Church universal. A hunger for God, a passion for life, a compassionate love for our sisters and brothers, and the capacity for joy and an appreciation of beauty are all traits of an Augustinian spirituality. If you are a single women drawn to give yourself to God in a life of prayer we invite you to contact us: Sr. Mary Grace, O.S.A., Mother of Good Counsel Monastery, 440 N. Marley Road, New Lenox, IL 60451; (815) 463-9662; e-mail: sr.marygrace@sbcglobal. net; website: http://www.lampsalight.org. Code #161.

Benedictine Sisters/A.B.F.C. (American Benedictine Formation Conference) Each monastic community, though observing the Rule of Benedict, is independent and self-governing. Community is the central ministry of Benedictine monasteries. We share our lives, our prayer, and our work as a way of blessing the world. This common life is meant to be a sign that “strangers can live together in love (AIM).” Our monastic profession of obedience, stability, and fidelity to the monastic way of life, binds us to God, to the Church, and to one another. A balanced, contemplative life, Benedictine spirituality yields meaningful ministry that addresses the needs of the modern world, e.g. education, health care, pastoral ministry, social work, spiritual direction, missionary activity. Each monastery is unique in size, geographic location, and in the distribution of God’s gifts. Common to us all, is the pursuit of peace and the search for God. Sr. Roberta Bussan, O.S.B., Vision 2011 Coordinator. Website: http://www.abfconline.org/sisters. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004.

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Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Atchison, KS—Mount St. Scholastica We are a monastic community rooted in the common life, prayer, and ministry to God’s people. Priority is given to times of common prayer throughout the day as we gather for Liturgy of the Hours. Flowing out of our monastic living, our ministries focus on empowering women, particularly the young, the poor, and those most in need. Our ministries include a spirituality center, a music conservatory, and women’s centers in Atchison and Kansas City. Our Sisters also work in the areas of counseling, health care, parish ministry, and education at all levels. We invite women, ages 20-40, who wish to visit or inquire for more information to contact: Sr. Suzanne Fitzmaurice, O.S.B., 801 South 8th Street, Atchison, KS 66002-2778; (913) 360-6219; e-mail: vocation@mountosb.org; website: http://www.mountosb.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #080. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Beech Grove, IN—Our Lady of Grace Monastery We are monastic women who choose to seek God in community. If you feel you have a religious vocation to serve the people of God in community, call us at (317) 787-3287, ext. 3032. As Sisters of St. Benedict, we follow a monastic way of life. Prayer and community come first in our lives. We live the Benedictine tradition of seeking God through prayer, work, and hospitality. We are engaged in the work of God through various ministries. We also serve one another by living in a community characterized by warmth, honesty, vitality, and joy. We welcome single, Catholic women, ages 20-45, who are experiencing a call from God; who desire to live the Gospel; and who have a capacity to be generous and compassionate. Find us at www.benedictine. com and Facebook - Sisters of St. Benedict - Our Lady of Grace Monastery at www.benedictinesbeechgrove. blogspot.com. Vocation Director: Sr. Jennifer Mechtild Horner, OSB, 1402 Southern Avenue, Beech Grove, IN 46107; e-mail: vocations@benedictine.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #362. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Bismarck, ND—Annunciation Monastery We are a community of 60 monastic women who seek God and care for God’s people. Our monastery is nestled atop a bluff overlooking the scenic Missouri River. We value common prayer, the Eucharist, and time alone with God. We value community life and care for and support one another. Women of faith, we make a vital impact on the lives of others through our ministries and prayer. As individuals we do whatever work best suits our talents; most of us are involved in our sponsored ministries of St. Alexius Medical Center, University of Mary, and our Benedictine hospitality center. We are vibrant, creative leaders in our area. We invite you to explore joining us in an incredible journey. Sr. Gerald Wald, O.S.B., 7520 University Drive, Bismarck, ND 58504-9653; (701) 255-1520; e-mail: vocations@annunciationmonastery.org; website: http://www.annunciationmonastery.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 9, 114. Code #358. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Boerne, TX—St. Scholastica Monastery We are a congregation of 18 Sisters who are called to seek God in prayer and community. We do so by living and working together and following the Rule of St. Benedict. We gather together three times a day for communal prayer. We sponsor two ministries: Omega Retreat Center and our Health and Wholeness Center which is a senior activity center. We ministry on the border of Texas and Mexico where we are able to serve those in need on both sides of the border and provide hospitality and educational opportunities to various mission groups. Sisters serve in various ministries: spiritual direction, retreat and parish work, pastoral care, education, corporate responsibility, health care, outreach to those in need, and internal ministries. Vocation Director, Sr. Kathleen Higgins, O.S.B., 416 W. Highland Dr., Boerne, TX 78006; (830) 816-8504; e-mail: khiggins@ktc. com; website: http://www.boernebenedictines.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Bristow, VA—St. Benedict Monastery The Benedictine Sisters of Virginia are a community of 34 women living the monastic way of life. Each sister seeks God and in the process finds herself, discovers

her gifts, deepens her prayer, forms community, serves God’s people, and makes a lifetime commitment. Benedictine spirituality forms a rich tapestry of community, prayer, and ministry. We have several corporate ministries that address a variety of needs in the local church and community: education, homelessness, retreats and pastoral programs, counseling, adult literacy and hospitality. Individual sisters engage in ministries which are expressive of their gifts. St. Benedict Monastery is located 35 miles west of Washington, D.C., near Manassas, Virginia. We invite women interested in exploring our life to visit us, attend a Monastic Discernment Weekend, or to apply for the Live-In Program. Contact: Sr. Vicki Ix, O.S.B., Saint Benedict Monastery, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA 20136-1217; (703) 298-5337; e-mail: vocations@osbva. org; website: http://www.osbva.org; vocation blog: http:// www.monasticsonajourney.blogspot.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #321. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Canyon, TX—St. Benedict Monastery, We are a small monastic community committed to living the Gospels according to the Rule of Benedict. Our primary ministry is the monastic life itself rooted in the common life, the Liturgy of the Hours and Scripture, along with work and hospitality. As Benedictines we are contemplative, but not cloistered; we go out from the monastery as needed. We are located in the Texas Panhandle and support ourselves by hosting retreats and operating a gift shop and candy venture. We welcome women who feel called to the monastic life—regardless of age—to discern their call with us. To learn more about us visit our website: www.osbcanyontx.org; e-mail our vocation director, Sister Marcella Schmalz, at marcellamary@osbcanyontx.org, or call (806) 655-9317 or write St. Benedict Monastery, 17825 S. Western Street, Canyon, TX 79015. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Chicago, IL—St. Scholastica Monastery We are Benedictine women called to seek God in prayer and community, serving where there is need. We sponsor an academy for young women and serve the church and society in a variety of ways. We work in education, social service, pastoral ministry, spiritual development, and health care. We minister to the elderly, the homeless, the mentally ill, and those transitioning out of prison, always in a spirit of ecumenism. We stand together in our efforts to abolish the death penalty and to promote peace and justice. Underlying all we do is the desire to live the Gospel command to love God and neighbor. Women 21-50 who wish to seek God in an active monastic community by living a balanced life of prayer and work are invited to contact us. Sr. Benita Coffey, O.S.B., Vocation Minister, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60645; (773) 7642413, ext. 327; e-mail: vocation@osbchicago.org. Visit us at our website: http://www.osbchicago.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Colorado Springs, CO—Benet Hill We are a monastic community of 37 members committed to Gospel as lived out in the Rule of St. Benedict which emphasizes seeking God. We strive to seek God through community in hospitality, praise of God in liturgy, and daily communal prayer, and serve God’s people in ministry according to each Sister’s giftedness to meet the needs of the church and society in a changing culture, especially the needs of women. Commitment to justice issues, global concerns, peace and nonviolence calls us to work in a variety of ministries such as scripture studies, spiritual direction, retreats, work with the elderly, the young, the sick, the poor and the marginalized. We currently serve in Colorado, New Mexico, and Jamaica. We invite women over the age of 21 to consider exploring our Benedictine way of life as you discern your call from God to follow the gospel. Contact us for more information on criteria for entrance. Sr. Mary Colleen Schwarz, O.S.B.; 3190 Benet Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80921; (719) 633-0655; e-mail: goldfinchosb@hotmail.com; or Sr. Clare Carr, O.S.B., (303) 756-7349; e-mail: ccarr10@ hotmail.com; website: http://www.benethillmonastery.org. See ad on page 85. Code #270. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Cottonwood, ID—Monastery of St. Gertrude Put Down Roots, join us as we

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org minister to the world through our way of life, seeking God through prayer, community, and service. In a spirit of healing hospitality, grateful simplicity, and creative peacemaking, we invite you to serve with us at the Monastery, in the Diocese of Boise and throughout the Northwest in our ministries of education, health care, spirituality, and more. Take a chance and call us now. Vocation Director: Sr. Janet M. Barnard, O.S.B., 465 Keuterville Road, Cottonwood, ID 83522; (208) 962-5024; e-mail: vocation@ stgertrudes.org; website: http://www.StGertrudes.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004.

Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Crookston, MN—Mount St. Benedict Monastery We are monastic women committed to living the Gospel and the Rule of Saint Benedict. We strive for awareness of God through prayer, service, and reverence for all creation in a spirit of peace and joy. Our core values are community, hospitality, prayer, and just peace. We discern our works according to the needs of the times and the gifts of the sisters. At present we serve in Minnesota and Texas as educators, spiritual directors, pastoral ministers, health care providers, musicians, and artists. Some sisters work directly with the poor. We invite women, single or single-again, ages 20-50, who desire a monastic lifestyle to contact our Vocation Director, Sr. Anne DeMers, O.S.B., 620 Summit Avenue, Crookston, MN 56716-2799; (218) 281-3441; e-mail: anne.demers@ bhshealth.org; website: http://www.msb.net. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 9, 16. Code #221. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Cullman, AL—Sacred Heart Monastery The Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, Alabama embody the spiritual wisdom and monastic tradition of St. Benedict through lives of prayer and ministry. We strive to deepen our relationships with God, with one another, and with all of creation through ageless monastic disciplines such as humility, silence, community living, and obedience. Inspired by the Gospel and the Rule of St. Benedict, each Sister utilizes her God-given talents in roles such as ministers in local parishes, as retreat and spiritual directors, as teachers and administrators in Catholic schools, in legal and medical professions, and in Community administration. Our community of 46 members encourages single women, ages 20-45, who sincerely seek God and a balanced life of prayer and work to learn more about the monastic way of life and our community by exploring the pages of our website or by contacting our Vocation Director: Sr. Magdalena Craig, O.S.B.; 916 Convent Rd., NE, Cullman, AL 35055; (256) 734-2199; email: vocations@shmon.org; website: http://www.shmon. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #280. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Duluth, MN—St. Scholastica Monastery We are Benedictine monastic women who seek God together in Community. Our lives are centered around the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours, grounded in liturgical and personal prayer, in Lectio Divina (holy reading), with time for silence and solitude, for ministry, study, and leisure. Our core monastic values of hospitality and stewardship, peace and justice, stability and attentive listening, together with the Gospel and the Rule of St. Benedict, guide our communal life and our ministries. We invite women to join us in permanent vowed membership or to experience monastic life by living with us for six months to a year or longer in our volunteer

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Enter #188 at VocationMatch.com residential Benedictine Associate program. We invite you to visit us at a time convenient for you. For more information, to arrange a visit, or for a copy of our film “Sing a New Song,” contact Sr. Mary Catherine Shambour, O.S.B., 1001 Kenwood Avenue, Duluth, MN 55811-2300; (218) 723-6646; e-mail: mcshambour@duluthosb.org; website: http://www.duluthbenedictines.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 9, 15. Code #282. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Elizabeth, NJ—St. Walburga Monastery We are monastic women who seek God in community through Gospel values and the Rule of Benedict. We live out our monastic conversion supported by Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours, Lectio Divina, and presence to one another. In active lives balanced with contemplation, we witness to Jesus Christ through community, hospitality, and varied ministries such as education, health care, and spirituality. We welcome responses from single women who have some college or work experience and desire to seek God within a community life that overflows into prayer and ministry. Sr. Mariette Therese, O.S.B., Saint Walburga Monastery, 851 North Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07208; (908) 352-4278, x. 274; e-mail: srmariette@aol.com; website: http://www.catholicforum. com/bensisnj. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #353. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Erie, PA—Mount Saint Benedict Do you long for a deeper relationship with Jesus? Are you willing to serve those who have less? Do you want to pray among those who share your faith and values? Our challenge is to live the Rule of Saint Benedict today; to pray together, to be a witness of our Catholic faith; to celebrate God’s constant love. We invite you to take a look, to visit us, to volunteer in our ministries, to learn more about the Benedictine Sisters of Erie. Explore our website ErieBenedictines.org. We extend a special welcome to women ages 21-45. Contact Sr. Janet Goetz, O.S.B., 6101 East Lake Rd., Erie, PA 16511; (814) 899-0614 ext. 2424; e-mail: vocations@mtstbenedict.org; website: http://www.eriebenedictines.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004.

Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Ferdinand, IN—Monastery Immaculate Conception We are monastic women seeking God through the Benedictine tradition of community life, prayer, hospitality, and service to others. By our life and work, we commit ourselves to be a presence of peace as we join our sisters and brothers in the common search for God. We serve in education, parish ministry, social services, health care, retreat and spiritual direction, and mission work. We do not identify ourselves with one specific ministry; rather we respect each individual’s gifts as given by God. A college education is helpful but not required. We have 168 members, 7 of whom are in initial formation. We encourage women, ages 18-40, who earnestly seek God and want to live a balanced life of prayer and work to inquire about our monastic lifestyle. Contact us at: 802 East 10th Street, Ferdinand, IN 47532; (800) 738-9999; e-mail: vocation@thedome.org; website: http://www.thedome.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 9, 41. Code #069.

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Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Covington, KY—St. Walburg Monastery We are a Benedictine community of monastic women who seek God together in prayer, common life, and work. The Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours, an personal prayer and reading are the foundation of our spirituality. Our common search for God enables us to celebrate the presence of Jesus Christ in all of creation. In the Benedictine monastic tradition, the needs of God’s people have called us to serve in the areas of education, health care, social service, Diocesan and Parish ministries, ecology, criminal and social justice. We sponsor Villa Madonna Academy and Montessori school and a Spirituality Center. Women who want to strengthen their faith while discerning a call to serve God are welcome to come and experience the Benedictine way of life. Contact: Sr. Cathy Bauer, O.S.B., 2500 Amsterdam Road, Covington, Kentucky 41017; (859) 331-6324; e-mail: vocation@stwalburg.org; website: http//www.stwalburg.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004.

Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Fort Smith, AR—St. Scholastica Monastery We are monastic women living the Benedictine tradition of seeking God in community through prayer, work, hospitality, and leisure. Our community membership is 64. We are engaged in the work of God through education, pastoral care, pastoral ministry in parishes, prison ministry, social services, social awareness, counseling, retreat work, and spiritual direction. We welcome and encourage women ages 18-45 who are seeking to live a balanced life of prayer and personal transformation, who hunger for meaning in life, and who have the desire to become part of our future by sharing the power of the Gospel, to free people for a fully human life, and create a community of love and peace. Vocation Director: Sr. Kimberly Prohaska, O.S.B., P.O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913; (479) 783-4147; e-mail: vocationdirector@ stscho.org; website: http://www.stscho.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #341. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Lisle, IL—Sacred Heart Monastery Directed by the Gospel and the spirit of the

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Rule of Benedict, our mission is based on a commitment to use our time, talents, and resources to spread the Good News. Our primary ministry is Hospitality to those in our expanding health care facility, education, nursing, pastoral ministry, retreat work, social concerns and domestic services. We sponsor Daybreak of Lisle. Lectio Divina (a form of praying with scripture) and Centering Prayer are ways we foster spiritual growth for our health care community. In our monastic lifestyle we try to balance community with ministry. Interested? Contact us for further details. Vocation Director: Sister Christine Kouba, O.S.B., 1910 Maple Avenue, Lisle, IL 60532-2164; (630) 725-6000; e-mail: ckouba@shmlisle.org; website: http://www.shmlisle.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Lutherville, MD—Emmanuel Monastery We, the Benedictine Sisters of Emmanuel Monastery, are a community of monastic women who seek God through prayer, community life, and ministry, bringing a 1500 year tradition into the 21st century. Empowered by the Word of God, we claim our gifts as women in the Church, with an international commitment to justice and peace, offering hospitable space in a culture that fosters hostility. We serve persons with material and spiritual needs in a variety of ministerial settings and challenge structures that diminish human dignity. Because we bear the name Emmanuel, God with us, we commit ourselves to be a presence of God in our world. We are a small community of 16 women who minister according to our personal gifts and where there is a need. We minister in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and in the Baltimore area. We are known for our gifts of community and hospitality and our commitment to justice and peace. Contact: Sr. Patricia Kirk, O.S.B., 2229 W. Joppa Rd., Lutherville, MD 210934601; (410) 821-5792; e-mail: pkirk@emmanuelosb.org; website: http://www.emmanuelosb.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Mt. Angel, OR—Queen of Angels Monastery We are women responding to the call to live community according to the Gospel and the Rule of Saint Benedict. Together we seek God in a balanced life of prayer and work, simplicity, hospitality, and service. While our vow of stability leads us to special care of the people in our local area, we are deeply conscious of sharing the universal mission of the Church. Our community ministries include a retreat and renewal center and a homeless shelter. Our 40 members serve in a variety of individual ministries, including teaching, pastoral care, health care, spiritual direction, and parish work. We encourage women who are interested in our monastic way of life to visit and explore the possibilities of Benedictine life. Vocation Director: Sr. Marietta Schindler, O.S.B., 840 South Main Street, Mt. Angel, OR 97362; (503) 845-6141; e-mail: smarietta@juno.com; website: http://www.benedictine-srs. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 9, 135. Code #202. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Nanaimo B.C., Canada— House of Bread Monastery In 1972 Bishop Remi DeRoo of the Diocese of Victoria requested “that the Benedictines return to Vancouver Island so that their spirituality might be shared with the people in the area.” In response, the House of Bread Monastery was established. Personal prayer and sacred reading (lectio) are essential values and are supported by the presence of a small chapel, a library and times of quite. Living the gospel message reflects our Benedictine presence here on the Island. We value a simple life style which includes giving of our time, talents and money to those in need. We express this by having guests within the monastery or retreat centre. The corporate and individual ministry of the House of Bread Monastery is hospitality. “All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.” We support societies and agencies that assist the poor and those in need. For further information contact: Vocation Director, 2329 Arbot Rd., Nanaimo B.C. V9R 6S8, Canada; (250) 753-1763; e-mail: gchrupalo@shaw.ca; website: http:// www.houseofbreadmonastery.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Pittsburgh, PA—St. Benedict Monastery Our monastic life compels us to seek God in Community and Prayer as our chief occupation. Seeking God, we follow the values of the Rule of St. Benedict by

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our practice of common prayer, lectio divina, generous hospitality and living in common. Nourished by the Word of God and our life together we respond to the needs of our world utilizing the gifts of each individual sister as they are led through education, ministry, parish ministry, Appalachia ministry, social justice, senior services, transitional housing for women with dependent children, visual arts, liturgy and music, counseling, spiritual direction and spirituality programs. We seek to be a sign that peace and peacemaking is possible in an ever-chaotic world. If you seek God and are looking to be encouraged and challenged in your search contact us: Vocation Office, 4530 Perrysville Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15229-2296; (412) 931-2844 ext. 117; e-mail: listening@osbpgh.org; website: http://www.osbpgh. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Rapid City, SD—St. Martin Monastery St. Martin Monastery is located in the beautiful Black Hills of western South Dakota. We are a community of 30 women who are striving to support one another as we live out our Baptismal call. Our prayer, Lectio Divina, and the Liturgy of the Hours, as well as our community life are a source of strength from which all our ministries flow. Our ministries vary according to the gifts and talents of the individual sister. If you are seeking God’s will and have a desire to serve, we invite you to come and spend some time with us. As Benedictines we seek God in all things and share our Benedictine values of prayer, silence, and hospitality. Vocation Director: Sr. Mary Wegher, O.S.B., 1851 City Springs Rd., Rapid City, SD 57702-9613; (605) 343-8011; fax: (605) 399-2723; e-mail: srmarywegher@yahoo.com; website: http://www. blackhillsbenedictine.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Richardton, ND—Sacred Heart Monastery The Benedictine Sisters of Richardton were founded in 1910 to respond to the needs of the church in rural North Dakota. Our spirituality, community life, and ministry are nourished by daily Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours, contemplative prayer, and personal devotions such as rosary, stations of the cross, novenas, holy hours, and adoration. We value the common life based on the Rule of Benedict and the monastic promises of obedience, stability, and fidelity to the monastic life. We serve the Church though education, health care, pastoral care, and retreat ministry, using the gifts of each Sister. Our contemplative environment on the prairie surrounds our monastery with the peaceful beauty of God’s creation. Vocation Director, P.O. Box 364, Richardton, ND 58652; (701) 974-2121; e-mail: vocations@sacredheartmonastery. com; website: http://www.sacredheartmonastery.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Ridgely, MD—St. Gertrude Monastery We, the Benedictine Sisters in Ridgely, MD, respond to God’s call through community, prayer, and good works. Our monastery is located on 550 acres of farmland on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. As Benedictines, our primary work is our communal prayer and life together. Our good works are expressed through the ministries located on our property which are the Benedictine Programs for the developmentally disabled children and St. Martin’s Ministries which is an outreach to the rural poor. Sisters also minister in Wilmington, DE and Washington, DC, in the areas of education, social work, and nursing. We have 27 members. College education and/or two years of work experience are preferred. Women who believe seeking God to be primary in their lives are invited to explore our way of life. Contact: Vocation Director, St. Gertrude Monastery, 14259 Benedictine Lane, Ridgely, MD 21660; (410) 6342115 ext. 1428; e-mail: ridgelyvocations@hotmail.com; website: http:www.ridgelybenedictines.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Rio Grande City, TX— Monastery of the Good Shepherd Our mission is to set our monastic hearts on seeking God and to become a transforming, prayerful presence in order to live the Benedictine way of life and to share it with others. We are involved in the new evangelization through our Fountain of Life Eucharistic Adoration Chapel for the laity of the area, retreats, conferences and renewal movements. We offer space and time for people to come aside and rest awhile

in the Lord. We offer you our life of prayer and work at the monastery! Benedictine Monastery of the Good Shepherd, Sr. Nancy Boushey, P.O. Box 1501, Rio Grande City, TX 78582, (956) 486-2680; e-mail: sanbenito@granderiver. net; website: http://www.starrcountybenedictines.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Rock Island, IL—St. Mary Monastery Both contemplative and active, we are called to prayer, community, and work using our gifts. We serve in spiritual direction, retreats, parish work, pastoral care, campus ministry, education, social work, community work, and outreach to the poor. We invite you to take time to stroll through our wooded grounds and reflect on God’s call to you. Watch the ducks paddle around the lake and the deer graze on the hill. Come to prayers and meals. Talk and laugh with the sisters. “Listen with the ear of your heart.” Join us on your vocation journey. You may feel one step closer to home. Sr. Roberta Bussan, O.S.B., 2200 88th Avenue W, Rock Island, IL 61201; (309) 2832300 or (800) 650-1257 e-mail: rbussan@smmsisters.org; website and blog: http://www.smmsisters.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 9, 91. Code #152. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), St. Joseph, MN—St. Benedict’s Monastery We are a community of Benedictine Sisters Seeking God in prayer and community life and serving the Church and the world through our ministries. Our prayer life is centered in daily communal and individual prayer: Liturgy of the Hours, lectio divina, personal prayer, and sacramental celebrations. Our life in community commits us to one another and living out the Gospel and Rule of St. Benedict. Our history is one of extraordinary women whose gifts and talents are encouraged and developed by the community as they are sent out to engage with the world and the larger Church. The Benedictine life offers a freedom to be fulfilled professionally and personally in a context of community living and prayer. At present our monastery numbers about 270. We invite women, ages 18-45, who are interested in exploring our way of life to participate in one of our Benedictine Live-In Experiences. Visit us at our website: http://www.sbm.osb.org. Vocations Director, 104 Chapel Lane, St. Joseph, MN 56374-0220; (320) 363-7180; e-mail: osbvocations@csbsju.edu; website: http://www. sbm.osb.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 9, 63. Code #175. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), St. Leo, FL—Holy Name Monastery The Benedictine Sisters of Florida, the only Motherhouse of Sisters in the diocese of St. Petersburg, is a monastic community of women seeking God together in a life of prayer and ministry. Our prayer life is centered in Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours, and Lectio Divina. Our ministries depend on local needs and the gifts of the Sisters. Our prayer overflows in ministries that express our corporate commitment to respond to the hungers of the people of God: education, retreats, spiritual direction, hospitality, peace/justice and direct service to the poor. Presently there are 16 sisters (4 affiliates and 3 resident volunteers) who seek God together in community, praise God through prayer/ministry, and listen with the ear of the heart to the Spirit’s call into the future. We invite women between the ages of 20-50 who hear a call to prayer and community to “Come and See” the Florida Benedictines! For more information see our web page: http://www. floridabenedictines.com. Sr. Mary David Hydro, O.S.B., Box 2450, St. Leo, FL 33574-2450; (352) 588-8320; e-mail: vocation@saintleo.edu. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), St. Mary’s PA—St. Joseph’s Monastery We, the Benedictine Sisters of Elk County believe that we are called to seek God and witness Jesus Christ through prayer, community life, hospitality, and service. We are dedicated to fostering spirituality, supporting education and being wise stewards of God’s creation. Established in 1852, in St. Marys, Pennsylvania we are the first Benedictine convent in the United States. The founding sisters came to this area to teach the children of German immigrants and bring Benedictine spirituality to this area. In the years since our inception, we have served and continue to serve the people of St. Marys. We are a small community of 19 women who minister according to our gifts and talents. Our mission

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org includes hospital care, teaching, religious education and a variety of other works. We invite you to come and see if God is calling you to this way of life. Contact: Sr. John Paul Bauer, OSB, 303 Church St., St. Mary’s PA 15857; (814) 834-2267; e-mail: srjohnpaul@yahoo.com; website: http:// www.benedictinesistersofelkcounty.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), St. Paul, MN—St. Paul’s Monastery If you yearn for life and desire to seek God with other seekers, come. We are 50 monastic women who seek God together in community and celebrate Liturgy of the Hours, Lectio Divina, personal prayer, and the sacramental life of the church. Through the Gospel and the Rule of Saint Benedict, we respond through ministries of prayer, good works, and hospitality. We work in spirituality, education, pastoral care, health and child care as well as other areas of need among God’s People today. We welcome women who are seeking a balanced life of prayer, work, and leisure and who have completed college or an occupational education to a Come and See experience and share our life at the monastery. Please contact the Vocation Director: Sr. Marie Fujan, O.S.B., 2675 Benet Rd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55109-5097; (651) 777-8181; e-mail: srmarie@stpaulsmonastery.org; website: http://www.stpaulsmonastery.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004.

Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Watertown, SD—Mother of God Monastery We are a community of 60 monastic women (4 women in initial formation) living in the peaceful prairie land of rural South Dakota. We are called to seek God joyfully in community. We respond to the needs of others through our ministries, our prayer, our advocacy, and our hospitality. Currently our sisters are involved in teaching, health care, pastoral care, parish work, in ministry to Native Americans, Latinos and other cultures, in spiritual direction and retreats, ministry to the elderly, and in environmental stewardship. We invite women who desire to seek God to journey with us. We offer several discernment retreats throughout the year. Visit our website for a description and dates or contact Adrienne Kaufmann, O.S.B., 110 28th Avenue SE, #214, Watertown, SD 57201; (605) 886-4159; e-mail: vocations@dailypost. com; website: http://www.watertownbenedictines.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 9, 27. Code #157. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada—St. Benedict’s Monastery Our home is nestled on beautiful property on the banks of the Red River, 60 miles north of the U.S. border which we share with thousands of spiritual seekers each year. We are women called to live the Gospel in community through a balanced life of prayer and work according to the Rule of St. Benedict, an ancient tradition in contemporary form responding to the spiritual hungers of our time. The balance of prayer and work includes the liturgy of the hours, Eucharist, contemplative prayer and service to others according to our gifts and talents. Presently we are engaged in spiritual

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Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Yankton, SD—Sacred Heart Monastery The charism entrusted to Benedictines is, in essence, the gift to seek God in community, to praise God through prayer and ministry, and to listen with eagerness to the Spirit’s call into the unknown future. Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton is home to 113 Sisters, four of whom are in formation. Called first to prayer and community life, we then reach out in service in a variety of ways, depending on the needs of the people and the gifts of the Sisters. We invite women who desire to grow as people of prayer, who desire the support of community life, and who want to serve our church and world to come to meet us at Sacred Heart Monastery. Please contact Sr. Eileen O’Connor, 1005 West 8th St., Yankton, SD 57078, (605) 668-6000; e-mail: eoconnor@mtmc.edu; or Sr. Barbara McTague; e-mail: bmctague@mtmc.edu; website: http:// www.yanktonbenedictines.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 9. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (O.S.B.) We are a contemplative monastic community. Our life is guided by the tradition and the wisdom of the Rule of Saint Benedict. We serve the Church through a ministry of prayer. We support ourselves by work within the enclosure of the monastery. We strive to witness to God’s presence in the world through our prayer and community life and by offering a welcoming and peaceful space to those who visit. Our three monasteries are located in Clyde, MO; Tucson, AZ; and Dayton, WY. If you’re a single woman between the ages of 18 and 49 and drawn to a life of prayer, we invite you to contact us. Sr. Ruth Starman, 31970 State Highway P, Clyde, MO 64432-8100; (660) 944-2221; e-mail: vocation@benedictinesisters.org; website: http://www.benedictinesisters.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 9, 113. Code #008. Bernardine Franciscan Sisters (O.S.F.) Founded in the United States in 1894, our mission is to live the Gospel in the spirit of Francis and Clare! Bernardine Franciscan Sisters reach out in the Name of Jesus to God’s people across the continental United States, Puerto Rico, and Brazil. Our missions include the Dominican Republic, Mozambique and Liberia (West Africa). We minister in education at all levels, catechetics, retreat work, health care, and parish ministry as well as with and on behalf of the poor—especially with women and children. The Gospel, Francis and Clare permeate our Formation Programs for Sisters, Lay Associates and Volunteers in Mission! Do you have a Franciscan heart? Are you willing to journey in faith and joy, sister and servant to all? If so, please contact S. Shaun Kathleen, O.S.F., Vocation Director, 450 St. Bernardine Street, Reading, PA 19607-1737; (610) 777-2967; e-mail: FollowFrancis@bfranciscan.org; website: http://www. bfranciscan.org. See ad on page 86. Code #214.

Canossian Daughters of Charity (FD.CC) The Canossian Daughters of Charity, Servants of the Poor (aka Canossian Sisters) is an international missionary congregation of women founded by St. Magdalene of Canossa, canonized in 1988. Our actions arise from our identity born of Christ crucified, the Greatest Love. We are called to journey in simplicity, sharing a common life at the service of our brothers and sisters on every continent. Through ministries of education and human promotion, evangelization and faith formation, and pastoral care among the suffering, we strive to touch each person with the love of God. Our motto is “to make Jesus known and loved,” especially to those most in need. Our ministries find us in a wide variety of ecclesial and other settings as we continually discern together the most pressing emergent needs and a creative response to the Gospel’s challenge. We are serving in five continents (America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania) and in 34 countries. Sr. Kay Taylor, FdCC; 8500 James Ave., NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111; (505) 332-3240; srkaytaylor@ yahoo.com or Sr. Stella Negri, FdCC; 1858 38th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122; (415) 759-6685; e-mail: s_negri@ yahoo.com; website: http://www.canossiansisters.org See ad on page 132. Code #335.

Enter #262 at VocationMatch.com Carmelite Monastery The Carmelites of Terre Haute, founded in 1947, is an enclosed community of contemplative nuns belonging to the Discalced Carmelite Order. Dedicated to the Mother of God, we follow the Rule of Carmel in the tradition of St. Teresa of Avila, who founded her first monasteries in 16th-century Spain. The balanced blending of solitude and community provides the rich soil for our primary vocation of contemplative prayer, nourished by the daily Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Hours, spiritual reading, manual work, and times of recreation and sharing. Like our great Saints Teresa and Thérèse, our apostolate of intercessory prayer is universal but is focused more directly on priests and all that concerns the church. Preferred age of those interested: 25-45, with exceptions possible; minimum of high-school graduation. Vocation Office, 59 Allendale, Terre Haute, IN 47802-4751; (812) 299-1410; e-mail: vocations@heartsawake.org; website: http://www.heartsawake.org. See ad on page 60. Code #009.

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Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Tulsa, OK—St. Joseph Monastery This is our story. . . .God called us to Oklahoma in 1889 even before OK was a state. We were called to work with the Native Americans and African Americans. We established schools and traveled the territory teaching vacation Bible school. Today, we are a community of 22 women—nurses, educators, administrators, catechists, spiritual directors, liturgists, consultants, and pray-ers. As Benedictine women we have one special calling—to pray and to build community. The Eucharist and Divine Office are central to our life. We pray, we work, we share meals together, and we play together as we minister to the needs of the people of OK. We’ve been telling our story for 130 years now and OK is still a mission territory, less than 4% Catholic, on the edge of the Bible Belt. We invite you to come and help us continue to write and tell our story as we build up this Benedictine community for the kingdom of God in OK. Vocations, St. Joseph Monastery, 2200 S. Lewis, Tulsa, OK 74114; (918) 746-4205; e-mail: vocations@stjosephmonastery. org; website: http://www.stjosephmonastery.org; facebook: http://facebook.com/stjosephmonastery; twitter: http:// twitter.com/stjosephmon; blog: http://www.blogspot.com. stjosephmonastery. See ad on page 38. Code #293.

formation, education, health and hospitality. We do not identify with any specific ministry, but respect each person’s gifts. Come and see. Contact, Sr. Mary Coswin, 225 Masters Ave. Winnipeg, MB R4A 2A1; (204) 338-4601; e-mail: mcoswin@mts.net; website: www.stbens.ca. See ad on page 9. Code #004.

Carmelite Monastery of Cristo Rey Living in the presence of God is the center of our life. Called to serve exclusively through prayer, sacrifice, and penance. A hidden apostolate of intercession for all people, the intentions of Holy Church, and especially for priests. A Marian life, guided by the charism of Saints Teresa of Jesus and John of the Cross. Solitude and silence blended in joyful community. Holy Mass daily with full Liturgy of the Hours, Spiritual Reading, communal Rosary, frequent Benediction service, days of Eucharistic Adoration. A life of simplicity with full traditional habit and Papal Enclosure. Bilingual (English/Spanish) in deference to Teresian heritage and that of our Foundation exiled by Mexican Religious persecution, 1927. Fluency in either language required. Ages: 18-37, some exceptions. Sound mind, physical health required. Contact: CMCR, 721 Parker Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118-4227; (415) 387-2640; Fax (415) 751-5330; e-mail: vocations@cmcrnuns.org; website: cmcrnuns.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 7. Code #333. Carmelite Nuns (O.C.D.) Beacon, NY The Carmel of the Incarnation embraces the Carmelite way of life as envi-

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sioned by St. Teresa of Avila. The Carmelite rule informs a joyful life of prayer, silence and solitude lived within a vibrant community. We are women of diverse backgrounds and interests, united in our search for God. St. Teresa’s desire was to create an environment in which the purity and fervor of the 12th century hermits on Mt. Carmel would be nourished by a warm and generous community life. Along with Sts. Therese of Lisieux, Edith Stein, and countless others, we share that vision! Living at the heart of the Church, we bring to our prayer—Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours, and prayer in solitude—the concerns of our world, our Church, its people, its leaders. If you have a passion for Christ and a love for his Church, come journey with us! Vocation Director, 89 Hiddenbrooke Drive, Beacon, NY 12508; (845) 831-5572; e-mail: srmarita@ carmelitesbeacon.org; or srmichaelene@carmelitesbeacon. org; website: http://www.carmelitesbeacon.org. See ad on page 153. Code #070. Car melite Sisters for the Aged and Infir m (O.Carm) Founded by Mother M. Angeline Teresa in New York in 1929, Mother sought to render loving care of the aged with deep respect for their dignity, loving them as children of God. The Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm together with hundreds of dedicated staff and volunteers care for their beloved elderly in 20 home-like residences, in seven different states within the USA, with one home in Dublin, Ireland. The Carmelite Sisters wear a distinct religious habit, and have a regular prayer schedule including: Liturgy of the Hours, daily Eucharist, Rosary, an hour of daily meditation, and a week of retreat each year at the Motherhouse. Strengthened by community, being of one heart and mind, they continue their mission as loyal daughters of the Church rendering compassionate care to the mystical Body of Christ in the aged and infirm. Sr. Maria Therese Healy, O.Carm., St. Teresa’s Motherhouse, 600 Woods Road, Germantown, NY 12526; (518) 537-5000; fax: (518) 537-4579; e-mail: vocationdirector@ gtel.net; website: http://www.carmelitesisters.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 28. Code #153. Carmelite Sisters of Baltimore (O.C.D.) We are a vibrant contemplative community of 17 women living in intentional fidelity to the tradition of Carmelite prayer, silence, and solitude. Our passion is contemplative presence that longs and yearns for God in ever-deepening intimate relationship. We chant Lauds, Vespers and the Office of Readings (Vigil) in common, celebrate Eucharist and have two hours of solitary prayer each day, and take one day of complete silence each week. We commit to live our Carmelite tradition with contemporary expression in order to be in profound solidarity with God’s people of this time and place, to share contemplation with all who come, and to burn with the fire of God’s love that can transform our world today. Our monastery is situated on 26 acres of wooded land, and our beautiful chapel is a spiritual home to many, including young adults who come to learn Carmelite prayer. Contact: Sr. Frances Horner, 1318 Dulaney Valley Rd., Baltimore, MD 21286; (410) 823-7415 ext. 355; e-mail: fran@baltimorecarmel.org; website: http://www.baltimorecarmel.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #364. Carmelites (O.Carm.), New Orleans, LA— Congregation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel As Carmelites we desire to be a community of contemplative women following “in the footsteps of Jesus” by living and serving in the midst of God’s people. A Pontifical Apostolic congregation, presently we are in Louisiana, Illinois, and the Philippines. Our zeal is rooted in our contemplative prayer and a prophetic call in the tradition of the prophet Elijah and of Mary, our sister and mother. We cherish community life from which we go forth striving to bring about a more peaceful, just, and loving world in a variety of ministries based on the needs of God’s people and on the gifts, talents, and educational preparation of each sister. Above all we desire that each sister become the woman of God that she is created to be. Vocation Director: Sr. Alice Abate, O.Carm., 420 Robert E. Lee Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124-2596; (504) 302-9795; e-mail: carmelitesrs@bellsouth.net; website: http://www. sistersofmountcarmel.org. See ad on page 109. Code #013. Cenacle Sisters (r.c.) Cenacle Sisters are active women with contemplative hearts, called to live and pray in

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union with each other for the sake of the mission. We do this principally through retreats, religious education, and other forms of pastoral activity whose aim is to awaken and deepen faith. This is done most often in places of retreat, in people’s homes, in centers for spiritual direction and religious development, and in parishes. In addition to sisters, there are lay members, vowed and non-vowed, who share in the Cenacle mission and charism. Sr. Janice Bemowski, r.c., The Cenacle, 513 W. Fullerton Parkway, Chicago, Illinois 60614; 773-528-6300; e-mail: vocations@ cenaclesisters.org; website: http://www.cenaclesisters.org. See ad on page 149. Code #188. Cistercian Nuns (O.Cist) Founded in 1098, the Order of Citeaux is one of the Church’s ancient monastic orders. The primary sources of Cistercian monasticism are the Sacred Scriptures, the Rule of St. Benedict, the traditions of the Desert Fathers, and the spirituality of our own 12th century Fathers. Our daily life is a balanced alternation between the Divine Office prayed in Latin with Gregorian Chant, lectio divina, and manual labor. Silence, solitude in community, ascetic practices, the cultivation of continual interior prayer, together with the monastic vows of obedience, stability and unceasing conversion, are the means by which we hope to attain to purity of heart, tranquility of mind and spiritual union with God. Monastic life is a radical participation in the self-emptying of Christ which redeems and transforms humanity and all creation. Requirements for candidacy: age 20-35 with two years of college or work experience, possession of good physical and psychological health, emotional maturity, and the desire to fulfill God’s will. Valley of Our Lady Monastery, E11096 Yanke Drive, Prairie du Sac, WI 53578-9737; e-mail: vocations@nunocist.org; website: http://www.nunocist.org. See ad on page 55. Code #011. Cistercian Nuns (Trappistines) (O.C.S.O.)—Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey Our order is a monastic Order wholly directed to contemplation. We are dedicated to the worship of God in a life that is hidden, obscure and laborious within the monastery and under the Rule of St. Benedict. In this school of love, the nuns grow in humility and selfknowledge. Through the discovery of the depths of God’s mercy in their lives, they will learn to love. The various elements of Cistercian conversatio, such as obedience, humility, ascesis, solitude and silence, lead, each in its own way, to the interior freedom through which purity of heart and an abiding attention to God are attained. It is in the particular and delicate balance of lectio divina, liturgy, and work, that the Cistercian charism most directly manifests itself. Women between 20 and 40 may apply. We are located at 300 Arnold Street, Wrentham, MA 02093. Please contact Sister Katie McNamara; e-mail: s.katie@msmabbey. org; website: http://www.msmabbey.org. See ad on page 65. Code #371. Cistercian Nuns (Trappistines) (O.C.S.O.)—Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey Our community follows the Rule of St. Benedict, and is wholly oriented towards contemplation. We dedicate ourselves to the worship of God in a hidden life within the community. Our life is structured according to a special rhythm of prayer, work, and Lectio Divina, which continually calls us to deeper conversion, love, and self-awareness as we grow in our relationship with Jesus. Lectio Divina is the prayerful reading and pondering of God’s Word. Our manual work is the prayer of our hands. There are specific times for the Divine Office and for personal prayer. We are located on the bluffs of the Mississippi River, surrounded by our organic farm and rolling hills. Women 18-39 years of age may apply. For more information contact Sr. Martha; Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey, 8400 Abbey Hill Lane, Dubuque, IA 52003; (563) 582-2595, ext. 144; e-mail: vocations@ olmabbey.org; website: http://www.mississippiabbey.org. Code #084. Cistercian Nuns (Trappistines) (O.C.S.O.)—Redwoods Monastery Our Cistercian monastic roots began in France in 1098 by Benedictines, who desiring a Godcentered life, embraced the values of simplicity, poverty, silence, continual prayer and personal transformation. They sought and found God in the ordinary experience of daily living, nurturing the centrality of love as they grew in union with Christ. Redwoods Monastery makes this spiritual heritage available today through the communal practices of the Divine Office, daily Eucharist, divine reading and study, meditation and prayer, manual labor, and hospitality to guests. We are located on 300 acres of

old growth redwood forest in Northern California and are deeply committed to preserving our forests, rivers, and wildlife. If you are a single Catholic woman, between 22 and 40 with 2 years of college or work experience and desire our way of life, please contact Sr. Claire; e-mail: vocationdirector@redwoodsabbey.org; website: www. redwoodsabbey.org; or write, Vocation Director, Redwoods Monastery, 18104 Briceland-Thorn Rd., Whitehorn, CA 95589; (707) 986-7419. See ad on page 23. Code #369. Congregation of Divine Providence (C.D.P.)—Marie de La Roche Province With our God of Providence, our mission is to co-create a world of compassion, justice, and peace. We are a welcoming and diverse group of women who have chosen to live in community, embrace a deepening prayer life, and serve the needs of today’s world through a variety of ministries. We are risk takers, open to new ways of meeting the needs of the times. The Province includes the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic; however, we have Sisters from many parts of the world. If you are a woman between 18 and 50 years old and would like to learn more about becoming a Sister of Divine Providence, contact us at cdpvocations@ yahoo.com; 9000 Babcock Blvd., Allison Park, PA 15101. Or visit us at http://www.divineprovidenceweb.org. Code #325. Congregation of Divine Providence (C.D.P.)—Melbourne, KY The Congregation of Divine Providence is an international community established in France in 1762 and in the U.S. in 1889. Contemplation of Jesus reveals our Provident God and impels us to become living expressions of God’s tender love through works of mercy. This is the heart of our spiritual life and community. There is a special concern for women and youth and a preference for the most abandoned. Our ministries include teaching (all forms and levels), social work, health care, pastoral ministry (hospitals, campuses, parishes), direct service of the poor, retreats, and peace and justice work. We are present in nine countries. In the U.S. we are in 12 dioceses and archdioceses. We live in small communities where we attempt to follow Jesus and emphasize the gospel values of simplicity, poverty, charity, and abandonment to Providence. Consider joining us. Vocation Director, 1000 St. Anne Drive, Melbourne, KY 41059; (859) 441-0700 ext. 324; e-mail: vocation@cdpkentucky.org; website: http:// www.cdpkentucky.org. Code #257. Congregation of Notre Dame (C.N.D.) Sisters and Associates of the CND are united by a desire to follow Jesus, a devotion to Mary, and the spirit of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, their foundress. An international community, its members serve as educators and in a variety of Gospel ministries. For information go to www.cnd-m.org. Contacts: USA: Sr. Lucille Cormier, 30 Highfield Rd, Wilton, CT 06897; e-mail: cndsusa@sbcglobal.net or call (203) 762-4304 Canada: Sr. Maureen Baldwin, e-mail: mbaldwin@cnd-m.org or call (416) 469-6756; for Spanish, call Sr. Mary MacIsaac, (708) 333-7595. See ad on page 41. Code #012. Congregation of Sisters of Bon Secours (C.B.S.) In 1821, Bon Secours became the first community of sisters to provide continuous nursing within the homes of those who were suffering. Our vision and mission: to defend all life and creation and alleviate suffering; to bring a message of hope and “GOOD HELP” to those in need. Our faith-filled communities draw others to our charism of compassion, healing, and liberation. Community life and shared prayer balance our life of ministry as we contribute to a more humane world integral to spreading the Gospel. We minister in health care, retreat ministry, pastoral, social and human services, housing, education, etc. Continuing foundress Josephine Potel’s innovative spirit, we bring healing and wholeness beyond walls of tradition in rural areas and cities in the USA, England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Peru and South Africa. Contact: Sr. Patricia Dowling, C.B.S., Vocation Director, 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD 21104; 1-877-742-0277; e-mail: cbsvocations@bshsi.org; website: http://www.bonsecoursvocations.org (or follow us on Facebook or Twitter). See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 87. Code #058. Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (C.S.A.) The Sisters of St. Agnes participate in the mission of Christ by

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org joyful service in the church, always aware that we, too, are among the needy and are enriched by those we serve. As an apostolic community, we are committed to transformation of the world, the church, and ourselves through promoting systemic change for the quality of life; justice for the economically poor; furtherance of the role of women in church and society; mutuality; inclusivity; and collaboration. Sr. Jean Hinderer, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, WI 54937; (920) 907-2310; e-mail: vocations@csasisters. org; website: http://www.csasisters.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 171. Code #171.

Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (D.C.) We are to see in our brothers and sisters who are poor the person of Jesus Christ. These are the words of St. Vincent de Paul, a humble priest who, together with St. Louise de Marillac, a noble widow, founded the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in 1633 in France. The community was the first order of women to live and work among our brothers and sisters who are poor. Two hundred years later, Elizabeth Ann Seton, an American widow, founded a community in the United States which, after her death, was joined to the French community of Daughters of Charity. Today, the Daughters of Charity, an international community of over 18, 875 women, continue to seek out those in need. Prayer, community life, and service to our brothers and sisters who are poor are essential elements of their lives. For more details check out our website at www.daughters-of-charity.com or write to the Vocation Director nearest you: 124 Third Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14303; 1201 South Caton Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21227; 9400 New Harmony Road, Evansville, IN 47720; 26000 Altamont Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022; 4330 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63108. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 59, 61, 63, 65. Code #168. Daughters of Divine Zeal (F.D.Z.) We are an international community of sisters established by St. Hannibal Marie Di Francia in 1887. We embrace the vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty, and profess a fourth vow: to pray and work for priestly and religious vocations (Rogate). Our charism is founded on the Gospel command of Jesus, “Pray the Lord of the Harvest to send workers into His Harvest. . .” (Mt. 9:37-38). Committed to prayer and ministration, the Daughters of Divine Zeal render service to schools, nursing homes, missions, parishes, and other local church needs. We invite women between 18 and 40 years old to join us. Cabrini Convent, 234 Franklin Street, Reading, PA 19602; Hannibal House Spiritual Center, 1526 Hill Road, Reading, PA 19602, Daughters of Divine Zeal, 379 E. Manning Avenue, Reedley, CA 93654; e-mail: srdaisydz@yahoo.com; website: http://www.fdz.com.au/order. Code #236. Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy (D.M.) We are an international Community founded in 1837 by Saint Mary Joseph Rossello. We seek to build the Kingdom of God by continuing the saving mission of Jesus through a total gift of self. We reaffirm our Foundress’ initial dedication to the poor as we live the charism of MERCY, open to the voice of the Church and the needs of all God’s people. Together we seek God through prayer and a communal life-style. Our ministries in the United States, Italy, South America, the Caribbean, Germany, Romania, India, and Africa include religious education, teaching, counseling, pastoral services, elderly

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Daughters of St. Mary of Providence The Daughters of St. Mary of Providence, founded in 1981 by Blessed Aloysius Guanella, is a religious congregation of Pontifical Rite. The love and fidelity to the Magisterium of the Church is an outstanding quality that every Sister possesses and fosters in her understanding of who they are in the Church. The Sisters live their religious consecration with the profession of the three vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty and carry out their ministry of charity among Senior citizens, the Developmentally Disabled, Youth, CCD Students, the Nutritionally Deprived and Nursing Home Residents. The Sisters spread their “culture of charity” and their commitment to all stages of life from conception to natural death in fourteen countries around the world: Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Romania, India, the Philippines, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Mexico, Canada and the United States. For more information: Vocation Director, 4200 North Austin Ave., Chicago, IL 60634, (773) 205-1313; e-mail: info@dsmpic.org or dsmpchi@sbcglobal.net; website: http://www.dsmpic.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 25. Code #263. Daughters of St. Paul (F.S.P.) An international congregation of Sisters, who live in the spirit of St. Paul the Apostle, to communicate Christ to the world through the media. Our daily prayer roots us in the Word of God and the Eucharist. Join us for discernment retreats and Come and See programs, and the St. Paul Summer High School Program. Age limit 18-30 years old. Contact: Sr. Margaret Michael, F.S.P., Vocation Director, 1025 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314; (703) 549-3806; e-mail: vocations@paulinemedia.com. Canada: Vocation Director, 3022 Dufferin St., Toronto, Ontario M6B 3T5; (416) 781-9131; e-mail: daughters_stpaul@yahoo.ca; website: http://www.daughtersofstpaul.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 106. Code #015. Daughters of the Heart of Mary (DHM) Women of Vision and Faith. The Daughters of the Heart of Mary—an international congregation of women who profess vows of Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience and live religious life without a distinctive sign or title. We live contemporary and often hidden lives patterned after that of Mary of Nazareth, with community life through a common spirituality and prayer life. Whether residing in a small community setting with other sisters or with family or alone, community is fostered through regular meetings, days of prayer and spiritual renewal, community celebrations, and province-wide gatherings. Our ministries are broad and diversified. Founded in 18th Century France by a Jesuit and lay woman, our mission Then and Today is to bring the Gospel message of Jesus out in the midst of the world, witnessed through our own lives of service to the Church and God’s people. Vocations Ministry, 1365 Northampton St., Holyoke, MA 01040; (413) 534-4502; e-mail: vocations@dhmna.org; website: http://www.dhmna.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 12. Code #150. Daughters of the Holy Spirit (D.H.S.) Rooted in a vital Trinitarian spirituality, we are called, like Mary, to reverence in a special way the presence and power of the Holy Spirit within ourselves, in others and in all creation. Living in the Spirit of Pentecost, we continue the Mission of the risen Christ through our simple presence, humble gestures, and collaborative efforts. Together we are sent forth in Gospel boldness to witness God’s tender love for all, especially for the least favored, “that all may have life and have it to the full.” Sr. Therese Vanasse, 152 Prospect Street, Moosup, CT 06354-1441; (860) 5642243; e-mail: tvanassedhs@att.net; website: http://www. daughtersoftheholyspirit.org. See ad on page 26. Code #016. Daughters of Wisdom (D.W.) Founded in France in 1703, the Daughters of Wisdom are called in community to seek and contemplate Divine Wisdom present in a world that hungers for meaning, justice, and compassion. We seek to bring the message of Jesus, Incarnate Wisdom,

enter #070 at VocationMatch.com to people experiencing injustice, violence, poverty, and oppression, especially women and children. As an international Congregation, we minister in the United States and 21 other countries to those in need of education, health care, basic human and spiritual resources. Sr. Lucy Clynes, D.W., 385 Ocean Avenue, Islip, NY 11751; (631) 277-2660 ext. 11; e-mail: vocation@daughtersofwisdom. org; website: http://www.daughtersofwisdom.org See ad on page 11. Code #275. Discalced Carmelite Nuns (O.C.D.) The Carmelite nun strives for the fullness of Christ-like love in a life dedicated to unceasing prayer and contemplation. The special mission of the nuns is to offer everything to God for the good of the Church and the salvation of souls. This everything includes daily participation in Mass and the Divine Office; faithfulness to religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience; prayer; work; asceticism; and joyful community life. As Pope John Paul II wrote to the Carmelites, “The enclosure does not isolate from the communion of the Mystical Body, but puts those who adhere to it at the heart of the Church. . . .” St. Teresa writes to her daughters that God hears most readily the cry of the soul that loves Him. This is Carmel’s gift to the Church. For more information about our life, visit our website: http://www.carmelsc.org or contact Mother Kateri Marie at vocations@carmelsc.org; 2901 South Cecelia Street, Sioux City, IA 51106-3299; (712) 276-1680. See ad on page 151. Code #262.

woMen’s coMMunities sarch woMen’s coMMunities

Congregation of the Humility of Mary (CHM) CHMs are educated women with a zest for life, sense of joy, passion for justice, and commitment to care for earth. As women with diverse gifts, personalities and energies, each individual is responsible for developing her unique gifts and abilities. Ministries of CHMs respond to the needs of the time providing shelter for the homeless, feeding the hungry, and assistance to the physically and mentally challenged. They also focus on low-income families, single parents, children and immigrants. CHMs are called to listen to the Spirit and, like Mary, live the Gospel message in simplicity, humility, and joy. Aware that ministry is fruitful only when flowing from prayer, CHMs join in communal and private prayer and strive to live as a community rooted in love—bringing forth the best in one another as they search and serve. Contact: Sr. Ramona Kaalberg, (515) 282-3521; e-mail: ramonak1@juno.com; website: http:// www.chmiowa.org. Code #363.

care, early child care, retreats, and foreign missions. If you feel called to commit yourself totally to a way of life which reflects the merciful Christ, contact the Vocation Directress: e-mail: dmnewfield@yahoo.com or write us at Daughters of Mercy, 1009 Main Road, Newfield, NJ 08344; (856) 697-2983. Code #074.

Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Dominican Sisters live in many locations throughout the U.S. We share a common heritage, and are influenced by differences in our geography and history. As Dominicans, we claim preaching as our mission, supported by a life of prayer and study in community. In apostolic congregations members often live in the locale where our particular ministries are located. Our preaching may take many forms, such as parish or diocesan ministry, education or health care, advocacy for justice, legal aid, the arts, spirituality or missionary activity. In all our ministries Dominican women strive for integrity in serving God and creation in the 21st century. Women in their 20’s and 30’s are invited to

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sisters

Service with a smile Sister Elizabeth ann sjoberg, d.c. When she started college Sister Elizabeth Ann Sjoberg, D.C. dreamed of healing the world as a cancer researcher. Along the way she traded a lab coat for a sister’s habit and says she couldn’t be happier. COMMUNITY: Daughters of Charity CURRENT MINISTRY: Campus minister for Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. WHAT FIRST ATTRACTED ME TO RELIGIOUS LIFE: The love of service really connected me to my community. When I saw the spirit in which the members of the community served—their reverence and their love of Jesus Christ—I thought, wow, that really takes it to another level. WHAT I DO FOR FUN: Hiking in the mountains, playing guitar, singing, running, and biking.

Photo courtesy of Daughters of Charity, Emmitsburg Province

BEST PART OF LIVING IN COMMUNITY: I love that we’re sharing life together, praying with each other, laughing and having fun together, supporting each other in our various ministries. We have morning and evening prayer together every day, and we attend daily Mass. EXPERIENCE THAT HOOKED ME ON RELIGIOUS LIFE: I lived with the sisters for a week during a semester break in college and got involved with several of their ministries. I went to bed crying every night— they were tears of joy over the awesomeness of knowing maybe this is it! PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW: I was a bit of a daredevil when I was younger. I’ve been bungee jumping and skydiving!

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org contact a Dominican congregation for specific information about the process for joining this mission as a vowed member. Women are also invited to obtain information about retreat opportunities and volunteer programs at a nearby Dominican community. Locate one by visiting our website: http://www.domlife.org/Vocation. See ad on page 33. Code #018. Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Adrian, MI Adrian Dominicans are a Congregation of more than 1,100 vowed women religious and associates who continue the Dominican tradition of preaching through prayer, study, mission, and common life. We minister in a variety of professions with peoples in various cultures, languages, and backgrounds. Many of us are engaged in the traditional works of education, health care, and social service. Others are involved in community organization, works of peace and justice, ministries in law, art, science, business, housing, pastoral care, and retreat work. We invite you to visit our website at http://www.adriandominicans.org, or better yet, come visit and get to know us. Vocation Director, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI 49221-1793; (517) 2663537; e-mail: vocations@adriandominicans.org. See ad on page 33. Code #018.

Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Blauvelt, NY Our Dominican motto: to praise, to bless, to preach the Word of God frames our lives of prayer, study, common life and ministry. We endeavor to proclaim the good news of the compassionate love of God for each person with a special consciousness of and presence to those who are poor and on the margins of society. In living out this mission, we serve in a variety of ministries including education, social services, health care, pastoral care, peace and justice, and prison ministry. We have committed ourselves to intentionally embrace the future with hope and recognize that God’s design is one that leads us to a greater understanding of the sacredness and oneness of all creation. We invite you to join us. To learn about our life and ministries, visit our website www.opblauvelt.org, our blog: opblauvelt. blogspot.com or contact our vocation minister, Sr. Michaela Connolly, O.P.; e-mail: mconnolly@opblauvelt.org. See ad on page 33. Code #018. Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Caldwell, NJ We, Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, are a community of vowed women religious responding to God’s call and united in our quest for the unfolding revelation of God. We preach the Word of God through our lives of contemplative prayer, study, and ministry in response to the needs of our time. Together we have chosen three directions: to reclaim our passion for contemplation; to hold the promotion of justice as a singular priority; and to study, live, and teach the mysteries of the universe and the sacredness of all creation. We live out these directions as we minister in education at all levels from pre-school to graduate school, child care centers, parish ministry, pastoral care, health care, senior housing facilities, advocacy for government and corporate practices, and earth literacy. We welcome other women to share this life with us. Visit our website www.caldwellop. org. Be in touch with our vocation director, Sister Peggy Ann Clinton, OP, 1 Ryerson Avenue, Caldwell, NJ 07006; (973) 403-3331, ext. 47; e-mail: paclinton@caldwellop.org. See ad on page 33. Code #018. Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Grand Rapids Moved by the Spirit, and drawn into the love of our God, we are vowed Dominican women preachers of hope: preaching by our very being, preaching the Word, and preaching in diverse forms through our ministries. Through contemplation, study, common life, and ministry, we strive to live the gospel, embodying God’s compassion for our needy world. We are contemplative Dominican women who desire to become the prayer that we pray, both individually and

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Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Racine, WI In harmony with our Dominican heritage of study and contemplation, we strive to be listeners and bearers of God’s Word. We are women “committed to truth and compelled to justice” who serve by our life-giving presence in areas of education, pastoral and retreat ministry, spiritual guidance, health care, and social justice. We stand in solidarity with people who are oppressed and alienated by unjust systems. At this urgent time in the church and global community, Racine Dominicans invite others to join them in community life, prayer, and ministry. Director of Vocations: Sister Karen Vollmer, O.P., 5635 Erie Street, Racine, WI 54302-1900; (262) 639-4100; e-mail: vocations@racinedominicans.org; website: http://www.racinedominicans.org. Also visit us on Facebook: facebook.com/RacineOP. See ad on page 33. Code #018. Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—San Rafael, CA Since 1850 the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael have been a vital part of the history and development of California, its people, and its church. We have established convents, schools, and hospitals throughout California and Nevada. We are committed to the Mission of Dominic: to proclaim God’s Word in our world. We serve in a broad array of ministries: education, health care, social service, pastoral care, advocacy for justice, and spiritual guidance. With our lives rooted in God’s truth and love, we are dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel in a world full of people who hunger and thirst for God’s love. We celebrate our calling as preachers and we welcome other women to join us in community and ministry. Sr. Patricia Farrell, O.P., 1520 Grand Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901-2236; (415) 2574939; fax: (415) 453-8367; e-mail: vocations@sanrafaelop. org; website: http://www.sanrafaelop.org. See ad on page 33. Code #018. Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Sparkill, NY We are Women Making a Difference! We are joyful, itinerant preachers who use our individual gifts and interests to empower the poor, oppressed and spiritually deprived. We use our gifts in teaching and nursing, as pastoral ministers, campus ministers, childcare providers, housing administrators and social workers to Proclaim the Good News. Our ministries expand throughout the United States as well as in Pakistan and Peru. Listen for your call and respond. Contact: Sr. Kathleen Logan, O.P., 175 Route 340, Sparkill, NY 10976; (845) 359-4025; e-mail: Kathleen.Loganop@sparkill.org; website: http://www.sparkill.org. See ad on page 33. Code #018. Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Springfield, IL We, Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois, are rooted in the mission of Jesus. Filled with the joy of the Gospel we are committed to bringing hope to our world. As St. Dominic did in 13th century Spain, we preach the Gospel in our own time and place, centered in prayer, study, ministry, and community life. We serve in Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, Wisconsin, and Peru, South America. If you are a woman 18 to 40 and would like more information please contact: Sr. Teresa Marron, O.P., Vocation Director, 700 Ashland Ave., Chicago Heights, IL 60411; (708) 207-1874; e-mail: srteresa@spdom.org; website: http://www.springfieldop. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 33, 89. Code #019. Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Tacoma, WA Nourished by prayer and study, supported by community, and energized by ministry we, the Dominican Sisters of Tacoma, are committed to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a community, we preach Jesus’ love and compassion to the people of God through our diverse ministries in Washington, Oregon, California, Nicaragua, Central America and Montreal, Canada. These ministries include education,

Sisters of the Resurrection Called to be vibrant witnesses of the RISEN LORD!

Dedicate your life to God in the spirit of the Paschal Mystery. Embrace a life of prayer, community living, and service through ministries in education and health care. Please contact the Vocation Director at: 7432 W TalcoTT ave chicago, il 60631 773-792-6363 callres@yahoo.com WWW.crsisTerschicago.org

or 35 BolTWood ave casTleTon, ny 12033 518-732-2226 vocaTion@resurrecTionsisTers.org

www.resurrectionsisters.org enter #215 at VocationMatch.com health care, ministry to the developmentally delayed (L’Arche), social service, housing, ministry to undocumented people, women’s spirituality (Catherine Place), campus ministry, parish ministry, and literacy tutoring. In our Mission Statement we have pledged ourselves “. . . .to collaborate in networks of spiritual, educational, and political commitment to create a just society that addresses basic human needs and ends the violence that erodes our planet.” We invite and welcome women who have come alive in the Word of God and who share our joy and energy for preaching the Good News of Jesus to God’s people everywhere. Come; create your future with us! Sr. Gretta Woodlock, O.P., 935 Fawcett Ave., S., Tacoma, WA 98402; (253) 272-9688; fax: (253) 272-8790; e-mail: gretta@tacomaop.org; website: http://www.tacomaop.org See ad on page 33. Code #018.

woMen’s coMMunities sarch woMen’s coMMunities

Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Amityville, NY Our family consists of vowed members, Associates and Volunteers. Our lives are shaped by prayer, common life, study, and mission. “We Dominican women religious, called to be signs of joy and hope, commit ourselves to incarnating the Gospel, deepening our life of prayer, searching for Truth, discerning the needs of the Church and ministering to the People of God.” We live out our Dominican call to preach the truth in a variety of ministries. We invite you to visit our website at www. catholicdominicansisters.org or to contact Sister Elaine Jahrsdoefer, OP at (631) 842-6000; e-mail: asstprioress@ amityop.org. See ad on page 33. Code #018.

communally. The depth and joyfulness of our liturgical prayer grounds us in holy mystery. We are called to continual deepening of a contemplative engagement with the world. We have a passion for justice, a desire to be in right relationship with God, one another, and the cosmos. Our ministries are as diverse and creative as are the gifts and talents of our members. We serve primarily in Michigan, New Mexico as well as in 17 other states and in Peru and Honduras. Join our Sisters and Associates in preaching the Gospel of Hope. Sr. Katheryn Sleziak, O.P., 2025 East Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3895; (616) 643-0378; e-mail: ksleziak@grdominicans.org. Visit our website: http://www.grdominicans.org. See ad on page 33. Code #018.

Dominican Sisters of Divine Providence A contemplative-active community. Our main purpose as religious is to be deeply immersed in God through a serious prayer life. The specific work of the community is the spreading of the Kingdom of God through the apostolate of teaching. Our apostolic work flows from, alternates with, and is sustained by our prayer life. In a joyful and relaxing atmosphere we work together, share our gifts, and recognize and appreciate one another’s contributions and uniqueness. To contact us: 25 Harmony School Road, Flemington, NJ 08822; (908) 782-1504; fax: (908) 7887394; e-mail: smmichele698@yahoo.com. See ad on page 163. Code #022. Dominican Sisters of Oakford (O.P.) The Dominican Sisters of Oakford are an international missionary congregation affiliated to the Dominican Order. The congregation was founded in 1889 on a small farm in Oakford, Natal (now known as Kwa-Zulu Natal) South Africa. Rooted in the mission of Jesus, Oakford Sisters are formed in the spirit of St. Dominic and are consecrated women of the Church at the service of God’s Kingdom. Oakford Sisters are known for their lives of sacrificial service, readiness, versatility and complete availability to meet the needs of the Church manifested in the circumstances of the times.

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org The Dominican Sisters of Oakford currently serve the Church in the countries of South Africa, Germany, the United States, and England, in the areas of health care, social work, pastoral care and spiritual direction. Sr. Jodi Min, O.P., 327 Woodland Park, San Leandro, CA 94577; (510) 635-1480; e-mail: sisterjodiop@yahoo.com; website: www.oakforddominicans.org. See ad on page 33. Code #018.

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Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of the Springs of Bridgeport (O.P.) New beginnings coupled with a lot of faith, hope and love offer us some challenging opportunities to serve the Lord. Who are we? We are women committed to the values embraced by Saint Dominic in the 13th century that still continue to be relevant today. Our focus concentrates on searching for the Truth, Jesus Christ, through prayer, study, common life and various ministries. We live our Dominican vocation primarily as teachers, professors and scholars. We are women who are faithful to the Church and are convinced that the saving message of Jesus Christ needs to be preached in our times. What do you think? Do you agree? We cordially invite to come and see us in our daily routines from prayers to cookouts! Contacts: Sister Martha Kunesh, O.P. or Sister Helen Kieran, O.P., e-mail: mkunesh@bridgeportdominicans.org, or hkieran@bridgeportdominicans.org; 21 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902; website: www.bridgeportdominicans.org. See ad on page 118. Code #351. Dominican Sisters of Peace (O.P.) We are Dominican Sisters whose charism of preaching flows from our contemplation, study, and community. We are more than 600 Sisters and 500 Associates who live and minister in 29 states and in Honduras, Nigeria, Peru, Tanzania, and Vietnam. We are committed to greater involvement in the global community, simplicity of life, and itinerancy. Our diverse ministries include education, health care, social work, spiritual direction, and parish-based ministries, among others. We serve in colleges, high schools, elementary schools, literacy centers, ecology and spiritual outreach centers, parishes, prisons, and more. We work to create environments of peace by promoting non-violence, unity in diversity, reconciliation, and justice through solidarity, especially for women and children. For more information, please contact Sr. Cathy Arnold, O.P., Sr. Amy McFrederick, O.P., or Sr. Pat Twohill at 1220 W. Market St., Akron, OH 44313, or e-mail: vocations@oppeace.org or (330) 835-5690; website: www.oppeace.org. See ad on page 33. Code #018.

Felician Franciscan Sisters (C.S.S.F.)—Our Lady of Hope Province, North America We, the Felician Sisters are an active contemplative congregation of consecrated women founded by Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska. Our charism is to imitate her boundless love of God and surrender to God’s will in compassionate service, total availability and concern for the salvation of all people. We live and pray together in community, and follow the rule of St. Francis of Assisi. Responding to the needs of God’s people and of the times, we minister in health care, pastoral care, education, social work, spiritual and administrative services and other Church-related ministries. Today about 1,800 Felician Franciscan Sisters minister to God’s people in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Poland, Italy, England, France, Kenya, Estonia, Russia, Ukraine and the Amazon. Find out more about us at www.feliciansisters.org or contact the Vocation Center at navocations@ feliciansisters.org. See ad on page 13. Code #025. Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows (O.S.F.) Our community was founded in China (1939) by Bishop Rafael Palazzi, O.F.M. The Spirit of God has brought us to ministry in various places: California, Oregon, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Canada. As religious women, we seek to live united with Christ. We witness to his Good News through the joy and hospitality of our Franciscan charism, each of us using our gifts for the glory and praise of God. Places where the Gospel has not been fully proclaimed have a special appeal to us. Current ministries: retreat work, catechesis, elementary and highschool education, teen and parish ministry. We welcome inquiries from women, ages 18 to 45. Vocation Directress, 3600 S.W. 170th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006-5099; (503) 649-7127; fax: (503) 259-9507; e-mail: sisters@ olpretreat.org; website: http://www.olpretreat.org. See ad on page 21. Code #126.

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Franciscan Sisters at Springfield (O.S.F.) [Hospital Sisters of St. Francis - USA, Inc.] We are committed to proclaiming the Gospel in the spirit of St. Francis and our founding Sisters, by prayer and service with others. We remain dedicated to a wholehearted response to the sick, poor, and needy as we strive to bring Christ’s healing presence to suffering humanity with simplicity and compassionate care. We are an international congregation with community members serving God’s people through healing ministries such as nursing, social service, home health care, occupational therapy, pastoral care, HIV/ AIDS, massage therapy, spiritual direction, and administration. There are thirteen hospitals located in Illinois and Wisconsin as well as mission centers in Tanzania and Haiti. We have community members in Germany, Poland, Japan, Kazakhstan, India, Czech Republic, and Korea. Membership Invitation: Vocation Director, St. Francis Convent, LaVerna Road, P.O. Box 19431, Springfield, IL 62794-9431; (217) 522-3386; e-mail: discern@hsosf-usa. org; website: http://www.franciscansatspfld.org. See ad on page 95. Code #037. Franciscan Sisters of Allegany (O.S.F.) The Franciscan Sisters of Allegany are women in relationship: with God, others and creation. We seek to live the Gospel and witness to God’s love in the Franciscan tradition by living as sisters with all creation and by joyfully serving others, especially those who are poor and marginalized. Our charism is that of Francis Assisi: to live the Gospel life in the spirit of love, joy, simplicity, and hospitality, and to share our Franciscan Spirituality with others. We minister on the East Coast of the United States, Jamaica, Brazil, and Bolivia. Our ministries include health care, social services, education, parish and spiritual ministries, among many others. We care for the homeless, raise awareness of justice, peace, and environmental issues, and commit ourselves to a Gospel stance of nonviolence. We support one another in community and prayer, using our varied gifts and talents to care for God’s people. Sr. Jo Marie Streva, OSF, Initial Formation Office, 1410-1 Park Shore Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33901, (239)3325260; email: fsainquiry@yahoo.com; website: www. alleganyfranciscans.org. See ad on page 28. Code #189. Franciscan Sisters of Chicago (O.S.F.) Modeled after the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare and the early brothers and sisters we take our inspiration from the Gospels, following Jesus. We call it Franciscan Evangelical Life. Our witness is the witness of our lives. As Francis said, “Preach with your example, and if necessary, with your words.” Thus we actively labor in ministries of service and prayer, joyfully sharing the gifts of talents and skills given by the Holy Spirit, for the building up of the kingdom of God in justice, mercy, and peace. Vocation Minister, Sr. Lois Marie Rossi, 3115 N. Karlov Avenue, Chicago, IL 60641; (773) 328-5566; e-mail: vocations@chicagofranciscans.com; or Vocation Coordinator, Carol Lackie (630) 243-3555; e-mail: clackie@chicagofranciscans.com; website: http:// www.chicagofranciscans.org. See ad on page 123. Code #166. Franciscan Sisters of Dubuque, Iowa (O.S.F.) Please visit our website www.osfdbq.org to catch a glimpse of our life. We are “Rooted in the Gospel and in the spirit of Saints Francis and Clare. We strive to live in right relationship with all creation by deepening our relationship with Mother Earth and Sister Water; by standing with persons who are poor and by making peace and practicing non-violence. This is who we are; this is what the global community can expect of us.” Our Sister Water projects in Honduras and Tanzania have been meaningful times to work with another diverse group of people. We, 311 Sisters, serve in a variety of ministries in 11 states, Honduras, Canada, and St. Lucia. We have the joy of two temporary professed sisters and 130 associates We invite you to e-mail us at: heldorferv@osfdbq.org or call (563) 583-9786 ext. 6166. Visit us in Dubuque, IA or www. osfdbq.org. Peace. See ad on page 164. Code #193. Franciscan Sisters of John the Baptist (FSJB) We are a new community, established October 2, 2006 in the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois. According to the example of John the Baptist, we dedicate ourselves to a life of limitless humility and self-renunciation. In this way we strive to decrease so Christ can increase. We want our lifestyle to be one of total trust in God. An indispensable part of

our charism is to pray daily for priests and seminarians. We commit ourselves to the service of Christ through His brothers and sisters, according to the needs of the Church and society under the guidance of the local Bishop. We are open to nursing, teaching, catechesis, and more. We are a contemplative-active community faithful to the Holy Father and to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. We live a joyful and strong community life, rooted in the Eucharist and a solid prayer life and we wear a religious habit. Contact: Mother M. Vaclava Ballon, FSJB, 1209 E. Lake Ave., Peoria, IL 61616; (309) 688-3500; e-mail: fsjbpeoria@yahoo.com; website: http://www.sistersofjohnthebaptist.org Code #354. Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota (O.S.F.) We are a community of women, who dedicate ourselves to a life of prayer and service with others. In the Spirit of Francis and Clare of Assisi, we accept the Gospel as our highest Rule of life. Our communal life together, our ministries, and our practice of justice support our commitment to constant conversion. Participating in the Church’s mission, we promote community through the works that we do and through our personal presence with those we serve. Our diverse ministries include social work, health care, massage, counseling, administration, education, parish ministry, spiritual direction, justice advocacy, environmental awareness, presence with homeless people, prayer and hospitality. We minister in the United States, Mexico, Ecuador and Nicaragua. Vocation Minister, Sr. Carmen Barsody, OSF, 116 8th Avenue SE, Little Falls, MN 56345-3597; (320) 632-0652; e-mail: vocations@fslf.org; website: http://www.fslf.org. See ad on page 133. Code #268. Franciscan Sisters of Oldenburg, IN (O.S.F.) We are Third Order Franciscan Sisters. We are women of prayer, committed to vibrant Franciscan living of Gospel values. We are committed to being prophetic in care of creation: in working for peace through justice and we make right relationships a high priority in our lives. We were founded in 1851 and have 261 sisters, including one in initial formation. Our Associates number 285. Our outreach ministries are Michaela Farm in Oldenburg which incorporates natural farming practices; Prayer Lodge in Busby, Montana, and Nia Kuumba Discernment House in St. Louis, Missouri and Oldenburg Franciscan Center, a Spirituality Center on campus. Our foreign mission is in Papua New Guinea. For further info see http://www. oldenburgfranciscans.org or call our vocation director, Sr. Joan Miller (812) 933-6417 or e-mail: vocations@ oldenburgosf.com. Code #167. Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (O.S.F.) We celebrate our mission to be a transforming presence in society through witnessing Gospel values. We strive to be prayerful women of faith, prophetic vision, and courage. As 100 sisters in community serving the poor and empowering others to live the gospel with hope and joy, we serve in 14 states in the United States in pastoral care, education, health care, youth ministry, and social services. As Franciscans, we are committed to announcing peace and promoting justice. In the words of our foundress, Mother Ernestine Matz, “There is no place too far, no service too humble, and no person too lowly.” Visit our web site at http://www.fsolph.org for information. Vocations, 335 South Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122; (314) 965-3700; fax: (314) 965-3710; e-mail: vocations@fsolph.org. See ad on page 127. Code #170. Franciscan Sisters of Peace (F.S.P.) The Franciscan Sisters of Peace were founded in 1986 in the Archdiocese of New York. Their charism is to live the Gospel and to follow in the footprints of Jesus Christ in the manner of Francis and Clare of Assisi. They follow the Rule of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis and are committed to being peacemakers in word and witness. Franciscan Spirituality forms the common heart of the congregation. The Associates of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace are lay women who live the Franciscan spirit and charism of peacemaking in their own lives. Franciscan Sisters of Peace minister in New York, New Jersey, Arizona, New Mexico and California in education, religious education, pastoral and social work, and prison ministry. Women who are practicing Catholics are welcome to contact Sr. Ann Smith, FSP (Vowed Membership) or Mrs.

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org Judith Peterson (Associates), 20 Ridge Street, Haverstraw, NY 10928; (845) 942-2527; e-mail: secretary@fspnet.org; website: http://www.fspnet.org. Code #017. Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (F.S.P.A.) As Franciscans we commit ourselves to promoting sustainability of the environment, seeking peace and justice for all, and inviting new members to join us on our Franciscan journey. The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration have prayed 24/7 since 1878. This Eucharistic Adoration is the essence of who we are and what we do. Today more than 300 Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and 220 Affiliates and 125 Prayer Partners live a spirituality of Loving Presence in mission, in community, and in solidarity with the oppressed. We minister throughout the United States as well as Canada, Central America, Mexico and Africa. We offer a wide variety of ministry options including education, health care, parish—just to name a few. Let’s talk. Membership Office, 912 Market Street, La Crosse, WI 54601-8800; (888) 683-FSPA (toll free); e-mail: dorothy@fspa.org; website: http://www.fspa.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 45. Code #030.

Franciscan Sisters of Saint Elizabeth (F.S.S.E.) Following in the footsteps of our Founder Blessed Ludovico and living under the Third Order Regular Rule of Saint Francis, we commit ourselves to a Gospel life of poverty, chastity, and obedience. As a multi-cultural community, we minister to God’s people on five continents. Worldwide we daily unite ourselves as community through our common celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Divine Office, Holy Hour, and meditation. We offer our service through education, health care, parish ministry, care of the elderly, and evangelization. We joyfully embrace living in community, sharing a life of prayer while being active in our ministries. Are you called to journey with us? Call, write, or e-mail. Request information; come visit. The first step of the journey is yours to take. Let us assist you along the way. Vocation Office, Franciscan Sisters of Saint Elizabeth, 499 Park Road, Parsippany, NJ 07054; (973) 539-3797; e-mail: sr_cathylynn@yahoo.com; website: http://www. franciscansisters.com. See ad on page 22. Code #056. Franciscan Sisters of St. Paul, MN (O.S.F.) Known internationally as the Franciscan Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Angels, we serve in the United States, Netherlands, Brazil, and Germany. We are committed to live the Gospel plainly and simply among the people, to serve each other in community, and be open to God’s challenge, whatever the time and place, in actively relieving human suffering. We serve in multiple ministries abroad, and in the U.S. we minister in health care, education, and social services, especially among the poor. Prayer is the substance of our choice of life. We invite any woman between the ages of 21 and 40 who wishes to accompany us on our journey to join us as a member or associate. Minimum education required is high school; college degree preferred. Visit http://www.askmotherrose.org for more information. Vocation Director, 1388 Prior Avenue South, St. Paul, MN 55116; (651) 690-1501; e-mail: maryldolezal@yahoo.com. See ad on page 126. Code #031.

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Franciscan Sisters of the Poor (S.F.P.) We are women who have heard the call from Christ to “heal my wounds in the poor and suffering.” We walk in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, committed to a Gospel way of life. An international congregation in the geographical areas of the United States, Brazil, Italy, Africa, and the Philippines, we respond to people in need through our healing presence and diversity of gifts. Sisters in the United States are involved in pastoral/spiritual ministry, health care, social outreach, and direct services to the poor and homeless. Prayer, contemplation, and community are central to our lives. You are welcome to “come and see!” Contact: Vocation Office, 110 Compton Road, Cincinnati, OH 45215-5105; (513) 761-1697, ext. 103; e-mail: joannjackowski@franciscansistersusa.org; web: http://www.franciscansistersusa.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 86. Code #032. Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart (O.S.F.) As Franciscan women in the church today we share our lives in prayer, community, and ministry. Located in Indiana, Illinois, California, and Brazil, South America; our ministries include: health care in hospitals, clinics, home health, support programs for pregnant teens, and social service programs; education as teachers, administrators, librarians, and religious education coordinators; parish ministry as liturgists, pastoral associates, youth ministers, and coordinators of parish programs; retreat ministry and ministry among the base communities of the Amazon area of Brazil, South America. Contact: Vocation Director, 9201 West St. Francis Road, Frankfort, IL 60423; (815) 464-3848; e-mail: fsshvocations@aol.com; website: http:// www.fssh.com/vocations. See ad on page 162. Code #033.

Glenmary Home Mission Sisters of America (G.H.M.S.) The Glenmary Sisters provide missionary services to the poor and unchurched in the South and Appalachia where the Catholic population is less than 2 percent. They are radically involved with the issues of injustice, spiritual and material poverty, and racism. Through their ministry of presence, the people of these areas come to understand the love and concern of the broader Catholic Christian Family and their own dignity as God’s children. Mrs. Barbara O’Nan, e-mail: barbara@glenmarysisters.org or Sr. Sharon Miller; e-mail: srsharon@glenmarysisters.org; website: http://www. glenmarysisters.org or call 1-800-301-2689. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #138.

Good Shepherd Sisters (G.S.S.) We are an international congregation with contemplative and apostolic sisters numbering around 5,000. We have communities in 71 countries throughout the world. Our mission is one of reconciliation. We believe that, “One Person is of More Value than a World.” Through our prayer and ministry we strive to model our lives after the heart of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who left the 99 to respond to the one in special need. Our apostolic work includes a variety of human services, primarily social work and social justice advocacy with a particular focus on women and children. Our contemplative prayer strives to bring the liberating love of Jesus, the Good Shepherd to all of God’s people. Vocation Directors: Christine Alvarez, (732) 946-0515; e-mail: gsvocny@optonline.net; Sr. Mercy de Leon, (502) 742-3744; e-mail: mdeleon@gspmna.org; Sr. Mary Ann Giordano; (215) 782-8627; e-mail: sunset@catholic.org; US website: http://www.goodshepherdsisters.org; Sr. Gilda Fernando, Toronto, Canada; (416) 787-4285; e-mail: gildafernando@ hotmail.com; Canada website: http://www.goodshepherdsisterscanada.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 52. Code #077.

Join us

- in prayer - in working for justice - in sustaining Creation

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Sisters of the Presentation San Francisco

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Contact: Sister Stephanie Still, PBVM sstill@pbvmsf.org 415-422-5020 enter #266 at VocationMatch.com Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart (G.N.S.H.) Grey Nuns are an apostolic religious congregation dedicated to contemplating and living the values of the Gospel. As daughters of St. Marguerite d’Youville our mission calls us to know and share God’s constant and unconditional love with one another and with those to whom we minister. We choose to live out this call in community, personal and communal prayer, and compassionate service, especially to the poor and needy. Social justice, peace and nonviolence, and care of the earth are important values in our prayer, living and working. Our 126 sisters are present in 9 dioceses in the U.S. and Haiti and engage in educational, health care, pastoral and social ministries. We invite women between the ages of 20-45 who love enough to serve the poor and are prepared to explore our life and mission to contact our Vocation Director at 1750 Quarry Road, Yardley, PA 19067-3998; (215) 968-4236; e-mail: jdaly@greynun.org; website: http:// www.greynun.org. See ad on page 122. Code #183.

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Franciscan Sisters of Rochester, MN (O.S.F.) The Franciscan Sisters of Rochester, MN, believe as St. Francis did: that we are all brothers and sisters, one family under God. With a rich spiritual heritage and the strength of prayer and community, we choose ministries guided by societal needs and the call to justice. You will find us across the United States, in Cambodia or Colombia, in inner cities and rural areas, responding to the call to justice and peace; we are teachers, nurses, spiritual directors, artists, writers, administrators, religious educators, counselors, social workers, therapists, and healers of creation. We believe in the empowerment of women and the worth and dignity of every person. We learn as we teach, are healed as we heal others, and are changed as we pray and act with compassion. We hope to join with others in creating with compassion a just and loving global community. For more information, contact: Central Minister, Rochester Franciscan Life Teams, (888) 277-4741; e-mail: ann.redig@myclearwave.net; website: http://www.rochesterfranciscan.org. See ad on page 87. Code #213.

Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement (S.A.) We are a community of women founded in 1898 who share a vowed life within the context of community. Our spiritual and community life nurture and make possible our ministries that vary according to ones gifts and background. At present our sisters minister in the United States, Canada, Italy, Japan, and Brazil. We are currently involved in faith formation, pastoral ministry, social services, kindergartens, retreat and guest house ministry. Vocation Ministry, 41 Old Highland Turnpike, Garrison, NY 10524; (845) 2308200; e-mail: VocationMinistry@graymoor.org; website: http://www.graymoor.org. See ad on page 132. Code 211.

Holy Cross Sisters (S.C.S.C.) We are a Franciscan community of sisters who, together with our associates, seek ongoing conversion of the heart. We embrace the mystery of the cross as we live gospel values. Faithful to the spirit of our founders we respond to the needs of the time with mercy and compassion while creating possibilities for the future. Sisters and Associates work in such fields as health care, assisted living, social services, pastoral ministry, education, spirituality, prison ministry, and liturgy in 9 states. They also draw strength from their international community of more than 4,000 sisters and associates on 5 continents, united through their motherhouse in Switzerland. The USA Province is headquartered in Merrill, WI, and today includes 36 sisters and 45 associates. In 2012 we will be celebrating 100 years presence in the United States. For more information, contact: Sister Kathy Wiesneski at kwiesneski@holycrosssisters.org; (715) 539-1460; website: http//www.holycrosssisters.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #035.

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Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters (S.Sp.S.) As an international missionary community of about 3,500 women ministering in 47 countries, we are called to share the Good News of Jesus and witness to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the world. Called by the Spirit, we are sent to peoples of diverse cultures, religions, and social/ethnic backgrounds. Wherever possible we live in international/ intercultural communities. We participate in the mission of Jesus through education on all levels and in different types of schools, through health care, in parish ministry, retreat work and spiritual direction, communication and media, counseling and social services, work with the elderly and especially with women who are pushed to the margins of society. For more information please contact: Office for Vocation Ministry, P.O. Box 6026, Techny, IL 60082-6026 or 319 Waukegan Rd., Northfield, IL 60093; (847) 441-0126 ext. 700 or 704; e-mail: sspsovm@aol. com; website: http://www.ssps-usa.org. See ad on page 107. Code #127. Holy Union Sisters (S.U.S.C.) At the heart of who we are is our name: Holy Union. We express this union first by being one with ourselves. We strive to bring this union to our world by working among different cultures, ethnic groups, the deprived and marginalized. Our desire for union impels us to collaborate with others. As members of the NonGovernmental Organization UNANIMA International, we work with other congregations of women religious at the United Nations to bring about systemic change. We strive to respect and care for the earth. Founded in 1826 in northern France, we serve today in educational, pastoral and social ministries. Holy Union Sisters serve as parish ministers, chaplains, teachers, administrators, caregivers to the elderly and in ministries among immigrants. We are present in eleven countries on four continents. Contact us at husvocations@gmail.com. You can learn more about us by visiting our website: www.holyunionsisters.org. See ad on page 97. Code #368.

Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (I.B.V.M.) [Loretto Sisters] Founded in 1609, we are an apostolic community of Catholic women present in 26 countries across six continents. We live our Ignatian spirituality of “contemplatives in action” so cherished by our founder, Mary Ward. In prayer we seek to discern and embrace God’s desire in today’s changing and challenging times. We believe that women have great gifts to offer in promoting freedom, justice, and integrity within church and society. The place of women in society is central to our concern. We serve in educational, pastoral, and social ministries as parish ministers, religious education directors, teachers, spiritual directors, counselors, campus ministers, caregivers to women in need, and ministries among immigrants. With a single-hearted love we hold ourselves open and ready to undertake whatever is for the greater glory of God and the good of those we serve. Contact Sr. Lynn Cira, IBVM; (416) 925-2833; e-mail: ibvm.lynn@sympatico.ca or Sr. Claire Vandborg, IBVM; (630) 868-2904; e-mail: vocation@ibvm.us. Visit our websites: http://www.ibvm.ca or http://www.ibvm.us. Code #210.

Little Company of Mary Sisters (L.C.M.) We, the Little Company of Mary Sisters, are an international congregation named for the little group of faithful followers who remained in the company of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, at the foot of the Cross. Upon founding the LCM Sisters in Nottingham, England in 1877, Venerable Mary Potter dedicated her community to the Maternal Heart of Mary. We bear witness to the healing presence of Jesus through our spiritual and physical care of the poor, sick, suffering, and dying in our midst, and by constant prayer for the sick and dying of the world. We welcome single women, ages 21 to 45, of diverse cultures, talents, and life experiences who have the health and desire to follow Jesus in gospel living as consecrated women. Contact: Sister Jean Stickney, L.C.M., (708) 229-5797 or Suzanne Petrouski, (708) 229-5095, American Province LCM Sisters, 9350 South California Avenue, Evergreen Park, IL 60805; email: vocations@lcmh.org; website: http://www.lcmh.org or http://www.lcmglobal.org. See ad on page 94. Code #039. Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary (L.S.J.M.) The Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary are an active-contemplative community of religious women called to meet Christ in the poor, in one another, in the created world and in

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the Eucharist. Embracing the spirituality of Charles de Foucauld, our mission is to Cry the Gospel with our lives. We live in community; daily Eucharist, morning and evening prayer, adoration, service and hospitality are hallmarks of our life. Our apostolate includes a crisis center for the poor, a soup kitchen, a residential program for homeless men, a gift and book shop, a representative payee program and a good neighbor program. We were founded in 1974 by Sr. Mary Elizabeth Gintling who described our community as women “loving God together”, and as “wounded people healing wounded people”. Please contact: Sr. Connie Ladd, P.O. Box 1755, Salisbury, MD 21802; (410)543-1645; e-mail: lsjm@comcast.net; website: www.thejosephhouse.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 119. Code #361. Little Sisters of the Poor (L.S.P.) We are an international congregation living the Beatitudes and serving the needy elderly in the spirit of St. Jeanne Jugan, one of our Church’s newest saints (canonized October 11, 2009!). Through our fourth vow of hospitality, we dedicate our lives to the aged poor, with whom we become one family. The words of St. Jeanne Jugan are our inspiration as we spend our lives in humble service: “Making the elderly happy, that is what counts. . .Never forget that the poor are Our Lord; it is Jesus whom you care for in them.” Through our vocation we wish to give quiet witness to the dignity of every human life, until the very end. The Association Jeanne Jugan is comprised of Catholic lay men and women who share in our spirit and mission. Visit our website: http://www.littlesistersofthepoor.org or contact Sr. Constance, 601 Maiden Choice Lane, Baltimore, MD 21228; e-mail: serenity@littlesistersofthepoor.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 26. Code #041.

Marianist Sisters, Daughters of Mary Immaculate (F.M.I) The Marianist Sisters are the women vowed religious in the Marianist Family. We continue the risk-taking faith of our foundress, Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon, in developing faith communities in collaboration with the laity, and the service of women, youth, and the poor. FMI’s serve in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and the United States (Dayton, OH and San Antonio, TX). In the United States we still have much of the pioneer spirit, with “a mission to spread the Marianist Charism wherever we are.” Vocation Office: 30 Sawmill Road, Dayton, OH 45409; (937) 224-5896; or 235 W. Ligustrum Drive, San Antonio, TX 78228-4092; (210) 433-5501; e-mail: laura. leming@notes.udayton.edu or gtrautman@sm-usa.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 146. Code #105. Marianites of Holy Cross (M.S.C.) United with Mary standing at the foot of the cross, we, Marianites of Holy Cross, are APOSTOLIC religious, women of PRAYER and COMPASSION. Our mission, energized by our life in COMMUNITY, is to incarnate the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. Called to be a PROPHETIC presence in an ever-changing world, we resolutely stand with those who are excluded. We number 200 sisters, and are part of the Holy Cross Family of Sisters, Brothers, Priests, and Lay Associates. We minister in the all-inclusive fields of education, health care, social work, and parish ministry in France, the United States and Canada. In prayer, community life, ministry, with family and friends, we witness to God’s Spirit dwelling within us and encourage others to recognize God’s action in their lives. Sound like you? Contact us! E-mail: reneemsc@marianites.org; website: http://www.marianites.org. See ad on page 35. Code #162. Marist Missionary Sisters (S.M.S.M.) The Marist Missionary Sisters are a multi-cultural congregation. They belong to a religious family known as the Society of Mary, whose members include laity, sisters, brothers, and priests. Today, the Marist Missionary Sisters serve in many countries on six continents. We serve in many different ways, such as education, pastoral ministry, social outreach, and the promotion of health and ecology. We live simply and prayerfully in community in the spirit of Mary. As we embrace different cultures and traditions, we experience many unique expressions of faith and community that enrich us. If you are looking for more and want to make a difference in our world, come and share our vision. Contact: Vocation Office, 349 Grove St.,

Waltham, MA 02453; (781) 899-1837; e-mail: smsmvoc@ aol.com; website: http://www.maristmissionarysmsm.org. Code #128. Maryknoll Sisters (M.M.) We are women religious missionaries. Rooted in Christ, we cross boundaries of cultures, races, gender, socio-economic-political status and faith traditions, making God’s love and compassion visible in 25 countries in Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands and the Americas. We serve as pastoral workers, social workers, community based health workers, doctors, nurses, catechists, farmers, teachers, theologians, spiritual directors and advocates for justice and peace, preservation of the environment and integrity of all creation. We journey with the people especially the poor and oppressed in the search for truth, for justice, and for peace. Join us. . . . to help make God’s love visible! Contact: Vocation Ministry Coordinator, Maryknoll Sisters, P.O. Box 311, Maryknoll, NY 10545; (914) 941-7575 ext. 5612; email: vocation@mksisters.org. Our website: http://www. maryknollsisters.org. See ad on page 105. Code #199. Medical Mission Sisters (M.M.S.) Medical Mission Sisters are an international community of Catholic Sisters and Associates whose lives are committed to healing and wholeness. We live out this commitment in 19 countries on five continents, including North America. Our call “to be present to life in the spirit of Jesus the healer” takes shape in our involvements in primary health care, hospitals, holistic health, women’s groups, community development, social work, global education, environmental concerns, and justice and peace issues. Our approach is to work closely with local people, helping them learn how to experience health and healing in their own lives, communities and nations. We invite women who want to live the love of God for all people through a mission of healing to join us on our journey. For more information, contact: Sr. Marie Schmids, 8400 Pine Road, Philadelphia, PA 19111; (215) 742-6100 or (215) 205-8979; e-mail: marie.schmids@yahoo.com; website: http://www.medicalmissionsisters.org. See ad on page 31. Code #042. Medical Missionaries of Mary (M.M.M.) Inspired by our Blessed Mother’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth, the Medical Missionaries of Mary (MMM) follow her example, bringing Christ’s healing love to those most in need. Sustained by prayer and community life, each sister, in self-surrender, seeks God through a life-long commitment of poverty, celibacy, and obedience in service to the sick, poor, marginalized and most neglected of our world. MMM is particularly drawn to those services that heal and empower women. MMM presently serve in nine African countries, Brazil and Honduras ministering in a variety of professional capacities such as midwives, nurses, doctors, social services, administrators and various pastoral ministries. The sisters strive to identify, respect and affirm cultural differences and wisdom with particular regards to health and healing. Primary Health Care, in continuous dialogue with the local people, is a MMM priority. Contact: Sr. Therese McDonough, Vocation Director, Medical Missionaries of Mary, 179 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143-1515; (617) 666-3223; e-mail: tmcdonoughmmm@ verizon.net; website: http://www.mmmusa.org. Code #299. Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart (M.H.S.H.) Mission Helpers can be found visiting poor families in their homes to inquire about their needs; acting as advocates for the handicapped and hearing impaired; feeding the homeless of our cities; counseling and challenging young people; comforting families of the terminally ill, including those with AIDS; counseling families dealing with social, economic, or psychological pressures and proclaiming the Gospel through spirituality programs and formal religious education. The Sisters minister throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. Becoming aware of an existing need, a Mission Helper responds. Vocation Director, 1001 West Joppa Road, Baltimore, MD 21204; (410) 823-8585, ext. 245; fax: (410) 296-4050; e-mail: vocations@missionhelpers.org; website: http://www. missionhelpers.org. See ad on page 20. Code #043. Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (M.F.I.C.) The Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, a community of about 240

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org Sisters, serve the church, especially the poor and needy, in 10 countries of the world including nine East Coast states of the U.S. In the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi we seek to embrace a radical following of the gospel, calling one another to holiness, living in community. In a world of division, we strive to be peacemakers by our presence. Our ministries are quite varied and include: education, health care, foreign missions, social services, pastoral ministry, prison chaplaincy, campus ministry, counseling, spiritual direction, legal services. We have vowed and associate members. Vocation Director, Sr. Anna Theresa, 790 Centre Street, Newton, MA 02458; (617) 969-1024; fax: (617) 527-2528; e-mail: mfic@mficusa.org; website: http://www.mficusa.org. See ad on page 20. Code #179.

Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary (M.S.H.R.) The Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary seek to continue Christ’s mission in today’s broken world. We are diverse in ministries, ethnicities, and cultures. As women of faith and prayer, we strive to give witness to missionary zeal. We are ready to be sent beyond the boundaries of our own country and culture. As we go forth, we endeavor to find, nurture, and share the Divine Life and its abundance, especially with those on the margins. Through our apostolates in Africa, the Americas, and Europe, we work to establish a Christian presence, to empower, especially women, and to foster spiritual and economic development. Our missionary life allows those on the margins to challenge us to become more compassionate and to work with them to create a more human and thus, more Godly world. Contact: Sr. Florence Enechukwu, 741 Polo Rd., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010; (610) 520-1974; e-mail: enechufn@ yahoo.com; website: http://www.holyrosarysisters.org See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #186. Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (S.M.I.C.) We are an international community that lives and breathes a deep love for St. Francis and St. Clare as well as for mission. Through our mission, we express our contemplative compassionate presence to all, especially the most needy. Our foundation was in Brazil in 1910. Now we are on all continents to live the gospel and to give witness to God’s love. Our ministries are fine-tuned with the needs of the people we serve. Going to Angola/ Africa is our newest endeavor. We Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception invite you to consider religious life! Please contact Vocation Director, S.M.I.C., 779 Broadway, Paterson, NJ 07514; (973) 279-3790; e-mail: vocationssmic@aol.com; website: http://www. smic-missionarysisters.com. Code #131. Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (M.S.C.) We are missionaries who are called to be the heart of God in the world. United in faith and prayer, we are 850 women risking for the Gospel in the U.S.A. and in 17 other countries. Our mission is to serve those most in need of the compassionate love of Jesus, wherever that may be. Our ministries are diverse, including: evangelization, social work, health care, education, pastoral care, counseling, and parish ministry. We invite women 20 - 45 years of age to join us in spreading the message that God loves all people. Vocation Minister, 2811 Moyers Lane,

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Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (M.S.C.) “Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked. . .? Whatever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.” We are Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus—passionate and bold in responding to the most urgent needs of our world. Our works include health care for the poor and uninsured, elder care, education, low-income housing, advocacy for immigrants and persons who are trafficked, faith formation and human promotion. We are in 16 countries around the world. We are vowed sisters, lay missionaries, volunteers and many others who collaborate in our works—all seeking to be a creative and compassionate expression of Christ’s love in the world. Come. Join us. For more information on how to share your gifts as a Missionary for one year, two years, or the rest of your life, visit our website www.mothercabrini.org. MSC Vocation Director, 610 King of Prussia Rd., Mansion, Second Floor Wing, Radnor, PA 19087; (610) 902-1039; e-mail: MSCvocations@mothercabrini.org. See ad on page 3. Code #044.

Oblate Sisters of Providence (O.S.P.) The Oblate Sisters of Providence were founded in 1829 to meet the needs of Haitian refugees in Baltimore. As the oldest religious community for women of African descent, we continue the tradition of education and service to the poor and neglected begun by our foundress, Mother Mary Lange. In African American and Latino communities in the United States and Costa Rica we serve primarily as teachers, school administrators, social workers, catechists and pastoral associates. Through our ministries we spread the Good News of Christ by the integrity of our faith, our love of God and our firm hope and trust in God’s Providence. If you hunger for a deeper relationship with God, have a longing to help God’s people and desire to be an instrument of change, contact Sr. Marcia Hall, OSP, Vocation Director; (410) 242-8500; e-mail: sr.marciaosp@gmail. com; website: http://www.oblatesistersvocations.com. Together we have the ability to change lives! Code #340. Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (O.S.H.J.) The Oblate Sisters are a group of women who strive to attain union with God by offering their lives for diocesan priests. Their special charism is both spiritual and ministerial. The sisters are called first of all to pray for priestly holiness and to offer the joys and sorrows of their lives for the good of priests. Ministerially the sisters care for retired and convalescent priests, and collaborate with them in parish ministry, which includes teaching, directing religious education, hospital visitation, and distribution of the Eucharist to the home bound. The sisters also conduct a preschool and kindergarten, which is located on their Motherhouse grounds. Sr. Teresina Rosa, 50 Warner Road, Hubbard, OH 44425; (330) 7599329; e-mail: JCOBLATE@aol.com; website: http://www. oblatesistersofshj.com. See ad on page 22. Code #196.

Enter #034 at VocationMatch.com tice and compassion for all. She is a vowed religious who chooses to live out those vows in response to the needs of the poor and oppressed, especially women. Victory Noll Sisters do this, not tied to large institutions, but in creative and diverse ministries. If you would like to explore challenging opportunities to continue the Mission of Jesus as a Victory Noll Sister, contact Sr. Lucy Regalado, Vocation Minister or Sr. Rose Ann Kaiser, Associate Coordinator, P.O. Box 109, Huntington, IN 46750-0109 or via e-mail: voc@olvm.org or phone (260) 356-0628 ext. 154. Visit our website: http://www.olvm.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 30. Code #201.

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Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity (M.S.B.T.) Love means service! The Holy Spirit is seeking qualified young women to become our sisters as we work to open NEW MISSIONS, and to help us continue to serve at our established missions. Our call is to take on “abandoned work”—work of the Church that wouldn’t get done without us. We find ourselves in poor or remote places where people need material help and spiritual encouragement. We are missionaries! We work to preserve the Catholic Faith among traditionally Catholic people, often immigrant populations who desperately need support. We are in the USA, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Jamaica. We adapt to the needs we find. Our work includes: parish ministries of all kinds, social services, young adult ministries, outreach to migrant workers, prison work, health care, at-risk children’s programs, retreat ministries, and family life development programs. Glory to the Triune God! Sr. Mary Kay McDonald, MSBT, and Sr. Olivia Montejano, MSBT, 3501 Solly Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19136; (215) 335-7534; e-mail: voc@msbt.org; website: http://www.msbt.org. See ad on page 108. Code #278.

Reading, PA 19605; e-mail: mscvocdir@aol.com; website: http://www.mscreading.org. See ad on page 14. Code #305.

Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary We are a Eucharistic and contemplative community consisting of priests, brothers, and sisters, who wear a full habit, as well as lay “external” members, all of whom are consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Our daily schedule, besides Holy Mass, includes: 15 decade Rosary (20 on Thursday), Divine Mercy Chaplet, Liturgy of the Hours, and time for silent adoration, all before Our Lord Jesus, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. After being filled with the love and mercy of Our Savior, we go forth to be His reflection to others through various corporal works of mercy. Contact: Vocation Director, 48765 Annapolis Rd., Hopedale, OH 43976; (740) 946-9000; e-mail: twohearts1@mac. com; website: http://www.heartsofjesusandmary.org. Code #271.

Pallottine Missionary Sisters (S.A.C.) [Missionary Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate] “The love of Christ impels us” is the motto of our congregation. St. Vincent Pallotti founded the sisters in Rome as a way to fulfill the needs of the people of his time. His vision was for everyone to live out their baptismal call and spread the Gospel message by any and all means through their unique God-given gifts. As Pallottines, we are called, just as St. Vincent was, to empower the laity and to awaken in all Christians their apostolic call. We live out our consecrated life through prayer, community living, and apostolic service. Our ministries vary based on our individual call and the needs of others. The Pallottines serve in West Virginia, Maryland, Missouri and 19 other countries. For more information contact Sr. Lena May, SAC, 15270 Old Halls Ferry Rd., Florissant, MO 63034-1611; (314) 830-9814; e-mail: vocations@pallottinespirit.org; website: http:// www.pallottinespirit.org. See ad on page 79. Code #239.

Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters (O.L.V.M.) An OLVM (Victory Noll) Sister is creative, daring and innovative by the life she lives in response to the missionary call. She helps others translate their dreams, prayers and visions into actions by living among the people in a simple, prophetic life of community and ministry. She is, like Mary, rooted in the Word of God. She stands with Jesus for jus-

Pallottine Sisters (C.S.A.C.) [Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate]—Immaculate Conception Province The charism of the Pallottines is to awaken in each person the awareness that God has called us to be apostles. St. Vincent Pallotti, inspired by the universal call to holiness, established the Union of the Catholic Apostolate with priests, brothers, sisters, and laity in 1835 in Rome, Italy.

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Pallottines work together to give new life to faith, a new spark to love, and a new thrust to bringing all to unity in Jesus Christ. They do this through education of children and adults, formation programs for the laity, outreach to immigrants, and collaboration with other groups. As Pallottine Sisters community life, scripture, prayer, and the Eucharist are a major part of our religious life. We have missions in Italy, Brazil, Argentina, India, and Mozambique, Africa. For more information, write to Director of New Membership and Ministry, P.O. Box 767, Harriman, NY 10926-0767. Call (English) (845) 492-5076; (Spanish) (845) 238-3917; e-mail: newapostle98@yahoo.com; website: http://www.pallottinesisters.org. See ad on page 79. Code #239. Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate We are contemplative-missionary Sisters, founded in New York City in 1920 by Mother Mary Teresa Tallon. Our apostolate of evangelization, religious education and social service assistance is fired by a life of Eucharistic prayer and love for Jesus and His Church. Mary’s Visitation to Elizabeth, and Jesus the Good Shepherd, inspire us as we visit parish families or catechize children, youth and adults. We seek especially to befriend and spiritually assist careless and alienated Catholics while guiding and encouraging Catholic family life. To learn more about us, see our website at parishvisitorsisters.org or contact Sr. Dolores Marie, Vocation Director, P.O. Box 658, Monroe, NY 10949-0658; (845) 783-2251; e-mail: pvmi@frontiernet.net. See ad on page 165. Code #292. Passionist Nuns (C.P.), Ellisville, MO Brides of the Crucified. Giving Him everything through Religious vows. A spirit of poverty, solitude, prayer and community builds a relationship with Jesus of worshipful love. We love for those who don’t; pray for those who won’t. Thus do we serve God, the Church, the World. Loyal to the Holy Father. We pray the Liturgy of Hours, daily Holy Mass and Rosary, coming before the Blessed Sacrament at least 8 times daily keeps us attuned to the beatings of the Sacred Heart. Looking for something to fill the emptiness in life? Write: Passionist Nuns, 15700 Clayton Rd., Ellisville, MO 63011-2300; website: http:// home.catholicweb.com/passionistnuns. NO E-MAIL. Please provide a mailing address when you write. Code #047. Poor Clares (O.S.C.) [Order of Saint Clare]—Langhorne, PA Cloistered Franciscan nuns, founded by St. Clare of Assisi, companion of St. Francis of Assisi. For more than 750 years Poor Clares have been part of the heart of the church, living the Gospel Life in their contemplative life style which is nourished by daily Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours throughout the day, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during times of the day, and a joyous community life. A year of postulancy follows a time of getting to know the community. There are two years of novitiate before vows. Each Poor Clare house is autonomous, but joined in living the ideals with Poor Clares throughout the U.S. and the world. Join us in living a life of love of God and in loving and praying for the world. Monastery of St. Clare, 1271 Langhorne-Newtown Road, Langhorne, PA 19047-1297, e-mail: vocation@poorclarepa.org; website: http://www.poorclarepa.org. See ad on page 95. Code #048. Poor Clares (O.S.C.) [Order of Saint Clare]—Travelers Rest, SC As Poor Clare Nuns, we the sisters of the Monastery of Saint Clare in Travelers Rest, SC live a life of contemplative prayer and pray for the whole world. In the tradition of Saint Clare and Saint Francis of Assisi we choose to live simply and in community. Our daily schedule includes communal praying of the full Liturgy of Hours, Eucharist, personal prayer, sacred reading, and work within the monastery. Eucharistic adoration is available daily. We welcome unmarried women between the ages of 25 and 45 who may be feeling Gods call to live our life of prayer, community, and contemplation. We hope to hear from you: Vocation@Poorclaresc.com; (864) 834-8015, 37 McCauley Rd., Travelers Rest, SC 29690. We encourage you to visit our website: http://www. Poorclaresc.com. Please know that as you are reading this your Poor Clare sisters are holding you in prayer. Code #359. Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ (P.H.J.C.) We Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ are an international congregation of apostolic religious founded by Blessed Catherine

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Kasper in Dernbach, Germany. We minister with the poor, the sick and children in the United States, Mexico, Germany, England, the Netherlands, India, Brazil, Kenya and Nigeria. As members of the Spiritual Family of Catherine, Poor Handmaids live the spirit of their foundress together with the Associate and Fiat Spiritus communities. With prayer and community living as our foundation, we carry out the mission of Jesus in rural, urban and inner city settings primarily in the Midwest in the U.S.A., and in Veracruz and Queretaro in Mexico. Focused on partnering in the work of the Spirit, we invite others to join us in various facets of education, pastoral and social work, neighborhood based health ministries, spiritual guidance, and care for the environment. We are recognized more by the love and simplicity with which we serve than by any particular ministry. In the U.S.A., Sr. Kathy Haas, P.H.J.C., P.O. Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513; (574) 936-9936; e-mail: khaas@poorhandmaids.org; website: http://www.poorhandmaids.org. In Mexico, Sister Edith, P.H.J.C., e-mail vocacion_spjc@hotmail.com; website: www.siervaspobres. org.mx. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #049.

Redemptoristine Nuns (OSsR) [Order of the Most Holy Redeemer] Redemptoristines hear the invitation to search for God in contemplative silence and solitude within monastic community and surrender themselves to conversion and transformation into the “Living Memory of Jesus our Redeemer.” Redemptoristine life centers on unceasing prayer begun in daily Eucharist and continued through the Liturgy of the Hours, private prayer and recollection. In silence and solitude we are a praying presence, a memory of God’s love in the Church and in the world. Solemn vows lived simply in poverty, lovingly in celibacy and willingly in obedience bring us to contemplation. Freely offering ourselves to God, to be possessed by Him, we find the enclosure an external expression of an interior value; the desire for total availability to God. Contact: Sr. Hildegard Pleva, OSsR, Mother of Perpetual Help Monastery, P.O. Box 220, Esopus, NY 12429; (845) 385-6533; e-mail: ContemplativeCall@hotmail.com; website: http:// www.RedemptoristineNunsofNewYork.org. Code #336. Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph (R.H.S.J.) What if God is calling you to live the charism of the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph? The Sisters, nourished by a deep interior life and community spirit which is that of the liberty of the children of God, live their mission where social needs are most urgent: in health care institutions, in homes for the frail elderly, hospices, abused women, education, detox centers, parishes, food banks, and missionary ministries. Risk new pathways with us as a Sister or as a lay associate as we move together as Church into the future serving the needs of the people and our world. For further information contact: Sr. Marilyn Larocque, RHSJ, 202 Johnson St., Kingston, ON K7L 1Y1, (613) 549-1216; e-mail: marilyn.larocque@mail.rhsj.org or Sr. Jean Bricco, RHSJ, 644 Langlade Rd., Antigo, WI 54409; (715) 623-4615; e-mail: jbricco@hotmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you. Website: http://www.rhsj.org Code #184.

Salesian Sisters (F.M.A.) The Salesian Family is the largest Religious Community in the world. . .over 14,000 Sisters and 16,000 Priests and Brothers—changing the world one young person at a time. Our mission is one: We’re all about YOUTH! (We really love kids!) We serve youth in schools, youth groups, catechetical centers, youth centers, summer camps, retreat centers, and mission lands. We’re in over 89 countries. In the U.S. we are present in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. We are known for deep devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist, a great love for Mary, and our fidelity to the Pope. Check out our website: http:// www.salesianvocations.org or e-mail us: fmavoc@aol.com. “Like Mary, for Jesus and for the Young.” See ad on page 111. Code #117. School Sisters of Notre Dame (S.S.N.D.) We are women of hope who are committed to serving God’s people in order to bring Jesus’ message of love and unity to our world. As women religious, we value prayer, faith sharing, and a community life that calls us to be of “one mind and one heart.” We are a vibrant international congregation with nearly 3,600 School Sisters of Notre Dame who live and

minister in over 30 countries. Believing that our international presence gives us a unique global responsibility, we address the urgent needs of our time, particularly those of women, youth, and those who are poor. We are educators in all that we do, fostering the God-given potential within each person, encouraging them to use their gifts to make the world a better place. Our ministries include such areas as formal education, social services, parish and retreat ministry, health care, and missionary service. Contact Sr. Barbara Bacak, S.S.N.D.; e-mail: vocations@ ssnddallas.org; website: http://www.ssnd.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 131. Code #052. School Sisters of St. Francis (SSSF)—Milwaukee, WI We are an international community of over 1200 Franciscan sisters and associates, alive with the call of the Gospel, who unite with others to build a just and peaceful world. Serving in the United States, Europe, Latin America and India, we witness to the Good News of Jesus and the presence of the reign of God as we enter into the lives and needs of people, especially people who are poor. We carry out our mission through education, healing, pastoral, social justice, and fine arts ministries. Please contact: Sister Lee Agnes Hodapp or Sister Patricia Throener, 1515 South Layton Boulevard, Milwaukee, WI 53215; (402) 727-7542; e-mail: vocations@sssf.org; website: http://usp.sssf.org. Code #053. School Sisters of St. Francis (O.S.F.)—Pittsburgh, PA We are a congregation of Franciscan women living in “Intimate Union with God in the midst of Apostolic Service.” As Gospel women, transformed by the Eucharist, ministering by our joyful presence, we are a prophetic voice in the world. Relational living is central to our life: developing a deep relationship with God through daily Eucharist and communal and private prayer; living as “Sisters” by sharing prayer, meals, sorrows and joys; relating to those we serve by our loving ministry; and living in relationship with all Creation through care of the earth. Our sisters minister in formal education; retreat, youth and parish ministry; health and elder care; mission work and social services in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and our mission in South Africa. Contact: Vocation Director, Mount Assisi Convent, 934 Forest Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15202; (412) 7616004; e-mail: vocationsosf@gmail.com; website: http:// vocationsosf.wordpress.com. Code #357. School Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King (SSFCR) The Congregation of the School Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King is an international order of religious women who serve the church throughout the world. In the United States there are over 45 sisters who offer themselves to the church through ministries of education, administration, religious education, care of the sick and elderly, in parish ministries, and in food service. As Franciscan women in the church today, we seek to live in a spirit of humility, simplicity, and total dedication to building God’s Kingdom on earth. Through prayer, Gospel living, service and community sharing, we walk together in hope and joy. Girls, or women between 18 and 34 years of age, are encouraged to contact us. Sr. Marjorie Westendorf, Vocation Director, Mt. Assisi Convent, 13900 Main St., Lemont, IL 60439; (630) 257-7524; e-mail: vocareosf@ yahoo.com; website: http://www.lemontfranciscans.org. See ad on page 11. Code #140. Servants of Mary, Sisters (O.S.M.) We bring the compassionate presence of Christ to the world through lives lived in community, serving the needs of others in a variety of ministries while looking to Mary as the example of life and service. Sisters, Servants of Mary, Ladysmith, WI: Sr. Bonnie Alho, O.S.M., 1230 E. Orchard Beach Ln, Unit B., Rice Lake, WI; (715) 736-0325; e-mail: osmalho@ gmail.com; website: http://www.servitesisters.org. Servants of Mary Omaha, NE: Sr. Ann Marie Petrylka, O.S.M., Our Lady of Sorrows Convent, 7400 Military Avenue, Omaha, NE 88134-3351; (402) 571-2547; e-mail: sam@osms.org; website: http://www.osms.org. Mantellate Sisters, Servants of Mary, Blue Island, IL: Sr. Maria Teresa Musto, O.S.M., Villa Santa Maria Convent, 6101 Oak Forest Avenue, Tinley Park, IL 60477; (708) 532-2241; e-mail: sr_maria@sbcglobal.net.; website: http://www. mantellatesistersmsm.org. Mantellate Sisters, Servants of Mary, Plainfield, IL: Sr. Gesuina Bongiorno, O.S.M., Marian Lake Convent, 16949 South Drauden Road,

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org Plainfield, IL 60544; (815) 436-5796; e-mail: sgesosm@ msrml.org; website: http://www.mantellatesistersmsm.org. See ad on page 27. Code #159. Servants of the Blessed Sacrament (S.S.S.) A worldwide Eucharistic contemplative community, we maintain Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in our public Chapels. Our life of prayer is shared with others according to the talents of the Sisters, e.g. spiritual guidance, Eucharistic Minister, organist. Age limit: 20-45. Education: 2 years college or work experience. Contact: Vocation Director, 101 Silver St., Waterville, ME 04901; (207) 872-7072; e-mail: srkk@blesacrament.org; website: http://www.blesacrament.org. Code #054.

Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary (S.S.C.M.) A religious congregation serving the needs of the church through parish ministry, health care, teaching, counseling, and human services. The sisters serve in the dioceses of Belleville, Chicago, Rockford, Joliet, and Peoria. The heart of the ministry of the SERVANTS OF THE HOLY HEART OF MARY is the support and challenge of their lives of PRAYER AND COMMUNITY. It is personal prayer, as well as through the liturgical prayer of the church, that the sisters are impelled to ministry and community. For more information please contact: Vocation Office, Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary, 717 North Batavia Avenue, Batavia, IL 60510; (815) 370-7228; e-mail: vocation@sscm-usa. org; website: http://www.sscm-usa.org. See ad on page 87. Code #055.

Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (I.H.M.)—Monroe, MI We are a progressive, visionary faith community of 451 sisters, as well as 120 associates, and volunteers who join our God quest leading us along new pathways today. Our mission has evolved and grown in response to the pressing global, social, and ecological injustices in the world. Those needs offer us various opportunities in ministry, including traditional and nontraditional education, justice advocacy, spirituality and sustainability. We build community that sustains us as individuals, as sisters and as interdependent members of the entire community of life. We are willing to take risks for the sake of the future and trust in divine providence. Contact us at our Membership Office, 610 West Elm Avenue, Monroe, MI 48162; (734) 240-9821; e-mail: membership@ihmsisters.org; website: http://www. ihmsisters.org. See ad on page 93. Code #258. Sisters of Charity (Federation) The Sisters of Charity Federation is comprised of 12 religious congregations, representing more than 4,000 members in the United States and Canada, who recognize their particular character and spirit in the tradition of Charity founded by St. Vincent de Paul, St. Louise de Marillac and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Impelled by Christ’s love and joined together in the mission of Charity they respond to the cries of those who are poor and marginalized with lives of extravagant love. To learn more and for contact information for vocation directors of member congregations visit www. sisters-of-charity-federation.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. Code #059. Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati (S.C.) We are an active apostolic congregation, following in the footsteps of our foundress, St. Elizabeth Seton. For contact information and to view our DVD “Extravagant Love: The Vocation of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati” visit our website

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Sisters of Charity of Halifax (S.C.) The Sisters of Charity of Halifax are seeking young adult women who wish to make the love of God visible by giving joyful witness! Our spirituality is rooted in the tradition of Saint Elizabeth Seton, Saint Vincent de Paul, and Saint Louise de Marillac. We are committed to standing in the fire of Gospel values and responding to a world wounded by violence and stripped of hope. While many of us are in Massachusetts, New York, and Nova Scotia, we also serve in other parts of the United States, Canada, Bermuda, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Our ministries include education, pastoral ministry, social service, health care, earth ministry, social justice, community service, and outreach. We welcome those whom God calls to share our life of community, prayer, and service. Considering religious life? Call Sr. Maryanne Ruzzo at (781) 997-1355; e-mail: mruzzo@schalifax.ca; website: http://www.schalifax.ca. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #059. Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth (S.C.L.) We are an apostolic community of 300 women committed to love the poor, to love one another, to live simply, and to unite the whole of our lives in the poor and loving Christ. We serve in the West (California, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming), Midwest (Kansas and Missouri), and Latin America (Peru). We serve in a variety of ministries including: Health care: hospitals and clinics for the uninsured poor; Education: college, high school, elementary; Pastoral ministry: parish administration, religious education, spiritual direction, campus ministry, youth ministry; Social services: Catholic Charities, AIDS ministry, social justice advocates. Sr. Sharon Smith, 4200 South 4th Street, Leavenworth, KS 66048; (913) 758-6522; e-mail: vocations@scls.org; website: http://www.scls.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. Code #059. Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, KY (S.C.N.) We are an international congregation founded in 1812 in Kentucky. We and our associates are committed to work for justice in solidarity with oppressed peoples, especially the poor and women, and to care for the earth. We engage in diverse ministries in the U.S., India, Nepal, Belize, and Botswana. Sr. Nancy Gerth, S.C.N., P.O. Box 10, Bardstown, KY 40048; (502) 331-4516; e-mail: snancy@scnazarethky. org; website: http://www.scnfamily.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #059. Sisters of Charity of New York (S.C.) An apostolic congregation of women living in community in the tradition of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac. Founded by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, we are called to reveal God’s love in our lives with and for all in need, especially with persons who are poor. We serve particularly in the New York area, and among the people of Sololá and Quiché in Guatemala. Our ministries include education, health care, social services, pastoral care and housing. We collaborate with organizations working for peace/justice. We invite women to join us for the sake of the Gospel. To find about more about us, please visit our website at www.scny.org or call (718) 543-4898 at the Office of New Membership, Box 1167, 6301 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10471; e-mail: vocationsc@scny.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. Code #059. Sisters of Charity of Rolling Hills (S.C.R.H.) The Sisters of Charity of Rolling Hills were founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California. Our foundresses envisioned a community of Sisters working in different professions, living in community, praying together, and sharing a passion for serving Christ in the poor and needy, principally in the Los Angeles area. Some of the professions: artists, musicians, microbiologists, teachers, college professors, librarians, office workers. If you see yourself fitting into this, perhaps you can add to the list..., contact us! Sr. Tracey Sharp, SCRH, Vocation Director, 28600 Palos Verdes Dr. East, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275; (310) 831-4104 or (310) 831-5385; e-mail: SrTSharp@aol.com; website: http://www.scrh.org. See ad on page 94. Code #007.

The call with a special tone. When you hear God’s call, you hear your own true tone…the special tone of your commitment, your courage, your love for others. The individual tone of Holy Child Sisters can be heard throughout the world, as the Society advocates for many—most especially women and children. Call today to learn more, your tone will fall on welcoming ears. Carmen Torres, SHCJ 610.626.1400 ctorres@shcj.org

Society of the Holy Child Jesus An international community of women religious AMERICAN PROVINCE

www.vocations.shcj.org enter #172 at VocationMatch.com Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth (S.C.) ”The purpose and spirit of the Community is embodied in its symbol, the pelican, who feeds her young with her own substance. In Christian history the pelican is a symbol of Christ in his life of unconditional giving. He is the source and model of love for us.” We render Christ every Agency:and spiritual service KarpinGraphic temporal our power,Design “in the persons of the poor, either sick, prisoners, insane, or those Tel: 215. 546. 1322 who through shame would conceal their necessities.” We are called to a life of giving of ourKarp talents, our resources, Contact: Rudy ourselves, without condition and without reservation. In Client: Society of Sisters the Holy Child the tradition of St. Vincent de Paul the of Charity participate in the mission of the Church fundamentally Tel: 610.626.1400 through ministry supported and nourished by prayer and vowed life in community.Kim LOOK FOR THE LIFE YOU Contact: Cavallero WERE BORN TO LIVE! LIVE BOUNDLESS CHARITY Unit: 2.25 x 4.875” IN YOUR LIFE AND WORK! Sister Maureen Corcoran, P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, Publication: VisionNJ 07961-0476; (973) 290-5331; e-mail: vocations@scnj.org; website: http:// Date: www.scnj.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #059.

woMen’s coMMunities sarch woMen’s coMMunities

Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (I.H.M.)—Immaculata, PA Animated by our charism of love, creative hope, and fidelity, and in imitation of Mary, we proclaim the Gospel message in the spirit of Jesus the Redeemer. Strengthened by a life of vowed consecration, nurtured by prayer and the Eucharist, and sustained by community living, we radiate joyful service and promote Gospel values, offering compassion to all God’s people through our mission to evangelize, to catechize, and to teach. In the spirit of St. Alphonsus, we promote peace and justice in addressing the needs of the most abandoned poor. For information contact Sr. Carmen Teresa Fernández or Sr. Rose Bernadette Mulligan, Villa Maria House of Studies, 1140 King Rd. Immaculata, PA 19345-0200; (610) 889-1553; e-mail: ihmvoc@aol.com; website: http://www. ihmimmaculata.org. See ad on page 53. Code #187.

at http://www.srcharitycinti.org/vowed.htm or write to Vocation Coordinator, 5900 Delhi Road, Mount St. Joseph, OH 45051. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #059.

Jesus

Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill (S.C.) Prayer, service, and life in community are the primary principles upon which the sisters carry out their mission, which is to reveal the reality and beauty of God’s love to people in need. The sisters administer and staff educational institutions from preschools through universities; serve in Christian formation; chaplaincy, counseling, pastoral and social services. They are represented primarily in the Dioceses of Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Arizona. Contact: Sr. Rachel Blais, S.C., 740 Elysian Avenue, Morgantown, WV 26501; (304) 685-7733; e-mail: rachelwv2001@yahoo.com or Sr. Barbara Ann Smelko, S.C., Seton House International, 4933 W. Patterson Ave., Chicago, IL 60641-3512; (773) 205-1822; e-mail: basmelko42@yahoo.com; website: http://www.scsh.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #059. Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida (S.C.S.J.A.) Gifted with a 200-year tradition of vowed service with and

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of the Sacred Heart

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Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart Email Sister Nancy at fsshvocations@aol.com or call 815-464-3848 V I S I T U S AT W W W. F S S H . N E T

enter #033 at VocationMatch.com among the poor, we choose again to be one with Jesus Christ and the powerless. We are rooted in the Gospel by dedicating ourselves to the love, empowerment, service and evangelization of the poor through a fourth vow. As an international community, we minister in 27 countries in a diversity of ministries. Committed to living in community, we invite women of daring love and faith to come join with us as we stand with and work among the powerless and the poor. Sr. Theresa Rozga, S.C.S.J.A., 8560 North 76th Place, Milwaukee, WI 53223; (414) 354-9233; e-mail: srtheresa@ scsja.org; website: http://www.scsja.org. Code #060. Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (B.V.M.) The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Freed by Love, Acting for Justice. The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary continue to follow the footsteps of our Irish foundress, Mary Frances Clarke, responding to God’s love and serving wherever needed. We find strength in our faith in God, in one another, and with the people we serve. Our core values—freedom, education, charity, and justice—guide our lives and ministry. We are educators, pastoral ministers, counselors, and advocates for the elderly and immigrants; we work in social services, health care, and prayer ministry. Trust and a spirit of joy enliven our community of Catholic Sisters because God’s love frees us. This freedom calls us to honor diversity, to act against injustice, and to stand humbly before God with gratitude. For information, contact: Lou Anglin, BVM; Kathy Carr, BMV; 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003; (563) 588-2351; e-mail: newmember@bvmcong. org; website: http://www.bvmcong.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #296. Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word (CCVI), Houston, TX We are an international, multicultural, apostolic congregation. We commit ourselves to being “gospels of love,” by creating communities that are gospel based and supportive. We respond with others in faith to the pain and brokenness of our world, risking new pathways in direct service to the sick, the elderly, the orphaned, in

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education and to unmet needs and challenging oppressive structures. Our ministries extend to the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ireland, and Kenya. If you feel “CALLED TO SERVE” please contact Sister Mary Patricia Driscoll, e-mail: mpdriscoll@ccvi-vdm.org or Sister Kim Phuong Tran; e-mail: kimccvi@yahoo.com; (713) 9286053; website: http://www.sistersofcharity.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 116. Code #061. Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word (C.C.V.I.), San Antonio, TX The Word dwells among us! Inspired by the life and love of Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word, we profess a spirituality that challenges us to make the unconditional love of God real and tangible in today’s world. Responsive to the needs of the most vulnerable, sisters, associates, and lay missionaries live the mission of love in health care, education, advocacy, pastoral ministry, spirituality and the arts, and social work. We assist the elderly, the poor and abused women and children. We bring a loving presence to God’s people in the United States, Ireland, Mexico, Peru and Zambia. We welcome persons who hear the call to bring God’s love into people’s lives in a very real and visible way. For more information please contact Sr. Carol Ann Jokerst at the Formation Office, 4503 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209; 210-828-2224; e-mail: heedtheword@amormeus. org; website: http://www.amormeus.org. See ad on page 38. Code #062. Sisters of Christian Charity (S.C.C.) The Sisters of Christian Charity, an international, active apostolic congregation exist to live and make visible the love of Christ today. The charism of Blessed Pauline von Mallinckrodt, foundress, impels the sisters to be women of deep faith who will refresh the millennium with “joyous, youthful enthusiasm and energy, the fruit of intimacy with Jesus in the Eucharist,” (S.C.C. Documents). Like Mary, the community seeks to be open to the formative power of the Holy Spirit, which transforms it into the bread and wine of Christ’s love. Pauline’s Eucharistic vision leads the Sisters into the future as a community of love, a people commissioned to bring “good news to the poor . . . sight to the blind . . . liberty to captives” (Luke 4:18). Contact (Eastern Province) Sr. Bernadette McCauley, S.C.C., Mallinckrodt Convent, 350 Bernardsville Road, Mendham, NJ 07945; (973) 543-6528 ext. 274; e-mail: sbernadette@scceast. org; website: http://www.scceast.org. Contact (Western Province) Sr. Carol Bredenkamp, S.C.C., 2041 Elmwood Ave., Wilmette, IL 60091; e-mail: callscc@sccwilmette.org; (847) 920-9341; website: http://www.sccwilmette.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 112. Code #212. Sisters of Loretto (S.L.) We are an active community of faith and service. We face the emerging needs of today’s world in the fields of education, environment, women, rights of marginalized, global concerns, and non-violence. Our community consists of Sisters of Loretto, Loretto Co-members, and Loretto volunteers all affirming that we are people called by God to share community, faith and mission through works of peace and justice, prayer and hospitality. If this is your call or if you want to know more about religious life, contact Sr. Mary Kay; 4000 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Littleton, CO 80123; 1-877-LORETTO; e-mail: marykay@lorettocommunity.org; website: http:// www.lorettocommunity.org. Code #264. Sisters of Mary Reparatrix (S.M.R.) We are Sisters of Mary Reparatrix, an international congregation called to a mission of reparation and reconciliation in union with Mary, who are rooted in the love of Christ, led by the Spirit, to manifest the tender love of God for the world. Sharing our lives in prayer, service and community, the Sisters are present in 22 countries and number 753 world-wide. We are 20 Sisters in the United States. Our presence is in Michigan, New York, Florida, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania. We have two retreat houses-Riverview and Port Huron, Michigan. Our ministries include prayer, retreat work, spiritual direction, parish ministry, altar breads, music/art ministries, hospital /nursing home visitation, and computer work. We were founded by Emilie d’Oultremont, d’Hooghvorst (Mother Mary of Jesus) in 1854, who was beatified in 1997. Sr. Joan Pricoli, 17320 Grange Rd., Riverview, MI 48193; (734) 285-4510, e-mail: joanpricoli@comcast.net; website: http://www.smr.org Code #356.

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas (R.S.M.) We are an international community of women religious vowed to serve people who suffer from poverty, sickness, and lack of education, with a special concern for women and children. In innovative and traditional ways, Sisters of Mercy address human needs through collaborative efforts in education, health care, housing, and pastoral and social services. Among Sisters of Mercy one can find doctors, lawyers and paralegals, theologians, immigrant advocates, missionaries, justice advocates and peace activists, and foster mothers. The Institute includes over 3,900 sisters who serve in North, South, and Central America, the Caribbean, Guam, and the Philippines. More than 3,100 associates, eight Companions in Mercy, over 960 Mercy Volunteer Corps alumni, and thousands of co-ministers in Mercy-sponsored programs and institutions also share in our mission, following the example of Mercy foundress, Catherine McAuley. We invite you to visit our website: http://www.sistersofmercy.org/vocations; contact us at 1-877-50MERCY; e-mail: newmembership@ sistersofmercy.org; chat with us at www.sistersofmercy.org/ connect; follow us at www.facebook.com/Mercy/Sisters or on Twitter, www.twitter.com/SistersofMercy. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 122. Code #063. Sisters of Notre Dame [Our Lady], (S.N.D.) We are an international, active apostolic community centered in Jesus Christ and dedicated to Mary, the first disciple. Through lives of simplicity and joy, we seek to bring the Gospel message of God’s goodness and provident care to others. Our ministries of education, pastoral care and social outreach, health care and catechesis reflect our desire to respond to the needs of the times and to share God’s compassionate love, particularly with those who are poor and marginalized. We live our vocation in community, supporting one another in our following of Jesus and in our ministries. The daily celebration of Eucharist, communal prayer and encounters with God in personal prayer are indispensable to our lives. For those considering religious life we offer discernment helps, retreats, service opportunities and live-in experiences. For more information: California Province: Sister Valerie Roxburgh, e-mail: sistervalsnd@gmail.com; website: http://www.sndca.org. Kentucky Province: Sister Jean Hoffman, e-mail: vocations@sndkentucky.org; website: http://www.sndky.org. Cleveland, OH Province: Sister Kathleen Hine, e-mail: khine@ndec.org; website: http://www.sndchardon.org. Toledo, OH Province: Sister Marilyn Marie Ellerbrock, e-mail: mellerbrock@toledosnd.org; website: http://www. toledosnd.org. International website: http://www.sndl.org. Code #064. Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (S.N.D.deN.) Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, women with hearts as wide as the world, make known God’s goodness and love of the poor through a Gospel way of life, community, and prayer. Continuing a strong educational tradition, we stand with the poor, women, and children. We commit ourselves to work with others to create justice and peace for all. As an international religious community, founded in 1804 by St. Julie Billiart and Françoise Blin de Bourdon, we continue their mission today in Africa, Europe, Japan, North and South America. Our ministries include: education, parish and youth ministry, spiritual direction/counseling, and other developing ministries which respond to today’s needs. Notre Dame Associates and the Notre Dame Mission Volunteers also share our charism. Sr. Angele Lewis, 30 Jeffreys Neck Road, Ipswich, MA 01938-1398, (978) 380-1571; e-mail: Angele.Lewis@SNDdeN.org; website: http://ASKanSND.org or http://www.SNDdeN.org. See ad on page 54. Code #065. Sisters of Providence (S.P.)—Holyoke, MA We are a community of women with a passion for life and meeting the needs of our times. Through our lives of prayer, community, and service we are called to reveal the loving care of God’s Providence through ministries of hope and healing with particular emphasis on women, the earth, and those who are poor. Our sponsored ministries include a soup kitchen and shelter, health care facilities and a spiritual life center. We are a community of women rooted in the past and open to the future. We, like you, are committed to making a difference in our world. If you would like to join us in that effort contact Sister Ann Horgan, S.P., Sisters of Providence, 5 Gamelin Street, Holyoke, MA 01040; (413) 536-7511, ext. 2558; e-mail: ahorgan@ sisofprov.org; website: http://www.sisofprov.org. Code #066.

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org Sisters of Providence (S.P.)—Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN Through prayer and commitment to living in community, our sisters witness to their Catholic family by living deeply spiritual and faithful lives to God in service to others. Our foundress, Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, was canonized the eighth United States saint October 15, 2006. Embracing her spirit, we honor Divine Providence by serving in various ministries in 20 states, Washington, D.C., Taiwan and China. Our sisters are educators, parish life coordinators and social service professionals. Sisters help low-income families, foster children, migrant worker families and the elderly—all who may need affordable food, housing, health care and prescriptions. Other sisters support our ministry commitment to eco-justice and practice actively in being good stewards of God’s natural resources through preservation, restoration and reverent use. We invite women between the ages of 18-42 to join with us in serving God, and God’s people, as a sister of Providence. Contact us for more information at Sisters of Providence, Vocation Office, Owens Hall, 1 Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876-1089; (812) 535-2895; e-mail: bkuper@spsmw.org; website: http://www.sistersofprovidence.org. Code #068.

Sisters of Reparation of the Sacred Wounds of Jesus (S.R.) This Reparation family includes religious women and lay Donnes assisted by their priest associates, who strive to enrich their own spiritual lives by daily prayer and accepting in a spirit of reparational love, all that life holds in store for them. They eagerly spread the spirit of sacrifice and God’s gentle healing to all with whom they come in contact. Apostolic works include liturgy and worship, healing and music ministries, nursing, teaching, counseling, catechesis, spiritual enrichment, ministering to the home bound, and hospital visitation. They are making a difference in the Pacific Northwest, not just in helping people but by bringing the Word and the Love of God into their lives! Sister Mary Immaculate, S.R., 2120 S.E. 24th Ave., Portland, OR 97214-5504. Phone: 503236-4207; fax: 503-236-3400; e-mail: repsrs@comcast. net and SMImmaculate@comcast.net; website: http://www. ReparationSisters.org. See ad on page 36. Code #205. Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius (SS.C.M.) The Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius were founded in 1909 in Scranton, PA. Our spirituality is Christ-centered and Mary-modeled and flows from our motto, “ Thy Kingdom Come.” We are a presence of Christ in the world through our vowed communal life, our spirit of prayerfulness and simplicity, and our joy in the service of the Kingdom. We live out our call and charism by witnessing to, proclaiming and building God’s Kingdom, dedicating our prayer and ministry to: evangelization, education, elder care, and ecumenism. We are based in the U.S., serving in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Texas, and South Carolina. If you feel God may be calling you to a lifetime of service, or simply have questions about consecrated life, please contact: Sr. Deborah Marie, SS.C.M., at Villa Sacred Heart, Danville, PA 17821; (570) 275-1093; fax: (570) 275-5997; e-mail: debbiesscm@hotmail.com; website: http://www.sscm.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 93. Code #181. Sisters of Sion (N.D.S.) The Sisters of Sion is an international Catholic women religious Congregation of

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Sisters of St. Casimir (S.S.C.) The Sisters of St. Casimir invite a new generation of women to share their lives of prayer, community, and service. We are women religious who follow Jesus and offer the hope and joy of a deep faith life to those whose lives we touch. We are involved in education, health care, parish, prayer, and social ministries, journeying with others toward the gospel vision of a peaceful, loving and just world. Presently we serve in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas and Argentina. We thank God for the many blessings of our vocation and for our foundress, Servant of God Maria Kaupas, whose vision and spirit continue to inspire us to greater compassion and service in meeting the needs of our world today. Please contact: Sr. M. Janine Golubickis, SSC, or Sr. M. Dolorine Lopez, SSC, 2601 W. Marquette Rd., Chicago, IL 60629; (630) 243-8349; e-mail: sscvocation@yahoo.com; website: http://www.ssc2601.com. Code #071. Sisters of St. Francis (O.S.F.), Sylvania, OH As Sylvania Franciscans, our beginnings brought us to Ohio to teach. Over the 90 years of our existence lifestyles and customs have changed, but our desire to live the Gospel message in the Franciscan tradition remains constant. The courageous act of responding to God’s call to serve the ever-changing needs of His people has taken us out to 19 dioceses, 12 states, and the island of Haiti—not only into education—but into health care, pastoral work, justice and peace efforts, ministry to the poor and wealthy. As Franciscans, it is not about “what we do”, but “who we are in what we do” that gives expression and life to living the Gospel message. We are a diverse community of 200 Vowed Women and 80 Associates, who witness to God’s love by being rooted in prayer, strengthened by community life and focused on our mission. Feel the Joy! Live Franciscan! For further information contact Sister Julie Myers, (419) 824-3914; e-mail: jmyers@sistersosf.org; website: http://www.sistersosf.org. See ad on page 36. Code #085. Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi “Women of faith touching a world in need.” Our Franciscan Congregation is committed to bringing the teaching, healing, reconciling, and liberating power of Jesus to every life we touch. We stand in solidarity with women and those who are poor, oppressed, and disenfranchised. We promote social justice, preservation of the earth, harmony and world peace. We seek to deepen our Franciscan identity. Our ministries are as diverse as the women who serve them: administrators; teachers; health-care providers; social workers and counselors; campus, prison, and parish ministers; child care workers; artists and musicians. Community members are located across the United States and in Taiwan. We invite women who are seeking the simplicity, meaning, and heartfelt joy of a Franciscan lifestyle to risk their future with us. Sr. Kathy Cairns or Sr. Rose Sevenich, 3221 South Lake Drive, St. Francis, WI 53235; (414) 744-1160; e-mail: vocdir@lakeosfs.org; website: http://www.lakeosfs.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 29. Code #072. Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate (O.S.F.) Led by the Spirit, we, as Joliet Franciscans, embrace the Gospel life by commitment to Franciscan values and respond to the needs of our time through prayer, community, and ministry. We minister in preschool through adult education, in parish ministry, health care, social services, religious education, and as musicians and artists. Ministering in 13 states and in Brazil, we invite inquiries from women who feel called to our Franciscan way of life as

What do you desire?

. A deep prayer life? . A life dedicated to others for God? . Joy in doing your thing . . . HIS way?

As Dominicans we emphasize the pondering of divine truths. To witness to God’s primacy, to our ow of poerty and to express our identity as a community, we wear a contemporary religious habit. In the Dominican Traditon, we communicate the truth through the apostalate of teaching. Because we are totally committed to the Lord, we identify fully with the mind, the teaching and the dicipline of the Church He established.

Sister Maria Michele Armato, O.P. 908-782-1504 smmichele698@yahoo.com

Dominican Sisters

of Divine Providence Enter #022 at VocationMatch.com vowed members. Inquiries are also welcomed from both men and women interested in the Associate relationship. Vocation Minister: Sr. Barbara Kwiatkowski, O.S.F., 1433 Essington Road, Joliet, IL 60435; (815) 725-8735; fax: (815) 725-8648; e-mail: bkwiatkowski@jolietfranciscans. org; website: http://www.jolietfranciscans.org. See ad on page 30. Code #252. Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity (O.S.F.)—Holy Name Province We are a worldwide congregation striving to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi, and Magdalen Damen, our foundress. We contemplate the Word of God, living community together with the sisters God gives us. We live as Sisters minor, vowing obedience, poverty, and celibate chastity. Within the United States and Chiapas, Mexico we serve wherever needed, with special attention to the poor and marginalized, reflecting gentle courtesy toward all creation. New or experienced we walk together with courage, open to risk and trusting God’s goodness and providence. We invite you to join us as we bring a Franciscan presence of simplicity, joyful service, and peacemaking to the world of today. Contact: Sr. Ann McDermott, St. Francis House, 2647 Pierce St., Hollywood, FL 33020; e-mail: sannmcd@bellsouth.net; (954) 925-5875 or; Vocation Office, 4421 Lower River Rd., Stella Niagara, NY 14144; (716) 754-4312, ext. 9701#; e-mail: vocationoptionssf@yahoo.com; website: http:// www.franciscans-stella-niagara.org. See ad on page 89. Code #142.

woMen’s communities sarch WOMen’s communities

Sisters of Providence Mother Joseph Province (S.P.)— Seattle and Spokane, WA The Sisters of Providence are an international congregation founded by Emilie Gamelin of Montreal in 1843. As women religious, our ministries are diverse, fulfilling, and needed. They include education, parish ministry, health care, community service and support, housing, prison ministry, pastoral care, spiritual direction and retreats, and foreign missions. The community is composed of four provinces and one vice-province spread across Canada, the United States, Chile, El Salvador, Argentina, Egypt, the Philippines, Haiti, and Cameroon. Living in community enables us to support and enrich personal and communal growth and witness gospel values. Our life of prayer includes quiet moments and faith sharing as we journey to wholeness. Contact the Vocation Director for Mother Joseph Province, in Seattle at (206) 923-4028, or in Spokane at (509) 474-2323; e-mail: vocations@providence. org; website: http://www.sistersofprovidence.net. See ad on page 21. Code #067.

apostolic and contemplative communities in 20 countries. We are called to witness to God’s faithful love for the Jewish People as revealed in Scripture and to pray and work toward the fulfillment of the promises proclaimed by the prophets and by Jesus for all humanity. Rooted in the Word of God and prayer, whatever our ministries, our charism calls us to a three-fold commitment: to the Church, calling to mind that Jews and Christians are mysteriously linked together by a spiritual bond; to the Jewish people, by promoting understanding between Jews and others; and to building a world of justice, peace and love from our understanding of Scripture and the history of the Jewish people. Contact: Sisters of Sion Provincial Office, P.O. Box 70588, 2938 Dundas St. West, Toronto, Ontario M6P 4E7, Canada; e-mail: sion.prov@sympatico.ca; website: www. sistersofsion.net (USA and Canada). Code #366.

Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration (O.S.F.) Western Province (Colorado Springs, CO) We are women who strive to live in a contemplative relationship with God and with all of creation through our prayer life, especially Perpetual Adoration. We seek to live simply while serving in a complex world, anchored in our prayer life, supported in community, and responding to the unmet needs of our times, especially to women and children, with generous love, justice, mercy, and compassion. Discover who we are via our website: http://www.

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Sr. Ginny Heldorfer, OSF . 3390 Windsor Ave, Dubuque, IA 52001 . 563.583.9786 . www.osfdbq.org

enter #193 at VocationMatch.com

woMen’s coMMunities search woMen’s coMMunities

nunsarewe.org and contact Sr. Frances Sedlacek, O.S.F., 7665 Assisi Heights, Colorado Springs, CO 80919; (719) 955-7015; e-mail: frances@stfrancis.org. Code #073. Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia (O.S.F.) Are you called to make a difference? Join our committed risktakers! Committed to the needs of others, especially the economically poor, marginal, and oppressed. We are willing to take necessary risks to be a healing, compassionate presence in our violent world—especially for women, children, and those who have no voice. A community of approximately 550 Catholic women religious, we choose a Gospel way of life lived in community. We uphold a long tradition of loving God and being in relationships through loving service. Today we minister in the U.S. and beyond in various ministries—wherever God’s people need us most. Contact: Sr. Mary Beth Antonelli, Vocation Director, East, 609 S. Convent Rd., Aston, PA 19014; (610) 558-6789; Sr. Patricia Novak, Vocation Director, West, 2408 SE 16th Avenue, Portland, OR 97214; (503) 233-1878; e-mail: vocations@osfphila.org; website: http:// www.osfphila.org. Code #139. Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception (O.S.F.) Called to make God’s compassionate presence known through our vowed life in community, the Sisters of this diocesan religious congregation dedicate themselves to prayer, community life, and service in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, whose personal lifestyle was expressed in prayer, joy, and simplicity. The Sisters presently serve the people of God throughout Illinois through prayer and community witness, and a variety of ministries to all ages. These include caring for the aging, teaching, religious education for adults and children, adult literacy, parish ministry, social work, chaplaincy, teen and adult retreat programs, spiritual direction, and campus ministry. Sr. Sarah Elizabeth, 2408 West Heading Avenue, West Peoria, IL 61604; (309) 674-6168; e-mail: sistersarah@sjcnc.org; website: http://www. westpeoriasisters.org. See ad on page 39. Code #279. Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities (OSF) As women of vision, rooted in the Gospel and energized by the spirit of Francis and Clare, we live in right relationship with God, one another, and all creation. As a merged congregation, we are in the process of creating a new vision for our community. As a multi-cultural, international community we are striving to meet the needs of the church and the world today. Through our prayer and Franciscan life together in community, both at home and abroad, we are empowered to serve in traditional ministries, such as education, health care, social services, pastoral and spiritual care; as well as in new and evolving ministries. We offer many opportunities to blend your education and career background with the Franciscan tradition. We invite you to come grow with us. Contact: Sister Rosemary Hendry, (315) 634-7084 or Sister Joselle Orlando, (315) 634-7083; e-mail: rhendry@sosf.org or jorlando@sosf.org; website: http://www.sosf.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 123. Code #294.

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Sisters of St. John the Baptist (C.S.J.B.) We are an international group of consecrated women in the Catholic Church living together in community to give hope and prophetic witness to Jesus of Nazareth. We work for the glory of God in the service of our neighbor—especially the youth and children who are poor, abandoned, marginalized and at risk of losing their faith—through evangelization, education, and human promotion. As women religious, we serve as teachers, administrators, pastoral and social workers, health professionals, and care givers. Founded in Italy in 1878 by Blessed Alfonso Marie Fusco, our religious family continues to move in time with the Holy Spirit in responding to the challenges and needs in our society. In seventeen countries, our sisters strive to live the Founder’s words: “I wish that even my shadow might do good.” Is God Calling you to respond to these challenges? What is your answer? For more information see: http://www.baptistines.org or contact our Provincial Office (718) 518-7820. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 92. Code #075. Sisters of St. Joseph (S.S.J. and C.S.J.)—Federation Does loving God and neighbor without distinction stir your heart and energize you for living in today’s world? In 1650, six ordinary women came together to share their gift of God’s love. They prayed daily, lived simply in community and responded to the needs of their area. Over 350 years later, this same mission continues in over 50 countries worldwide. We are vowed religious women from all walks of life who share the mission of Jesus that all may be one. We do this through prayer, living in community, and responding to the needs of our time. Our mission calls us to work toward union of God and neighbor without distinction. Together with our Associates and Volunteers we respond to the needs of our Church and world with compassion, creativity, and courage by using our individual and collective gifts in a variety of ways. Would you like to live the challenge of the Gospel with us? For more information please contact one of our Vocation Ministers Albany, NY: Sr. Jeanne Marie Gocha, CSJ, (518) 783-3605; e-mail: jgocha@csjalbany.org; website: www.csjalbany.org; Baden, PA: Sr. Dorothy Pashuta, CSJ, (412) 661-2528; e-mail: dpashuta@stjoseph-baden. org; website: www.stjoseph-baden.org; Boston, MA: Sr. Mary Theresa O’Reilly, CSJ, (617) 746-2045; e-mail: vocation.office@csjboston.org; website: www.csjboston.org; Brentwood, NY: Sr. Kerry Handal, CSJ, (516) 483-6799; e-mail: vocationcsj@aol.com; website: www.brentwoodcsj. org; Buffalo, NY: Sr. Patrice Ryan, SSJ, (716) 759-6454; e-mail: pryan@ssjbuffalo.org; website: www.ssjbuffalo. org; Chambery-West Hartford, CT: Sr. Elaine Betoncourt, CSJ, (860) 233-5126; e-mail: sebcsj@hotmail.com; website: www.sistersofsaintjoseph.org; Concordia, KS: Sr. Beverly Carlin, CSJ, (785) 243-2149: e-mail: srbevc@ csjkansas.org; website: www.csjkansas.org; CSJ Volunteer Program: (785) 243-2149; e-mail: cdoman@csjkansas.org; Congregation of St. Joseph: Sr. Ileana Fernandez, CSJ, (225) 388-2262; e-mail: vocations@csjoseph.org; website: www. csjoseph.org; St. Joseph Worker Volunteer Program (in New Orleans): (504) 909-0091; e-mail: sjw@csjoseph. org; Erie, PA: Sr. Linda Fusco, SSJ, (814) 836-4127; e-mail: formation@ssjerie.org: website: www.ssjerie.org; Honolulu, HI: Sr. Eva Joseph Mesina, CSJ, (808) 244-8123; e-

mail: sevajm@msn.com; website: www.csjhawaii.org; Los Angeles, CA: Sr. Anne Davis, CSJ, (310) 889-2117; e-mail: vocations@csjla.org; website: www.csjla.org; Orange, CA: Sr. Mary Elizabeth Nelsen, CSJ, (714) 633-8121 ext. 7108; e-mail: vocationcsj@csjorange.org; website: www. csjorange.org; Philadelphia, PA: Sr. Kathy Claflin, SSJ, (215) 248-7236; e-mail: kclaflin@ssjphila.org; website: www.ssjphila.org; Rochester, NY: Sr. Donna Del Santo, SSJ, (585) 733-4422; e-mail: vocations@ssjrochester.org; website: www.ssjrochester.org; Sisters of Saint Joseph Volunteer Corps, (585) 529-5689; e-mail: volunteercorps@ ssjrochester.org; Springfield, MA: Sr. Natalie Cain, SSJ, (413) 536-0853 ext. 249; e-mail: ncain@ssjspringfield. com; website: www.ssjspringfield.org; St. Augustine, FL: Sr. Kathleen Power, SSJ, (904) 610-9228; e-mail: ssjflvocations@bellsouth.net; website: www.ssjfl.org; St. Louis, MO: Sr. Linda Markway, CSJ or Sr. Kathy Eiler, CSJ, (314) 678-0315; e-mail: lmarkway@csjsl.org or keiler@csjsl.org; website: www.csjsl.org; St. Paul, MN: Sr. Jill Underdahl, CSJ, (651) 696-2872; e-mail: junderdahl@csjstpaul.org; website: www.csjstpaul.org; St. Joseph Worker Volunteer Program, (651) 690-7049; e-mail: bkelly@csjstpaul.org; website: www.stjosephworkers.org; Watertown, NY: Sr. Gregory Munger, SSJ, (315) 782-3460; e-mail: smgssj@ yahoo.com; website: www.ssjwatertown.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 16. Code #024. Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace (C.S.J.P.) The Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace are an international community built on a rich heritage of promoting social justice as a way to peace. Our founding spirit calls us to further the work of peace, and our call to peacemaking pervades our prayer and leads us to a life of simplicity and service. In accord with our tradition we commit ourselves to promote peace in family life, in the church, and in society. We minister in education, health and hospital services, religious education, parish ministry, social justice, spiritual direction, and peace ministry in the U.S., U.K., and El Salvador. Community life sustains us in ministry. Likewise ministry enlivens and enriches our life in community. Recognizing gospel peace as both gift and task, we believe that prayer is fundamental to our life. We rely on the love and fidelity of God to lead us in the way of peace. Vocation Contact: Sr. Jo-Anne Miller, CSJP, Vocation Director, P.O. Box 248, Bellevue, WA 98009; (425) 451-1770 ext. 118; e-mail: jmiller@csjp-olp.org; website: http://www.csjp.org. See ad on page 45. Code #227. Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis (SSJ-TOSF) The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis are a community of more than 300 Franciscan women who are dedicated to Gospel living. In the spirit of Jesus and Francis, we seek to serve the minores—the little ones who often fall through the cracks in society through a variety of ministries. Our Franciscan charism calls us to reach out to all members of the human family and, in a special way, to the poor and the outcast. The missioned presence of the Congregation continues today in 13 states, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Peru. The congregation has a strong associate relationship for men and women partnering in prayer and ministry. Contact the Director of Vocation Ministry, P.O. Box 305, Stevens Point, WI 54481-0305; (715) 341-8457; e-mail: vocation@ ssj-tosf.org; website: http://www.ssj-tosf.org. See ad on page 64. Code #154. Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, (S.S.M.N.) Eastern Province Are you fascinated by God? We are. Are you challenged to deepen your spiritual life and values? We are. Is God urging you to serve the poor of your neighborhood, your country, your world? The Sisters of St. Mary of Namur are an international congregation of religious women, consecrated by vows, and living together in community to transmit the Word of God. In eight provinces throughout both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, we find our service among the poor and marginalized of the world with special commitment to women and young people. We share community life, prayer, the Eucharist, and a life united to the joys and sorrows of the human family. Ready to search further? Contact Sr. Carol Ann Kleindinst, 241 Lafayette Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14213; (716) 884-8221; e-mail: carolk391@verizon.net; website: http://www.ssmn.us. Code #348. Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, (S.S.M.N.) Western Province (See “S.S.M.N. Eastern Province” listing

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org above) Come visit and share with the Sisters of St. Mary in Texas. Our spirit, mission, and inner fire propel us to serve God among the poor, attentive to their spiritual, social and human needs. We strive to be a genuine presence of Christ to all we encounter. We hold as fundamental our life of prayer and community. Our ministries are diverse. We serve in fields of education, parish ministries, social outreach, spiritual direction, and retreat programs. Contact our Vocation Director, Sister Yolanda Cruz, 909 W. Shaw St., Fort Worth, TX 76110; (817) 923-3091; e-mail: sycruz@sbcglobal.net; website: www.ssmnwestern.com and www.ssmnvocationchat.blogstop.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #242.

Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (S.B.S.) We are a multiracial community of vowed women who were founded by Saint Katharine Drexel. We are called to be a sign of the power of the Eucharistic Christ to effect unity and community among all peoples. Through education, parish ministry, social and health services, and spiritual ministries, we challenge injustices and share the Gospel message with the poor and oppressed, especially among the Black and Native American peoples. Our ministries take us to Native American reservations, inner cities, and rural areas in the United States and Haiti. Vocation Director, 1663 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, PA 19020-5796; (215) 244-9900, ext. 327; e-mail: sbsvocof@aol.com; website: http://www.katharinedrexel.org. See ad on page 55. Code #076. Sisters of the Divine Compassion (R.D.C.) As Sisters of the Divine Compassion we are women of the 21st century called to be God’s compassionate presence among the marginalized and oppressed in our midst. For 124 years we have gathered in community, prayer, and service to respond to the brokenness of our world. As prophetic women attentive to the signs of the times, we are invited to live into ways of being that are just, non-violent and inclusive in relationship with all of creation. Our co-founder, Monsignor Thomas Preston reminds us, “. . . to think that not only may we be the recipients of the divine compassion, but that God will let us take this divine compassion into our hands and extend it to others.” (1888). Susan Becker, R.D.C., 52 N. Broadway, White Plains, NY 10603; (914) 798-1109; fax: (914) 9495169; e-mail: snbecker2000@yahoo.com; website: http:// www.divinecompassion.org. Code #277. Sisters of the Divine Savior (S.D.S.) [Salvatorians] The Salvatorians are an international religious community of sisters, priests, brothers, and lay Salvatorians. We were founded by Father Francis Jordan and Blessed Mary of the Apostles in Rome in the 1880s. Our mission is to make Jesus our Savior known so that all may experience the fullness of life. We minister in Alabama, Arizona, California, Tennessee, Wisconsin and in 29 other countries in the world. Our apostolic work includes parish work, education, health care, advocacy, Anti-Human Trafficking, social work, art, law, secretarial, and retreat ministry. If you are a single women between the ages of 20-50 we invite you to contact us: Sister Mary Lee Grady, SDS, 4311 North 100th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53222-1393; (414) 466-0810, ext. 229; e-mail: gradym@salvatoriansisters.org; website: http://sistersofthedivinesavior.org. See ad on page 17. Code #315. Sisters of the Holy Cross (C.S.C.) We, Sisters of the Holy Cross, are a dynamic international congregation of

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Sisters of the Holy Family (S.H.F.) For more than 135 years the Sisters of the Holy Family have responded to the Gospel call to seek out the poor and the needy, especially families, for the Kingdom of God. Founded in San Francisco, CA, and serving the western United States, the diversity of our ministries reflects our historical commitment to provide meaningful services to the communities in which we live and work. Some of our current ministries include: child care, religious education, social services, grief counseling, teachers, special education, parish administration, social work, and home visiting. Our doors are open to those exploring membership as vowed members or associate members. We invite you to explore membership with the Sisters of the Holy Family. Vocation Director, P.O. Box 3248, Fremont, California 94539; (510) 624-4500; fax: (510) 624-4550; e-mail: vocations@holyfamilysisters.org; website: http://www.holyfamilysisters. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 35. Code #036. Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (C.S.F.N.) In a world marked by individualism, we choose family! Our lives, rooted in prayer and in the example of the Holy family of Nazareth, speak to the world about love, sacrifice, and true joy. Believing that charity begins at home, we create communities where lives are nurtured and shared. Empowered by this gift, we reach out to the Church and world through diverse ministries, striving to uphold the value and dignity of the human family. Founded in Rome in 1875 by Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, we are an international congregation, presently serving in the continental United States, Puerto Rico, Australia, Eastern and Western Europe, Israel, and the Philippines. Make a life-giving choice today and explore what God may have in mind for you! For more information, contact: Sister Michele Vincent Fisher at voc4naz@aol.com; website: http://www.nazarethcsfn.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 135. Code #155. Sisters of the Holy Redeemer (C.S.R.) The Sisters of the Holy Redeemer are compelled to bring the healing presence and compassion of the Redeemer to those who suffer in body, mind and spirit. We strive to be witnesses to hope and joy as we serve Jesus in the most vulnerable. Our inspiration flows from our relationship with Jesus, our Redeemer as we follow the example of Mother Alphonse Maria Eppinger who founded the congregation 160 years ago on the principal that “Love of God and love of neighbor are but one single love.” Through our sponsorship of the Holy Redeemer Health System, we provide health care, social services, and pastoral care, with a special emphasis on older adults, women and children. Contact us: American Province; Vocation Ministry Office, 521 Moredon Road, Huntington Valley, PA 19006; (215) 914-4109; e-mail: vocations@HolyRedeemer.com; website: http://www.SistersHolyRedeemer.org. See ad on page 116. Code #079. Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate (SHSp) The Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate are a pontifical community of religious women—with the celebration of the Eucharist and communal prayer as the center of our lives. We were founded in 1893, in San Antonio, Texas, by Mother Margaret Healy-Murphy. We follow the original mission of our foundress who was moved to respond to the urgent social needs of her times—the spiritual and educational needs of the poor. We are called by the Spirit to work with people of diverse social and ethnic backgrounds and dedicate our lives to promoting the human dignity of those neglected or marginalized. The Sisters teach the message

www.parishvisitorsisters.org pvmi@frontier.net enter #292 at VocationMatch.com of the Gospel and work on Christian education, spiritual direction, immigration reform, homelessness, peace and justice, housing, health care, and homes for the aged and abused children. We minister in the U.S., Mexico, and Africa. Contact: Sr. Gabriel Hession, SHSp, 300 Yucca St., San Antonio, TX 78203; (210) 533-5149; e-mail: sghession@hotmail.com; website: http://www.shsp.org. Code #331. Sisters of the Humility of Mary (H.M.) Fidelity to God’s Spirit challenges us to be a prophetic presence in today’s world by bringing more abundant life to God’s people. As a community of religious women we care for those in need through a variety of ministries in education, health care, social service, pastoral ministry, works of peacemaking, justice, and care for Earth. Our founders, Marie-Antoinette Potier and John Joseph Begel, responded to the needs of the time in France with vision, courage and generosity, eventually emigrating to the Cleveland, OH diocese in 1864. The heart of our commitment to religious life is a radical love and following of Jesus Christ grounded in a life of prayer and compassionate service. Mary’s humility inspires us to say “YES” to God’s call, whatever it asks of us, in joyful simplicity. We number 176 Sisters serving in Midwestern states, Florida, and Haiti. Associates and HM Volunteers share in our mission. Sr. Toby Lardie, HM; (440) 356-5711; e-mail: tlardie@hmministry.org, Sr. Mary Beth Marquard, HM, (216) 556-0688; e-mail: marybeth1125@yahoo.com, or Sr. Cheryl Rose, HM, (440) 356-6130; e-mail: crose@hmministry.org; website: http://www.humilityofmary.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 39. Code #329.

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Sisters of St. Rita (O.S.A.) We, the Sisters of St. Rita, are an international community who follow the Rule of St. Augustine and the example of St. Rita, our patroness. St. Augustine’s heart was on fire with the love of God. We, too, want to live our community life and our mission that flows from a burning heart passionately in love—”a heart which sees where love is needed and acts accordingly” (Deus caritas est.). We are “not linked together through law but in freedom held together through grace” (Augustinian Rule). Rejoicing in the gifts God has given each one of us, we minister where we are needed, faithfully keeping to our founding mission of spiritual/social family care with all its diverse ministries. Is your heart burning also? We invite you to walk the journey with us to make a difference. Contact Sr. Angelica Summer, O.S.A., 4014 N. Green Bay Rd., Racine, WI 53404; (262) 639-1766; e-mail: sr.angelica@ sbcglobal.net; website: http://www.sistersofstrita.org. See ad on page 130. Code #163.

sisters who are part of the Holy Cross family of sisters, brothers and priests. Striving to live out Jesus’ gospel and mission in the 21st century, we minister to people in eight countries on four continents. Compelled by Love, we continue to address the unmet needs of these communities as educators, health care workers, administrators, counselors, pastoral ministers, social workers, retreat leaders, writers, attorneys and social justice advocates. We have committed ourselves as a congregation to promote right relationships wherever we serve. Walk with us in our life and mission. Sr. Mary Ellen Johnson, C.S.C., 11133 51st Ave., South, Apt. 53, Seattle, WA 98178-2142; (206) 725-6505; e-mail: mejohnson@igc.org; website: http:// www.cscsisters.org. See ad on page 88. Code #269.

Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary A religious congregation that seeks to unite prayer life with apostolic activity in the spirit of our founder Blessed George Matulaitis. We serve the Church, especially the poor, and help others on their journey to God. We are consecrated to God by public vows and are committed to follow Jesus by observing the evangelical

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counsels and living in our religious community. In the USA, Canada, and Lithuania we serve in diversified ministries: education, youth ministry, health care with the aged, social, pastoral, and parish work, communications, and hospitality. God is calling today as always. Come, talk and walk with us. Vocation director: Sr. M. Bernadette, 600 Liberty Highway, Putnam, CT 06260; (860) 928-5294; e-mail: sbernadette1@yahoo.com. Code #144. Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament (I.W.B.S.)—Corpus Christi, TX We are consecrated women following the call of Jesus to spread the love and presence of Jesus through prayer, community life, and ministry. We delight in a personal intimacy with Jesus and seek to make Him visible in the world through a life lived in the spirit of the Beatitudes. Currently our Congregation ministers in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Brownsville, Galveston-Houston, and Beaumont. We serve in Catholic schools, parish catechesis, adult faith formation, ministry to the homeless, hospital chaplaincy and prison ministry. We are part of a world-wide Incarnate Word Order composed of eleven independent groups with ministries in North, Central and South America, Europe and Africa. Women between the ages of 21-50 who have completed a high school education and are interested in a contemplative/apostolic community life are invited to contact Sr. Rosa Maria Ortiz, IWBS, 2930 S. Alameda, Corpus Christi, TX 78404; (361) 882-5413; e-mail: srmortiz@iwbscc.org; website: http://www.iwbscc.org. See our ad on page 115. Code #274. Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament (C.V.I.)—Houston, TX We, the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament of Houston, Texas continue the inspiration of our saintly foundress, Venerable Jeanne de Matel, to extend the Incarnation of Christ. Central to our spirituality is the Eucharistic Presence of Christ which impels us to serve others with humility, simplicity, and charity. In addition to daily Eucharist and each Sister’s daily personal and communal prayer, this centrality is reflected in a communal celebration of Eucharistic Adoration on the first Sunday of each month. We accomplish our mission of evangelization through Christian education especially the faith formation of young people, by outreach to the elderly, and by discerning other needs which call forth the gifts and talents of the Sisters. Women who are interested in a contemplative/apostolic community, are 18 years of age or above and have completed a high school education are invited to contact us. Sister Mary Margaret Rosberg, C.V.I., 3400 Bradford Place, Houston, TX 770251398; (713) 668-0423 ext. 107; e-mail: mmrosberg@ incarnateword.org; website: http://www.incarnatewordsistershouston.org. Code #346. Sisters of the Living Word (S.L.W.) Our community was founded in 1975, in response to the call for renewal in religious life at the Second Vatican Council. We focus our energies on situations where the Living Word of God needs to be spoken and reflected, to help free the oppressed and bring new life. We do this through education, pastoral care, parish ministry, spiritual direction, social work, creative arts, and more. We invite generous and courageous women to join us in continuing to shape this new community. Check us out at our website, or come and meet us at a location near you. Or participate in a Living Word Retreat to experience our spirituality and passion for mission. For more information contact: Sr. Kathleen Heer, 800 N. Fernandez Ave.-B, Arlington Heights, IL 60004; (847) 577-5972; e-mail: connect@slw.org or Kathleen_slw@ yahoo.com; website: http://www.slw.org. See ad on page 12. Code #173. Sisters of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S.) We are an apostolic community rooted in Eucharistic prayer and motivated by the Precious Blood of Jesus. As Sisters of the Precious Blood we are urged to be a life-giving, reconciling presence in our fractured world. A vibrant community founded in 1834, we serve in the United States, Chile, and Guatemala bringing hope and redeeming love. We carry on the legacy and mission of our foundress Maria Anna Brunner in diverse ministries: education, pastoral ministry, prisons, and health care. We minister in rural, urban, and inner-city settings. Community, personal prayer, and Eucharist form the cornerstone of our life and ministry. Learn more about us and how you can help us respond to the hungers of our world by contacting: Sister Carolyn Hoying, C.PP.S., 4960

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Salem Avenue, Dayton, OH 45416; (937) 278-0871 ext. 1303 or 937-231-1244; e-mail: Vocations@PreciousBloodSistersDayton.org. Please visit our website: http://www. PreciousBloodSistersDayton.org. See ad on page 51. Code #318. Sisters of the Presentation of Mary (pm) To follow Jesus Christ and act according to his Spirit was the rule of life that fashioned the heart of our foundress, Blessed Marie Rivier, and continues to be our inspiration. Our vocation is to know Jesus Christ in the Gospels, to live Jesus in His mysteries, to reveal and teach Jesus by our very lives. We live in community and our relationship with God in prayer is at the heart of our existence. Our apostolic works include education at all levels, pastoral ministry, chaplaincy, retreat work, outreach to the poor, the disabled, and immigrants. We are an international congregation with sisters ministering in 22 countries throughout the world. Contact: Sr. Linda Mae Plourde, pm, 10 Evans Rd., Biddeford, ME 04005; (207) 284-5671; e-mail: pmvocations@yahoo.com; website: http://www.presmarymethuen.org OR Contact: Sr. Lorraine Aucoin, p.m., 495 Mammoth Rd., Manchester, NH 03104; e-mail: srlorrainea@yahoo.com; website: http:// www.presentationofmary.com. Code #219. Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (P.B.V.M.) Dubuque, IA Sisters of the Presentation of Dubuque are women religious inspired by the faith and life of their foundress, Nano Nagle. In 18th century Ireland, working against religious, political and economic oppression and with great personal risk, Nano launched an underground school system, visited the poor and elderly in their homes, and spent hours in prayer and adoration of the Eucharist. Her charism of hospitality lives today in the sisters, associates and friends who reflect God’s love for the world, live the Gospel value of welcoming all, and carry Nano’s lantern of hope to struggling people in the United States and Bolivia. Are you interested in a life of service that gives witness to Gospel values and makes a difference in the lives of other people? If yes, then, listen to the Spirit’s stirrings in your heart, ask for wisdom and pray for courage to take the next step. Visit the Sisters of the Presentation website: http://www.dubuquepresentations.org and contact the Vocation Office, 2360 Carter Rd., Dubuque, IA 52001; (563) 588-2008; e-mail: vocations@ dubuquepresentations.org. Code #327. Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (P.B.V.M.)—San Francisco Presentation Sisters of San Francisco today serve throughout California and in Central America. Their sponsored ministries include: Presentation High School, San Jose, Presentation Retreat and Conference Center, Los Gatos, Learning and Loving Center for immigrant women, Morgan Hill, El Proyecto de las Rosas literacy center, Tipton, The Lantern literacy center, San Francisco, and SafeHouse, a residential program for women seeking to leave prostitution, San Francisco. In keeping with the charism of the Presentation founder, Nano Nagle, the Presentation Sisters of San Francisco work for justice and structural change, especially in issues related to women and children, immigrants and ethnic communities, the environment and sustainable living, human rights. The Presentation Sisters of San Francisco collaborate with Presentation Sisters in North America and around the world in ministry, justice projects, and educating others about global conditions and issues. For more information, contact Sister Stephanie Still, PBVM, (415) 422-5020; e-mail: sstill@ pbvmsf.org; website: http://www.presentationsisterssf.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 157. Code #266. Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (P.B.V.M.)—South Dakota We are enthusiastic apostolic women eager to make the world a better place. We live lives consecrated to God through the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. As apostolic women we are contemplative in action. Following the example of the apostles, we live in communities among the people, with an emphasis on service. Prayer, faith, and sharing our lives in community fire us with energy for mission and ministry. We serve in range of ministries as broad as the needs of those we serve: from health care and education, to advocacy and our ministry with Hispanic immigrants. The ministries we serve are determined by the needs of the people and the gifts of each individual sister. We encourage women who are seeking God through service grounded in prayer to discover

the possibilities of Presentation life! Sr. Phyllis Gill, 1500 N. Second Street, Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401; (605) 229-8414; fax: (605) 229-8412; e-mail: vocoff@presentationsisters.org; website: http://www.presentationsisters.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #050. Sisters of the Resurrection (C.R.) God called a mother and daughter to form a religious congregation of women immersed in the spirit of Jesus’ Resurrection. As Sisters of the Resurrection, we are women of prayer and of the church who believe deeply in the presence of the Risen Christ. We have given our lives to God in joy through a vowed commitment of chastity, poverty, and obedience. In our education and health care ministries, we strive to imitate the example of Jesus’ love, compassion, and concern for others. We believe that God continues to call women to live as Sisters of the Resurrection and we invite you to prayerfully consider whether this could be true for you. New York Province: Sr. Teresa Grace, C.R., 35 Boltwood Avenue, Castleton, NY 12033; (518) 732-2226; e-mail: vocation@resurrectionsisters.org; website: http://www. resurrectionsisters.org. Chicago Province: Sr. Kathleen Ann, C.R., 7432 W. Talcott Avenue, Chicago, IL 60631; (773) 792-6363; e-mail: callres@yahoo.com; website: http:// www.crsisterschicago.org. See ad on page 155. Code #215. Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (S.S.H.J.) We are the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (S.S.H.J.) founded by Blessed Maria Schinina of Ragusa, Italy in 1889. Following the command of Jesus “obey my ministers,” she rejected worldly pleasures and dedicated herself to the destitute, homeless, and unwanted. The aim of this Congregation is the glory of God and the sanctification of its members by the practice of Evangelical Vows, spiritual and temporal works of mercy. Our motto is “Live Jesus” and our Spirituality is “Love and Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” lived through Love and Service to the Poor. Our ministry extends to the destitute, in orphanages, social work, rest homes, pastoral work, parish ministry, schools, missionary lands, and in propagating the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Prayer and Community life are highly esteemed. We dress in a full religious habit. We serve in Italy, Madagascar, Nigeria, Philippines, Romania, France, India, Equatorial Guinea, Canada, and United States. Age limit is 18 to 38. Contact: Sister Grace Dike, SSHJ, Sacred Heart Villa, 5269 Lewiston Rd., Lewiston, NY 14092; (716) 284-8273; e-mail: sshj_vocation@yahoo.com; website: http://www.shvilla.org. Code #165. Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi (S.S.M.) We are an internationally diverse group of Franciscan women committed to prayer, community, and service. With Mary, the Mother of Sorrows, we bring a compassionate presence to the world by focusing on the needs of those who are suffering. We have missions in ten countries: the USA, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, St. Lucia, Trinidad; Austria, Germany, Italy; Brazil and Africa. Are you yearning to make a difference in a suffering world as did Mary, Mother of Sorrows? If yes, take the first step in exploring the process of becoming one of us by contacting Sister Dorothy Ann Dirkx, 9 Pocono Rd., Denville, NJ 07834; (973) 627-0424; e-mail: ssmvoc@ aol.com; http://www.ssmfranciscans.org. See ad on page 159. Code #034. Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis (O.S.F.)—East Peoria, IL We are personally called by the Most High God to live the Franciscan way of life. With the Holy Virgin Mary as our mother and model, we strive to follow examples of St. Francis of Assisi and Mother M. Frances Krasse. We travel this earth as pilgrims, walking through life together, strengthened by the Eucharist, praising our God in the Liturgy of the Hours, and allowing Him daily to transform us by our life of penance. In emptying ourselves for others, in humble sharing of the gifts we have received from our Father, we bring the peace of Christ among men. Our community apostolate includes health care and education. Our primary commitment is to care for the sick and poor. The special spirit of our community is the loving simplicity which our holy Father St. Francis practiced to a very high degree. Vocation Director, 740 NE Glen Oak Ave., Peoria, IL 61603; (309) 655-4840; e-mail: vocation.info@osfhealthcare.org; website: http:// www.franciscansisterspeoria.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 167. Code #081.

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org Sisters of Transfiguration Hermitage We are a monastic, contemplative community, following the Rule of Benedict in a way of life which nurtures the love of God in solitude as well as in community. Our life includes Liturgy of the Hours together as well as hours for personal prayer and lectio in solitude both morning and evening. We live by the work of our hands: making fruitcakes, jams, and other baked goods, and by writing, offering occasional workshops and retreats, and through the ministry of our small guest house. Our 68 acres of gardens, fields, woods, and streams offers a solitary environment in which to attend to God’s presence. Firmly rooted in the monastic tradition, we are also open to the needs and aspirations of contemporary women who desire to seek God both in silence and solitude and in the daily life of the community of sisters. Transfiguration Hermitage, 205 Windsor Neck Rd., Windsor, ME 04363; (207) 445-8031; e-mail: benedicite@fairpoint.net; website: http://www.transfigurationhermitage.org. Code #367.

Society of Helpers (S.H.) The Helpers are an international community of women religious who have been urged by the love of Christ to respond to a world in crisis by bringing hope to the human journey. We work in solidarity with the forgotten, those wounded in human dignity, those suffering injustice, those surviving without hope, those searching for God. We share with them in the life and death situations of the human situation moving towards fullness of life. To learn more contact: Sr. Jean Kielty, 2043 N. Humboldt Blvd., Chicago, IL 60647; (773) 405-9884; e-mail: jeankielty@ yahoo.com or Sr. Anna Maria Baldauf, 2258 S. Marshall, Chicago, IL 60623; (312) 806-1884; e-mail: anna.maria. baldauf@sbcglobal.net. For Spanish contact Sr. Dominga Zapata, 2043 N. Humboldt Blvd., Chicago, IL 60647; (773) 343-8832; e-mail: mingaz@sbcglobal.net. Visit our website at http://www.helpers.org. U.S. Provincial House: 4721-J S. Woodlawn, Chicago, IL 60615; (773) 548-5026. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #223. Society of St. Teresa of Jesus (S.T.J.) The Teresian Sisters are an international congregation of women religious called to “know and love Jesus and make him known and loved” through the apostolates of prayer, education, and sacrifice. Founded in 1876 by St. Henry de Osso, the Teresian Sisters serve in 24 countries in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. In the U.S. we minister in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida in education, youth ministry, retreats, and parish ministry. Our life of prayer and community strengthen us for mission and enable us to proclaim Christ to all people. Mindful of the needs of the poor, we are called to go wherever the interests of Jesus are most in danger. Discover if God is calling you to witness to his love in our world. Contact: Sr. Clarice Suchy, S.T.J., 18158 St. Joseph Way, Covington, LA 70435; (985) 893-1557; e-mail: teresianvocations@ yahoo.com; website: http://www.teresians.org. See ad on page 134. Code #261. Society of St. Ursula (S.U.) The Sisters of St. Ursula, following in the footsteps of our foundress, Anne de Xainctonge, are women religious called to work with and among women and young people especially the poor. Through education in the broadest sense, we are to enable all people to appreciate and desire Gospel values. We minister in schools, parishes, retreat centers, and social service agencies. It is

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The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis ...striving to follow Christ in the loving simplicity of our holy father St. Francis

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Society of the Holy Child Jesus—American Province (SHCJ) Founded by Cornelia Connelly, the Society of the Holy Child Jesus is an international community of women religious. Our mission is to help others to believe that God lives and acts in them and in our world, and to rejoice in God’s presence. Our life of prayer and community strengthens us for diverse ministries. Since the Society’s founding in 1846, education has been at the heart of our mission. Today, we continue to serve as educators in the broadest sense of the word through ministries in teaching, spirituality, health care, social work, pastoral care, parish administration, and law. In the U.S., the Society sponsors 14 schools, including Rosemont College, and several social service organizations. Holy Child Sisters serve on four continents and in 16 states. For more information, please contact: Anita Quigley, SHCJ; 1341 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, PA 19010; (610) 626-1400, ext. 203; e-mail: aquigley@shcj.org. Visit our website at http://www. vocations.shcj.org. See ad on page 161. Code #172. Society of the Sacred Heart (R.S.C.J.) The Religious of the Sacred Heart invite you to join in our mission of discovering and making God’s love known. Our members share life together in small communities and seek, through prayer and contemplation, to be drawn ever more deeply into intimacy with God, who is alive and active in our hearts and minds and who challenges us to make choices for justice and peace in response to the Gospel and the needs of the world. In the United States, we live out our educational mission in a wide variety of settings, including schools and colleges, social agencies and shelters. Linked with our sisters in 45 countries, and led by the Spirit, we strive to live courageously in the traditions of our founder, Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, and our pioneer educator Saint Philippine Duchesne. Visit us at http://www.rscj.org and http://www.rscjinternational.org or contact us at: 1-888844-7725 (toll free) or vocation@rscj.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 54. Code #027.

Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland (O.S.U.) As Ursuline Sisters we are called to live the Gospel values and to deepen our relationship with Christ, both individually and with the support of one another in community. We were founded by St. Angela Merici whose compassion led her to serve the Church and God’s people as needs and circumstances dictated. Today, imitating St. Angela, we offer a compassionate presence in schools, neighborhoods, retreat centers, prisons, shelters, and health care facilities. We serve primarily in the Greater Cleveland community and on the Diocesan Mission Team in El Salvador. If you have an interest in using your gifts within a religious community that values contemplation, compassion, and justice, we invite you to contact us. Women seeking Vowed Membership or Associate Membership contact Sister Ann Letitia, 2600 Lander Road, Pepper Pike, OH 44124; (440) 449-1200 ext. 138; e-mail: aletitia@beaumontschool.org; website: http:// www.ursulinesisters.org. Code #311. Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph (O.S.U.) We are Ursuline Sisters committed to “Freeing and nurturing women and children.” Founded in 1874 in western Kentucky, our congregation embraces the core values of Prayer, Service, Empowerment, Justice, and Contemplative Presence, in the spirit of our founder, Saint Angela Merici. We minister in Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Chile, South America. Our focus is in four areas: education, from primary grades to college; ecclesial or church ministry; social outreach and justice advocacy with the poor, children, the elderly, immigrants, and the homeless; and ministries of body, mind, and spirit. We sponsor two institutions, Brescia University and Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center. More than 500 Ursuline Associates join us in prayer and ministry. Vocations: Contact Sister Alicia Coomes,

Give yourself wholly to Christ Enter #081 at VocationMatch.com (270) 229-4103, ext. 214; e-mail: vocations@maplemount. org; 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356. Visit us at http://www.ursulinesmsj.org. Code #222. Ursuline Sisters (O.S.U.)—Roman Union Contemplative urgency is one way to describe our life. We are rooted in the gospels, which give purpose and vision to our lives. We serve in the spirit of our foundress, St. Angela Merici. Our ministries are many and varied: social service, education, pastoral ministry, campus ministry, retreat ministry, and missionary work. We empower individuals, with special care for women and children in poverty. For more information, please contact: Sr. Jane Finnerty, O.S.U., 1338 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10804; e-mail: jcfosu3@aol.com; Sr. Martha Gleason, O.S.U., 65 Lowder St., Dedham, MA 02026; e-mail: mgleasonosu@aol.com; Sr. Francis Kearney, O.S.U. 639 Angela Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95403; (707) 5241130 ext. 116; e-mail: sfkearney@yahoo.com; Sr. Elisa Ryan, O.S.U., 353 S. Sappington Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122; (314) 825-9773; e-mail: elisaosu@gmail.com; websites: http://www.osucentral.org; http://www.osueast.org Code #218.

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Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart (S.D.S.H.) God called Sister Ida Peterfy through her personal relationship with Him and through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to begin our Community in Hungary in 1940. Our Community is characterized by: ONENESS WITH GOD  daily personal and communal prayer  daily Eucharist  adoration of the Blessed Sacrament  GENUINE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER  community life  teamwork in the mission  recreation together  LOVING SERVICE FOR HIS CHURCH  a joyful apostolate  ZEALOUS LOVE TO SERVE OUR LORD  we serve in the United States, Taiwan, and Hungary in catechetics, evangelization and medical work  VIVID FAITH LIFE  HUMBLE RELIANCE ON GOD  we profess Vows of Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience  “With our hearts and minds anchored permanently in Jesus Our Lord, we surrender ourselves to Him to be filled with His transforming love.” Sister Ida.  We are one in Christ.  Contact: Sacred Heart Novitiate: 10480 Winnetka Ave, Chatsworth, CA 91311; (818) 831-9710; website: http://www.sacredheartsisters.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #343.

through the witness of our lives consecrated to Jesus Christ that we desire to make Him known and loved. We are called to live lives of discernment, to find God in all things, and to manifest the magis (the more) in every aspect of our lives. Sisters of the SU Federation serve on four continents in 10 countries. Contact: Sr. Rosemary McNamara, SU, (914) 466-3599 or e-mail: rgmsu@aol.com; website: http://www. societyofstursula.org. See ad on page 96. Code #021.

Visitation Sisters of Holy Mary (V.H.M.) Visitation Sisters are women committed to personal and communal prayer as they seek to be a gentle presence in an often violent world. Their monastic vocation, nurtured in community, is a dynamic call to live prophetically the Will of God in the spirit of their Founders, Sts. Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal. Each monastery is unique and all are centers of contemplative prayer and hospitality. For more information, please contact the Visitation Monastery at one of the following locations: 2455 Visitation Drive, Mendota Heights, MN 55120; (651) 683-1700 • 1500 35th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007; (202) 337-0305 • 1527 Fremont Ave., No., Minneapolis, MN 55411; (612) 521-6113 • 3020 North Ballas Road, St. Louis, MO 63131; (314) 625-9214 • 8902 Ridge Blvd., Brooklyn, NY 11209; (718) 745-5151. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #086.

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Associate communities Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Associates We are baptized men and women who make a non-vowed renewable covenant with the Associate Community in the Spiritual Family of Catherine Kasper for the purpose of mutual spiritual enrichment, development of community and promotion of service. Our commitment is based on the common call of the Holy Spirit to live the charism of Blessed Catherine Kasper, foundress of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Congregation. The Associates, Fiat Spiritus Community and Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ form the Spiritual Family of Catherine Kasper. Gayle Fiwek, P.O. Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513; (574) 936-9936 ext. 733; e-mail: gfiwek@poorhandmaids.org; website: http://www.poorhandmaids.org\ associates. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #049.

woMen’s communities Search other communities/programS

discernment programs LifeChoices® Are you unsure of your future? On the fence—and stuck there? Consider LifeChoices®, a spiritual discernment program designed to help young adult Catholics answer big-picture questions of career, lifestyle, spirituality, and vocation. This decade-old program is the first of its kind. The information and processes will allow you to challenge your insecurities, befriend your self-doubts, and provide a path for you to step into the infinite possibilities of your true and authentic self. More than 3,000 women and men have benefited from LifeChoices®, which pairs you up with an experienced vocation minister to ensure that the big decisions you make are the right ones. There’s no pressure to choose religious life, just a commitment to uncovering the path of your heart’s desire with God’s help, where you will find fulfillment and happiness. For more information about LifeChoices®, log onto www. adorers.org or contact Sr. Rita Schilling at 1-877-2367377 ext. 1409 (ADORERS) or schillingr@adorers.org. See ad on page 97. Code #002.

new communities of consecrated life Fiat Spiritus Community (FS) We the members of the Fiat Spiritus Community are a community of baptized men and women called to live an apostolic life according to the charism and spirituality of Blessed Catherine Kasper. We live this way of life through formal vowed commitment. We strive to model Mary’s response

in the Annunciation, to listen to the spirit, and in the Visitation, to act on the Spirit’s initiative, to become God’s presence to the needy and underserved. Our members embrace not only Mary’s response and action but also the response and action of the disciples at Pentecost and continue to be inspired by holy people throughout history to our present day. Together with the Associate and Poor Handmaid of Jesus Christ Communities we form the Spiritual Family of Catherine. Brother Bob Overland, FS, P.O. Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513; (574) 935-1726; e-mail: bobo@poorhandmaids. org; website: http://www.fiatspiritus.org. Code #049.

secular institutes Caritas Christi, Secular Institute of Pontifical Right Founded in Marseilles, France, in 1937 by Fr. Joseph-Marie Perrin, OP, and Juliette Molland, Caritas Christi is now one of the largest secular institutes for single women in the United States and has members in over thirty countries. The purpose of Caritas Christi is to form and give to the Church contemplative apostolic laywomen who, in every condition of life, strive to live as consecrated Catholics by loving God and making him loved where he has placed them. All members have a sponsor to help them live a life in which God comes first even though they are working in the heart of the world. After three years of initial formation, members take a vow of celibate chastity and promises of poverty and obedience at a first dedication, followed by a definitive dedication five years later. For further information write: Jo Ann Ballinger, joannbear@gmail. com; website: http://www.ccinfo.org. Code #347. Don Bosco Volunteers (DBV) Don Bosco Volunteers are consecrated lay women living the Salesian spirituality of Saint John Bosco, (Don Bosco), while fully immersed in the ordinary occupations and careers of secular society. We participate in the evangelizing mission of the Church by witnessing Christian joy and service especially to young people and those most in need. We do not live in community but share communion through regular prayer and social gatherings. Founded in 1917 by Blessed Philip Rinaldi, Don Bosco Volunteers are a Secular Institute of Pontifical Right for single Catholic women who are consecrated to God through the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience while maintaining their lay status within the Church and world. Candidates must be women who have never married and who want to dedicate their life in a radical way to love of God and neighbor. Members follow a formation plan

of discernment and preparation for vows, six years of temporary vows, then perpetual vows. Contact information: PO Box 300H, Scarsdale, NY 10583-5834; e-mail: seculardbv@aol.com. Code #360. Secular Institute of Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ (SIM) Consecrated single women professing poverty, chastity and obedience. Founded in 1919 in Assisi, Italy by Agostino Gemelli, OFM and Armida Barelli. In 1948 approved as a Secular Institute of Pontifical Rite. Established in the United States in 1953 by Fr. Stephen Hartdegen, OFM and Barbara Ottinger. Our purpose is to evangelize where we work, live and pray in the Spirit of St. Francis. We strive for a Franciscan Spirituality, living the Gospel in our Franciscan tradition with Christ centered humility, joy, simplicity, poverty, peace, generosity, love of the church and her teachings. A close bond is created among the members through monthly Days of Recollection, annual retreats, publications, correspondence, and e-mail. Requirements are a commitment to celibate life, desire to grow in love of Christ, desire to promote Christian values in today’s society, a self-supporting occupation, and freedom to live our way of life. For more information contact: Charleen Dahlin, (508) 386-1417; e-mail: cdahlin@aol. com; website: http://www.simkc.org. Code #337. United States Conference of Secular Institutes (USCSI) The United States Conference of Secular Institutes is an association of all the Secular Institutes in the United States. Its mission is to provide education, resources, and support for member institutes, and to assist inquirers in finding the Secular Institute that is right for them. USCSI is committed to making known, understood, and appreciated the call to consecrated secularity in the Catholic Church. Total consecration to God through the evangelical counsels of poverty, celibate chastity, and obedience is the hallmark of all Secular Institutes. Institutes are for single women or for single men, and some are for diocesan priests. It is the newest and fastest-growing vocation in the Church today. For more information see http://www.secularinstitutes.org. Inquirers may be helped by writing to or talking with Sharon K. Lewis, Vocation Committee, 26673 Franklin Pointe Drive, Southfield, MI 48034-5615; (248) 3528425; e-mail: sklewis@comcast.net. Code #147.

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Men’s

102 Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, p. 83

145 Salvatorians (Society of the Divine Savior), p. 57

278 Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity, p. 108

006 Franciscan Brothers of Peace, p. 141

118 Servants of Charity, p. 80

141 Alexian Brothers, p. 2

159 Servants of Mary (Friars), p. 27

284 Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, p. 127

207 Augustinian Friars, p. 50

370 Franciscan Friars-Province of the Immaculate Conception, p. 82

020 Augustinian Monks of the Primitive Observance, p. 137

313 Franciscan Friars-Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, p. 142

136 Society of African Missions, p. 131

328 Augustinians of the Assumption, p. 137

283 Franciscan Friars-Province of the Most Sacred Heart, p. 37

254 Barnabite Fathers, p. 102

233 Franciscan Friars-St. John the Baptist Province, p. 142

308 Basilian Monks, p. 137 247 Benedictine Monks, Conception Abbey, p. 137 355 Benedictine Monks, Marmion Abbey, p.137 365 Benedictine Monks, Mount Angel Abbey, p. 83 217 Benedictine Monks, Mount Savior Monastery, p. 137 182 Benedictine Monks, Newark Abbey, p. 124 204 Benedictine Monks, Saint Anselm’s Abbey, p. 139 248 Benedictine Monks , Saint Bernard Abbey, p. 139 349 Benedictine Monks, Saint Gregory’s Abbey, p. 139 132 Benedictine Monks, Saint John’s Abbey, p. 100 332 Benedictine Monks, Saint Louis Abbey, p. 139 088 Benedictine Monks, Saint Mary’s Abbey, p. 118 014 Benedictine Monks, Saint Meinrad Archabbey, p. 134 243 Benedictine Monks, Saint Vincent Archabbey, p. 141 256 Benedictine Monks, Subiaco Abbey, p. 140 342 Brothers of Charity, p. 140 206 Brothers of Christian Instruction, p. 147 100 Brothers of the Christian Schools, p. 140 203 Brothers of the Sacred Heart, p. 102 091 Capuchin Franciscan Friars, p. 121 307 Carmelite Friars, St. Elias Province, p. 140 112 Carmelites, Most Pure Heart of Mary Province,` p. 113 092 Claretian Missionaries, p. 140 123 Comboni Missionaries, p. 107 095 Congregation of Christian Brothers, p. 51 097 Congregation of Holy Cross, p. 19 178 Congregation of the Mission, p. 50 230 Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 103 046 Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata, p. 133 099 Crosier Fathers and Brothers, p. 141 177 Divine Word Missionaries, p. 139 228 The Dominicans, p. 34 119 Edmundite Fathers and Brothers, p. 14

VISION 2011

107 Society of Mary (See Marists), p. 119 149 Society of St. Paul, p. 147 120 Somascan Fathers and Brothers, p. 42

186 Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, p. 159 131 Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, p. 159 044 Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 3 289 Norbertine Fathers and Brothers, Daylesford Abbey, p. 145

098 Franciscan Friars, Conventual, p. 142

164 Spiritans, p. 29

295 Franciscan Friars, T.O.R., Immaculate Conception Province, p. 81

122 Trinitarians, p. 147

201 Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, p. 30

094 Viatorians, p. 58

113 Passionists, p. 145

178 Vincentian Priests and Brothers, p. 50

292 Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, p. 165

198 Xaverian Brothers, p. 31

114 The Paulist Fathers, p. 49

137 Xaverian Missionaries, p. 125

134 PIME Missionaries, p. 37

232 Franciscan Friars, T.O.R., Province of the Most Sacred Heart p. 42 003 Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, p. 67 276 Franciscan Friars of the Holy Land, p. 99 103 Glenmary Home Missioners, p. 52 104 Jesuits, p. 142

121 Trappist Cistercian Monks, p. 126

115 Presentation Brothers, p. 101

Missionaries

192 Josephite Fathers and Brothers, p. 112

267 Apostles of the Sacred Heart, p. 23

158 Little Brothers of Saint Francis, p. 64

214 Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, p. 86

344 Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd, p. 99

203 Brothers of the Sacred Heart, p. 102

334 Marianists, Province of Meribah, p. 82 105 Marianists, Society of Mary, p. 146 298 Marist Brothers, p. 140 107 Marists Fathers and Brothers, p. 119 199 Maryknoll Congregation and Society, p. 105 129 Missionaries of the Holy Family, p. 80 108 Missionaries of the Precious Blood, p. 114

013 Carmelites, Congregation of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, p. 109 092 Claretian Missionaries, p. 140 123 Comboni Missionaries, p 107 178 Congregation of the Mission, p. 50 230 Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 103 168 Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, pp. 59, 61, 63, 65 177 Divine Word Missionaries, p. 139 056 Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth, p. 22

130 Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, p. 143

033 Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, p. 162

133 Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 143

138 Glenmary Home Mission Sisters of America, p. 157

109 Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, p. 130

103 Glenmary Home Missioners, p. 52

284 Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, p. 127 289 Norbertine Fathers and Brothers, Daylesford Abbey, p. 145 110 Norbertine Fathers and Brothers, p. 103 285 Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, p. 115 111 Oblates of the Virgin Mary, p. 145 271 Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 145 239 Pallottines, p. 79 113 Passionists, p. 145 114 The Paulist Fathers, p. 49 195 Piarists, p. 146 134 PIME Missionaries, p. 37 115 Presentation Brothers, p. 101 116 Priests of the Sacred Heart, p. 146 135 The Redemptorists, p. 129 117 Salesians of Don Bosco, p. 111

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300 Servants of the Paraclete, p. 117

127 Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, p. 107 041 Little Sisters of the Poor, p. 26 128 Marist Missionary Sisters, p. 158 199 Maryknoll Congregation and Society, p. 105 042 Medical Mission Sisters, p. 31 299 Medical Missionaries of Mary, p. 158 129 Missionaries of the Holy Family, p. 80 108 Missionaries of the Precious Blood, p. 114 130 Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, p. 143 133 Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 143 179 Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, p. 20 109 Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, p. 130

135 Redemptorists, p. 129 300 Servants of the Paraclete, p. 117 060 Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida, p. 161 076 Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, p. 55 136 Society of African Missions, p. 131 222 Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph, p. 167 178 Vincentian Priests and Brothers, p. 50 198 Xaverian Brothers, p. 31 137 Xaverian Missionaries, p. 125

Women’s 001 Adorers of the Blood of Christ, p. 85 267 Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 23 161 Augustinian Nuns, p. 148 004 Benedictine Sisters/ A.B.F.C., p. 9 080 Benedictine Sisters, Atchison, KS, Mount St. Scholastica, pp. 9, 148 362 Benedictine Sisters, Beech Grove, IN, Our Lady of Grace Monastery, pp. 9, 148. 358 Benedictine Sisters, Bismarck, ND, Annunciation Monastery, pp. 9, 114 321 Benedictine Sisters, Bristow, VA, pp. 9, 148 270 Benedictine Sisters, Colorado Springs, CO, Benet Hill, p. 85 221 Benedictine Sisters, Crookston, MN, Mt. St. Benedict Monastery, pp. 9, 16 280 Benedictine Sisters, Cullman, AL, Sacred Heart Monastery, pp. 9, 149 282 Benedictine Sisters, Duluth, MN, St. Scholastica Monastery , pp. 9, 15 353 Benedictine Sisters, Elizabeth, NJ, St. Walburga Monastery, pp. 9, 149 069 Benedictine Sisters, Ferdinand, IN, Monastery Immaculate Conception, pp. 9, 41

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Index to relIgIous communItIes advertIsIng In vIsIon ’11 (contInued from page 169) Log onto VocationGuide.org to request information from any of the religious communities advertising in Vision Vocation Guide. to read about communities and request information in spanish, go to VocacionCatolica.org

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Women’s (continued) 341 Benedictine Sisters, Fort Smith, AR, St. Scholastica Monastery, pp. 9, 149 202 Benedictine Sisters, Mt. Angel, OR, Queen of Angels Monastery, pp. 9, 135 152 Benedictine Sisters, Rock Island, IL, St. Mary Monastery, pp. 9, 91 175 Benedictine Sisters, St. Joseph, MN, St. Benedict’s Monastery, pp. 9, 63 293 Benedictine Sisters, Tulsa, OK, St. Joseph Monastery, p. 38 157 Benedictine Sisters, Watertown, SD, Mother of God Monastery, pp. 9, 27 008 Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, pp. 9, 113 214 Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, p. 86 335 Canossian Daughters of Charity, p. 132 009 Carmelite Monastery, p 60 333 Carmelite Monastery of Cristo Rey, p. 7 070 Carmelite Nuns, Beacon, NY, p. 153 153 Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, p. 28 364 Carmelite Sisters of Baltimore, p 152. 013 Carmelites, Congregation of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, p. 109 188 Cenacle Sisters, p. 149 011 Cistercian Nuns, p. 55 371 Cistercian Nuns, Trappistine, Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey (MA), p 65. 084 Cistercian Nuns, Trappistine, Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey (IA), p. 152 369 Cistercian Nuns, Trappistine, Redwoods Abbey (CA), p. 23 325 Congregation of Divine Providence, Marie de La Roche Province, p.152 257 Congregation of Divine Providence, Melbourne, KY, p. 152 012 Congregation of Notre Dame, p. 41 058 Congregation of Sisters of Bon Secours, p. 87 171 Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, p. 171 363 Congregation of the Humility of Mary, p. 153 168 Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, pp. 59, 61, 63, 65 236 Daughters of Divine Zeal, p. 153 074 Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy, p. 153 263 Daughters of St. Mary of Providence, p. 25 015 Daughters of St. Paul, p. 106 150 Daughters of the Heart of Mary, p. 12

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016 275 262 018 019 022 351 025 126 037 189 166 193 354 268 167 170 017 030 213 056 031 211 032 033 138 077 183 035 127 368 210 039 361 041 105 162 128 199 042 299

Daughters of the Holy Spirit, p. 26 Daughters of Wisdom, p.11 Discalced Carmelite Nuns, p. 151 Dominican Sisters, p. 33 Dominican Sisters, Springfield, IL, pp. 33, 89 Dominican Sisters of Divine Providence, p. 163 Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of the Springs of Bridgeport, p. 118 Felician Franciscan Sisters, p. 13 Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows, p. 21 Franciscan Sisters at Springfield (Hospital Sisters of St. Francis), p. 95 Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, p. 28 Franciscan Sisters of Chicago, p. 123 Franciscan Sisters of Dubuque, IA, p. 164 Franciscan Sisters of John the Baptist, p. 156 Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, MN, p. 133 Franciscan Sisters of Oldenburg, IN, p. 156 Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, p. 127 Franciscan Sisters of Peace, p. 156 Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, p. 45 Franciscan Sisters of Rochester, MN, p. 87 Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth, p. 22 Franciscan Sisters of St. Paul, MN, p. 126 Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement, p. 132 Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, p. 86 Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, p. 162 Glenmary Home Missions Sisters of America (KY), p.157 Good Shepherd Sisters, p. 52 Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, p. 122 Holy Cross Sisters, p. 157 Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, p. 107 Holy Union Sisters, p. 97 Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, p. 158 Little Company of Mary Sisters, p. 94 Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary, p. 119 Little Sisters of the Poor, p. 26 Marianists Sisters, p. 146 Marianites of Holy Cross, p. 35 Marist Missionary Sisters, p. 158 Maryknoll Sisters, p. 105 Medical Mission Sisters, p. 31 Medical Missionaries of Mary, p. 158

043 Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart, p. 20 179 Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, p. 20 278 Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity, p. 108 186 Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, p. 159 131 Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, p. 159 305 Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 14 044 Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 3 340 Oblate Sisters of Providence, p. 159 196 Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 22 271 Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 159 201 Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, p. 30 239 Pallottine Missionary Sisters, p. 79 239 Pallottine Sisters, p. 79 292 Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, p. 165 047 Passionist Nuns, Ellisville, MO, p. 160 048 Poor Clares, (PA), p. 95 359 Poor Clares, (SC), p. 160 049 Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, p. 160 336 Redemptoristine Nuns, p. 160 184 Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph, p. 160 117 Salesian Sisters, p. 111 052 School Sisters of Notre Dame, p.131 053 School Sisters of St. Francis, Milwaukee, WI, p. 160 357 School Sisters of St. Francis, Pittsburgh, PA, p. 160 140 School Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King, p. 11 159 Servants of Mary, Sisters, p. 27 054 Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, p. 161 055 Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary, p. 87 187 Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immaculata, PA, p. 53 258 Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe, MI, p. 93 059 Sisters of Charity (Federation), p. 161 007 Sisters of Charity of Rolling Hills, p. 94 060 Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida, p. 161 296 Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, p. 162 061 Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Houston TX, p. 116 062 Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX, p. 38 212 Sisters of Christian Charity, p. 112 264 Sisters of Loretto, p. 162

356 Sisters of Mary Reparatrix, p.162 063 Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, p. 122 064 Sisters of Notre Dame, p. 162 065 Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, p. 54 066 Sisters of Providence, Holyoke, MA, p. 162 068 Sisters of Providence, Saint Maryof-the-Woods, IN, p. 163 067 Sisters of Providence, Seattle and Spokane, WA, p. 21 205 Sisters of Reparation of the Sacred Wounds of Jesus, p. 36 181 Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius, p. 93 366 Sisters of Sion, p. 163 071 Sisters of St. Casimir, p. 163 085 Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania, OH, p. 36 072 Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, p. 29 252 Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, p. 30 142 Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, Holy Name Prov., p. 89 073 Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, Western Prov., p. 163 139 Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, p. 164 279 Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception, p. 39 294 Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, p. 123 075 Sisters of St. John the Baptist, p. 92 024 Sisters of St. Joseph (Federation), p. 16 227 Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, p. 45 154 Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis, p. 64 348 Sisters of St. Mary Namur, (Eastern Province) p. 164 242 Sisters of St. Mary Namur (Western Province) p. 164 163 Sisters of St. Rita, p. 130 076 Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, p. 55 277 Sisters of the Divine Compassion, p. 165 315 Sisters of the Divine Savior, (Salvatorians), p. 17 269 Sisters of the Holy Cross, p. 88 036 Sisters of the Holy Family, p. 35 155 Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, p. 135 079 Sisters of the Holy Redeemer, p. 116 331 Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate, p. 165 329 Sisters of the Humility of Mary, p. 39 144 Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, p. 165 274 Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, Corpus Christi, TX, p. 115

VISION 2011 VISION 2009 2009

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Called Anew to BE Community at

the Level of the Sacred and to BUILD Community as Mission

Women’s (continued)

Associate communities 049 Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Associates, p. 168

Discernment programs 002 LifeChoices, p. 97

New communities of consecrated life 049 Fiat Spiritus Community, p. 168

Secular institutes

n Co

346 Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, Houston, TX, p. 166 173 Sisters of the Living Word, p. 12 318 Sisters of the Precious Blood, p. 51 219 Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, p. 166 327 Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque, IA, p. 166 266 Sisters of the Presentation, of the Blessed Virgin Mary San Francisco, p. 157 050 Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, South Dakota, p. 166 215 Sisters of the Resurrection, p. 155 165 Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 166 034 Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, p. 159 081 Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, p. 167 367 Sisters of Transfiguration Hermitage, p. 167 343 Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart, p. 167 223 Society of Helpers, p. 167 261 Society of St. Teresa of Jesus, p. 134 021 Society of St. Ursula, p. 96 172 Society of the Holy Child Jesus, p. 161 027 Society of the Sacred Heart, p. 54 311 Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland, p. 167 222 Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph, p. 167 218 Ursuline Sisters, Roman Union, p. 167 086 Visitation Sisters, p. 167

gn es

INDEX

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 170)

gre .A gat ion of Sisters of St

CSA Office of Vocation Discernment vocations@csasisters.org www.csasisters.org

tttt 920.907.2310

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VISION is a proud member of the Catholic Press Association Please take a look at our award-winning articles from the 2010 issue: http://www.digitalvocationguide.org/2010 Best Original Poetry/First Place

VISION, Chicago, Ill., “Just take it” by Father Larry Janowski, O.F.M. The poem’s message of action and decision offers profound insight into the human condition. The conversational and direct tone lends the poem great power, appropriate to the subject matter and to Frost’s own voice. The sonnet-like structure further supports the poem’s quiet, understated wisdom.

Best Essay/Second Place

VISION, Chicago, Ill., “Monks build community one living stone upon another” by Brother Francis Wagner, O.S.B. The author opens with the question “does death actually give life meaning?” and goes on to answer his question by discussing the way he views death and reflecting back on funerals. Well-written and very explanatory.

Best Personality Profile/Second Place

VISION, Chicago, Ill., “Teacher first, sister always” by Leslie Scanlon The author tells Sister Lee Ann McNally’s story through people she has helped. She paints a picture of her subject with strong detail and anecdotes. The writing is clear and concise. She uses quotes to tell the story.

Best Photo Story/Third Place

VISION, Chicago, Ill., “Sacred places: Where beauty and grace meet” by Joel Schorn This is a stunning group of architectural photos, each one shot with obvious attention to the finest detail. They reverently capture the beauty and grandeur of their subjects, the “sacred spaces” mentioned in the opening text.

347 Caritas Christi Secular Institute, p. 168 360 Don Bosco Volunteers, p. 168 337 Secular Institute of Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ, p. 168 147 United States Conference of Secular Institutes, p. 168

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