2013 VISION Vocation Guide by VISIONVocationGuide

A Publication of the National Religious Vocation Conference Sponsors of VocationMatch.com and EncuentroVocacional.org

2013 CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS VOCATION DISCERNMENT GUIDE

Find your calling at the crossroads Read our stories inside and learn more about religious life and church vocations VocationNetwork.org

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CATHOLIC Religious Vocation Discernment Guide A publication of the National Religious Vocation Conference

National Religious Vocation Conference Executive Director Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C.

Publisher TrueQuest Communications, L.L.C. Executive Director Patrice J. Tuohy (pjtuohy@truequest.biz) Marketing Director Daniel Grippo (writingdan@yahoo.com)

Editorial/Print & Digital 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) Multimedia/Social Networking Caroline Hopkinson (chopkinson@truequest.biz) Art Direction/Cover Design T & J Studios

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Online Services/Web Programming ideaPort, LLC President: Curtis Long Vision is a publication of the National Religious Vocation Conference, 5401 South Cornell Avenue, Ste. 207, Chicago, Illinois 60615; nrvc@nrvc.net; www.nrvc.net ©2012, 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. ISSN 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: Order online at VocationNetwork.org/orders; e-mail mail@VocationGuide.org; or call 800-942-2811. Interested in being a VISION advertiser/sponsor? Please call Dianne Potter at 800-942-2811. All ads are subject to publisher’s review and must be in line with VISION’s mission to promote Catholic religious vocations. The NRVC does not specifically endorse any advertisements.

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Contents

What

does it mean to be a

Carmelite?

Women

Religious sightings 6 Nuns, priests, and brothers in the news

Prayer & discernment The orange couch behind the door, or: When good enough is enough Brother John Mark Falkenhain, O.S.B.

Come and see! Laura Dodson

VISION 2013 CATHOLIC Religious Vocation Discernment Guide

Spirit

Why I

A dictionary for discerners Carol Schuck Scheiber

How to stay open to God’s call Father Andrew Carl Wisdom, O.P.

My week with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester

Brother John Eustice, C.S.v.

Missionaries Beginning again in Ireland

Heidi Schlumpf

Andrew O’Connell

Energized by working with those on the margins Jesse Esqueda, O.M.I.

108

Being Catholic

132

Why Catholics care about people living in poverty Sister Susan Rose Francois, C.S.J.P.

Accept the gift of forgiveness

Sister Julie Vieira, I.H.M.

Interview of Father Britto M. Berchmans

by Caroline Hopkinson

Called, and called again

Chris Bronson

Sister Camille D’Arienzo, R.S.M.

What does it mean to be a Carmelite?

A swimmer changes course to devote herself to prayer

Pat Morrison

Sister Maria Victoria Cutaia, O.S.B.

116

Six compelling excuses for not becoming a nun—debunked

Taking on new habits

138

All because of God

Sisters

Religious life Sister Renée Daigle, M.S.C.

100

Becoming a truer version of himself

Father Charles Gordon, C.S.C.

Living the vows

Brother Brian Halderman, S.M.

Women of Spirit

Why I love being a priest

Caroline Hopkinson

My journey to being a Brother of Mary

Priests

Brothers

Vision spotlight Joel Schorn

love being a priest

What do Catholics mean by “authority”? Alice Camille

150

122

126

Publishers’ Note Be holy in your own way

OPE JOHN xxiii was pondering his path to holiness when he wrote Find your calling at the crossroads in his spiritual journal: “God desires us to follow the examples of the saints by absorbing the vital sap of their virtues and turning it into our own life-blood, adapting it to our own individual capacities and particular circumstances. If Saint Aloysius had been as I am, he would have become holy in a different way.” That is what God is asking each of us: To become holy in a different way—to become holy in our own way. What is your unique path to holiness? We hope the information you find in VISION in print and online will help you answer that essential life question. Every person featured in the 2013 issue is someone just like you—thoughtful, faithful, open to all that God has in store. We hope they will inspire you. As for your course, the best advice we can give you as you discern your vocation comes once again from John XXIII, who is on our minds because this year the church celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, which he convened: “Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.” A Publication of the National Religious Vocation Conference Sponsors of VocationMatch.com and EncuentroCatolica.org

2013 CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS VOCATION DISCERNMENT GUIDE

Read our stories inside and learn more about religious life and church vocations VocationNetwork.org

Six compelling excuses

for not becoming a nun—debunked

the gift of forgiveness

122

The art of discernment

Online at VocationNetwork.org

Pilgrims here on earth

Vocation Match Service

Patrice J. Tuohy

Fill out an online profile and find the vocation/community that might best suit you.

130

Men’s Communities Search

131

Women’s Communities Search

Community Advertiser Index

144 168

Cover design and photo T & J Studios

Community Search Events Calendar Videos Vocation FAQs Questions Catholics Ask SpiritCitings Blog Spanish/French resources DigitalVocationGuide.org Mobile apps Social Networking

Update from the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC)

N JUNE 2012 the NRVC was awarded a $650,000 grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation to strengthen our organization and its resources and publications, including VISION, and to host a national Brother Paul symposium to address the prob- Bednarczyk, C.S.C. lem of educational debt, which we determined in our 2011 Educational Debt Study was adversely affecting vocations to religious life. In other areas, through a generous grant from the GHR foundation, we continue to expand our Moving Forward in Hope National Vocation

Plan with gatherings of women religious scheduled throughout the next 12 months. We also look forward to participating in World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro in 2013. As we enter into the Year of Faith called by Pope Benedict XVI, our hope for all of you who are considering a call to religious life is that you gain a deeper knowledge of the tenets of our life-giving faith and experience the joy, hope, and love that faith in Jesus Christ brings so that you may faithfully respond to God’s call. —Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C. NRVC Executive Director

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—Patrice J. Tuohy VISION Executive Editor

religious sightings Hispanic outreach in U.S. South draws sister to ministrY 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.

onticello, Kentucky is a long way from Argentina—a fact Sister Ramona Elena Ponce, S.U.S.C. knows well, having made that 5,000-mile trip herself. Although leaving her native country to minister to Mexicans in the American

South may seem like a big upheaval, the new ministry was a natural fit in many ways. In her homeland, Ponce had worked with immigrants who came to Argentina seeking a better life. Short-staffed in a busy ministry, the U.S. branch of Ponce’s religious community, the Holy Union Sisters, asked the order’s community in Argentina to send a sister to help meet the needs of Mexican immigrants newly settled in Monticello, Kentucky. Ponce was familiar with the issues of new immigrants—marginalization, poverty, culture-clashes, violence—and decided that she, too, would emigrate. She arrived in 2011 to join two U.S.-born Holy Union Sisters in the work. Today Ponce feels at home, visiting families, conducting retreats, preparing young people for the sacraments, and reaching out with her sisters to the Mexican immigrant families of rural Kentucky.

Sister “Neco”—Ramona Elena Ponce, S.U.S.C.—at a First Communion celebration picnic.

tudents at Boston College who are considering life as a sister, brother, or priest in a religious order have a place to go for discernment and support. Founded in 2007, Manresa House is a location students can gather for talks, prayer, meetings, retreats, and other activities connected to the process of vocational discernment, regardless of which religious communities they may be interested in. “I see it as a place where I can escape the pressures and fast pace of school and take time for myself to figure out where I am in Father Terry Devino, S.J. is director of Manresa House, life,” student Christopher Knoth told the Boston College Chronicle. a center for vocation discernment open to all students Father Terrence Devino, S.J., director of Manresa House and speat Boston College. cial assistant to the president of Boston College, says Manresa House is the only college-based center he knows of giving this type of focused vocational assistance to both men and women students. Devino, a Jesuit, has been a priest since 1987, and when he took his own first steps toward priesthood as a young man, “I was scared to death to talk about it,” he told the Chronicle. He hopes that over the years Manresa House has helped Boston College students quell similar fears and has allowed them to ask themselves a basic question: What shall I do with my life? Learn more about Manresa House at bc.edu/offices/manresa. 6

Caitlin Cunningham/Boston College

Boston College hosts center for students considering religious life

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See the needs? Meet them. Got the gifts? Use them.

Want to lead? ¿Ves las necesidades? Cúmplelas.

Serve them. Joining the Salvatorian community as a Priest or Brother means you are a part of local and global outreach that makes a real difference in the lives of those served. Together with Sisters and Lay Salvatorians, we create a dynamic, prayerful family united in the Savior.

¿Tienes los dones? Úsalos. ¿Quieres ser líder? Sírvelos.

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SALVATORIANS Apostles for our times. Learn more at

www.sdsvocations.com 414-258-1735

religious sightings Number of younger sisters rising in U.K.

I C

ELEBRATING LIFE: Sister Josephe Marie Flynn, S.S.N.D. (at podium) announced the publication of her book Rescuing Regina (Lawrence Hill Books, 2011) as Regina and David Bakala look on. The Bakalas survived torture in the Congo and made their way to the U.S. as asylum seekers—until Regina was arrested and ordered to leave the country. Flynn’s book tells the story of a communitywide effort to prevent her deportation and certain death.

n England and Wales the number of young women discerning and entering religious communities is showing signs of rising. The National Office for Vocation first released data about a pronounced trend toward younger women entering religious communities in 2010. The most recent upturn in younger entrants may be connected to a growth in sheer numbers. “The information we have so far for entrants in 2011 shows that there has been an increase in people joining religious life. Perhaps most significant is the trend whereby a number of active religious female congregations that have not had people joining them for over a decade now have several women either joining or thinking of doing so,” said Sister Cathy Jones of the National Office for Vocation. “It seems likely that the 2012 figures for active female reli-

Postulants Sadora Bloom and Cynthia Castro are preparing to take vows with the Dominican Sisters of St. Joseph in Hampshire, England.

gious congregations will demonstrate a notable rise,” she said. Jones and her colleagues attribute the rise in numbers and youth partly to “a number of discernment projects aimed at helping young people make a decision in respect of religious life.” In England and Wales in 2010 (the last year with published data), 28 men entered formation in religious communities and 22 women entered communities.

“It was at the university where my friends started to talk about possibilities and maybe the religious life. . . . It was somehow appealing, and the idea started to grow how awesome it would be to give up everything–to give up everything–and follow Christ.” –Dominican Fr. Joseph Minuth, OP, Moving Forward In Hope: Keys to the Future CD, published by the National Religious Vocation Conference

Sisters, brothers, priests “Being a Catholic today is not historical . . . when generations shared faith the way they shared a family name. . . . [Rather] it is a deliberate choice to look at the world in a particular way, based not only on the teachings of Jesus, but also on the development of that uniquely ‘Catholic

A positive influence in my life . . .

imagination.’ ” –Tim Muldoon, Seeds of Hope: Young Adults and the Catholic Church (Paulist Press)

Ivian Lunasol Sarcos Colmenares

iss World 2011, Ivian Lunasol Sarcos Colmenares of Venezuela, was raised by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus after becoming an orphan at age 11. She once aspired to be a nun, and after winning the international crown she expressed her desire to help others and told of her affection and “eternal gratitude” for the sisters: “It seems to me that [living in the sisters’ orphanage] is what has made me a person with principles and the capacity to deal with all that God has given me in my life. . . . Instead of complaining and lamenting all that has happened to me, I have learned to give thanks to God.”

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of Silence, Solitude, and Community (English and Spanish spoken)

• Dedicated to Contemplative Prayer, Sacrifice, and Penance

• Holy Sacrifice of the Mass daily; Ordinary and Extraordinary forms • Divine Office (Complete Liturgy of the Hours) • Gregorian Chant

• Vida de Clausura siguiendo los ideales Teresianos de Silencio, Soledad y Comunidad (Se habla inglés y español)

• Dedicadas a la Oración Contemplativa, el Sacrificio y la Penitencia

• Santo Sacrificio de la Misa diario; formas Ordinaria y Extraordinaria • Oficio Divino (Liturgia de las Horas Completa) • Canto Gregoriano

• Traditional Carmel; Full Habit worn

• Spiritual Reading (Lectio Divina)

• Carmelo Tradicional; se usa hábito completo • Lectura Espiritual (Lectio Divina)

• Papal Enclosure

• Eucharistic Adoration

• Clausura Papal

• Adoración Eucarística

• Loyalty to the Magisterium

• Rosary daily in Community

• Lealtad al Magisterio

• Rosario diario en Comunidad

VOCATION INFORMATION: 721 PARKER AVENUE . SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94118-4227 . 415-387-2640 . vocations@cmcrnuns.org . cmcrnuns.org

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• Cloistered life following Teresian ideals

religious sightings A Publication of the National Religious Vocation Conference Sponsors of VocationMatch.com and EncuentroCatolica.org

2013 CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS VOCATION DISCERNMENT GUIDE

Find your calling at the crossroads Read our stories inside and learn more about religious life and church vocations VocationNetwork.org

About our cover: The happy faces that grace this year’s cover are all people who wanted to make sure that we knew—and you knew—how helpful VISION Vocation Guide and our Vocation Match service has been to them as they discerned their religious vocation. We found their stories inspiring. You will, too!

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My name is Guerline Joseph. I was born in Haiti and moved to New Jersey at the age of 10. After a young adult conference at Steubenville University, I was reading through a Vision magazine in my room, and for some reason the ad for the Salesian sisters attracted me. I was courageous enough to send an email although I was not expecting a response back. I met more sisters after that and was very fascinated by their joy and love for Jesus through the young people. Today I am still on this journey hoping to fulfill my yearning and desire to love and serve God and his children with all my heart. So far, it has been great! Sr. Colleen Clair, F.M.A. is another

Salesian who finds VISION very helpful in her ministry. Read Sr. Colleen’s vocation story at happynun. wordpress.com/about Jack Tierney: I used the Vocation Match finder earlier this year after encouragement from my local priest. The tool was tremendously helpful as I was struggling with discernment to religious life. After submitting my answers, I received information from a number of orders who were more than happy to speak with me or even to arrange a visit. I ended up going to a weekend visit with the Midwestern province of the Augustinians. I loved the experience and am now full time discerning the call to the Order of St. Augustine. Your internet ministry is extremely valuable!

I am Jacqueline Mangus. I attended Bishop Kelly High School. I am considering becoming a tertiary (third order sister) or a nun; maybe a Dominican. I’m Kendall Ketterlin. It has been more than 18 years since I first experienced a call to serving God as a priest in the Catholic Church. I will be entering formation with the Society of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood,

Kansas Province, with an anticipated date of priestly ordination in 2016/17. Becoming a priest isn’t simply a matter of the next career move, but an integral realization of who I am and who God is asking me to become. Yet this road is not still without its challenges. Ironically at this time, the most significant hurdle in accepting this life and commitment to poverty is the remaining debt I have accrued through student loans. I am very glad that the National Religious Vocation Conference [VISION’s parent organization] is putting together more work on the debt issue. Not only is this a major issue for the church, but like so many other things, this is a time that we can bring some light to how much this problem is affecting an entire generation. Marita Capili found

her way to the Sisters of Providence, Mother Joseph Province, through Vision magazine, Jennifer Roseman, the community’s communication director tells us. Glad we could be of service! Br. Josh Warshak, O.SS.T.: With

VocationMatch.com’s help I have discerned a call to the priesthood; more specifically to the religious life. I am now a novice for the Order of the Most Holy Trinity founded by Saint John De Matha in 1198. The order was founded for the redemption of Christian captives. Today our ministry continues the redemptive work of our founder by redeeming those held captive by social differences, language barriers, and those in poverty. We also work with and in areas that are in danger of losing their faith. I feel truly called to serve God as a Trinitarian because of the redemptive aspect of our charism. Everyone is held captive by someone or something. I wish to be a servant to anyone in need. My name is Rachel Worden and I am seriously discerning a vocation with the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration in Mishawaka, IN. This order was one of the top suggestions from Vocation Match and also one I had been looking into, so the Match was a nice affirmation! The Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration are the third order

I have visited. I absolutely fell in love with this beautiful, orthodox, joyful, vibrant order and recently attended a “Come and See” retreat with them. I’m looking forward to the fruits that this blossoming relationship will continue to bear in my life and in the lives of those journeying with me through discernment. My name is Mary Meleski. The internet

Our young brother,

has helped me quite a bit in discerning my vocation. It was during my time volunteering with Cabrini Mission Corps, living and working with the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Cabrini Sisters), that I was finally ready to seriously discern whether or not I am called to religious life. During my discernment and application process, I used VISION’s Vocation Match to find other communities that I might be compatible with to visit. I did finish applying and have since been accepted and entered as a pre-novice. Though I stayed with the MSCs, it was an enlightening experience to spend time in prayer and dialogue with the other communities I was matched with! Thank you, VISION! My name is Mark Martin. I am discerning with the Capuchin Franciscans. I started thinking about a religious vocation about a year ago, and a friend of mine recommended Vocation Match. It put me in contact with 52 different orders and societies, educating me on the tons of possibilities, and all these vocation directors and articles helped me to discern what God might be calling me to do. After getting a better idea of what I might be looking for, I was able to go back to my Match results and apply my new understanding of what I was looking for. I ended up going to a “Come and See” with the Order of Friars Minor, Capuchins in Denver, Colorado. I felt a strong positive feeling for that route and was able to discuss with the vocation director what my next step might be. That next step has led me to the Borromeo College Seminary in Wickliffe, Ohio. I continue to discern God’s will for me.

Sr. Maria Victoria Cutaia, O.S.B. is a

Benedictine Sister of Perpetual Adoration in Clyde, MO who used VISION in her discernment. She is featured on p. 150 of this issue.

Sr. Sandra N, O.S.B. is entering the Benedictine Sisters, St. Scholastica Monastery, Fort Smith, AK. According to her vocation director, she used Vocation Match and visited two of the communities with whom she was matched. Each community helped her discern where God was calling her.

Br. Brian Poulin, F.M.S., is happy to have

his face on a poster [promoting VISION and vocations]!,” says Marist Brothers Vocation Director Br. Mike Sheerin. VISION was instrumental in his discernment. Alison McCrary is a candidate with the Congregation of St. Joseph. While in formation, she is living with Sisters of St. Joseph in New Orleans and working in ministry as a social justice lawyer. She is happy to vouch for VISION and its usefulness as a discernment tool. Sr. Jeana Visel, O.S.B.

used VISION magazine and the Vocation Network to help her in her discernment and eventually find her community, the Benedictine Sisters of Ferdinand, IN. My name is Br. Adam Dupré, S.D.B. I first felt an inclination of a calling to the priesthood when I was in the sixth grade. But I turned from it and filled my life with sports and work. During my senior year of high school my maternal grandmother became sick with cancer. One day while visiting her in the hospital I witnessed her receiving the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. It was a moment that stopped time. It moved me deeply. After that I felt God’s call to me growing stronger with every passing moment. In the fall of 2006 I filled out a questionnaire on VocationMatch.com. I quickly received many inquiries from different religious orders. One stuck out in particular: the Salesians of Don Bosco. Their handwritten letter of invitation was very moving and personal. I went for a visit in December 2006 and entered in August 2007. In August 2011 I made my first religious profession!

Have a story you want to share? Email it to VISION’s executive editor, Patrice Tuohy, at mail@vocationguide.org.

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THE REDEMPTORISTS redemptoristvocations.com | 718-321-1394 facebook.com/redemptoristvocation

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Preaching plentiful redemption since 1732

prayer & discernment Lea este articulo en español en linea.

DISCERNMENT can be like discovering an orange couch in a room. Even if it’s out of place, perhaps time and the rest of the room will teach you how to live with something you would never have chosen for yourself.

Lisez cet article en français en ligne.

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Read this article in Spanish or French online.

The orange couch behind the door, or: When good enough is enough You don’t have to know everything about how your vocation to religious life is going to turn out to take the first steps toward it.

Brother John Mark Falkenhain, O.S.B.

ow will I know if this is what I’m really called to?” That is one of the most frequent questions vocations directors hear when talking with men and women in

Brother John Mark Falkenhain, O.S.B. is the vocation director for Saint Meinrad Archabbey in southern Indiana. In addition to his vocation ministry, he is a clinical psychologist, assists with monastic formation, and teaches part-time in the Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology.

discernment to religious life. The answer is quite simple: You won’t! True as it may be, however, that answer is too short and not very helpful. A little explanation, on the other hand, can put someone in discernment at ease and take some of the anxiety and pressure out of struggling with the question, “How will I know?” Many women and men discerning a vocation imagine that they need to have a fairly certain sense that religious life is right for them before they even take the first few steps toward actually finding out. Perhaps they fear getting pressured

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into something by an overzealous or desperate vocation director! Some feel that a visit to a community or even a phone call is too close to a commitment. While those are understandable fears, most people would be surprised to know how slowly and carefully we vocation directors also want to proceed. In fact, vocation directors are often especially cautious about individuals who feel they are ready to move in after only one visit or phone call.

The forecast: Partial visibility Often men and women discerning a religious vocation get stuck in the early stages of their discernment by a premature need for certainty and a desire to have more information than they can possibly have from

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where they stand. Many, and I would include myself in this group, stand at step one of a journey and try to visualize what will happen at step 47. We try to anticipate every potential problem and prefer to have every glitch worked out before we feel safe taking that very first step. “What happens if I get to the novitiate and find out I don’t like it? What if I take vows and they ask me to do a job I don’t like? What if I join the community and ten years later fall in love?” Those are all good questions and real enough possibilities, but they are questions that can only be answered somewhere down the road when more information will be available. What can you gain by agonizing over how you are going to describe joining a convent to your friends and relatives, for example, if you’re just beginning to go through the Vocation

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Match process or scanning the ads on the VocationNetwork.org website or in VISION magazine? What benefit will there be in worrying about whether or not your education will be put to good use until you have actually met the community and had the chance to explore the kinds of work they do and their openness to the gifts you bring? Although falling in love is certainly a possibility somewhere down the road, it is simply impossible to know what you would do before you have also had the experience of first falling in love with the community. In other words: One step at a time!

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

The orange couch There is an image I like to use when talking to people who are discerning. Think of yourself as walking down a corridor, maybe looking for a place to stay or a room to move into for a year or maybe more. As you walk down the corridor, your eye catches an attractive room at the end of a long hallway. Of course what you can see of the room is limited by your position; but still you can see the color of the walls, beautiful wooden floors, and part of a fantastic painting. You like what you see and you feel compelled to get a closer look. Now it goes without saying that anyone who would commit their lives to this room at this point is foolish! But then again it would be foolish to pass it up out of fear that there might be something in the room you don’t like. It at least deserves a closer look. As you walk down the hallway, the view through the doorway widens, revealing more of the room: the rest of the painting, half of a large, bright window, and a comfortable leather chair. I

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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. For more information, visit our Web site at www.feliciansisters.org Or contact our North American Vocation Office 3800 West Peterson Avenue • Chicago, Illinois 60659-3116 Phone: 815-200-2393 E-mail: navocations@feliciansisters.org

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a life to come home to

shared prayer

purpose

community

Benedictine Sisters St. Mary Monastery Rock Island, Illinois

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suppose you might find things that disappoint you, too: maybe a tattered rug or paint peeling from the walls. Either way, the move a little closer was worth it. If you still like what you see, it makes sense to move even closer, getting a broader view with every step. Eventually you find yourself standing in the doorway and you have a good sense of the room now. There are several large windows, a wonderful collection of books and pottery on some shelves in the corner, and the perfect reading chair next to one of the windows. It’s everything you would hope to find. The excitement grows and you want to jump into the room, slam the door behind you, and claim it as yours. But you freeze: What if there’s a big stain on the floor behind the chair? Or worse: What if there is a big, ugly orange couch against the wall—behind the door?

What to do? The truth is that one can never be entirely sure what will be in a room until you walk all the way in and shut the door behind you. Even then time may reveal subtle imperfections or later additions to the room that don’t suit you. There are things you simply won’t and can’t know, both about the room—the life you are discerning, to break down the metaphor—and, more important, about yourself until you have made a commitment to that place. You cannot know for sure there won’t be an ugly orange couch. On the other hand, you also won’t know that there isn’t a wonderful grand piano or an exquisite Chinese vase that you hadn’t seen before.

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If the orange couch does happen to appear, there may be some things you can learn from it. You might discover with time that you actually like orange, or that this particular couch has some historical value or sentimental significance that causes you to appreciate it, or at least not hate it, with time. The couch may make more sense in the context of the rest of the room. Even if the couch is the ugliest, out-of-place eyesore you’ve ever seen, perhaps time and the rest of the room will teach you how to live with some-

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“

One can never be entirely sure what will be in a room until you walk all the way in and shut the door behind you.

thing you would never have chosen for yourself. This lesson may be the most important experience any room could offer.

The “good-enough” place Everybody knows that there is no such thing as a perfect person or a perfect religious community. Still, hardly any of us begin the process of dating or discernment by looking for a “good-enough” person or a “goodenough” community to join our lives to. Yet that is really what each of us needs God’s grace to find. The “good-enough” place is that community that, though not perfect, has most of what you are seeking. It is the community and the lifestyle with which, after seeing it honestly, you find yourself still in love. And it is

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is built on honesty and knowledge of the community with which you are the other—in other words, intimacy. even willing to endure some minor Good enough reaches beyond initial, disappointments—and the occasionoftentimes healthy infatuation and al major disappointment—because ripens into a love that embraces limibeyond offering most of what you tations, both the community’s and hoped for, you find in the goodone’s own, as well as enough relationship the gifts, promises, and the gradual unfolding good works each party of additional experiIf you can brings to the relationences, challenges, and love a community, opportunities that you then that good-enough ship. know are good for community will more you, even if you had than likely return the “As is” is OK not been looking for favor of loving a Described this way, the them when you began good-enough you. good-enough comdiscerning. munity takes time to Though it may discover and may very well require initially sound like a compromise, walking down a few hallways, moving the good-enough community—the closer, taking risks, and working to good-enough relationship—is far know what a religious community richer and lovelier than the perfect and religious life are really like. And one you started out searching for. It

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when you think you have found it, one final, decisive question remains: Is this a community that I could love as is? Any wise person will tell you not to marry someone with the expectation that they will change once you marry them. The same holds true for religious communities. Before you join a group of men or women, it is important that you love them and their way of life as they are today. True, a community will change with time, and hopefully for the better, but an individual who joins a religious community with a plan of changing or “fixing” the community is in for heartache and disillusionment. If you can love the community and its life as it exists today—ugly orange couch and all— then that good-enough community will more than likely return the favor of loving a good-enough you. In the end you are likely to find that the community will bend a bit to your hopes and expectations as you bend to theirs.

Have faith As Saint Paul writes in his First Letter to the Corinthians: “We see dimly now as in a mirror” (13:12). Our knowledge of the future, of another person or community, of God, even of ourselves is now and will always be incomplete. But in the end absolute knowledge is not what is needed for discernment. Faith is what is needed. Faith is the most important ingredient in discernment because faith takes over where knowledge falls short. How will you know if something is right for you? You won’t entirely. So learn what you can, one step at a time, and then have faith for that final leap into the room! =

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Communicating Christ to the World

the Daughters of St. Paul Sr. Margaret Michael Gillis, FSP . 703-549-3806 . vocations@paulinemedia.com EN ESPAÑOL: Hna. Maria Elizabeth . vocacionesfsp@gmail.com

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Euro pop band releases single in support of vocations

oberfuse, a European electro-pop band released a single in support of the English and Welsh Church’s new vocations drive, according to the U.K. Catholic Herald. Worth Abbey Benedictine Fr. Christopher Jamison, OSB, director of the National Office for Vocation, commissioned the band to write the soundtrack to help promote vocations. Their song, “Call my name,” can be heard here and comes from their forthcoming album Seventh Wave, to be released in August. Fr. Jamison described the single as a “wonderful gift given to the Church. The words are poetic and inspired, worthy of the psalms.” Their previous single, “Heart’s cry,” was the youth anthem for the pope’s visit to Britain in September 2010. Band member Hal St. John described the task as a challenge: “When God speaks to us he does so in a strange and other worldly language that it is sometimes hard if not altogether impossible to render into intelligible

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words. His gentle yet persistent call cuts through the clamour and roar of contemporary life treading as softly as dove’s footsteps. “For some, pop music is part of the noise that drowns out the sound of divinity, desensitising us to the transcendent. On the face of it, it seems incongruous that pop music, especially dub-step, should be used to heighten our awareness of God’s call to each one of us.” From VISION’s SpiritCitings blog

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prayer & discernment Discernment retreat participants pray with the Carmelite Fathers of Middletown, N.Y.

Come and see! Vocation discernment retreats offer opportunities to experience the prayer life and work of a religious community and let you get a feel for this unique way of life.

Laura Dodson

istening is the main task of discernment,” says Sister Mariette Therese Bernier, O.S.B., vocation director for the Benedictine Sisters of Elizabeth, New Jersey, as she reflected on her experience at a vocation discernment retreat before she entered religious life. “In daily life, it’s not usual to come in contact with other people considering a religious vocation. I attended a discernment retreat and enjoyed the interaction

Laura Dodson is a freelance journalist blessed to be able to combine her pastoral ministry education and experience with her passion to spread the good news of the Catholic faith.

with other discerners. It was a time for personal reflection and with the community—it furthered the process of my calling. The more time I spent, the more I realized that it was my calling, and the more comfortable I became, the more I realized that I could do this.”

“Just come” A discernment retreat is a stop along the journey to explore God’s purpose for an individual life. It offers a chance to come away, to be with others on a similar path, and to find a place of quiet to listen so as to hear God speak. It is

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Celebrate Mission & Ministry with the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate

a time of discovery, not necessarily decision. These retreats can involve looking at the direction of your life, discerning religious life, determining whether a particular religious community is right for you, or some or all of the above. They can last from a day to overnight to an entire weekend; some communities host longer “live-in” experiences for a week or even a month as well. Meals and prayer times are frequently spent with members of the community so that retreatants can have a better understanding of community life and enjoy

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Come on a discernment retreat. Enjoy the ride and let God take control. Trust that God in time will make it clear.”

the stories and fellowship of the sisters, priests, brothers, and others who have recently responded to the call and are already in formation. (See the box at right for the kinds of activities most discernment retreats offer.) “Just come,” Sister Bernier says. “Come on a discernment retreat. Enjoy the ride and let God take control. Trust that God in time will make it clear.”

“Be open”

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“I’m 48, an older vocation,” says Father Vincent Wirtner, C.PP.S., who was ordained in June 2010. “When I came [to a discernment retreat],

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What to expect on a discernment retreat

hile vocation discernment retreats can vary from community to community, most involve: l Prayer time alone and prayer and liturgy with the community

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and mission of a particular community l Opportunities to mingle with community members at meals or another informal time l The possibility to share with others in discernment

l Chances to learn about or take part in ministry

For a listing of current discernment events

l Presentations on the history

in your area, go to VISION’s online calen-

of religious life and the spirit

dar at VocationNetwork.org/opportunities.

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I wanted to soak it all in. I listened a lot and wasn’t pressured to share. I was in my mid-30s, active in my parish, but I didn’t need to ask questions. Everyone else was answering my questions in their own sharing and that was very unique for me since I’m an extrovert and used to sharing. It was an opportunity for me to listen to the Spirit speaking through others. I was listening to the voice of God through the stories of other people and letting it sink in. “Be open,” Father Wirtner says. “Take the risk it takes to come and see. It’s finding where our gifts are best used for the community and discovering you feel at home, respected.” Finding that home and community are one of the major challenges of vocation discernment, says

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Father Brian Smail, O.F.M., vocation Red Hook, New York accepted an indirector for the Franciscan Friars, vitation to enter formation with the Province of the Most Holy Name of Carmelite Friars of St. Elias Province Jesus in Silver Spring, Maryland. At in Harrison, New Jersey. He was a the time of this writing they had five senior communications and media men in formation—the largest group major at Mount St. Mary College in five years. in Newburgh, New York, actively “Our greatest challenge is that involved in campus ministry and the young people today have so planning to graduate in May 2012. many options,” Smail says. “To actuHe attended a discernment retreat ally consider religious life as an opweekend in June 2011, applied to tion—it gets pushed to the bottom of the community in October, and will the list. It really is a very rewarding enter formation in the fall of 2012. life, and our come and see discern“I was with six other young ment weekends are a men,” Richmond says way to convey that. in describing his reTake the risk Our goal for these treat experience. “We weekends is to show discerned our call it takes to come and that it’s a great way see. It’s finding where by listening to friars to spend a life. The our gifts are best used from the province. We retreats are very inforfor the community and sat and talked about mal and participants when the Holy Spirit discovering you feel can plug in as they grabbed us, where we at home, respected.” wish. Participants see ourselves in the

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want something more in life. There’s a nagging for something more. There is something missing. They’re unsettled. They need to just come and see.” Sister Pauline Bouton, O.P., codirector of sisters in temporary profession for the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose in Fremont, California, agrees on the need discerners feel for “something more.” “It’s part of our charism to reach out to the young. They’re really made to feel comfortable to ask any question,” she says. “Discernment retreats are a real connecting with young people hungering for spirituality.”

A tap on the shoulder Last December Paul Richmond of

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future, and where is God present in our lives.” One of the unique elements of this discernment retreat weekend is that on Saturday the retreatants are taken to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Middleton, New York. They receive a packed lunch and the Gospel of Mark to read. They have three hours to sit and ponder. At the conclusion they return to the chapel of the Shrine to reflect on the day’s events and where their life-direction is going. “Scripture is our big thing,” says vocation director Brother Robert Bathe, O.Carm., “and I can’t tell you how many miracles have come out of reading the Gospel of Mark! I make a point that they are not coming here to meet people but to have a strong

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encounter with God. We provide the opportunity for silence, formative talks, and community time.” Richmond says that the period following the retreat was an intense one of discernment, and he sees his communications and media major as an opportunity to share his gifts with the church. “I came to the conclusion after much constant prayer and daily Mass altar-serving that I’m called as a priest,” he says. “Carmelite spirituality is all about prayer, service, and community. The thing I love about the Carmelites is that they’re always laughing together, but during liturgy I see a reverence and real devotion to Mary and God in serving the community. They love what they do. Jesus just tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘Follow me.’ ”

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at a discernment retreat for both men and women sponsored by the Missionaries and Sisters of the Precious Blood, participants listen to Father James Seibert, C.PP.S. speak about the religious orders’ history.

“What is God calling you to?” After participating in three retreats over the course of three years, James Smith applied to and was accepted into the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. “The retreats were an opportunity to explore further connections with others in formation and be around members of communities,” Smith says. There is a distinct difference in the retreats Smith attended. The Missionaries of the Precious Blood offer collaborative retreats with the Sisters of the Precious Blood in Dayton, Ohio. The men stay at the St. Charles Spiritual Center in Carthagena, Ohio

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and the women at the Spiritual Center of Maria Stein, eight miles away in Maria Stein, Ohio. The collaborative retreats begin separately with a meal on Friday night, but then the men join the women at the Maria Stein Center for prayer, scripture reading, table discussion, and a social. On Saturday morning the men return to the Maria Stein Center for a communal breakfast, separate for a morning session, and then come together for Mass and lunch. They split up again for afternoon sessions on discernment, and then the women join the men at the St. Charles Center for social time. On Sunday they are again together at St. Charles for Mass and lunch. “The spiritual component of being together gave a more holistic view—a completion of perspective,” Smith says. “We’re man and woman

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in the world by nature and it gives better strength and validity to my own experience because I’m hearing what someone different from me brings to the table, which points out the uniqueness from my own experience which I bring. Hearing the sharing from women discerning

and from women in ministry gives a more complete image of the divine.” Tanya Broerman has attended the collaborative retreats for the past three years, and her experience illustrates the fact that taking part in a discernment retreat does not have to lead directly to entrance

Four tips for getting the most out of a discernment retreat: 1. Be open to where God is leading you

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brating her golden jubilee in August 2012. In elementary education for most of her career, she has been the vocation director for her community, coordinating the discernment retreats, for the past nine years. “We have a collaborative family of Precious Blood Missionaries and Sisters,” she says. “The collaborative retreats are so successful because we both have the same charism and we express how we live it out as men and women. “One of the highlights for the women on Saturday is the Emmaus Walk,” Sister Hoying says. “The retreatants pair with sisters to each share their journey and to build a relationship. Your life is a journey forever and the question to ask is, ‘What is God calling you to?’ ”

into a community. It can have value for reflecting on your life’s direc“Does this feel like home?” tion and calling. “It’s nice to know Acknowledging the many options out that you’re not the only one in your there for young people, age group feeling Sister Bouton says: called,” Broerman People think “Get information, but says. “It’s different don’t drown yourself in you’re crazy when than when you’re 92 communities. There out with your you say you’re called, are wonderful compeers in the secular but at the retreats munities in your own world. People think you can appreciate backyard. There’s a real you’re crazy when your own spirituality.” hunger for relationship you say you’re with God with commucalled, but at the nity support that shares your values retreats you can appreciate your and ideals. Find someone who can own spirituality. . . . It’s uplifting help you sift through to know the to share the same focus and underbest choice for you and the world. stand the difficulties with it—the Listen to your heart. Does this feel same struggles.” like home—a place where you could Sister Carolyn Hoying, C.PP.S. be your best self—maybe even bigger knew in high school that she was than you imagine?” = called to be a sister and will be cele-

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Please give the Vocation Director a call at 412-831-0302 Vocation Oﬃce: Congregation of the Holy Spirit Province of the United States, 6230 Brush Run Rd., Bethel Park, PA 15102 usprovince@spiritans.org www.spiritans.org

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VISION’S EVENTS CALENDAR Find retreats, “Come and Sees,” and service opportunities in your area

The Spirit of God wants to use you!

Search VISION’s online Opportunity Events Calendar for retreats and other discernment events in your area. Filter your search by date, type of event, or geographic area. Make sure to tell them VISION sent you when you attend an event!

POST YOUR EVENTS Are you hosting a discernment, educational, or service event in your community, institute, or diocese? Please post a notice for free on our popular online events calendar. All events are also posted on VISION’s facebook page and twitter feed.

e follow in the footsteps of the apostles who, filled with the Holy Spirit, went forth to spread everywhere the knowledge and love of Jesus.

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prayer & discernment Father Andrew Carl Wisdom, O.P. embraces his father at his ordination in Rome.

How to stay open to God’s call Discerning a vocation is about trusting in what God, who knows you best, wants to give you through your life.

Father Andrew Carl Wisdom, O.P.

s there such a thing as “spiritual genetics,” a spiritual gene that can be passed on? I wondered that as I made my way through the stream of students in the high school my father had attended. Here I was a priest and vocation director walking with young men discerning a religious vocation through the same labyrinth of hallways that my father had passed through 55 Father Andrew Carl Wisdom, O.P. is promoter of vocations and vicar for Mission Advancement for the Dominicans, Province of St. Albert the Great. His book, Tuning into God’s Call, was published last July by Liguori Publications.

years earlier, dreaming about being a priest. He had been firmly resolved to be a priest ever since early childhood, even leaving his senior year behind to enter seminary so as not to waste another minute delaying his vocation. But after a year and several months, an increasingly unpredictable asthmatic condition persuaded the seminary faculty that he could not pursue a vocation to the priesthood. He was devastated and confused to say the least. Did God not want what he wanted? After all, wasn’t it God’s will that he was following? As determined as my father was to become a priest, I was determined not to be. While he had run toward his poten-

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been possible if my father had not followed through on his vocation!). Staying open to God’s call is not easy. Human beings like things settled. But when you leave God in charge, you find the best path for yourselves because you discover what God has already chosen for you. If my father and I had not remained open and trusting in God, we might have missed our vocations, one by stewing in regret, the other consumed with fear. Both emotions close—rather than open—you to God’s inspiration and direction.

OF THE

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tial vocation, I had run away from mine. Yet I was the one who ended up the priest and he the one with 12 children, a 59-year marriage, and a career as a salesman.

thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8). That’s a good thing! Otherwise my father and I might have missed our true vocations. The mystery is only explained by appreciating that What does God want for you? God knows you better than you When I came along talking about know yourself. That is something experiencing a vocation to religious both my father and I have come to life, my father realized understand. He eventuit was not him but his ally realized, with his There is a son who had a callpersonality and gifts, holiness to ambiguity ing to priesthood and marriage really is the when God calls he who had a calling best way he can flourish to marriage. He realyou to hold things in serving God’s plan for ized that God chooses in your heart until him. And I came to realwhom God chooses ize that my vocation as they are clear. and it is a mystery why a Dominican priest and God chooses some for one vocapreacher is the best way I can serve tion and some for another. “For my God (of course that would not have

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Holy ambiguity What helps, then, to stay open to God’s call? I believe there is a holiness to ambiguity when God calls you to hold things in your heart until they are clear. The Virgin Mary is the model of this disposition of holy ambiguity, a holding of things in one’s heart until more direction is given. From the beginning of her story you can see Mary demonstrating this openness to God’s will when, not understanding everything the angel Gabriel was telling her, she nonetheless said, in so many words: “I am the Lord’s. Let it be done to me as God thinks best.” That was her ongoing attitude. She pondered each hint and nudge of God’s will for her life in the particular circumstances in which they revealed themselves. What she did not yet fully understand she held in her heart, awaiting God’s further guidance. This disposition of holy ambiguity keeps you open to all the revelatory glimpses of God’s presence and action in your life, without forcing God’s hand or insisting God give you the whole picture. It trusts and

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respects that God knows best when you are ready for more clarity. It makes peace with the reality that “my” timetable is not necessarily God’s timetable.

Three ways to hear what God is saying to you As you travel the road of discernment, three spiritual practices are basic to adopt this disposition of holy ambiguity. If you don’t want your doubts, fears, confusion, or impatience to detour you along the way, it would be wise to incorporate these methods into your daily life: contemplative prayer, meditative scripture reading, and ongoing spiritual direction and exploration through a spiritual director and visits to religious communities. The best definition of contemplation I have ever heard is: “a long, lingering look at God.” You can’t make that happen. It is a pure gift of God. But you can prepare for that gift by opening yourself to sit silently in God’s presence for certain periods of time each day. This exercise is often referred to as “centering prayer.” Begin by sitting daily for a predetermined amount of time, say 10 minutes (eventually working up to 20 minutes twice a day) and thinking of a prayer word (abba—Jesus’ name for God the Father—Mary, love, peace, be, and so on) so that when thoughts or images come, you say this word to yourself and use it to let yourself sink into a restful silence without latching onto thoughts and images, letting them float by like clouds in the mind’s vast sky. This resting in God in complete openness to God’s Spirit within is the ideal setting for hearing the life-feeding Word

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God has for you that day. This exercise of the soul is a form of imageless prayer. Meditative scriptural reading, on the other hand, is prayer open to whatever words or images a scripture passage offers you. Just as its name suggests, it encourages an unhurried thoughtfulness to the text scripture provides, dwelling prayerfully in its midst, and allowing the Holy Spirit to bring to the surface whatever God wants you to take from the word that day. This exercise introduces you to what is known as lectio divina— “sacred” or “holy reading.” You call on the Holy Spirit as you reverently approach a scripture passage and read it several times slowly. After about 10 minutes (or more if the

Spirit moves you) of letting your Divine Friend speak to your heart, thank God for God’s presence and notice the word or phrase that keeps coming up in your reading as a sign of what God wants you to take with you. A meditative attitude moves patiently, listens deeply, and, like a sponge, spontaneously soaks up the substance provided within all its pores. This spiritual exercise requires you to listen with the ears of your heart and to see with the eyes of your soul. Integrating these forms of prayer into your life helps you to fulfill naturally Saint Paul’s impassioned exhortation to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). It also helps you, as Saint Dominic encourages, to always talk with or about God.

Spiritual direction is about someone accompanying you in discerning the pattern of God’s movements in your heart and mind. Good spiritual direction will keep you honest and accountable. Your spiritual director will help you to know if you need more internal work in your discernment efforts, like personal prayer, or external efforts, such as visiting potential communities and talking to people lay, vowed, and ordained about how they live out their Godgiven vocations. While God directs you through the inclinations of your heart, God won’t make the decision for you. Saint Angela of Merici, who founded the Ursuline religious community of women in the 16th century, said why: “God has given free will to everyone, and therefore he forces no one but only indicates, calls, persuades.”

Father Andrew Carl with his father after receiving his doctorate degree.

gentle but clear opinion about his all-consuming focus in words he What will make you happy? would never forget: “Jimmy, ChristWhen Father Jim Motl, O.P., a mas is not about getting what you legendary Dominican teacher of want. Christmas is about trusting preaching for some 30 years, was that someone loves you enough to growing up, every Christmas season give you what will make you happy.” would find him In discernwaiting at the ment, that Someone In discernment, mailbox for the big loves you enough to remember that life arrival: the Sears give you what will is not about getting department store ultimately make you what you want but catalogue, in black happy. That sometrusting that Someone and white except one is God, who loves you enough to give for the toys and gives you the visyou what will ultimately women’s clothible reality of God’s ing sections. He make you happy. deep love for you in wasted no time Christ Jesus. That is pouncing on the color pages and the gift you truly want deep down making a list of the toys he wanted and that will ultimately make you from Santa. happy. The overarching issue in disHis mother, while patient with cernment is: “Who is Jesus for me?” his enthusiasm, gave him her own The overarching question is: “Can I

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Your will . . . not mine (J 6:38). OHN

Why pray the rosary?

What is God’s will for you?

he rosary supplies a healthy appreciation of Mary’s role in Catholic identity: the whole-souled human response to God’s invitation that she embodies so beautifully. Mary is the realization of our vocation to “be church.” She is what we must become. Mary shows us how discipleship is done. But she’s not to be confused with 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. Her story and her destiny shine a light on human potential in relationship to God. We, too, yearn to become “full of grace.” Silence and vocal prayer are the rosary’s alternating energies. If we race through it, we miss the graced encounter that lurks between the beads. Pope John Paul II declared that a “rosary personality” is a witness against violence, injustice, arrogance, and intolerance in any form. In which case we might hope more folks will take up the practice of the rosary.

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Sharing Our Lives…Living Our Faith…

Together Making a Difference …and there’s Room at Our Table for YOU

—By Alice Camille, from Questions Catholics Ask, VocationNetwork.org

trust Jesus to know what will make me happy?” Amid the urgent questions pressing upon your discernment, that is the truly essential one for the discovery and full flourishing of your vocation, lay, consecrated, or ordained. =

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prayer & discernment “If everyone in the U.S. took one week out of the year to volunteer and serve others in some way, so many of the problems that burden America would be solved,” says Chris, a volunteer from Carroll College in Helena, Montana, seen helping a student with math at Hope Hall.

My week with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester The SSJ Volunteer Corps offers young women and men the opportunity to work alongside the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester in their vital urban ministries.

Caroline Hopkinson

hIs past Spring, I saw firsthand how hard sisters work and how important their ministries are to the life of their religious community and to the people they serve. I spent a week with the SSJ Volunteer Program, which was founded in 1996 by Sisters Donna Del Santo, Caroline Hopkinson is multimedia editor for the VISION Vocation Network.

S.S.J. and Marilyn Pray, S.S.J. as a way to provide opportunities for young people to be part of the ministries of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester, New York and experience first-hand the joys and challenges involved in Christian service. The SSJ Volunteers live in community and share their meals and work. This extensive time together allows them to reflect on how they serve the people at their ministry sites and how their own lives are affected by the experience. More than 400 young people

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have participated. Some college groups have returned for a second, third, and even tenth visit. Many volunteers have inquired about religious life, and three former volunteers have entered the congregation as a result of their live-in and volunteer involvement with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester. With me were groups of young people from AmeriCorps and Carroll College in Helena, Montana. We are all better for the experience and definitely came away with a deep appreciation for the service of the sisters, for the gifts we’ve each been given, and the importance of sharing those gifts with others in need.

St. Guido Maria Conforti Founder, Xaverian Missionaries

Monday: Nativity Prep Nativity Prep is a Roman Catholic middle school designed for self-motivated, economically disadvantaged students whose potential for academic success has been compromised by negative social and economic factors. Located in the South Wedge of Rochester, it is next door to the sisters’ convent. The school has a mision of peace and emphasizes respect, tolerance, service, leadership, and scholarship. The day I was at Nativity we had to take a student home to change her pants (they were not part of the school uniform). As I was driving with Ms. Dianne, the principal, I had a chance to take in the neighborhood. It was like nothing I had ever seen. Our student was being raised by her grandmother, and she couldn’t go outside to play due to the violence in the community, a lot of it drug-related. Nativity is a safe haven for its students and gives them a loving and enriching learning environ-

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Fr. Rocco Puopolo, sx 101 Summer St. Holliston, MA 01746 Phone: 508-429-2144 Email: frrocco@xaviermissionaries.org

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ment where they can thrive and, at least for at time, escape the chaos and danger. Around 7:30 p.m. the volunteers closed out the day with daily reflection. The best line of the night came from Sister Donna when she said that ministry is “being with the people” and working with them. It’s just that simple.

Tuesday morning: Nazareth School

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Nazareth was originally a high school that closed as the result of low enrollment and financial issues. Sister Margaret, the current principal and a former superintendent of Catholic schools, opened a new elementary school on the grounds about one year ago and has since transformed it into a viable and highly respected institution. Nazareth

“

Ministry is “being with the people” and working with them.

School sits in an area with more than 1,000 refugee families. Sister Marilyn has been working on developing an American Refugee Committee program at Nazareth to help these refugees get acclimated to life in Rochester. I stopped in to chat with Sister Margaret and Sister Melissa about the school. While I was talking with them, a young girl probably in fourth or fifth grade was skipping down the hall and waving. She was so excited and happy to be in the school. The kids, teachers, and administrators

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What do you desire?

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

Brittany (at left), a volunteer, and a first-grade student at Nazareth Hall. The convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph (below). The house has 14 bedrooms and can accommodate around 18 people.

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 smtolp@yahoo.com

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Society of Mary

are all enthusiastic about being here. There are 15 active sisters at Nazareth. They are present to the children, and that gives students the ability to see that being a member of a religious order means you can do many things. Sister Margaret is also active among the students. You will rarely find her at her desk. She is constantly roaming the halls, talking with students and teachers. While I was there, she was interviewing every sixth-grader to make sure they were

going to continue to work hard when they entered middle school and high school.

Tuesday afternoon: Hope Hall Hope Hall got its name from a student who said that being at the school was the first time he had felt hope and had not been afraid to be himself. Established in 1994, Hope Hall provides an opportunity for “educationally stranded” children to become successful lifelong learn-

Called by Mary To live, pray, and serve the Church and the world In the community which bears her name

societyofmaryusa.org The MarisTs For more information, contact: The VocaTion DirecTor MarisT FaThers anD BroThers Toll Free: 866-298-3715 eMail: maristvocations@sbcglobal.net

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A Sister of St. Joseph works with a second-grade student at Nazareth Hall. Nazareth has around 14 active sisters at any one time in the school.

ers. Serving students in grades three through 12 from 19 school districts in the greater Rochester area, Hope Hall’s nurturing, nonthreatening, and creative atmosphere encourages students to take risks in learning and helps them reverse the cycle of academic failure. Its collaborative approach to learning connects faculty, staff, and families as team members in a community of learning. Sister Diana is the director of the school. Having entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester community about 40 years ago, she remains very active in this ministry. The most unique thing about the school is the number of volunteers who help out daily. At least two to three individuals sit in with students to assist them in taking notes or reading directions. The school is bursting with color.

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The walls are filled with student art work: paintings, sculpture, and drawings. I left with an image of a school alive and vibrant--and filled with hope.

Wednesday: St. Peter’s Soup Kitchen Serving the West Side community of Rochester since 1982, St. Peter’s Soup Kitchen started out as a oncea-week Saturday Soup and Sandwich Program. Today they serve on average more than 140 people a day who come from all walks of life. Many have problems with addictions, mental and physical illnesses, lost homes, and low wages. As soon as we arrived, we got right to work unloading a food truck. Some of the supplies go

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directly to the food pantry while the rest gets handed out to those in need—around 100 people. Many of those who volunteer at St. Peter’s are also struggling with homelessness and hunger, but they show up to help. After we unloaded most of the truck, we got lunch ready. While I was working the line, a little girl told me how she loved the food in the box we gave her. I was struck by how many hungry people there are: Some people who came through the lines looked no different than me.

Thursday: Bethany House On this morning the whole group worked at Bethany House, which is a Catholic Worker house for women and children. It serves lunch daily and is considered a safe house for women in need. When we arrived we were greeted with a car full of donated food from FoodLink, the Feeding America regional food bank. After we unloaded the food, we organized it in the pantry and got our individual work assignments. Mine was helping paint the laundry room. Bethany House is located in one of the highest-crime areas of Rochester, but I never felt unsafe working around the house. The women are grateful for a place that gives them not only a home but also love and support to move forward from addiction and abuse. Many women who sought out the House’s services in the past come back to volunteer and talk to other women who might be going through the same things. According to founder Donna Ecker, Bethany house “gives women hope.” There’s that word again: hope.

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The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is an international community serving in missions among people in need. M ISSONARY O BLATES OF M ARY I MMACULATE

Visit omiusa.org and click “Join Us”

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Friday: DayStar and St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center Daystar is a place for vulnerable infants and children up to age 3. It provides foster care and childcare, respite care, advocacy, and family

support in a safe and stimulating home environment. A complete medical childcare service, Daystar enhances each child’s growth and development while offering their families needed support. The staff includes a neonatal nurse, the sisters, trained childcare providers, and

many dedicated trained volunteers located in a home in a residential neighborhood that has been transformed into the center. One of the children I met was Joseph, a 2-year-old boy who was blind and had some heart problems. He was full of life and loved to listen to music. I played catch with him and read him books. These “medically fragile” children struggle to walk, see, hear, and even eat, and much time and patience goes into making sure they are provided with the proper medications, therapy, and tender care. I loved seeing how full of life they were despite their challenges. After they ate lunch I headed over to the St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center, which is a medical facility located near the convent. The center is committed to providing care and comprehensive services to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and the community. Along with executive director Sister Christine Wagner, S.S.J., 22 full and part-time employees, more than 80 volunteer health-care professionals, 25 counselors and social workers, and more than 250 volunteers who log an average of 850 hours per month, the center serves medically uninsured or underinsured individuals and families throughout Rochester and Monroe County and eight surrounding counties. More than 70 percent of people who come into the center for care are employed but do not earn enough to pay for health insurance.

Give the gift of yourself By going to Rochester and witnessing

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Soup kitchen volunteers help unload a food truck.

the services the Sisters of St. Joseph considering religious life should try. provide, I gained a new appreication “Living out your true vocation of how much I’ve been given—not is being the best version of yourjust in terms of material goods, but self,” Sisters Donna and Marilyn health, educational opportunities, explained. The week with the sisters and the love and support of a strong gave me a sense of what it means to family. I also saw up close just how be the best version of myself, which much need there may not be the same is in the world. I for someone else, but Living out your resolved to make a for all of us it involves true vocation is priority of incorposomething greater being the best rating the virtues than ourselves. of justice and peace For the Sisters of version of yourself.” into my daily life. St. Joseph it involves It starts with the individual—me— living lives of service, uniting neighand then flows from me to others by bor to neighbor and neighbor to God, my actions. assisting all people without distincThe opportunity to be part of tion, and reflecting daily on where a community of women who work God is in their lives. for the common good of all people Above all, my time with the out of sheer love was an experience Sisters of St. Joseph of Rochester I will never forget. To live with the allowed me to understand that the sisters, interact with them, and see women and men who have been that they are a family were essential called to religious life strive daily to to my understanding of religious build the kingdom of God and live life, and to be a part of an experiout the mission of Jesus, who is hope ence like this is something anyone to all. =

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hospital administrators • principals • teachers • social workers • artists • nurses • nurse practitioners • drug and alcohol counselors • pastoral counselors • community organizers • spiritual directors • parish administrators • pastoral associates • outreach workers • lawyers • realtors • doctors • secretaries • musicians • college professors • missionaries • directors of soup kitchens • chaplains in prisons • youth workers • hospital administrators • principals • teachers • social workers • artists • nurses • nurse practitioners • drug and alcohol counselors • pastoral counselors • community organizers • spiritual directors • parish administrators • pastoral associates • outreach workers • lawyers • realtors • doctors • secretaries • musicians • college professors • missionaries • directors of soup kitchens • chaplains in prisons • youth workers • hospital administrators • principals • teachers • social workers • artists • nurses • nurse practitioners • drug and alcohol counselors • pastoral counselors • community organizers • spiritual directors • parish administrators • pastoral associates • outreach workers • lawyers • realtors • doctors • secretaries • musicians • college professors • missionaries • directors of soup kitchens • chaplains Continuing mission in prisons • youth workers • Christ’s hospital administrators • principals • teachers social workers • nurses •prayer, nurse practitioners in•the world• artists through • drug and alcohol counselors • pastoral counselors • community community, service organizers • spiritual directorsand • parish administrators • pastoral associates • outreachin workers • lawyers realtors • doctors • to those need. We• meet secretaries • musicians • college professors • missionaries • those needs by using our directors of soup kitchens • chaplains in prisons • youth workers • collective gifts hospitalindividual administrators • and principals • teachers • social workers • artists •in nurses • nurse practitioners • drug and alcohol counselors a variety of ways. • pastoral counselors • community organizers • spiritual directors • parish administrators • pastoral associates • outreach workers • lawyers • realtors • doctors • secretaries • musicians • college professors • missionaries • directors of soup kitchens • chaplains in prisons • youth workers • hospital administrators • principals • teachers • social workers • artists • nurses • nurse practitioners • drug and alcohol counselors • pastoral counselors • community organizers • spiritual directors • parish administrators • pastoral associates • outreach workers • lawyers • realtors • doctors •

AS A SISTER OF ST. JOSEPH

YOUR TALENTS AND GIFTS CAN CHANGE

THE WORLD.

We strive to teach, heal, and effect change.

FIND THE SISTERS OF SAINT JOSEPH

NEAR YOU!

SISTERSOFSAINTJOSEPHFEDERATION.ORG

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religious life Lea este articulo en español en linea.

All three vows—poverty, celibacy, and obedience— are connected to the commitment to live a communal life. Sister Renée (left) and Sisters Vincent Dornbush, M.S.C. and Margaret Cronley, M.S.C. discuss cell phone features.

Lisez cet article en français en ligne. Read this article in Spanish or French online.

Living the vows The promises of poverty, celibacy, and obedience are less about giving things up than about living a full and free life.

Sister Renée Daigle, M.S.C.

f you are reading this article, you probably have at least some interest in learning more about vowed life. While the vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience are common to those who choose religious life, they are lived and experienced in a variety of Sister Renée Daigle, M.S.C. belongs to the Marianites of Holy Cross. She is the congregation’s director of vocation ministry as well as a campus minister at Southeastern Louisiana University.

ways. Like life in general, the experience of the vowed life is unique to each person who professes vows. I share here some of my own experience of living the vowed life for 26 years as a Marianite of Holy Cross sister in hopes that it may give you a glimpse into a lifestyle that still remains mysterious in some ways.

Building up, not giving up The reason to choose a vowed life is to participate in the mission of Jesus in a

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Inspired by our foundress, Victoire Larmenier, we are a dynamic, faithful international community of sisters, following Christ’s call through the loving care of seniors and others in need, and by teaching children throughout the world.

radical way. While much is gained through this lifestyle, the initial “yes” to it comes from some deeply felt call to abandon everything and “follow me.” When I was 22 and graduating from college, I felt this call and so I entered the Marianite congregation before I could rationalize or talk my way out of it! I believe most people, when they think of the vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience, tend to see them in terms of what we who profess them either give up or can’t do. Simply put, we have no money of our own, we can’t get married or date, and someone else tells us what we can and cannot do. While I suppose that’s technically true, if that were all it is about, who in their right mind would say yes to such a life? The vows are meant to free us rather than constrict us so that we can spend our energy and time more in building up the kingdom of God.

The vow of poverty: When enough is enough

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bringing a

RECONCILING PRESENCE

to the world

Sisters of St. Joseph

of the Third Order of St. Francis

Poverty to me means developing a healthy practice of using the word enough. Our society tells us we constantly need more, bigger, the latest, and the best to be happy. The vow of poverty calls me to live simply, to be satisfied with what I have, and to share with others. The vow of poverty is not about being materially poor but about striving not to be caught up in accruing things or status, to use in moderation the natural resources of the world, and to follow the example of Jesus and his first disciples. While I have everything I

Vocation Minister PO Box 305 Stevens Point, WI 54481-0305

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need and lots of things I want, I hope I have a healthy detachment toward those things and that neither my happiness nor my self-worth is dependent on what I do or do not have. That in itself is a huge freedom! Vowing poverty, however, is not without its struggles. For me the hardest part monetarily is not having the means to give to people the way

“

Poverty to me means developing a healthy practice of using the word enough.

I’d like to. I know that’s my problem and that people do not expect huge gifts from me, but I suppose that’s an area where I still need to develop acceptance. Desires to have things and to go places don’t vanish with religious profession either, and while that could be considered a struggle of poverty, I think most everyone has trouble in those areas from time to time.

Celibacy: Set free to love Celibacy is probably the vow that causes the most consternation and hesitancy to those considering vowed life. How can one possibly live without marriage, sex, and children and be happy and fulfilled? Again, if my understanding of the vow is one-dimensional, I will never be able to live it. In choosing celibacy, we choose not to marry, which is very

Fr. Italo Dell’Oro, CRS 610 W. Melwood St. . Houston, TX 77009 somascans@yahoo.com . www.somascans.org

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Sisters of the Good Shepherd One Congregation ~ Two Lifestyles APOSTOLIC A lifestyle that is committed to listening to the weary, often muted voices of the poor and the disadvantaged–especially women and children, and then doing something about what is heard.

CONTEMPLATIVE A lifestyle that seeks to bring Jesus' love to all God’s people through contemplative prayer, community life, silence, solitude, faithfulness to the Gospel, and meditation on the Word of God.

“One Person Is Of More Value Than A World” CONTACT:

USA ~ Christine Alvarez ~ (732) 946-0515 ~ gsvocny@optonline.net

www.goodshepherdsisters.org

CANADA ~ Sr. Barbara Wells ~ (204) 336-5282 ~ barbarargs@yahoo.ca

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Good Shepherd Sisters We are an international congregation with over 4,000 vowed members both apostolic and

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different from saying we “can’t get married,” as most people describe the vow. The best way I can explain my understanding of it is by sharing some phrases from my Marianite community’s constitution on the vow of celibate chastity: “We acknowledge our need to love and to be loved personally . . . we choose that the deepest of all our relationships will be our relationship to Christ . . . we free our hearts from all that might

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A congregation of consecrated women following in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, we make the Gospel our rule of life. True to our missionary spirit, we go where we are called at home and abroad. As a community of Sisters, we also reach out to the laity who shares our ministry, extending Christ’s love and healing to all we encounter. Our Sisters have served in healthcare, education, parish ministry and social service for over 100 years.

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“

The reason to choose a vowed life is to participate in the mission of Jesus in a radical way.

hinder this relationship in order that we might be more available to Christ and to others . . . by the joy which this commitment radiates and the quality of our presence . . . we become a dynamic source of Christ’s love . . . we announce what will be our resurrected state.” When I reflect on these words, the vow of celibacy is much more a positive choice than a set of “cannots” and “don’t haves.” That is the frame of mind in which I choose to live, and my life is very full of people I love, some more deeply and intimately than others. Vowing celibacy, though, has its difficulties. There are times when I ache for that life-partner who is solely for me and I for him; when I wonder what my children would have been like; and, let’s be honest,

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For Sister Renée (center), one of the gifts of vowed life has been the chance to be immersed in work such as campus ministry. Here she takes a moment with two college students: De’Anne McKell (left) and Melissa Fisackerly, who has since joined the Marianites of Holy Cross.

sex drive doesn’t go away with vows either. I need to find healthy ways to negotiate times when celibacy feels anything but freeing—honest conversations with good friends, healthy community life, and goodold-fashioned prayer and asceticism work wonders! I do admit though, that celibacy is the biggest “price” I have had to pay in receiving the incredible gift of religious life—but, truly, it is oh so worth it!

Obedience: Paying attention Obedience is the vow by which I seek to follow God’s will for me as revealed through scripture, the events of my life, the inspiration of the Spirit, the demands of my community and my ministry, the Mari-

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anite constitutions, and the decisions of the leadership of my congregation. Communally we also discern God’s will for us as a congregation. Obedience calls me to an authentic prayer life—how can I hear God speaking to me if I don’t make the time for that relationship that I profess is the deepest of all? Obedience calls me to pay attention to all aspects of my world and remember that by consecrating myself to God’s service, my life is not my own. Every major decision in my life is made with the consideration of how it fits with the mission God entrusted to the Marianites of Holy Cross. I am called to live my daily life attentive to this mission and to my part in it. Vowing obedience, however,

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Do you hunger to serve God? Are you willing to respond to today’s challenges with prayer, community, love, justice and peace? The Sisters of the Precious Blood have been passionately responding in these ways since 1834! Come, join us! Sr. Margie and Ministry Week volunteers

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RELIGIOUS of JESUS and MARY AN INTERNATIONAL CONGREGATION

Serving God’s People in United States, Haiti, Gabon, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Pakistan, Germany, Ireland, Lebanon, Philippines,

Canada, Peru, Equatorial Guinea, Cuba, Bolivia, Argentina, Uruguay, France, Italy, Spain, England, Syria, Thailand, Morocco

is not always easy (see a pattern?). There have been times when I felt certain about a decision but the sisters in leadership decided otherwise. The humility of living a decision that is not my own can be hard, but experience has taught me that God can work wonders in any circumstances. The gift of obedience for me is in the graces that have been mine in each ministry and living situation. By accepting changes and challenges I did not initially embrace, I have grown in ways I never could have imagined.

To be available Missions in the Yucatán peninsula, Alaska, Nicaragua; teaching in various schools, including the housing projects of New Orleans; vocation ministry; campus ministry; retreat ministry; wonderful educational opportunities; travels far and wide for

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The vowed life allows me the freedom to be available for whatever the future brings.

formation, community, and ministry purposes (yes, and some vacations, too)—my experiences have been so very rich and diverse, and while the circumstances and the pace can at times seem frenzied, I continue to look forward to what God has in store. The vowed life allows me the freedom to be available for whatever the future brings. Living the vowed life is an

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Sister Renée Daigle enjoys a visit with her niece Abigail. While she sometimes wonders what it might have been like to be a mother, Sister Renée says that the gifts of religious life have been worth the sacrifices.

adventure spent serving an extravagantly loving God who remains faithful and present to those who respond to God’s call. I am encouraged and blessed by the fact that I made (and renew daily at Mass) the vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience within a loving community, and that I don’t live them alone. I pray for those of you who are discerning a call to the vowed life—that you will have the faith and trust necessary to abandon yourself wholeheartedly to the will of our all-loving God for your life! =

An international community of women religious

We are teachers, Directors of Religious Education, Pastoral Associates, Youth Ministers, School Principals, Administrators and Librarians, Counselors, Ministers of the Eucharist, Health Care Professionals, Pastoral Caregivers of the aged, sick and dying.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR WEBSITE:

www.baptistines.org

TO SPEND A DAY OR WEEKEND, CONTACT OUR VOCATION DIRECTOR

Sr. Liceria Sayon, C.S.JB. Baptistinevoc@aol.com / 718-447-4150

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religious life Brother Luke is greeted by Father Michael Santa. Each member of the community offered an embrace of acceptance and welcome to the new novices.

Taking on new habits In a long-established ritual, three men from different walks of life enter a monastery to live for a year among the monks and see if it is right for them and for the community.

Photos Chris Bronson by

ou three men, Jeffrey, Cameron, and Branson, come to monastic life in great freedom and clear decision. You come to join us to gain a deep and lasting sense of being a child of God through the solidarity you come to know and to foster with a particular group of men who commit themselves to one another and to the church as it is experienced in our work and our prayer.

Chris Bronson is a recent graduate of the University of Kansas with a degree in photo media.

With these words Abbot Barnabas Senecal, O.S.B. of St. Benedict’s Abbey in Atchison, Kansas welcomed three men as novices and invited them to a year of further study, prayer, and work in the community. Each had visited the abbey in the previous months during the period known as “postulancy.” “You make no vows today, and you hope to do just that in a year from now,” Abbot Barnabas said. “At any time, after due reflection, you decide the monk’s life is not for you, you may leave. We also say to you, that if we find it would be best for you to choose another way of life, we will tell you that.” =

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Abbot Barnabas Senecal, O.S.B. (above) with the candidates at the practice session before the Ceremony of Entry. The three candidates completed four months of postulancy, living in a distinct area of the abbey. Jeffrey Turner (left) was a graduate of a high school seminary and Benedictine College in 1983. He was a candidate for membership in the community after college but entered the work force instead and became a senior vice president with Mastercard before petitioning the abbey for admission. Cameron McMillan (center) comes originally from the small community of Home, Kansas and is a recent graduate of the abbey’s Benedictine College. Branson Stephens (right) has a Ph.D. in astrophysics and became a Roman Catholic through the R.C.I.A. process while completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton University. FATHER JEREMY HEPPLER, O.S.B. (back to camera, middle photo), master of ceremonies for the rite, rehearses with the candidates in the abbey church.

Cameron McMillan (right) puts on the habit for the first time. This clothing is similar to that of the members of the monastery but without the hood (called a capuche) worn by monks who have taken vows. 54

After receiving their habits, Abbot Barnabas gave the three novices their monastic names. Branson became Brother Victor, the name of his grandfather and also Victor of Marseilles, a thirdcentury martyr. Cameron became Brother Timothy. “Saint Paul’s letters to Timothy have been a big part of my life,” he said. Jeffrey became Brother Luke. Along with their monastic names, the novices (left) also received a copy of the Rule of Benedict—the sixth-century code that guides Benedictine life— which each will study for a year. Brother Timothy (below) is welcomed by retired Abbot Ralph Koehler, O.S.B.

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religious life

What does it mean to be a Carmelite? Returning from his pastoral work, Father Abednecco Wambua Peters, O.C.D. of Kenya catches a ride back to the monastery on a motorcycle taxi.

Carmelite spirituality enables God-seekers to discover new heights and depths in their own hearts and in the God who calls and loves them. by Pat Morrison

robably the most recognizable member of the Carmelite order is Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, popularly known as the Little Flower. Statues and pictures of this young nun in her brown habit and white mantle, usually shown holding a crucifix and an armful of roses, are found all over the world. More than a century after her death at age 24, Thérèse remains immensely popular. What many of her admirers don’t

Pat Morrison, a regular contributor to VISION, is editorial director of ICS Publications, the publishing house of the Washington, D.C.-based Discalced Carmelite Friars/Institute of Carmelite Studies. She is a vowed laywoman in the Carmelite tradition and a member of the Association of Contemplative Sisters.

know is that when 15-year-old Thérèse Martin entered the Carmelite convent in her home town in France in 1888, she was embracing a tradition and a spirituality that had already produced and nourished God-seekers for more than half a millennium.

Who are the Carmelites? Carmelites originated in the Holy Land as a group of lay hermits some time after the Third Crusade. Jacques de Vitry, bishop of Acre in Palestine from 1216 to 1228, said that “after the example of the holy prophet Elijah [they] live on Mount Carmel—on that part of the mountain that is near Haifa, by the wadi [“spring”] of Elijah. They live as hermits” in a cluster of cells built around a church they

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(O.Carm.) and the Discalced Carmelites (O.C.D.). The ancient “vine of Carmel” has sprouted many branches, including numerous apostolic congregations, secular institutes, hermits, ecclesial movements, and laypeople who live a Carmelite vocation in many nations, cultures, and walks of life. (For the purposes of this article, we’ll explore Carmelite spirituality through the lens of the Discalced Carmelite tradition.)

The journey within Contact Sisters Cheryl or Toby

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Carmelite spirituality offers a particular challenge: It’s both utterly simple and at the same time intense (some might think even intimidating) in its bare-bones, laser-sharp focus on God alone.

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Carmelite spirituality is both utterly simple and at the same time intense in its bare-bones, laser-sharp focus on God alone.

In their chapel at Mount St. Joseph Novitiate in San Jose, CA, Discalced Carmelite friars pray the Divine Office together.

dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Because of their devotion to Mary and their church in her honor, they soon became known as “the hermits of St. Mary of Mount Carmel.” In the 16th century Saint Teresa of Avila yearned to rekindle the Carmelites’ original hermit spirit. She founded small convents of nuns dedicated to simple, prayerful living and, helped by Saint John of the 58

Cross (1542-1591), monasteries of friars also. Building on their Carmelite heritage, these two great Spanish mystics developed a new expression of Carmelite life that became the Discalced (“shoeless”) Carmelites. In the 21st century the Carmelite family includes two main groups of friars and nuns and their respective lay (third) orders, comprising: the Carmelites of the Ancient Observance

The archetypal image of the mountain has always been associated with Carmelite spirituality, both for the physical Mount Carmel where the order began but also for the arduous climb to the summit of perfection recalled by Saint John of the Cross’ classic text The Ascent of Mount Carmel. But as every Carmelite will tell you, Carmelite living is also a descent, an ever-challenging inner exploration where one meets the self, both the dark side and goodness, on an ongoing, incredible discovery of God within. As Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591) described it, “The treasures of Christ are like an abundant mine with many recesses VISION 2013

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Sister Marjorie Robinson lights candles for Mass. Carmelite prayer life includes daily celebration of the Eucharist.

of treasures, so that however deep individuals may go they never reach the end or bottom but . . . find new . . . riches everywhere” (Spiritual Canticle, 37,4). Like many contemplatives, Carmelites can say, “I don’t do. I am.” That’s because even when the friars or nuns work, their primary ministry in the church is that of prayer, a witness to the centrality of God. Even for Carmelites engaged in active ministry, their aim is to live centered in God’s presence. In the spirit of the biblical prophet Elijah, “zealous for the Lord God of hosts,” they aim to be, like him, attentive to God’s voice heard in “the sound of sheer silence” (1 Kings 19:12).

Mary is the model Ever since the first Carmelite hermits settled on Mount Carmel, Mary has been an inspiration for every Carmelite as she is for every Christian. Carmelites honor her especially for her total openness to God. She is the beloved model of that humble listening that makes a “yes” to God possible, the fruitful dwelling place of the Word. Mary holds the things of God in her heart in reflective love and silence. She urges the follower of Christ to “do whatever he tells you.” With Mary, every CarVISION 2013

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Looking for a deeper relationship with God? Conversations start here ST. SCHOLASTICA MONASTERY IN FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS (BENEDICTINE SISTERS) Listen with the ear of your heart . . . (RB 80)

www.stscho.org For more information please contact: SISTER KIMBERLY ROSE PROHASKA ,OSB (DIRECTOR OF VOCATIONS) EMAIL: VOCTIONDIRECTOR@STSCHO.ORG TODAY! Enter #341 at VocationMatch.com

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Discalced Carmelite friars in Kenya, like Brother Harrison Irungu, O.C.D., raise livestock to support themselves. Work is an important part of Carmelite life.

melite aims to have a loving care for God’s people, holding all their needs in the heart of their prayer.

Carmelite prayer Unlike many other spiritual traditions in the church, Carmelite prayer offers no “method,” no specific steps or stages for the praying person to

follow. That can be very freeing but also frustrating for 21st-century people looking for evidence of “success” and results even in their relationship with God. “In a world that prizes usefulness, measurable progress—what I’ve done, what I’ve achieved—Carmelite spirituality really challenges one to

look through the façades to focus on the primacy of union with God,” says Father Michael Berry, O.C.D., a Discalced Carmelite of the Washington, D.C. province and its vocation director. There’s nothing to show— not even any defining ministry in Carmelite life. “So in that sense, Carmel is really marginal,” he says.

Carmelite resources Online O.Carm.-O.C.D. web portal: ocarm-ocd.org Order of Carmelites Index of Carmelite Topics: carmelites.info Order of Discalced Carmelites, General House: discalcedcarmel.com CarmelStream: carmelstream.com Books ICS Publications, publishers of the works of Carmelites including Teresa

of Avila, John of the Cross, Thérèse of Lisieux, Edith Stein, and others: icspublications.org The Carmelite Tradition by Steven Payne, O.C.D. (Liturgical Press, 2011) The Springs of Carmel: An Introduction to Carmelite Spirituality by Peter Slattery, O.Carm. (Alba House, 1991) Several Carmelite men’s and women’s communities advertise on the VISION Vocation Network. Go to VocationNetwork.org to learn more.

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Even for Carmelites engaged in active ministry, their aim is to live centered in God’s presence.

“It’s a great opportunity to live Saint Teresa [of Avila]’s advice: ‘Only God is enough.’ ” But not having any method doesn’t mean that Carmelites are left without resources in their quest for deepening union with God. A rich source of inspiration, formation, and experience are the writings of the great Carmelite saints and mystics, especially Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, and Thérèse of Lisieux. Among the constellation of numerous Carmelite saints, these three have been named Doctors of the Church for the perennial richness of their mystical teaching and the

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“A little of pure love is more precious to God and the soul and more beneficial to the Church than all other works put together.” -- John of the Cross, cf. Spiritual Canticle, 29.2

Discalced Carmelite Friars, Washington Province . ocdfriarsvocation.org . ocdvocation@gmail.com

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soundness of their spiritual doctrine for people of every century and walk of life. The spiritual classics these saints produced are all in print and in e-books, translated into languages from Arabic to Swahili. According to each of these spiritual masters, praying doesn’t need to be complicated. Here are their personal, practical definitions of prayer:

• “Conversation with the One who we know loves us” (Saint Teresa). • “Remaining in God’s presence in loving attention” (Saint John of the Cross). • An aspiration of the heart, a simple glance . . . which expands my soul and unites me to Jesus” (Saint Thérèse).

Sister Mary Grace, O.C.D., Carmel of Terre Haute, IN

Carmelites have two hours of recreation each day. Sister Marianna So (center left) enjoys a game of Scrabble with other sisters.

Sister Mary Grace, O.C.D., Carmel of Terre Haute, IN

Two hours of personal prayer anchor every Carmelite’s day.

These saints also knew that the desire for God comes wrapped in human limitations. Teresa, the great mystic, was sometimes so distracted during prayer that she’d shake her hourglass to try to make the time go faster. Eminently practical, she wisely counseled, “Pray as you can, not as you can’t.” Thérèse admitted to routinely falling asleep during prayer time for most of her nine years as a nun. These flesh-andblood people offer great hope to all who are committed to finding and serving God! Prayer is not aimed at making the pray-er feel good; it’s about loving God through the litmus test of charity: “This is the reason for prayer,” Saint Teresa emphasized: “the birth always of good works.”

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Portraits of Carmelites In Sioux City, Iowa, Sister Marie Therese (carmelsc.org) has discovered the reality that prayer imperceptibly and gradually helps transform the one who lives it. After 15 years in Carmel, she says, “Now I feel freer and more available to others. . . . It’s a different dynamic than before. Before it was ‘me, me, me.’ Now it’s ‘you, you, you’ ”—a focus on God and through God, others. For both Carmelite contemplative nuns and the friars, prayer includes daily celebration of the Eucharist and the Divine Office, or Liturgy of the Hours, in common. But the anchor of the day is the two hours of silent, contemplative prayer, one in the morning and one in the evening, that characterizes their life. Father Michael Berry describes these two prayer periods as “speed bumps in the day” that force a Carmelite to slow down. According to the Carmelite community rule, prayer and recollection should permeate the entire day. “But when you have to sit down, stop all the busyness, and sometimes just wait, that’s both a great challenge and a great gift,” he says. “It’s time to just be present to the One who loves you.” Sister Marianna So, a member of the Terre Haute, Indiana, Carmel (heartsawake.org), also finds the joy and gift in these two hours of prayer. “It’s a luxury in a way,” she says; “most people don’t have this kind of time built into their life. It’s also very humbling” because this gift brings with it the responsibility to pray on behalf of those who are living very hectic lives. “It’s also our call to adore, praise, and give thanks, and there’s tremendous joy in that,” she says. The climate of prayerful silence that characterizes a Carmelite’s day is

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not aimed at being “penance,” as it’s sometimes portrayed, but to enable Carmelites to deepen their relationship with God and one another. As Trappist monk Thomas Merton wrote, “The aim of the contemplative life is not to teach a person to say prayers, but to live in God.” For Sister Marjorie Robinson, of the Carmel of Beacon, New York (carmelitesbeacon.org), this living in God is what keeps Carmelites connected with the whole human family. “While our life may be out of sight, it’s not out of touch,” she says. “It’s the dynamic of prayer and community living that helps” Carmelites become their best selves, not only for God but also to be able to hold the needs of all God’s people in the heart of their prayer. =

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religious life

A dictionary for discerners It may seem that religious life has a language all its own. Here’s a guide to understanding some of the terms you might hear in discerning a vocation with a religious community.

Carol Schuck Scheiber

A GLOSSARY OF RELIGIOUS LIFE

Apostolic In the context of consecrated religious life, apostolic religious communities are engaged for the most part in active ministries. While prayer and community life are important to them, their members serve in a variety of ways: teaching, parish ministry, health care, social work, care for the

elderly, work with young people, service to the poor, and many others.

Chapter A meeting of the members of a religious community to discuss and decide on policy, leadership, and the direction of the community. Chapter meetings can occur at several levels, from the local to the international.

Charism

Carol Schuck Scheiber is content editor of VISION.

A religious community’s particular spirit, way of life, and focus, which grows out of its history, traditions, and founder. From the Greek word charisma, “gift.”

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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. To 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

Contemplative Members of contemplative religious communities focus on prayer, especially the Mass, praying daily together the Liturgy of the Hours, and individual prayer such as lectio divina, the prayerful reading of scripture. They tend to live in greater solitude than apostolic communities so that they can better direct their prayer and work toward contemplation, though some communities that consider themselves contemplative are also engaged in some active apostolic ministries.

Cloistered Contemplative religious communities are often cloistered or partially cloistered—that is, they live separated from the rest of the world to be more focused on prayer, including prayer for the needs of the world. As cloistered religious they rarely leave their monasteries, and all or most of their work is done within the monastery itself, depending on the degree to which they are cloistered.

Discernment

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

Reflecting on and praying about how to respond to God’s call to follow Jesus Christ as his disciple in a particular way of life.

Formation The process of education and spiritual development that takes place during the early months or years of joining a religious community. Those entering the diocesan priesthood are involved in formation while they study at a seminary.

Missionary Missionary communities focus their

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lives on spreading the gospel to other countries or areas of their own country in need of evangelization. These communities serve in many different places in a variety of ministries, like preaching, teaching, service, and other forms of witness among the people with whom they live.

Monastic Monastic communities fall somewhere between apostolic and cloistered. Monastic men and women place a high value on prayer and living in community life, but many are also engaged in active ministries. Monasticism centers on community life, work, and common and individual prayer.

Motherhouse The principal home for a women’s religious community. The leader of the community lives there, and usually the community’s administrative offices are located in or near the same building.

Novice A man or woman taking part in the initial stage of entering a religious community. The novice is typically involved in discernment, preparation, and formation activities, including study of the order’s charism, history, constitution, and way of life. This period usually lasts from 12 to 24 months and is called the novitiate. At its end, the novice can go on to take temporary vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Postulant A man or woman requesting and still discerning membership in a religious community before becoming a nov-

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ice. The period of postulancy usually lasts six months to two years.

Profession The religious rite in which a person formally enters a religious community by taking vows. Profession follows a formation program of discernment, education, and spiritual development.

Spiritual direction A process of periodic meetings with a spiritual director who offers advice and encouragement for deepening and strengthening your relationship with God and discerning where God may be leading you.

Vows As members of religious communities, priests, sisters, and brothers take vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience. Many communities add a fourth or fifth vow related to their charism. =

Additional glossaries online: At VocationNetwork.org: FAQs about vocations Questions Catholics Ask 16 Questions about Vocations Celibacy Quiz What’s your spirituality type? A user’s guide on ways to pray

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At NRVC.net: Glossary of terms: nrvc.net/glossary_of_terms FAQs: nrvc.net/faqs_on_vocations

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Vision spotlight Courtesy of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Lea este articulo en español en linea.

Featuring artifacts, photographs, videos, and firsthand accounts, “Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America” chronicled how Catholic sisters helped to create the fabric of America.

Lisez cet article en français en ligne. Read this article in Spanish or French online.

Women of Spirit Since the arrival of a small group of sisters in New Orleans almost 300 years ago, Catholic women religious have educated, cared for, and served millions of Americans. A recent traveling exhibit tells their story.

by Joel Schorn

hough many Catholics may be familiar with sisters from their parish and school experiences, the history of these women has remained somewhat hidden. Traveling the country between 2009 and 2012, the “Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America” exhibit has shed some light on the

Joel Schorn is managing editor of VISION.

remarkable history of these women and their communities.

Sisters then and now After first arriving in America nearly 300 years ago, Catholic sisters established schools, colleges, hospitals, orphanages, and many other institutions that addressed critical social needs. As nurses, teachers, and social workers, they entered professional ranks decades earlier than most other women. Their work provided blueprints for the nation’s

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Mother Scholastica Kerst OSB, foundress of St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth, Minnesota, took horse and buggy more than a century ago to search for a large tract of land on which to build a monastery.

What began as a dream in a field of daisies has become a monastic community of Benedictine women whose lives are centered around the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours. Single Catholic women are invited to spend discernment time with us without cost or obligation. We’ll work with your schedule! For more information about visiting us, becoming a member of our community, volunteering in our residential Benedictine Associate program, or receiving a copy of our film “Sing a New Song,” contact Sister Mary Catherine OSB at mcshambour@duluthosb.org or (218) 723-6646.

Our Monastery is located on a wooded hill overlooking Lake Superior. We share our beautiful 186-acre campus with a Benedictine health care complex and The College of St. Scholastica. Through prayer and through our ministries in education, health care, pastoral work, outreach to the poor, spiritual renewal, and the arts, we are committed to helping create a more just and compassionate world.

Visit us at www.duluthbenedictines.org to meet all our women in Initial Formation and to learn about our Benedictine Community.

“I’m Sister Ann Marie Wainright from New Orleans, Louisiana ~ When I was a small child I would sometimes sigh and think ‘I want to go home,’ even though I was home in New Orleans, the city of my birth, my family, my friends, my life. That ongoing restlessness eventually moved me to leave my career as a CPA at a small public accounting firm in New Orleans to pursue two graduate degrees in counseling and pastoral studies at Loyola University. And then Hurricane Katrina swept through New Orleans on August 29, 2005, changing forever the beautiful city I had loved. My spirit yearned even more for peace and wholeness. I knew that God would lead me wherever home was to be for me, and as I prayed I felt called to religious life. I found the web site for the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth, Minnesota, and was drawn to their rich prayer life, their strong sense of community, their constant striving for a life of balance centered in God. I visited them for two weeks that summer, came back for three weeks in December to experience the cold and snow, and knew my journey of 41 years and 1500 miles was over. I was home. I became an Affiliate in December 2008 and entered the Duluth Benedictine Community as a Postulant in February 2010, became a Novice that August, and made my First Monastic Profession a year later in August 2011. If you are discerning a call to religious life, remember that the deepest desires of your heart are what God wants for you as well. Trust in God. I did!”

T h e

B e n e d i c T i n e

S i S T e r S

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Courtesy of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Education for new Americans

A three-key box known as a “common safe” was used by early sisters. As women they could not have bank accounts.

educational and health-care systems that continue to serve millions of Americans from all walks of life. It began in 1727 when 12 French Catholic sisters braved pirates to cross the Atlantic and establish the first community of sisters in what is now the United States, in New Orleans. Today more than 63,000 Catholic sisters are carrying on a centuries-old tradition of service and prayer.

increased to nearly 50,000. Today, immigrant sisters continue to be a presence just as their European predecessors were. Increasing numbers of sisters from Asia, Latin America, and Africa are coming to the U.S. to work with people from their native countries.

More Americans came to know Catholic sisters in classrooms than in any other setting. From the arrival of the first sisters, millions of children have attended schools taught by—and in many cases founded by—Catholic sisters. Many of these schools were made up of immigrants, and classes were often taught in a second language as well as English. The first American-born saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, founder of the Sisters of Charity, was a mother and widow who established the nation’s first free Catholic school. The Catholic school system today is the largest private school system in the world. Advancing women’s education became a particular focus for many American religious communities. Catholic sisters founded more than 110 colleges and universities in the U.S. Throughout the early 1900s, a

Help for immigrants Between 1820 and 1914 some 30 million European immigrants arrived in the United States. With them came sisters from France, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Italy, and other countries to work in their communities, educate their children, and care for them when they were ill. In 1830 fewer than 500 sisters lived in the U.S. By 1900 that number had

Sisters of Charity faculty of the St. John school, Scottdale, Pennsylvania, c. 1920 Courtesy of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious

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higher percentage of Catholic sisters earned college degrees than most women of their era. Young women who attended academies and colleges sponsored by Catholic sisters

courtesy Daughters of Charity

“

Today more than 63,000 Catholic sisters are carrying on a centuries-old tradition of service and prayer.

earned their diplomas and also saw in the sisters powerful role models of leadership and service. Sister Hilary Ross was an outstanding scientist who authored more than 40 scientific papers on the biochemistry of leprosy.

Health care In addition to education, health care has been a main area of activity for women’s religious communities in the U.S., and like their role in education, it goes back a long way. During the American Civil War more than 600 sisters from 21 different religious communities nursed both Union and Confederate soldiers and provided skilled nursing from the time of the Civil War to the flu epidemic of 1918. In the 19th century the public that once perceived sisters as outsiders came to appreciate their care and skill. Reflecting the many hospitals Catholic sisters established, in 2005 approximately one in six hospital patients in the U.S. were treated in a facility founded by Catholic sisters.

Service to those in need Throughout the mid-19th century, waves of immigrants arriving in the

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U.S. came to overcrowded city tenements where poor sanitation and insufficient health care resulted in widespread disease and devastating epidemics—conditions that offered new challenges for Catholic sisters. Children were becoming orphans in staggering numbers; 30,000 were estimated to be parentless or abandoned in the streets of New York City in the 1860s. One of the sisters’ responses to this problem had its start on an autumn night in 1869 when three sisters found a baby girl, “Sarah H.,” on their doorstep. Since then several hundred thousand children have

been cared for by what grew into the New York Foundling Hospital. Now in the 21st century the hospital continues its mission to shelter children and help families in crisis.

Vatican II and beyond In 1962 Catholic bishops from around the world gathered in Rome. Although only a few sisters attended the Second Vatican Council, also known as Vatican II, it transformed the lives of women religious at home and abroad. The council challenged Catholic sisters, as well as men’s Catholic religious

Courtesy of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Sister and children at the New York Foundling Hospital in the late 1950s.

communities, to reexamine their charisms—why their communities were founded. It also urged them to respond to the “signs of the times” and go and serve where they were most needed, and for many sisters peace and social justice became more central to their mission. Some paid the ultimate price: Since 1980

at least nine American sisters have been martyred while working for social justice and human rights overseas. As communities evolved inwardly, they also reflected outward change. They were specifically commissioned in Vatican II’s Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Re-

ligious Life to ensure that their habit “meet the requirements of health and be suited to the circumstances of time and place and to the needs of the ministry involved. The habits of both men and women religious which do not conform to these norms must be changed.” For some communities that meant wearing contemporary clothes, for others it meant a modified habit, and for still others it meant retaining their community’s traditional garb. Communities continue to read the signs of the times and go where the need is great. Since 1995, numerous congregations have participated

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Courtesy of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Corita Kent, influential pop artist of the 1960s and 70s, in front of her work in the art room of Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. Courtesy of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Courtesy of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious

as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) at the United Nations, focusing on global issues such as climate change, human trafficking, and poverty. In 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives honored the historical contributions of Catholic sisters in the United States. = Thanks to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, Immersive Marketing, and Seruto & Co. for their help compiling this article. Learn more about the the sisters’ exhibit and the contributions of women religious at WomenAndSpirit.org.

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Catholic sisters (above) participating in the 1965 Selma, Alabama civil rights march. Sister Barbara Battista of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods (at left). Many sisters have lent their support to justice issues such as global peace and nonviolence.

priests Holy Cross Father Joseph H. Carey, C.S.C., chaplain for the Alliance for Catholic Education, greets students at the University of Notre Dame.

Why I love being a priest I love being a priest for all the usual reasons, which are excellent, and I revere them, but there are some others.

Father Charles Gordon, C.S.C.

love being a priest because it is great to be something that has been around so long that it is practically hard-wired into the human brain. There have probably been people recognizable as priests about as long as there have been people recognizable as people. If a guy wandered out of the Pleistocene epoch and into a church and saw me

Father Charles Gordon, C.S.C. is an assistant professor of theology at the University of Portland in Portland, Oregon.

behind the altar he’d likely have a pretty good idea what I was and what I was doing. And if Origen of Alexandria or Theodore of Mopsuestia or Eleanor of Aquitaine or Shakespeare of Avon or Shakespeare’s tailor walked into the church, they would know exactly what I was and exactly what I was doing. Because a priest is such an ancient thing to be, an encounter with one touches very deep chords in the human mind and heart. Strains of longing, hope, and dread are sounded, as are any number of other feelings, some for which there are not yet names, and doubtless some for which

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the names have been forgotten. Once you are known to be a priest, you are treated differently. Walk through an airport in clerical dress: A stranger might pull you aside and pour out a story of joy, grief, or repentance; moments later you might receive from another passerby a glance of such unfathomable loathing that it makes you miss a step. Despite the unpleasant aspects, the thing I love about all this is that my meetings with other people are freighted with possibility. The energy is there, at some level, for almost anything to happen. And, God willing, what happens might be full of grace.

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I love being a priest because I hear about miracles. Many people think miracles don’t happen, or are very rare, but that is only because people tend not to tell each other about their miracles. But they’ll tell a priest. I know a woman who was comforted by an angel and a man who was visited by the Blessed Virgin Mary. And then there are the conversion stories. I know a fellow who when he was a graduate student was teetering on the brink of faith. One night, while walking past the darkened shop windows of a deserted city street, he offered up a silent prayer: “God, if you are there, and if you care, please give me some kind of sign.” At that moment a shabbily dressed man on a bicycle came around the corner riding in the opposite direction. As he passed he looked the student in the eye and said, “God loves you.” Game, set, and match. I’ve spoken to a Chinese physicist who converted from atheism to

Christianity because ice floats. He told me that every other liquid sinks when it freezes. If water sank when it froze, he assured me, the earth would be entirely lifeless. We exist because water behaves in this odd way. That, he said, cannot be a coincidence, and so he believes in our Creator.

You get to say things others don’t I hear stories like these because people feel it’s OK to tell a priest things they would find awkward to say in public. Happily, there is a corollary to this instinct: It’s OK for a priest to say in public things that would be awkward for other people to say. As a priest I have a kind of diplomatic immunity from the social taboos against talking about God— or anything else that really matters— in polite company. When I speak up I will at worst see an expression on someone’s face that seems to say, “Oh well, what do you expect? He is, after all, a priest.” I can speak badly, or I can speak deftly, but at least I’m free to have a go. What I love most about this special priestly license is the freedom it gives me to speak without irony. Almost invariably, when folks do speak about God in public, they hedge their remarks with protective ramparts of irony. That way no one can be certain that they really mean what they say, and if push comes to shove they can pass it all off as a joke. I love not joking. I love being able to speak about God simply and freely from the heart. I love being a priest because, years after the event, people will come up to me and tell me that something I said changed

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The love of Christ urges us on! their lives. And more often than not, if I can remember the occasion they are referring to, what they heard is not what I meant to say. I suppose I could be bemused or even annoyed by this; instead I take it as welcome evidence that the Holy Spirit is using me as an instrument through which people hear what God wants them to hear.

Each of us has a clear purpose in life as an ‘apostle of Jesus Christ’. Come live it faithfully with the Pallottine Fathers & Brothers. www.pallottines.org

Mother of God Province 5424 W Bluemound Rd. Milwaukee, WI 53208 (414) 259-0688 ext 150

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You give out the Good News Akin to that are occasions when I manage to say something useful during a pastoral encounter that I am dead certain I couldn’t have come up with on my own. Again, in those moments, the presence of the Holy Spirit seems palpable. And when I preside at the Eucharist, I am the instrument of Christ, who is the real priest. I love being a priest because the Mass is a distillation of what it is to be human. After the gospel and the Eucharistic Prayer, what is there left to say about human nature? And as for culture, the Mass is imbued with cultural riches that reach back through the Middle Ages to ancient Rome and Athens to Mount Sinai and beyond. An epic poem or oratorio could be written about nearly every phrase and gesture. In fact, countless artists, knowingly or not, have taken inspiration from the themes, shape, and textures of the Mass. For instance, I teach a course about the Catholic novel. For years I have been telling my students that when they have an essay to write for class and are stumped for a topic, there are two questions that can be fruitfully discussed in relation to any Catholic novel. The first is: What is the good news that the novel holds out? No matter how bleakly the hu-

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Franciscan Friars,TOR Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – Loretto, PA

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man condition may be depicted in a Catholic novel, there will invariably be some element of hope on offer. The second question is whether the main character is ultimately saved. The condition of his or her soul is what really matters. It has occurred to me only

recently that these two questions correspond to the two main parts of the Mass. The good news is a kind of gospel. It is analogous to the Liturgy of the Word. The theme of whether the protagonist is saved is ultimately grounded in the Liturgy of the Eucharist in which the Body

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Holy Cross Father George A. Piggford, C.S.C., director of the Honors Program and associate professor at Stonehill College, Easton, Massachusetts, in the classroom with students.

and Blood of Jesus Christ are offered so that sins may be forgiven.

You belong to an amazing community And I love my order, my particular tribe of priests. I love the Congregation of Holy Cross because when you sit down to dinner in community there will be someone in the room who knows the answer to just about any question you can imagine. I love Holy Cross because the familiar, unprepossessing fellow sitting next to you is sometimes a world authority in his field or has poured out his life in selfless service to the people of God, or both. I love Holy Cross because, in a crisis, a fellow with whom you’ve had an apparently casual, friendly relationship will be revealed as a well of wisdom and compassion. I love

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that several hundred good men have my back. I love the way we honor each other’s fathers and mothers and families. I love that Holy Cross hospitality is legendary. I love that Holy Cross men seem to know instinctively that you do not have to stand on your dignity in order to have dignity. We spend the greater part of our time together talking about sports or the next movie we want to see, but we are having those conversations with men who have given their lives over to service of Christ and his church with unqualified generosity. They have known success, and had their share of failures, but they are still here, and they are still Christ’s men. I love spending time with men who are very different than me in the ways the world cares about but with whom I am in deep agreement on the things that really matter. I love the high regard we have for good, hard work. I love to sing the Salve Regina with my Holy Cross brothers. I love the way you often discover, after knowing someone for a long time, that they have a profound devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I’ve found over the years that this turns out to be true of most of the best of us. I love the transformation that seems to come over someone you think you know well, and perhaps have taken for granted, when you have the privilege of seeing him minister to God’s people, particularly in a moment of tragedy or great joy. I love the stories about the old days and the great and colorful men who did so much to make us who we are but who now sleep in Christ. I love that we remember our beloved dead in prayer by name on the anniversary of their deaths. I love that 100 years after I’m gone someone will be mentioning my name aloud

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in prayer. I love being able to visit the community cemetery where I will one day be buried myself. I love being able to work in places where we have been so long that the lifeblood of our community is in the bricks. I love to visit a Holy Cross community and its members somewhere in the world for the first time and feel instantly at home. I love the way that members of Holy Cross parishes and schools and universities feel about their priests. I love to visit our seminary and meet young people who remind me of Holy Cross men who have gone before, almost as if there were some kind of spiritually transmitted Holy Cross genetic code. And those are some of the reasons I love being a priest. = Excerpted with permission from Portland magazine.

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priests Lea este articulo en español en linea.

Father Robert Lombardo directs volunteers ready to help with the Mobile Food Pantry, which serves some 250 families on the West Side of Chicago once a month.

Lisez cet article en français en ligne. Read this article in Spanish or French online.

All because of God Franciscan friar Bob Lombardo knows whom to thank for his flourishing urban ministry.

Heidi Schlumpf

ather Robert Lombardo, C.F.R. is not one to talk much about himself. The 54-yearold priest quietly acknowledges in a few words that his parents still live in Connecticut, that the Ursuline Sisters taught him in grade school, and that he

Heidi Schlumpf is an associate professor of communication at Aurora University in the Chicago suburbs and the author of While We Wait: Spiritual and Practical Advice for Those Trying to Adopt (ACTA).

is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. O.K., maybe he has a few extra things to say about the sorry state of Fighting Irish football. What Lombardo really likes to talk about is his ministry in one of Chicago’s poorest neighborhoods and the new religious order he is mentoring. But even then he is reluctant to mention much about his role in either of these major accomplishments. Lombardo is clear: It’s not about him. “This is not my doing; it’s God’s doing,” he says, even eschewing the term

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“successful” to describe the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. “I prefer to say we have been blessed by God with what is going on here,” he says. “But we have an awful lot of work to do.”

Telling it like it is

We Trust...

In God, In Church, In Each Other

He’s done a lot already. In five short years Lombardo has taken several uninhabitable buildings and created a ministry that serves 700 families a month with food, clothing, tutoring, after-school activities, Bible study, and retreats. The church, which had

“

We have been blessed by God with what is going on here. But we have an awful lot of work to do.”

been rented to a Protestant denomination, is nearly renovated and will open soon for 24-hour eucharistic adoration. Lombardo gives all the credit to the “Notre Dame network” of alumni and friends who provided the funds, to the hundreds of volunteers who help out, and to partnerships with the YMCA and the Greater Chicago Food Depository—and to God, of course. The Divine also is responsible for the five young women and men who have joined or are in discernment to join the Franciscans of the Eucharist, a new community to which Lombardo serves as an advi-

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T.O.R. Mission Statement… We strive to live the Gospel through Gentleness Hospitality and Service. 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 seek to address the changing needs bof the Church and the world by calling ourselves and others to Pr ayer and Conversion.

Explore Your Vocation With ...

Franciscans Third Order Regular

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sor. “I don’t attract anybody,” he says. “God calls them.” His unassuming nature nonetheless garners respect in the predominantly African American neighborhood. Wearing a simple grey Franciscan habit topped with an N.D. windbreaker while hurrying to a Bible study for seniors, Lombardo stops to thank two men who are

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cleaning up trash from the yard of an abandoned building. The women of the Bible study likewise appreciate his wisdom, as he explains how Jesus stressed the importance of serving others. “You know this as moms better than anybody,” he says, bifocals perched on the end of his nose so he can read from his Bible.

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Father Bob Lombardo (above) discusses the church’s renovations with a worker. LOMBARDO and some winter-hardy volunteers (opposite page, top) take a break from hauling the old damaged stove out of the rectory to make way for a new one. LOMBARDO (opposite page, bottom) escorts a guest into a benefit concert to raise funds for the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels. Enter #095 at VocationMatch.com

One woman launches into a story about how a neighbor has used an extension cord to steal electricity from her. When this leads to warnings from others in the circle about “giving too much,” Lombardo gently leads them back to Luke’s gospel. “We have to learn to strengthen one another,” he says, citing Jesus’ words. Heads nod.

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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.”

For more information please contact:

Vocation Minister Xaverian Brothers 4409 Frederick Avenue Baltimore MD 21229

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“Father Bob is very authentic,” says Sister Alicia Torres, a novice in the Franciscans of the Eucharist. “He says things exactly as they are. It’s all about the Lord. It’s not about us and what we want to do.”

In the footsteps of Francis Preaching, living simply, and service to the poor are Lombardo’s goals, ones he adopted from his inspiration, Saint Francis of Assisi. “To Saint Francis, Christianity was not a philosophy but a way of life,” he says. “The bottom line is he actually lived it. He practiced what he preached. And he was known for being very kind.” Like Saint Francis, Lombardo also traded a life of relative ease for

Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I., archbishop of Chicago, seated with the members of the Franciscans of the Eucharist. With men’s and women’s sections, this new religious community is part of the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels. Lombardo (standing) has served as an advisor to the young adults who founded the order.

one of service to those with very little. As a senior at Notre Dame, he was working as an R.A. in the dorms, planned to get married, and was preparing for a career in accounting. Then one day he was called to the infirmary because a student from his floor had come down with spinal

“

I’m here to take care of people in need and to faithfully preach the gospel.”

meningitis. Lombardo was with the young man when he died. “When something like that happens, it gets you thinking,” he

says. What it got Lombardo thinking about was serving the poor as a priest. After two years as an auditor for Price Waterhouse in New York, Lombardo realized the pull toward the priesthood wasn’t going away. He chose the Capuchin Franciscans because they were “down to earth” and “stable,” he says, and began studies at Maryknoll Seminary. In 1987 Lombardo and seven other Capuchins, including Benedict Groeschel, decided to create their own branch of Franciscans that would continue Saint Francis’ tradition of serving the poor and preaching rather than staffing parishes. The Franciscan Friars (and Sisters) of the Renewal consider themselves part of the “new evangelization” called for by Pope John Paul II.

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The rectory patio before volunteers led by Father Bob gave it a makeover (left). The postmakeover patio (below, left).

Present in the city After his ordination in 1990 Lombardo did missionary work in Bolivia and Honduras with orphaned street kids, organized youth programs on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, and directed the Padre Pio Shelter for the Homeless for 18 years. In 2006 Lombardo moved to the Midwest at the invitation of Chicago Cardinal Francis George, O.M.I., who wanted to maintain a Catholic

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presence in inner-city neighborhoods where parishes and schools had been closed. This particular school on the West Side was especially important because it was the site of a terrible fire in 1958 that killed 95 students and religious sisters. Our Lady of the Angels Parish closed in 1990; the school is now a public charter school. Lombardo never thought twice about leaving New York, though he had served in ministry to homeless people there for almost two decades. Such a long-term assignment is rare, he concedes. Lombardo admits he loves a challenge, but it’s hard to imagine him getting too upset about anything. “I don’t have time to worry; that’s above my pay grade,” he says. “The older you get, the more you realize it’s not my problem, it’s God’s problem.” Instead, he focuses on the work ahead of him. “I’m here to take care of people in need and to faithfully preach the gospel,” Lombardo says. “When I’m done with that at the end of the day, my head hits the pillow and I sleep well knowing God is in charge.” =

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We are the

Priests of the Sacred Heart

Serving in the United States and around the world, we are priests and brothers nourished by the Eucharist and called to live, pray and work together, sharing the love of the Sacred Heart in our lives and ministry. Learn how you can join us as a priest or brother: 800-609-5559 www.scjvocation.org Enter #116 at VocationMatch.com

sisters Lea este articulo en español en linea.

At the 2011 intergenerational Giving Voice conference, Sister Jenn Graus, C.S.J. (right) talks with Sister Cheryl Rose, H.M.

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Sister Kristin Matthes, S.N.D.deN.

Read this article in Spanish or French online.

Six compelling excuses for not becoming a nun— debunked Don’t see yourself becoming a religious sister? Think again.

Sister Julie Vieira, I.H.M.

e, a nun? But there’s no one my age . . . but I always wanted to be an engineer . . . but I’m going to feel alone.” But nothing! Today’s sisters are a dynamic breed

Sister Julie Vieira, I.H.M. is a member of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Monroe, Michigan. She ministers online at A Nun’s Life Ministry, anunslife. org, via a blog, podcasts, a community forum, and other internet technologies to help people discover and grow in their calling and life of faith.

of educated, creative, community-oriented women who are a breath of fresh air to religious life and to the church and world. Let’s look at some of the common reasons young women give for dismissing the idea of becoming a sister or nun—and why they don’t necessarily hold up.

1. “But most sisters are old.” Think again! We stand on the shoulders not of “old” sisters but of sisters whose wisdom, faithfulness, and experience are leaven for the new ways that God is

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calling us to live and serve as women religious. While every congregation has elderly sisters—that’s not a big surprise given that the U.S. population is aging—there are in fact many younger sisters in congregations across the country and the world. One of the great gifts religious life has to offer, and to model for the rest of the world, is an intergenerational community that values the energy and new ideas of the young and reverences the perspective and insight of elders.

2. “But I don’t see any younger sisters.” Don’t be discouraged—they really do exist! One reason you don’t see many

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young sisters is that we are spread across hundreds of congregations. Thanks to the internet, however, we are able to network with one another and support and encourage one another. A perfect example is giving-voice.org, a network of women religious who entered religious life after the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). They are sisters and nuns in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s from across many congregations and ways of living religious life. They offer conferences, workshops, newsletters, forums, and a variety of ways to stay connected. Another is that we look, talk, pray, minister, and live in a variety of roles, not necessarily in the classic ways we’ve been known in the past.

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For example, we are in mission in many different areas of the church and world, not only in ministries where you might expect to see nuns, such as classroom teaching or parish life. In addition, most of us in apostolic religious life do not wear habits that visually distinguish us from other laywomen. Take another look around. You’ll be surprised by what you find!

3. “But I’ll be forced to give up my peeps and tweets.” Really? Far from abandoning social media and networking sites, the Catholic Church encourages women

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School Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King

Build the Kingdom of God through lives of: ♦ Gospel Community in Franciscan simplicity ♦ Living Prayer that animates our spirits ♦ Active Compassion expressed in a variety of ministries

“

Today’s sisters rely on blogging, tweeting, updating their status, and posting in their circles in order to communicate with others and minister effectively in a digital age.

and men religious to promote the gospel by using Facebook, Twitter, and whatever else the digital world can dish up. It may not be the way you are used to interacting with the online community, but, like everything else in life, moving into religious life reorders things. That can be terrifying, yes, but it is also the thing that sets us free to engage wholly in our lives as sisters and nuns. Today’s sisters rely on blogging, tweeting, checking in, updating their status, and posting in their circles

CONTACT: Sr. Mary Terese, Mount Assisi Convent, 13900 Main St., Lemont, IL 60439 630.257.7524 ♦ vocareosf@yahoo.com ♦ lemontfranciscans.org

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Sister Kristin Matthes, S.N.D.deN.

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Sister Alison McCrary, C.S.J. during a session of the 2011 conference of Giving Voice (giving-voice.org), an organization for sisters under 50, held at Loyola University of Chicago. contact: Sr. Katherine Baltazar, MMS . info@medicalmissionsisters.com 8400 Pine Road, Philadelphia, PA 19111 . 215-742-6100 Enter #042 at VocationMatch.com

in order to communicate with their sisters, coworkers, and loved ones as well as minister effectively in a digital age. While each religious community has its own policies and practices regarding social media, it’s definitely part of almost every religious community from cloister to monastery to mission.

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At the Heart of W ho We Are

Is our Name: Holy Union

We strive to bring this union to our world. To learn more about the HOLY UNION SISTERS, contact: husvocations@gmail.com and visit www.holyunionsisters.org Enter #368 at VocationMatch.com

Action

SEE GOD IN

God

Discover the life

is offering you.

4. “But I’ve been around the block a few times.” Younger women today come to religious life with more years of life experience than in the past. Many have been in serious relationships, had careers, seen the rough edges of life, and more. While some of their concerns are the same as their older sisters in religious life, others are new or have greater urgency. What if I’m not a virgin? What if I have a tattoo? What if I did some things in my life that I’m not proud of? What if I ever questioned my faith? These questions are not easy,

“

No one is perfect, and human imperfection is no reason to dismiss the idea of religious life.

and each community may respond to these kinds of issues differently. But the upshot is that today’s younger sisters are women who have tangled with the tough questions of life and emerged with a few bumps and bruises. No one is perfect, and human imperfection is no reason to dismiss the idea of religious life. You never know how God will use your experiences to be a source of consolation or healing for another or a new expression of a congregation’s enduring charism.

5. “But my family and friends will totally freak out.” You’ve got a point there, but the

good news here is that you can make it through those tough conversations (read: bombshells) and deal with the misunderstandings and growing pains. Friends and family care about you and want the best for you. Their questions and comments, not to mention “casual” introductions to a potential mate, are ways that people sometimes try to make sense of what your calling means in your life and how it will affect the relationship that they are used to having with you. Remember that just as God is nudging you along in your exploration of religious life, God is also at work in the lives of your family and friends. That may not make things go smoothly, but it’s also not the end of the world—or your vocation. Many family and friends become a lot more comfortable with your decision once they get to know the community you plan on joining and perhaps rethink some of the ideas they may have had about religious life.

6. “But I’ll be left alone to turn off the lights.” Religious life always has been and will continue to be a gift of the Holy Spirit. We operate not on the world’s electrical system but on the Holy Spirit’s power grid! So leave that issue to God and—to quote Mary Oliver’s poem “The Summer Day”—focus instead on how you are going to use this one “wild and precious” life you have been given to be a source of life and of hope in the world. =

www.shcj.org/american 610.626.1400 90

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The cycles of religious life

atholics of a certain age remember the “good old days” of religious life between the 1940s and the early 1960s when monasteries, convents, motherhouses, and other religious houses overflowed with monks, sisters, nuns, priests, and brothers. Parish convents were full of teaching sisters, and rectories had several priests in residence. If you visit many religious communities today, there’s a good chance you’re going to see ones that are smaller and older than they once were (though of course that’s not the case across the board). Why the change, and what does it mean? While the causes are several, one factor has to do with the huge numbers of immigrants who came to the United States, especially in the first decades of the 20th century, and the big jump in population during the Baby Boom after World War II, both of which meant lots more American Catholics who needed education, health care, and social services, and proportionally more vocations to religious life. After this wave of growth crested, however, the average age of community members began to go up because far fewer younger people were there to replace them. In addition, the U.S. population has itself aged. Thus the older faces. Wonderful though they were, the “good old days” were just that: good but past. The drop-off that began in the 1960s was in part a correction rather than

only people voting with their feet against a religious vocation. While interest in religious life is gathering momentum again, the current smaller number of members reflects two basic facts: 1. Communities grow and contract over time; some cease to exist while new ones come on the scene; 2. Only a very small percentage of Roman Catholics choose to enter religious life As Holy Cross Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., executive director of the National Religious Vocation Conference, has said, “The fact is, there has always been a small number of Catholics who have responded to a religious vocation” (stltoday.com, posted Nov. 26, 2011). Religious life in the U.S. today reflects the reality of religious life throughout its history. Notwithstanding the cycles of expansion and contraction, at the core religious communities consist of a small but effective group of people who choose to live out their faith in a way that preserves and passes on the tradition of religious life and serves and shapes the world today for the better. “Religious life has taken different forms in different times in response to different social, historical, and church situations,” says Sr. Mary Charlotte Chandler, R.S.C.J., director of the Center for the Study of Religious Life, in the 2007 issue of VISION. “In whatever form, it is lived as a radical gospel response to these situations.” Joel Schorn, VISION managing editor

—

Religious life timeline available online at VocationNetwork.org

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sisters Sister Camille D’Arienzo, R.S.M. (second from left) taking part in an Alzheimer’s Walk in 2011.

Called, and called again Entering the door of religious life led this Sister of Mercy to the fulfillment of her dreams, and beyond.

Sister Camille D’Arienzo, R.S.M.

few months before my high school graduation, I was seated in a Long Island Railroad station waiting for the train that would return me to Our Lady of Mercy Academy, the boarding school my father had enrolled

Sister Camille D’Arienzo, R.S.M. is a Sister of Mercy in Glendale, New York. She is a writer and speaker as well as the senior religion commentator for 1010 WINS Radio. She contributes “Conversations with Sr. Camille,” a biweekly column for the National Catholic Reporter’s online edition, which chronicles the lives and concerns of contemporary Catholics. The Cherish Life Circle she founded continues to work for an end to capital punishment and to comfort families of murder victims.

me in six years earlier, after my mother’s death. I was thinking about the previous night in New York City. A very attentive date had taken me to the theater and an exciting night on the town. It was all so romantic. Even more so was a classmate’s recent invitation to be her bridesmaid the summer after graduation. But something was distracting me: the swinging doors that led to the train’s platform. One said “Enter,” the other “Do Not Enter.” Exactly my dilemma. Almost 18, I was weighing many options. I wanted to be a journalist, an airline stewardess, and a nurse. Although I was considering the joys of marriage and motherhood, I also felt an annoying attraction to becoming a nun. Under-

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girding this confusing mix was my admiration for the works and words of Jesus and the disturbing echo of an invitation I had heard long before: “Come, follow me.” Little did I know how my choice to enter the convent would lead to a series of doors to worlds beyond my imaginings.

The first door opens Although I began to clear the necessary hurdles, including family opposition and friends’ amazement, there was one I couldn’t overcome: My father suffered a stroke on the same July day that saw me tracking down the required black oxfords on the list of garments I needed to bring. I

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.

“

Little did I know how my choice to enter the convent would lead to a series of doors to worlds beyond my imaginings.

remained at home that year, helping to care for and comfort him as best I could. I became involved in a parish youth group. My social life pushed convent thoughts back behind the door that had once invited “enter.” Then, with the approach of another July, I received a letter reminding me I had applied for and then postponed the process of entering the Sisters of Mercy. The letter insisted I owed Reverend Mother the courtesy of my decision. “What should I do?” I wailed to Father James J. Tuohy, the parish priest who engaged so many of us in good works and good fun.

www.sistersofmercy.org/vocations MercySisters

@SistersofMercy

newmembership@sistersofmercy.org 1.877.50.MERCY Enter #063 at VocationMatch.com

IWBS

I Want to Be a Sister. Is God Calling Me?

Go to www.iwbscc.org to see our calendar of vocational events and meet our Sisters. VISION 2013

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If. . . you would like: to become a living image of God’s infinite Love to proclaim the Gospel by the way you live to strengthen the faith of others to encourage people to love and serve the needs of others to lead others to know God’s love and mercy to be a co-apostle with Jesus to share in His mission to realize the Father’s plan

Let’s talk!

Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines) Queen of Apostles Convent 98 Harriman Heights Road Monroe, NY 10950

845-492-5076

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For many years Sister D’Arienzo has been religion commentator for WINS Radio in New York.

“It’s got to be your decision,” he counseled. “Let’s both pray about it for three days and then talk again.” When we met I told him I would enter the convent on September 8, 1951. “That’s good,” he said, “because if you don’t, you’ll spend the rest of your life wondering if you should have. But,” he added, “I think you’ll be home in six months”! Sixty wonderful years later, I can report he was wrong.

Media relations The orphanages and child-care institutions my community ran were what attracted me to the Sisters of Mercy. The first door that opened for me led, instead, to elementary school classrooms. I fell in love with teaching and was crestfallen when, after 11 years, I was redirected into

educational television. The Diocese of Brooklyn had acquired a television channel for direct teaching, and its school superintendents had asked the superiors of religious communities to donate one of their teachers to this new enterprise. Other educators and lay media practitioners became mentors and friends. We were pioneers of this new venture and our days were filled with challenges and opportunities. During several years there, I was sent to the University of Michigan’s summer program for a master’s in communications. As I completed that degree, the television and radio faculty encouraged me to accept a scholarship to pursue a doctorate. I resisted. We had no colleges in Brooklyn. The chairperson and two professors sent a joint letter to Reverend Mother insisting that I

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pursue a doctorate. She acquiesced, and another door swung open. By the time I celebrated my silver jubilee—the 25th anniversary of taking my vows—I was on the faculty in the television department. A few years earlier a friend had suggested I investigate the role of Catholic commentator for 1010 WINS Radio, an all-news radio station serving the New York metropolitan area. I auditioned, interviewed, and was hired. To this writing I continue to offer weekly faith-inspired reflections on newsworthy issues. After an invitation from the editor of The Tablet, the Catholic newspaper of the Diocese of Brooklyn, a door to journalism had opened—and a coveted career I thought was out of bounds for me.

PRAY EDUCATE SERVE THE POOR PROMOTE THE GOSPEL Join us on Facebook. Find out why we’re called the Grey Nuns-you’ll be surprised by the answer! CREATING A COMPASSIONATE WORLD

www.greynun.org vocations@greynun.org 215.968.4236 Facebook Enter #183 at VocationMatch.com

Stepmother and high-flyer In 1967 I became an unofficial mother to a homeless 16-year-old who approached me as I waited for a bus bringing a visiting friend from the Detroit Metro Airport to Ann Arbor where I was studying and teaching. Michael had dropped out of school after a chaotic upbringing. When we met he was sleeping on the floor of a donut shop in exchange for cleaning it after hours. He wanted me to help him get work. When he called the next day I invited him to come to my furnished room. I had only been able to get him a job at a McDonald’s, but I gave him a key to his own room across the street from mine for which I had paid the first month’s rent. So began a lifelong friendship. That unexpected door made me a mother of a virtual orphan—another dream fulfilled.

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Pilgrimages to El Salvador and Nicaragua after the murders of Archbishop Oscar Romero and the North American churchwomen opened more doors into people’s lives and human needs. And while I never became an airline stewardess, I spent a lot of time above the

clouds. “Come follow me” sounded in many voices.

From death row to cherishing life I was happy in the worlds of academia, social justice, broadcasting,

Our motto is

to make Jesus known and loved … human promotion

evangelization education

The Canossian Daughters of Charity, Servants of the Poor, are an international congregation of women founded by St. Magdalene of Canossa in 1808. Visit us at canossiansisters.org

faith formation pastoral care among the suffering

lisamdoty@gmail.com ofeiba@hotmail.com

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The Sisters of St. Casimir Serving in God’s name since 1907

“Always more Always better Always with love” In the spirit of Venerable Servant of God Maria Kaupas, our Foundress

Sisters of St. Casimir • Chicago, IL • www.ssc2601.com • 630-243-8349 Enter #071 at VocationMatch.com

and journalism when I was pushed toward a door I never wanted to open: leadership in my religious community. After being elected regional president in 1993, I retired

as professor emerita from my ministry at Brooklyn College. Two years later I was elected president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. The boundaries of my

world continued to expand. Within a few months gubernatorial candidate George Pataki was campaigning on the promise of restoring capital punishment to New York State. I gathered a group of friends, religious and lay, to oppose that move. We formed the Cherish Life Circle. Our efforts gained wide attention, and in December of 1998 the Associated Press detailed our efforts on its international wire. A reader in Oklahoma sent a copy to her cousin, a man on death row in Allenwood, Pennsylvania. He, in turn, sent me a letter that opened the most unexpected doors of my lifetime. David Paul Hammer, anticipating a January execution,

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Sister D’Arienzo in Colón, Panama in 1995.

was looking for someone to serve as his spiritual adviser for the remaining weeks of his life. I tried to find a chaplain in Pennsylvania to visit him but to no avail. It was too close to Christmas. On December 30, 1998 I, in the company of a priest friend, made the 200-mile trip to meet the man I’d been warned was the “most dangerous prisoner in Allenwood.” That visit, more than almost any other, changed my life and his. After a stay of execution, David was transferred to Terre Haute, Indiana. Now his spiritual adviser, I visited him there, asking the Sisters of Providence in nearby St. Mary-ofthe-Woods, Indiana if anyone would be willing to see him more frequently

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than time and finances would permit me to do. An extraordinary sister, Sister Rita Clare Gerardot, became his biweekly visitor and spiritual minister of record. We became close

friends. When David asked to be admitted to the Catholic faith in 2000, he asked me to be his godmother. More than a decade later, we have taught one another about our

separate realities and the place and presence of a forgiving God in our lives. From our friendship and the impetus to bring goodness into the world came his designing Christmas cards, which in the decade since we began collaborating on this effort has raised more than $70,000 to help children in need. David has become correspondent and mentor to the boys of the Alpha School in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies. This

“

If I had one wish it would be another chance to do it all over again in the company of young, enthusiastic women willing to look behind closed doors.

institution, founded by the Sisters of Mercy more than 130 years ago, provides an academic education and trade skills for boys rescued from the streets. Proceeds from our Christmas cards have provided them equipment and an unlikely hero, a man on death row who counsels them to make something wonderful of themselves.

Reentry permitted

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Connecting Today’s

World... Promise.

With Tomorrow’s

Sisters of Saint Francis Rochester, MN

Sister Ann Redig, OSF 888-277-4741 sisterann@rochesterfranciscan.org www.rochesterfranciscans.org 98

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At age 80 I have walked through doors that have fulfilled almost every dream I ever had. “If you had one wish left, what would that be?” a friend asked. My answer: Another chance to do it all over again in the company of young, enthusiastic women willing to look behind closed doors. =

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Too poor to take a vow of poverty?

ccording to the 2012 NRVC/ CARA Study on Educational Debt and Vocations to Religious Life, seven in 10 institutes (69 percent) turned away at least one person because of student loans. In addition, many religious communities ask people to delay their applications to enter because of educational debt. “For those entering religious life, the expectation is that they be debt-free,” says Holy Cross Brother Paul Bednarczyk, executive director of NRVC, “but for graduates in today’s economy, where education costs have risen by 900 percent since 1978, paying off loans can take years to accomplish. The burden of student debt has become a serious problem for religious communities desirous of welcoming younger members.” Those applying to enter religious life during the past 10 years carried $3 million in educational debt, and if national trends continue, that overall student debt load will likely rise by 5 percent annually. “Because religious sisters, brothers, and priests are vital to the life of the church and provide great service to society,” says Bednarczyk, “we plan to bring together key stakeholders to develop strategies to ease this significant and growing barrier to religious vocations.”

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NOTE: Vocation Match has been tracking this debt trend. In 2012, 38 percent of VISION site visitors who completed a Vocation Match profile said they were not debt-free. That was up from 27 percent in 2007. Find more VISION reader statistics online at VocationNetwork.org.

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brothers Lea este articulo en español en linea. Lisez cet article en français en ligne.

Brother Brian Halderman, S.M. with friends and family who attended the celebration of his final vows in 2008.

Courtesy of the Marianist Province of the U.S.

Read this article in Spanish or French online.

My journey to being a Brother of Mary The call to be a religious brother means to surrender fully to the will of God and the service of others.

Brother Brian Halderman, S.M.

remember it as if it were yesterday: Move-in day for freshmen at the University of Dayton. It was a day full of anticipation and nervous excitement for all that was to be of my college career. There was something unique

Brother Brian Halderman, S.M. has been a member of the Society of Mary for eight years and currently serves as the university minister for social justice and adjunct faculty member in sociology at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas.

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about the university that drew me there, a family spirit that was like none other I had experienced in previous educational settings. I knew this would be a place that would enrich my soul and my mind with new ideas and insights into my faith and the world in which I would engage it. As I entered Stuart Hall with a bag of clothes in tow, I was greeted by a warm smile and an outstretched hand: “Welcome to U.D. I’m Brother Tom. Where’re you from?” We exchanged greetings and I explained I was from Kentucky, and

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Arkansas? You’re Joking, right? Actually, we’re quite serious!

Why would men be coming from around the nation to join a monastic community in Arkansas? It’s not because we have the most professionally designed ad! It’s certainly not because we have the coolest weather! Maybe...just maybe...it’s because God wants real men to answer a call to an ancient way of life that is being made new again! We are ordinary men who never...NEVER...thought we would become monks.

Today, we are a thriving Benedictine community of forty-one monks and twelve men in formation---Brothers and Priests living together as one family. Centered in our monastery, we live a balanced life of prayer with work in our Academy, Retreat Center, Farm and Parishes. Your family will say, “You wanna be what?...a monk?...in Arkansas?” Trust us! You will laugh with them and then say, “I know, it’s crazy!” Check us out and experience for yourself how God is still calling men to monastic life in the 21st century...EVEN to Arkansas.

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that began a long path of discerning Marianist religious life.

A journey of relationships

The Monastic Life at

Saint Meinrad Archabbey

www.saintmeinrad.edu

A Building-up of the Kingdom and a Daily Desire for God. Office of Monastery Vocations, 100 Hill Drive, St. Meinrad, IN 47577, (812) 357-6318 vocations@saintmeinrad.edu Enter #014 at VocationMatch.com

so was Brother Tom. Thus began a unique relationship that would challenge me to explore God’s call in my life to service in the church. There were many more conversations with Brother Tom, some in the

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context of small faith communities in the hall chapel and other oneon-one exchanges about priesthood and religious life. Eventually Brother Tom invited me to the Marianist community for Mass and dinner, and

My passage to being a religious brother was first and foremost about relationships. I am convinced that the Holy Spirit was at work helping to bring individuals in and out of my life who challenged me to think beyond myself and to see that I could use my gifts and talents at the service of the gospel. There was Father Britt, an associate pastor at my parish, who gently encouraged my exploration of the priesthood when I was an acolyte in elementary school. There were many voices among the parishioners urging me to explore this life-option after they witnessed my engagement with the youth and liturgy activities in the parish as well as other efforts. These relationships and promptings of the Spirit led me on a journey to search for the best way to serve others. As I developed a relationship with the Marianist brothers and priests as a student at the University of Dayton, it became clear to me that this life could be a real option for me. Never did I seriously consider religious life prior to this exposure, most likely because I wasn’t really sure what it looked like. For the first time I was invited inside to see for myself the life of the community. I saw how the brothers loved and cared for each other, how they celebrated feast days and birthdays together. I witnessed disagreements at the dinner table yet a willingness to stay and keep the dialogue going.

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I observed a communal prayer life that was rich and clearly meaningful to the members of the community. I saw playfulness and camaraderie among the brothers that helped me understand they were human like me and not people who were disconnected or out of touch with the world around them. All of these observations led me to believe that I, too, could one day be a religious brother. After four years of discernment as a college student, a six-month live-in with one of the communities, and a few years working in a diocesan religious education office, I finally decided to formally enter the novitiate with the Society of Mary

Live a life filled with love, service, commitment and dedication.

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Prior to meeting the Marianists I had never seriously considered religious life, most likely because I wasn’t really sure what it looked like.

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(Marianists). In all it was a sevenyear process of building relationships and embracing a call that took me a while to admit was real and was not going away.

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A distinct and full vocation As I learned more about church history, the vowed life, and the charism of the community, the distinct role of the religious brother within the church became clearer to me. It is a vocation that is often overshadowed by the priesthood and misunderstood by clergy and laity alike. I have

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1200 Varnum Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20017 Enter #192 at VocationMatch.com

lost track how many times I have been asked, “So are you going all the way?”—meaning: Isn’t a brother on his way to being ordained a priest? At times in the history of the church, a young man who did not do

well in seminary studies was “stuck” in the vocation of being a brother. Often that is the misconstrued view of this vocation. Yet the fullness of this distinctive vocation is manifested in so many beautiful ways

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throughout the life of the church. We don’t have to look far for role models of the vocation of brother. There was Anthony of Egypt, the desert hermit; Benedict of Nursia, the founder of monasticism in the Western world; and of course Francis of Assisi. All witnessed to the vowed life, some more contemplatively than others, but they all helped shape the vocation of brother. As one who professes the “evangelical counsels” of poverty, chastity, and obedience, I make a steadfast commitment to God and the church to be at the service of people. This service manifests itself in the charism of the Marianist community, which

“

This life was about seeking God in all that I do through a path of loving relationships that advances the reign of God.

asks brothers to profess a fourth vow at the time of perpetual profession: stability. That stability does not mean staying with a particular monastery, as it does in the Benedictine tradition, but rather it is a life-long commitment to fulfilling the mission of Mary, Mother of God in birthing Christ to the world. This vocation calls us to know, love, and serve the Mother of God in such a way that it leads others to Jesus. The ministerial paths of religious brothers vary greatly. A good number of us are teachers and professors,

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some are social workers and counselors, others serve in the health-care or legal professions. We respond where the church and the people of God need us. What we do is not as important as how we do it and the witness we pay to this particular vocation. One of the brothers once explained to me that “as a brother we embrace a way of loving—widely and deeply—that we seek God in a way that is strange in its ordinariness as it is mystical in its power. “The measure of our love,” he continued, “the motive of our living, the mystery of God’s grace ever confronts us, one way or another, through our sometimes tedious common daily practices in community or ministry.” That made sense to me: This life was about seeking God in all that I do through a path of loving relationships that advances the reign of God.

All are brothers In the Marianist community we all enter as “brother,” and at the time of perpetual profession we can request seminary studies if we so desire. Following a personal and communal discernment, one may be granted the opportunity of studying for the priesthood. Our brothers are primarily ordained for sacramental service to the community and only later function in priestly duties to the larger church. Many of our ordained members will call themselves an “ordained brother.” We make no major distinction between brothers and priests and live a life of equality in community. We are one of a few religious or-

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WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? . Living in community according to the Rule of St. Benedict. .

Courtesy of the Marianist Province of the U.S.

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

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In Mexico Brother Brian Halderman, S.M. helps prepare stuffed peppers with Brother Ed Longbottom, S.M. for the community in Puebla.

ders in the church given the right to elect brothers to the leadership positions of superiors and provincials in our communities. Our discipleship of equals is a highly valued treasure in our tradition and one that makes me appreciate my role as brother in the community all the more. There is no rank in the Marianist community, only a distinct role of service. “Members priest and lay religious, form a single family” (from the Marianist Rule of Life, art. 1). My life as a Brother of Mary—a title often used to identify a member of the Marianist religious community—is closely tied to my relationship with Mary, the Mother of Jesus. She is our model disciple and the

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radical witness to saying yes to God’s designs for our lives. She declared at the Annunciation: “May it be done to me according to your word.” She surrendered fully to God’s will. That is the call for me as a Marianist religious brother: to surrender to the will of God in my life. To say yes each and every day to the mission that animates my life. There are so many examples of how Mary inspires and enriches my vocation, but at the core of this inspiration is her unselfish and humble service to God—she was the God-bearer who birthed Christ to the world so that we might have life and have it abundantly! And I have only begun to understand the magnitude and

CONTEMPLATIVE MONKS Trappist Cistercian

A small praying community in the Ozark foothills of Missouri. Assumption Abbey RR 5 Box 1056 Ava, MO 65608 417-638-5110 avavocations@hughes.net www.assumptionabbey.org Enter #121 at VocationMatch.com

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Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd

power of Mary’s yes and the repercussions it has in my own life-journey of Marianist brotherhood. Ordinary men striving to follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by ministering to society’s most abandoned and disadvantaged. www.lbgs.org

815.472.3131

Connect online at

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In the Heart of the City . . . In the Heart of God! Paris Montreal Rome Florence Brussels Cologne Warsaw Strasbourg Mt. St. Michel

Creating a monastic oasis of prayer in busy urban centers

A choice and a commitment I pray each day that I might live my vocation faithfully to the mission of the church and to the vision of Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, the founder of the Marianist family. I often am asked why I chose such a life and what keeps me in it. Some

“ www.jerusalem-montreal.org

I have a longing

in my heart to be of service that shares the healing power of Christ with the spirit of Mary.

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What do people in religious life do for fun?

ope John Paul II was famous for making silly faces at photographers. These pictures were a radical departure from the papal portraits in history books. That was the point: to humanize the papacy—and the

church. If you’d asked our late ski- and movie-enthusiast pope what he did for fun, he’d have likely countered: What do you do? Most of us are limited only by our abilities, resources, and imagination concerning what we do at playtime. I know some priests who keep bees. They sell “Holy Family Honey: Where the Glory Bees Are Sweeter.” Another priest works on a pit crew at the local racetrack on Saturdays. A Paulist pastor has a shoebox under his bed full of short stories he’s been writing, and not a

A sad nun is a bad nun.

few screenplays. A Sister of Mercy loves to garden and gets up early for

Pope John Paul II eyes the camera.

bird-watching.

—Saint Teresa of Avila

Priests and religious brothers and sisters cook (some are

gourmets), travel, draw, sculpt, build furniture, read thriller novels, and gather friends for dinner parties. They play soccer, basketball, racquetball, and beach volleyball. (Warning: They play for keeps, so be careful.) They go fishing. They take night classes in subjects that intrigue them. They crochet (not all of these are women) and hang glide (not all of these are men). What it comes down to is that folks in religious life are basically folks. Sure, a lot of people in religious life take their vacations in the Holy Land, or go on pilgrimages to Rome, Lourdes, and Fatima. During their travels, though, they may not be reading Thomas Merton but the latest thriller. —By Alice Camille, from Questions Catholics Ask on VocationNetwork.org

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Sisters enjoying gelato in Rome.

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Youth Is Our Concern

The Piarist Fathers Learn more about religious brotherhood ReligiousBrotherhood.com: Religious Brotherhood: A Consecrated Expression of Gospel Life TodaysBrother.com: Religious Brothers Conference For more about the Society of Mary (Marianists): Go to Marianist.com, or see their descriptive listing in VISION’s print and digital editions.

Serving the Poor in Appalachia

We are a community of priests who profess a fourth vow to educate youth, especially the poor. Come and join us.

The Piarist Fathers

606-285-3950 DARIFF @ HOTMAIL . COM WWW . PIARISTSCHOOL . ORG

HIGHWAY 80, BOX 870 MARTIN, KY 41649

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days it is clearer to me than others, but the heart of my answer lies in the deepest recesses of my heart. I have a longing in my heart to be of service through loving relationships that share the healing power of Christ with all whom I encounter and to do that with the spirit of Mary, a gentle, humble, and caring spirit that is firm and committed, in her words at Cana in the Gospel of John, to “doing whatever he tells you.” Religious life is one freely chosen and one that leads to a regular examination of your motives and desires. It calls you to accountability and a deep commitment to be a loving presence to others. I stay because it is here in the service of God’s people that I have come to know what it truly means to love. =

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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.” -SAINT LOUIS GUANELLA FOUNDER

a life in community

persons with developmental disabilities

daily worship and common prayer

troubled youth and the elderly in need

service to the poor and disadvantaged

parishes through pastoral ministry

fidelity to the Pope & the Magisterium

migrants and refugees through outreach

Father Dennis M. Weber, SdC 1799 S. Sproul Rd. Springfield, PA 19064 484-475-2467 fr.dweber@chs-adphila.org

Father Satheesh Caniton, SdC St. Louis Center 16195 U.S. 12 Chelsea, MI 48118 734-475-8430 frsatheesh@stlouiscenter.org

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missionaries Courtesy of Tony Keya, Gospel Republic

Beginning again in Ireland

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Father Richard Hendrick, O.F.M. Cap. speaks at the end of a prayer service featuring the Dublin Gospel Choir.

Read this article in Spanish or French online.

With its long history of Catholicism, Ireland might seem an unusual place for the work of evangelization, but in a place that once exported thousands of priests and members of religious communities, “All has changed, changed utterly.”

Andrew O’Connell

ow were you able to tell the time on that clock?” whispered the high-school student, genuinely puzzled. “It had no hands or numbers.” The teenager was pointing

Andrew O’Connell is a columnist with The Irish Catholic newspaper and communications director for the Presentation Brothers in Dublin.

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to the empty monstrance sitting on the altar. Just a few moments earlier it had held the Blessed Sacrament during a prayer service for her class. “I remember that moment clearly,” says Father Richard Hendrick, an Irish Capuchin Franciscan friar. “The student thought the monstrance was an ornamental clock and confused the Host with the clock-face. At that moment it really struck me that Ireland is now missionary territory and that evangelization needs

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God will lead you more places than you ever dreamed possible. question, with innocence and sincerity, I gathered the whole student body into the chapel again and gave them a class on the basics of the Eucharist. That’s our mission now—starting again from scratch.”

You may not know exactly where you are going, but we guarantee: follow Christ, and you will go further than your wildest dreams.

Stay focused on vocation

We are a community of priests, brothers and Companions (lay associates) who bring the Good News to the whole world, and to our own backyard. We welcome seekers and will encourage you on your way.

MISSIONARIES OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD

Eastern U.S.: Fr. Vince Wirtner, C.PP.S. Western U.S.: Sharon Crall vocation@cpps-preciousblood.org voc.office@yahoo.com 937-228-6224 816-781-4344 www.cpps-preciousblood.org www.kcprovince.org Enter #108 at VocationMatch.com

to be our response. Here was an intelligent teenager from a Catholic family, who had received the sacraments, attended a Catholic school for 14 years, studied three periods of religious instruction each week. “One reaction to stories like this is to complain and blame parents, teachers, and parishes,” Father Richard said. “However, when I heard the student ask that

Courtesy of Tony Keya, Gospel Republic

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Father Richard preaches at Mass in the Honan Chapel at University College Cork.

Hendrick knows more than most about evangelization and youth in Ireland. He has spent all of his time as a Capuchin friar working in ministries aimed at the evangelization of Ireland’s rapidly changing and increasingly secular culture. “I joined the Capuchins in Dublin in 1991 straight from school. At the time it seemed a pretty normal life choice. The Catholic Church was still the conscience of the nation and was prominent in everyday life. Within a year of entering, everything changed. We experienced our first clerical scandal involving the resignation of a popular bishop who had fathered a child.” That episode would pale into relative insignificance in the years ahead as a tidal wave of child sexual abuse revelations engulfed the church and angered the Irish people. Media investigations and government reports over the past two decades have documented in detail the mishandling of abuse cases by church leaders in the country. So how has this turmoil affected Father Richard? “The management of such cases and the outreach to the survivors have been deeply disappointing,” he says, “but I’ve never lost hope. If prayer is at the heart of your life and if God is at the heart of your vocation, then the scandals

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ago I was involved in setting up the Dublin Gospel Choir, which brought together young adults interested in praising God in a creative way. “We hold a candle-lit gospel Mass on Sunday evenings here in the Rather than shy Capuchin parish in Start the music Dublin city centre. away from In acknowledgeThe church, which evangelization I tend ment of the dramatic can seat 400 people, to place it at the heart changes in Irish sois always packed to of my mission. ciety, many religious capacity. Some of orders are now placing those who are attendevangelization at the heart of their ing came initially for the music but ministries and outreach activities. But this serves as an introduction to the where do you begin in a country with transcendent and can be the beginan ancient Christian tradition like Ire- ning of a faith journey for them. The land? Surprisingly, perhaps, Hendrick challenge for religious is to assist this answers by talking about music. process of spiritual awakening and “I love music,” he says, his face growth. Music is a powerful vehicle lighting up, “and so do most young to a deeper engagement. If we’re people. Realizing this, a few years looking for contact points with the

Missionaries of the

remain in context and perspective.” “It hasn’t undermined my vocation,” he says. “It has deepened it. Rather than shy away from evangelization I tend to place it at the heart of my mission.”

“

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Holy Family Family

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We invite you to a life dedicated to the pastoral care of the family, fostering vocations, and advancing the gospel.

Focus on Vocations

Through the quietness of prayer and the encouragement of others, one’s call to married life, religious life, or single life can become clearer. Contact us today. MSF Vocation Office

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Courtesy of Tony Keya, Gospel Republic

Father Richard participates in a theological discussion group with the Student Christian Movement.

culture, music is one of them.” says, “but I’m a religious in Ireland Packed churches are a signifitoday—where the people are is where cant accomplishment in a country we have to be!” of dwindling Mass attendance. But Hendrick has moved outside of the church as well in order to engage with Face the real needs In addition to establishing the hugely the “unchurched.” Each September successful choir, Hendrick has also he and the choir attend the Elecbeen involved in piotric Picnic, an annual neering another new music festival, dubbed Where the outreach ministry to Ireland’s Glastonbury people are is where young professionals. Festival, which draws When his order, the Casome 30,000 people. we have to be! puchin Friars, decided “It might seem odd for to give priority to evangelization of a friar to be walking around a concert young people, he soon found himself venue with a gospel choir,” Hendrick

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working as a chaplain at the Law Society of Ireland, the professional body responsible for educating Ireland’s lawyers, in the heart of Dublin’s legal district. “That role taught me that evangelization works best when it’s done in a gentle and unthreatening way. I had no agenda other than to be of assistance to the young people I met,” he says. While working in the legal quarter, Hendrick wore his brown Franciscan habit every day. “The habit has been a powerful way to generate conversations. The habit is an invitation to interrogation. Students come

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and ask questions motivated by curiosity, not hostility. Some religious see that as intimidating, but I see it in a positive light. I never receive any negative reactions when I wear my habit. This being Ireland, though, there is always a bit of banter, but I don’t mind that. Banter allows a conversation to begin! “For evangelization to work we need to make sure that we’re addressing the needs that actually exist and not the needs we think, or would like, to exist,” says Hendrick. “For instance, the lives of young professionals are often marked by high stress levels. So, in response, we held several ‘Come to the Stillness’ seminars. “These gatherings served as a great introduction to Christian meditation. Some students were amazed that the church even had a contemplative tradition! The patristic and monastic traditions of the church contain a wealth of wisdom for our times.”

Tap into tradition The use of the word evangelization is a relatively new phenomenon in Irish Catholicism, and there remains some uncertainty about what it means in practical terms. Hendrick uses the gospel story of the woman at the well to explain how he views evangelical outreach. “When Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well,” he says, “he does not announce who he is. Instead, he engages her in conversation. He takes her from where she’s at, but he still manages to communicate the depth of what he is all about. So evangelization is not about standing at street corners and getting

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Missionaries among the poor and abandoned. . .

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

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in people’s faces. It’s more sophisticated than that. It’s often about creating spaces in which the distractions of the world can be quietened to allow the whisper of Christ’s voice to be heard.”

Now working as a chaplain in one of Ireland’s largest universities, University College Cork, Hendrick acknowledges that the work is challenging, sometimes frustrating, but immensely rewarding. “The desire to

measure success is understandable, but the work of evangelization does not lend itself to that,” he says. “Any young person considering a religious vocation today can be assured that there is plenty to do, but you won’t be able to subject it to a Key Performance Indicator analysis at the end of the quarter. That’s not to say that you won’t be busy every day! “Any person considering religious life shouldn’t be intimidated by the challenges, though,” Hendrick says. “A huge support for me is my

Ronan Holohan (left), Father Richard, and Sister Patricia O’Donovan of the chaplaincy team discuss a liturgy at University College Cork. Courtesy of Tony Keya, Gospel Republic

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“

For evangelization to work we need to make sure that we’re addressing the needs that actually exist.

religious community. I live with ten other friars and it’s very helpful to be able to draw on the wisdom and experience of the older men. I’m also a member of a province [of his order] that has been in this country since the 17th century. That’s an amazing tradition.” Hendrick also believes that traditional devotions can play a role in evangelization. He points to the success of a healing service he led in Wexford, which included a blessing with a relic of the Capuchin saint, Padre Pio, and drew some 2,500 people. “The challenge is to take out of our storeroom ‘things old and new.’ For instance the chapel here in UCC is standing room only for each of the five Masses on Ash Wednesday. People respond to visual symbols. Thankfully, we’ve no shortage of those.” From blessings with relics to gospel choirs at pop concerts, Hendrick believes that the future is bright for the church in the country once known as “the land of saints and scholars.” The bearded Capuchin smiles as he sums up his mission of evangelization with the words of Saint Francis of Assisi, the founder of his order: “Rebuild my church. Begin again.” =

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Love God in Complete Surrender —St.

Clare

Poor Clares are

Our call is to

a contemplative

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support of all people

Requirements: An attraction to the life 18 to 45 years of age emotional and physical health Monastery of St. Clare 1271 Langhorne-Newtown Road Langhorne PA 19047-1297 www.poorclarepa.org vocation@poorclarepa.org Enter #048 at VocationMatch.com

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being Catholic Sister Susan Francois, C.S.J.P. learned plenty about human dignity while in charge of making morning toast at Passage Day Centre for the Homeless in London.

Why Catholics care about people living in poverty Whether it’s getting the oatmeal right in a soup kitchen or advocating to end global poverty, Catholics should and do care about those on the margins of society.

by ould you like your Sister toast buttered or dry?” This Susan important question was key Rose to my early-morning ministry to men Francois, and women experiencing homelessness C.S.J.P. on the streets of London, England. I had

Sister Susan Rose Francois, C.S.J.P. is a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace. She is on the staff of the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center in Seattle.

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traveled 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to live in community with my British Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace during my novitiate ministry experience. Each morning I left the comforts of our house at the crack of dawn in order to have the tea ready and the toaster warmed up when our first clients walked in the door. As I struggled to get out of my warm and toasty bed while it was still dark outside, I would think of the men and women waking up on park benches or, if they were lucky, in

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an overnight shelter. I may have been preparing to profess a vow of poverty, but these people lived real economic poverty each day. The Passage Day Centre for the Homeless, a collaborative ministry of London’s Westminster Cathedral and the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent DePaul, provides far more than a hot breakfast to men and women “sleeping rough” on the city’s streets. Staff and volunteers help clients find housing, seek employment, gain literacy, and learn computer skills. Counselors and health-care workers provide mental and physical care. Chaplains offer spiritual care, daily Mass, and common prayer. Combined, these efforts treat the whole person with dignity and empower these men and women to rebuild their lives.

The preferential option Of course I did not need to travel 3,000 miles to find people experiencing poverty. Here in the United States the poverty rate is increasing at an alarming rate. In 2010, 46.2 million Americans were living below the poverty line—a $22,314 annual income for a family of four—the largest number since the U.S. government began tracking such data more than 50 years ago. Globally more than 3 billion people live on less than $2 a day. The Catholic faith calls us to live out a “preferential option for the poor and vulnerable.” What that means in the simplest of terms is that we, as a society, must put the needs of people living in poverty and vulnerable situations first. By option the church does not mean “optional” but rather that we need to opt, or choose,

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Victory Noll Sisters • Proclaim the Word of God • Stand in solidarity with the poor • Foster justice • Promote the development of leaders

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

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~ Founded in 1790 ~

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to act on behalf of people living in me to proclaim liberty to captives poverty. and recovery of sight to the blind, Caring for people to let the oppressed go who are poor has been free, and to proclaim a In the face part of what it means of rising poverty, those year acceptable to the to be a Christian from Lord’ ” (Luke 4:18-19). of us who count the very beginning. As anyone who has ourselves members Since its earliest days, read the rest of the of a church committed story knows, he went the church has drawn to loving action have on to do just that. Jesus inspiration from Old our work cut out for us. lived in solidarity with, Testament prophets and none other and ministered in lovthan Jesus himself in discerning the ing action to, people who were poor Christian response to poverty. In the and vulnerable in his own time. As Gospel of Luke, when Jesus began Christians following in his footsteps his public ministry, he was handed a today, we are called to do the same. scroll of the Prophet Isaiah and read these words aloud in the synagogue: Shoes on the ground “ ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, The recent economic crisis has only because he has anointed me to bring increased the number of people glad tidings to the poor. He has sent

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turning to parishes and nonprofits for help. In 2011 Catholic Charities USA, with its network of more than 3,000 local offices across the nation, reported an 80 percent increase in requests for assistance from the “working poor”—people who are employed yet still living in poverty. Requests are also on the rise from families (66 percent), people who are homeless (60 percent), and the middle class (59 percent). In the face of such rising poverty, those of us who count ourselves members of a church committed to loving action have our work cut out for us. Perhaps this is why Pope Benedict XVI reminds us that “justice is inseparable from charity, and intrinsic to it” (encyclical letter Caritas in Veritate, no. 6). We can think of charity and justice as the “two feet” of Christian discipleship. To follow Jesus we can’t only hop on one foot, either providing charity or acting for justice. We need to do both. Otherwise we as a society will fall over, while those who are poor and vulnerable will fall into, and through, the cracks. Charity is very important. As the pope writes in his encyclical Deus Caritas Est, the “church cannot neglect the service of charity any more than she can neglect the Sacraments and the Word” (no. 22). For one thing, charity is often quite literally a matter of life and death for those in need. If a mother in a drought-stricken region of the world does not receive emergency food assistance, her child might die of starvation. Providing charity is also an essential part of what it means to be a Christian. When we volunteer at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen, we remember the words of Jesus: “Whatever you did for one of these

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least brothers or sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

Doing more The call to loving action, however, does not stop at charity. Remember the two feet. We must also look closely at the root causes of poverty and seek to change them through actions for justice. For example, let’s say you are a regular volunteer at a shelter for pregnant women. In conversation with the women, you learn that many have been approved for government assistance that would

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help them get into permanent housing, but the waiting list is more than one year long. What can you do? You are already walking with the foot of charity by helping at the shelter. As you step with the other foot, the foot of justice, you might call your elected representatives and share the story of the women. You can advocate for legislative or policy changes to increase access to affordable housing. As the U.S. Catholic Bishops said in their pastoral letter Economic Justice For All, the preferential option for the poor calls us ‘to speak for the voiceless” (no.16). Something pow-

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FRANCISCAN SISTERS OF THE SACRED

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Live joyfully the Franciscan way! Come, walk with us on this journey . . . EMAIL US AT: fsshvocations@aol.com OR CALL US AT: 815-464-3873 OUR WEBSITE: www.fssh.net Enter #033 at VocationMatch.com

erful happens when people come together to speak on behalf of justice. For the past four years I have joined more than 350 faithful citizens— women religious, clergy, parishioners, and Catholic service and justice organizations—for Catholic Advocacy Day in Washington State. We

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journey to the state capitol to speak with one voice on behalf of people who are poor and vulnerable.

Global dimensions Blessed Pope John Paul II observed that in these times the preferential op-

tion for the poor “has to be expressed in worldwide dimensions, embracing the immense number of the hungry, the needy, the homeless, those without medical care and those without hope” (encyclical letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, no. 42). Our call to loving action extends beyond our own communities and even our own national borders. How can you respond to global poverty? Taking a step for charity, you can support the efforts of groups like Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community. CRS is on the ground in more than 100 countries serving more than 100 million people in need. Taking a step for justice you can join Catholics Confronting Global Poverty, an effort of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and CRS that seeks to mobilize 1 mil-

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lion Catholics to pray and advocate to end global poverty. You can sign up for electronic advocacy alerts on their website, crs.org/globalpoverty.

back into the kitchen and spoke to the chef. He thanked me for interrupting his cooking so that he could speak to the woman. “Sometimes they just need an opportunity to speak their truth,” he said. “After all, Human dignity she doesn’t have control over much Ultimately the call to preferential in her life. Listening to her opinion love for people who are poor and on the quality of our porridge is the vulnerable stems least I can do for her.” from the reality that He clearly recognized Each of us, no each of us, no matter that she was not merely matter our economic our economic status, a homeless woman but status, is created is created in the ima person with inherent in the image age and likeness of dignity. In choosing to and likeness of God. God. We have inherlisten to her so attenent human dignity tively, he exercised his and the right to life. That means we option for the poor and vulnerable. = also have a right to those things that are necessary to live a dignified life, For more on the riches of Catholic including food, shelter, education, social teaching go to “Catholic social employment, health care, and housteaching: A guide” on VocationNeting. work.org. That became very clear to me as a novice when I ministered at the Passage Day Centre. In addition to my toast duties, I sometimes helped out on the hot breakfast line. One day I served an elderly woman a large helping of porridge, or as we Americans like to call it, oatmeal. A few moments later she returned, her bowl barely touched. “I’d like to speak to the chef,” she declared in a very dignified voice. I went back into the kitchen and relayed the message. The gentleJoin us as a Vowed Sister, man who had been cooking that Lay Associate, or Volunteer in Mission. day’s breakfast put down his spatula, smoothed out his apron, and walked out to the front counter. They engaged in a lengthy and civilized discussion on the preferred qualities of porridge. Apparently in her opinion that day’s batch of porridge had been far too runny. A few hours later after we closed down our breakfast operation I went

The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis Our Vocation: to follow Christ, our heavenly Bridegroom, after the example of St. Francis, with the Blessed Virgin Mary as our mother and model.

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Our Mission: to serve the sick and the poor with the greatest care and love. For more info contact: Sr. Rose Therese, O.S.F. vocation.info@osfhealthcare.org - (309)655-2645

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S. Madonna Marie, 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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being Catholic Lea este articulo en español en linea.

Wooden confessionals set up at El Retiro Park in Madrid for World Youth Day, 2011.

Lisez cet article en français en ligne.

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Stock Photo

Read this article in Spanish or French online.

Accept the gift of forgiveness The path to peace and serenity all begins with the humble admission: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned . . .

Interview Father Britto M. Berchmans of

Caroline Hopkinson

ather Britto Berchmans, a former Salesian of Don Bosco and now a diocesan priest serving a vibrant parish in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, envisions the ideal Catholic parish to be a community of disciples who seek to live the example of Jesus. Contrition, confession, forgiveness, and

Father Britto M. Berchmans is pastor of St. Paul of the Cross church in Park Ridge, Illinois. Caroline Hopkinson is multimedia editor for the VISION Vocation Network.

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reconciliation, all part of the sacrament of Reconciliation, are key ingredients to living the Christian life. He explains to VISION why he hopes to see more Catholics embrace this life-giving encounter with Christ.

Why is the sacrament of Reconciliation important? As Saint Paul wrote in his Letter to the Romans, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We all need reconciliation and God’s forgiveness, but how do we obtain it? Catholics have been given a special gift:

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the privilege to be able to participate in the sacrament of Reconciliation. We are also given a guarantee that God will forgive us because Jesus gave the power to forgive sins to the church through the apostles. At the end of John’s gospel Jesus says to the disciples after the Resurrection: “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained” (John 20:22-23). Reconciliation, though, is not only about reciting a list of sins but also looking at the direction of your life, and so in Confession you meet with the priest face-to-face and have a conversation about your life. I think it can be very meaningful that way, but still many people prefer the privacy, the anonymity of being behind a screen, and that’s also an option. However you confess, when you leave the confessional, when the priest says, “Go in peace, change your life,” you can go with the guarantee that you are forgiven. You can have that serenity and peace that you have been forgiven.

Why do you think Reconciliation has fallen out of favor with many Catholics? For one thing, a lot of people have lost the sense of sin. If you lose that, then you don’t feel the need to go and ask for forgiveness. Unfortunately, however, until you realize that you sin, conversion doesn’t happen and you do not really grow in holiness. Catholics believe in the sacramental nature of salvation—that God works through material signs. But it’s

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Open your heart to God’s call I was 25 when I realized God was calling me, and my experience at Holy Cross Ministries in Salt Lake City enriched my sense of purpose. Making home visits, bringing the Eucharist to the elderly, assisting with after-school programs and health screenings, all helped me to broaden my gifts and talents and to reaffirm that Christ lives in my heart. —Sister Esperanza Jacobo Acevedo

Sisters of the Holy Cross

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ment of Reconciliation also calls for something external and something internal. A third thing has been the sex abuse scandals and the way they were handled. I think some people have lost faith in or at least feel justified in losing faith in the priesthood. Finally, we have become so this-worldly. Once upon a time there was a much deeper sense of heaven and hell and eternal destiny, but today people don’t think much about it. Once upon a time people used to think about death and the next world, but today we keep death out of sight. If you understand that, you

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hard to see the reason for sacraments like Reconciliation if you have also lost the sense of the sacramentality of life. In relationships you know that if you love somebody it’s not enough to have love in your heart; you have to express it to the person through tangible signs. That is how humans are, and God knows that, so God gives us sac-

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raments that on the surface look like external actions but also create an effect that is spiritual and internal. Just as when a man and a woman pronounce their vows before God and God’s people, it is not only two people expressing their love for each other but also an indissoluble bond that reflects the bond between Christ and the church as well. The sacra-

“

Until you realize that you sin, conversion doesn’t happen and you do not grow in holiness.

live in a different way. People are so caught up with the busyness of everyday life that they lose sight of that.

What are the benefits of Reconciliation? Probably the most important is a spiritual benefit. Saint Augustine was once asked: What is the secret of holiness? He said it is humility. Then he said the second and the third secrets of holiness are also humility. In order to grow in holiness you need humility, and there is no better way to become humble than go to Confession. Sin is predominantly an act of pride. So forgiveness comes from the opposite: being humble. There is no greater act of humility than

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Steeped in tradition... Prayerfully seeking God... Ministering today...

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to say, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.” And that brings about God’s grace. Just going to Confession and acknowledging that does something for you. No matter what the priest says or doesn’t say, that is a great act of humility. Another benefit of every sacrament is an encounter with Christ. A sacrament is meaningful because it echoes what Jesus did. Jesus healed people, and we have the sacrament of anointing. Jesus fed people, and we have the Eucharist. All the sacraments resonate with the actions of Jesus, and one of the greatest things that Jesus did was forgive sinners. That was a huge part of his ministry. When you go to Reconciliation you are encountering the same Christ who forgave Peter and so many others in the gospels and who welcomed

Matthew the tax collector and the other disciples even though they had let him down during his hour of suffering. Reconciliation is a personal encounter with Jesus who is full of mercy and compassion, and there is no greater way to experience God’s love than to experience God’s forgiveness. Forgiveness is not something people deserve. Forgiveness is a gift, and God keeps forgiving us over and over again. When you genuinely celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation, you genuinely touch the love of this God, and I think that is the most beautiful thing about it. = View VISION’s three-part series on Reconciliation featuring Fr. Britto Berchmans at www.youtube.com/VisionVocationGuide.

THE LITTLE SERVANT SISTERS OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Mother Dorota Baranowska, LSIC Sister Teresa Gradowska, LSIC VOCATION DIRECTOR 1000 CROPWELL ROAD CHERRY HILL, NJ 08003 (856) 424-1962 424-

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being Catholic According to the Second Vatican Council, “. . . Sacred tradition takes the word of God entrusted by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit to the apostles, and hands it on to their successors in its full purity.”

What do Catholics mean by “authority”? When it comes to the big issues in life, you want to find the source that speaks with integrity and can point you in the right direction. That’s what the teaching office of the church is for.

Alice Camille

I I

know some things, and so do you. No one lives very long in this world without picking up a certain amount of experience, knowledge, and wisdom on-the-go. But I’ll be the first to admit

Alice Camille is a religious educator and author of Invitation to Catholicism and other titles found at alicecamille.com.

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that not everything I think I know is really so. Not every idea I carry around in my head (and on which I bet my daily decisions) is dropped in there by cosmic revelation. Angels rarely talk to me—or if they do, I don’t always listen up. But what do we do when we’re not sure that the information we’re working with is accurate? In the information age the answer’s obvious: Troll for the facts. A Google search has provided a one-stop solution to simple problems I’ve recently

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WWW . SISTERSOFMOUNTCARMEL . ORG

of faith doesn’t belong to the clergy alone, guarded in a hallowed vault of truth, but is the treasure of the whole church. We maintain it by professing and practicing together what has “come to us from the apostles,” as                          we say at Mass.                         Pope John Paul II reminded the church that an earlier pope, Pius XII, Share our vision. Become a contemplative in action. CONTACT: SR. ALICE ABATE, O.CARM. VOCATIONS@SISTERSOFMOUNTCARMEL.ORG once declared that “lay believers are Enter #013 at VocationMatch.com in the front line of church life; for them the church is the animating had, such as determining how to passed forward. I know that there’s principle of human society. Therecook a still-frozen turkey; where to little in my life of faith that doesn’t fore, they in particular ought to have buy waterproof boots; figuring out come to me directly or indirectly as an ever-clearer consciousness of not how many movies Patrick Swayze a result of 20 centuries of magisterial only belonging to the church, but of made. But as we all learn, some collaboration. being the church” sources for “the facts” are more reliWhat does the (CCC no. 899). able than others. magisterium provide How do we express There’s little We learn, in other words, that for each generation the deposit of faith in my life of faith that gathering information isn’t enough. of the church? It’s all together, then, doesn’t come to me Not all resources for the truth are entrusted with the as church? Through directly or indirectly created equal. Some sources are deposit of faith: that thoughtful attenas a result of 20 authoritative. Others offer more or “trustworthy teachtion to and study of centuries of magisterial scripture. By being less what I’m already doing: caging ing” scripture refers collaboration. the odds and making my best guess. to that guarantees “a informed about That is why we have authority, and remarkable harthe long history of why we need it. mony” between the church’s leaderdoctrine and the documents that ship and faithful membership, in the make up church teaching, including words of the Catechism of the Cathothose being added regularly by local A big deposit lic Church (CCC no. 84). The deposit bishops and the pope today. By parIn matters of faith, Catholics have developed a structure of authority known as the magisterium. It’s the teaching power of the church, laid Books on church authority down in gospel terms when Jesus calls Saint Peter his rock and later Turning Points: Unlocking the Treasures of the Church by when the apostles are on hand in James Philipps (Twenty-Third Publications, 2006) the upper room to receive the guidScripture in the Tradition: Milestones in Catholic Theology by ing and illuminating Holy Spirit. Henri de Lubac (Crossroad Publishing, 2001) Through apostolic succession—the “laying on of hands” that confers By What Authority? An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition by Mark Shea (Our leadership on each new generation of Sunday Visitor, 2001) the church—connection to that original authority has been protected and

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Glossary of terms Authority. The quality by which persons or institutions make laws necessary for unity and the common good (CCC nos. 1897-1912).

Magisterium. The teaching office of the church entrusted to it by Jesus Christ since the time of the apostles (CCC nos. 85-87).

Scripture and tradition. Closely bound elements that together contain the deposit of faith (CCC nos. 80-82).

Sensus fidei. The “sense of faith” shared by the whole church, officially introduced in the Vatican II document Lumen Gentium (nos. 12 and 35). First proposed by John Henry Newman (CCC nos. 904-907).

ticipating in the sacramental life of the church and nourishing our own spiritual growth. Speaking of faith as a deposit might sound like it’s something locked up for safekeeping to prevent it from being stolen or damaged. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth! This is one treasure that needs to get out more. The deposit of faith comes in two main containers, marked scripture and tradition. Which came first, people often wonder, and which is more important? That is a little like saying: Which came first, your mother or your father? While one may be

James Baca, Denver Catholic Register

Depositum fidei. The “sacred deposit” of the faith contained in scripture and tradition. Term introduced at the 16th-century Council of Trent (CCC no. 84).

older by calendar years, neither was technically your parent until they both came together and you were conceived. In the same way, while sacred texts of many kinds were written by prophets and sages for centuries, the book we call the Bible didn’t exist until the community of the church compiled, sorted, and confirmed its contents. The tradition of the church is therefore responsible for scripture as we know it. Yet it’s unfair to say tradition came first because it took those ancient writings and so many more to produce the community who would know itself as the people of God. The texts existed, and the community existed, and when the two came together inspired by the Holy Spirit, both scripture and tradition took their first unified breath. The magisterium, or teaching church, provides and promotes the deposit of faith. And the deposit contains both scripture, which is no longer added to, and tradition, which is vital and expanding in each new age. =

Old Age is a gift

for which we are called to give thanks. Blessed John Paul II

n Living the joy of the Beatitudes, serving the needy elderly in 32 countries around the world, in the footsteps of Saint Jeanne Jugan.

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

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the art of discernment Right: The opening ceremony of Vatican II in St. Peter’s Basilica,1962.

Lea este articulo en español en linea. Lisez cet article en français en ligne.

In commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Vatican II, Pope Benedict XVI has named the year from Oct. 11, 2012 through the Feast of Christ the King on Nov. 24, 2013 as the “Year of Faith.” Now would be a good time to read or review the documents of Vatican II available in the Vatican’s online archives at vatican.va/ archive/hist_councils/ ii_vatican_council/

Read this article in Spanish or French online.

Pilgrims here on earth by

Patrice J.Tuohy

ll of us “without exception, both individually and in society, have a lifelong obligation to strive after heavenly values. . . . The traditional as well as the contemporary Christian approach to life is to strive with all zeal for evangelical perfection, and at the same time to contribute toward the material good of humanity.” Thus, Pope John XXIII set forth the demands of Christian discipleship in his address at the opening of the Second Vatican Council on Oct. 11, 1962. The universal call to holiness is a theme that threads its way through all of the major documents produced by this historic gathering. As one of those documents, Lumen Gentium, states: “All the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity. . . . In order that the faithful may reach this perfection, they must use their strength accordingly as they have received it, as a gift from Christ. . . . They must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbor. In this way, the holiness of the People of God will grow into an abundant harvest of good. . . .” What is known in vocation circles as the “process of discernment” is simply the time we “pilgrims here on earth” take to identify our strengths and gifts and determine how they may best be put to use in joyful service of the church and the world as we “journey onwards towards our heavenly homeland” (Opening Address, 1962).

Patrice J. Tuohy is executive editor of VISION Vocation Guide and co-publisher of TrueQuest Communications. 130

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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: www.alexianbrothers.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 171. 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 78. 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, and Florida, with missions in Japan, Peru, and South Africa. With two institutions of higher learning, two high schools, and a number of parishes along the East Coast, we friars are found in various types of ministries

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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 six parishes in California, Oregon and Hawaii. 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 78. Code #207. Augustinian Monks of the Primitive Observance (O.S.A.Prim.) Why are you afraid? Put your trust in the Lord and have courage! Our prayer for the men who feel called to our Augustinian monastic foundation is the blessing of our father St. Augustine, “May the Lord Jesus Christ give you a heart to love him, a will to choose him, an understanding to conceive him, a reason which will adhere to him, and may that God of love and mercy love you eternally.” 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: www. augustinianmonks.com. Code #020. Augustinians of the Assumption (A.A.) The Assumptionists are a worldwide Augustinian congregation, founded over 150 years ago in southern France by Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon (see Wikipedia article). We live in apostolic community, striving to be brothers of one mind and one heart, intent upon God, actively engaged in the world of today. Our founder wanted his brothers to address what he saw as the ills created by the French revolutions, challenges still with us today: ignorance of the faith, a society that had lost its direction, and people living with a weak moral compass. We are a world-wide Congregation of almost 900 religious located in 30 countries. We have acquired experience in and a reputation for education in all of its forms: university and high school education, journalism, ecumenism, pilgrimages, foreign missions and popular evangelization, to name a few. Contact: Fr. Richard E. Lamoureux, A.A., Emmanuel House, 512

Salisbury St., Worcester, MA 01609; 508-767-7530; e-mail: assumption.vocmin@gmail.com; website: www.assumption.us. Code #328.

B 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: www.barnabites.com 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.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 24. 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. Luca De Oliveira, O.S.B.M., Corso del Popolo, 128, I-00046 Grottaferrata (Rome) Italy; 0039.06.9459309; fax: 0039.06.9456734; e-mail: vocazione@abbaziagreca.it; website: http://www. abbaziagreca.it/en. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #308. 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

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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 80+ 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 Director: Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., Vocation Office, 7740 S. Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60620; (773) 776-3044; e-mail: vocations@midwestaugustinians.org; website: www. midwestaugustinians.org. Latino inquirers please contact: Fr. Jorge Cleto, O.S.A., Casa Agustin, 16401 N.W. 37th Ave., Miami Gardens, FL 33054; (305) 4040591; e-mail: vocaciones@losagustinos.org. See ad on page 78. Code #207.

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. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., St. Thomas Monastery, 800 Lancaster Ave., Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085; (610) 519-7548; e-mail: vocations@ augustinian.org; website: www.augustinian.org. Latino inquirers please contact: Fr. Jorge Cleto, O.S.A., Casa Agustin, 16401 N.W. 37th Ave., Miami Gardens, FL 33054; (305) 404-0591; e-mail: vocaciones@ losagustinos.org. See ad on page 78. Code #207.

priests

Energized by working with those on the margins Jesse Esqueda, OMI From the poor of Honduras to U.S. parolees, seminarian Jesse

What is your favorite way to pray?

Esqueda, scheduled for ordination in 2013, has found his calling

Daily silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. This time of silence helps me to be more aware of the presence of God and more present to the people I encounter.

in reaching out, and now he finds even more joy in doing it with a band of brothers, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

Do you have any nicknames? I’ve had many: Jess, Spikes, J., and Chuy.

What is your favorite part of ministry?

Brother Rusty Gardiner, O.M.I.

Spending time with teens and adults who have a deep desire to turn their lives around. Another of my best ministry experiences has been volunteering in an orphanage of children living with HIV. These children helped me to experience the love of God in new and profound ways.

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What is the best part of community life? We are a group of men who care deeply for each other and for the mission. It is a blessing to know that I am not alone because my brothers are with me in times of doubt and sorrow as well as in times of joy and profound happiness.

Tell us about being called to a religious vocation. I resisted the call for many years until I finally surrendered to it. Surrendering to the will of God has been the best thing I have ever done in my life.

What do you do for fun?

What gives you hope about religious life?

I have a great time with my brothers because we don’t always take ourselves too seriously. It’s a blast when we’re together. I also love having coffee with friends or watching a good movie.

I am very optimistic about the future. I see the deep longing that most people have for meaning and purpose; consequently, I believe that my role as a religious is very important.

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org 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. Fr. Vincent Bataille, O.S.B., 850 Butterfield Rd., Aurora, IL 60502; (630) 897-7215 ext. 350; e-mail: vbataille@marmion. org; website: www.marmion.org. Code #355.

Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Mount Saviour Monastery Mount Saviour is a small community of men seeking God together through an ever increasing openness to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 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) 7341688; e-mail: vocations@msaviour.org: website: 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

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Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Portsmouth Abbey Portsmouth Abbey is a Benedictine monastery on the shores of Narragansett Bay in Portsmouth, RI. Our community of monks seeks God through a balanced life of prayer and work. We are teachers and administrators at Portsmouth Abbey School, founded in 1926, and serve as chaplains to our students and faculty. Some of us are artists and scholars and authors. We offer retreats and have an active oblate program for lay people wishing to apply the Rule of St. Benedict’s wisdom in their own lives. We invite men (age18-50) interested in exploring a lifelong monastic vocation to visit our website for more information and to request a visit: www.portsmouthabbeymonastery. org. Or Contact: Abbot Caedmon Holmes, O.S.B., Vocations Director, Portsmouth Abbey, 285 Cory’s Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871. See ad on page 82. Code #417. 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 primarily by teaching in the Abbey school (with about 250 male students in grades six through twelve) and at college and university level institutions. Some also assist with hospitality, give spiritual direction and retreats, serve as chaplains and assist in parishes. 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: www.stanselms.org. Code #204. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Gregory’s Abbey St. Gregory’s Abbey, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, is a community of monks, both priests and brothers, who seek God by living according to the Rule of St. Benedict and vows of obedience, stability and ongoing conversion. Arriving in 1875, our founders established the Catholic Church in what is now Oklahoma. Our communal life remains centered on the sacred liturgy, private prayer, the common life, work and fraternal support. This inspires and sustains us in the various ways by which we actively serve the Church and assist others. Members of our community work and minister in education through St. Gregory’s University and the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art—both located on our monastery campus—and in pastoral ministry, retreats, and hospitality. Contact: Fr. Boniface Copelin, O.S.B., St. Gregory’s Abbey, 1900 W. MacArthur, Shawnee, OK

74804; (405) 878-5491; e-mail: vocations@stgregorys. edu; website: www.monksok.org. Code #349. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint John’s Abbey Saint John’s Abbey is a Catholic Benedictine monastery of 150 monks living, praying, and working together amid 2700 acres of woods, lakes and prairies in central Minnesota. Our Apostolates include: parish ministry, chaplaincies, guesthouse, spiritual retreats, woodworking, Saint John’s Preparatory School, Saint John’s University, the graduate School of Theology, the Liturgical Press, the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library and the Arboretum. A Monk of Saint John’s Abbey lives a life steeped in the rhythm of prayer and work. In addition to private prayer, lectio divina and daily Mass, we gather four times a day for the liturgy of the hours and Eucharist. Work varies depending upon the interests and talents of each monk, so as to meet the spiritual needs of each. Through a balance of work and prayer, living in community and following the Rule of Saint Benedict a monastic vocation is developed and fostered. See our website for details. Brother Aelred Senna, O.S.B., Vocation Director, Saint John’s Abbey, Box 2015, Collegeville, MN 56321; (320) 363-2548; e-mail: vocations@osb.org; website: www.abbeyvocations.com. Preferred age for monastic candidates: 23-43. Education: high-school diploma, minimum. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 40. Code #132. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Joseph Abbey St. Joseph Abbey is a Benedictine Monastery located in St. Benedict, LA, just north of New Orleans. Presently the community has 37 members. The community has as its ministry the administration of St. Joseph Seminary College, 3 parishes, a retreat center, a woodworks industry, and a bakery in which the abbey provides bread for various social service agencies in the area. St. Joseph Abbey lives the Rule of St. Benedict by its daily commitment to the twofold aspect of Benedictine life: ora et labora—prayer and work. Contact Fr. Jude Israel, O.S.B.; 75376 River Road, St. Benedict, LA 70457; (985) 892-1800 or e-mail: frjude@sjasc.edu. The abbey website is www.saintjosephabbey.com. Code #408. 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: www.osbmonks.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 2. Code #088. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Meinrad Archabbey Saint Meinrad Archabbey is a Roman Catholic monastery located in rural southern Indiana, where

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Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Mount Angel Abbey Mount Angel Abbey in Saint Benedict, Oregon, is a community of 51 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 28 to 96 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. Complimentary 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 our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 78. Code #365.

why don’t you 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: www.newarkabbey.org. See ad on page 105. Code #182.

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Men’s communities

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 come-and-see experience, “A Monastic Observance,” is scheduled each year, December 27-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: www. saintmeinrad.edu. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 102. Code #014. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Subiaco Abbey If you have never thought of being a monk before, then we’re the place for you! You will find that our abbey is no different from others in that our life is lived as a balance of prayer and work. Like others, we pray the Office and Mass everyday of our lives. Like others, work flows from our prayer as we undertake involvement in our CollegePrep Academy, our Farm, our Vineyards, our Carpentry and Tailor shops, our Retreat Center, and our Parishes. Three differences stand out: with 41 monks we are equally divided between brothers and priests who live our life as one monastic family; we are actually thriving as a monastic community with twelve men in formation from throughout the United States; and people tell us we are the most unpretentious monks they have ever met! We love being monks! Contact Fr. Elijah at 888224-0812 or vocations@subi.org or www. benedictinemonks.org. See ad on page 101.Code #256. 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 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, 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. Albert Heinrich, PO Box 159, Alfred, ME 04002; (207) 324-6612; e-mail: ficbros@yahoo.com; website: www.ficbrothers.org. See ad on page 79. Code #206. The Brothers of the Christian Schools (F.S.C. Fratres Scholarum Christianarum) also called the De La Salle Christian Brothers. Founded by St. John

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Baptist de La Salle, the Patron Saint of Teachers, in 17th-century France, the Christian Brothers have more than 5,000 members around the world who live out the Gospel together as elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers, university professors, counselors, missionaries, social workers, youth ministers, campus ministers, administrators, and retreat directors. They are the largest male order of laymen in the Church exclusively devoted to education. In the United States and English-speaking Canada, approximately 700 Brothers minister among 80 institutions. 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, especially the poor and marginalized. Vocation Director, Christian Brothers Conference, Hecker Center, Suite 300, 3025 4th Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20017; (202) 5290047; e-mail: rschieler@cbconf.org; website: www. brothersvocation.org. Code #100. Brothers of the Sacred Heart (S.C.) The Brothers of the Sacred Heart have been about the mission of making the compassionate love of Christ real and tangible in the lives of young people since our foundation in Lyon, France in 1821. Our Brothers can be found in 32 countries around the world ministering as teachers, administrators, coaches, campus ministers, and counselors in schools of all types. We also have Brothers serving youth in colleges, prisons, parishes, literacy centers, and in third-world missions around the globe. We have the Loving Heart of Jesus as our focal point, His compassion enriches our prayer life and mission. He calls us to live as brothers: encouraging and supporting each other in community. In the U.S. our Brothers live in communities in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Arizona, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and England. Visit our website at BrothersoftheSacredHeart.org or our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/ Brothers-of-the-Sacred-Heart/111153162312766. Br. Michael Migacz, SC, 219 MacArthur Ave., Sayreville, NJ 08872; (732) 718-8559; e-mail: mikemigacz@ hotmail.com. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork. org. See ad on page 28. Code #203.

C 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. Western America: P.O. Box 618, Solvang, CA 93464-0618, (805) 686-4127, e-mail: peterbanksofmcap@yahoo.com, website: www. beafriar.com. Mid-America: (303) 477-5436, e-mail: vocations@capuchins.org, website: www.capuchins. org. Pennsylvania: (888) 263-6227, e-mail: frtomcap@ yahoo.com, website: www.capuchin.com. Midwest U S A : (773) 475-6206, e-mail: vocation@ c a p u c h i n f r a n c i s c a n s . o rg , w e b s i t e : w w w. capuchinfranciscans.org. New York/New England:

(845) 642-1025, e-mail: brotimjonesofmcap@gmail. com, website: www.capuchin.org/vocations. New Jersey/Southeast USA: (201) 863-3871, e-mail: capuchinlife@aol.com, website: www. capuchinfriars.org. See ad on page 45. 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: ocarmvoc@ frontiernet.net; website: www.carmelitefriars.org. Code #307. Congregation of Christian Brothers (C.F.C.) What is a Religious person supposed to be doing? He is supposed to be saying to the world that the values it upholds are not necessarily the right ones. As Christian Brothers 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. 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; (815) 272-7742; e-mail: bromaccfc@yahoo.com; website: www.edmundricebrothers.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 83. Code #095. Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.) The Congregation of Holy Cross was founded in 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 six brothers and a priest to the United States as missionaries. A year later in 1842 these men began the school in northern Indiana that eventually became 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) as well as many high schools. Today Holy Cross religious serve in parishes, schools, and missions in 15 countries spanning the world. In 2010, the Congregation celebrated its first canonization, when Pope Benedict XVI canonized Brother André Bessette,

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org who was known in his lifetime as “The Miracle Man of Montreal” and oversaw the building of St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal. To learn more visit our websites: http://www.holycrossvocations.org [Priests]; http://www.holycrossbrothers.org [Brothers]; http://www.holycrosscongregation.org. See ad on page 75. Code #097. Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (S.S.S.) Blessed Sacrament religious are an apostolic community of priests, brothers, and deacons who, in partnership with the laity, share a common vision: to have Christ in the Eucharist take hold of their lives so completely that they will live this mystery fully and proclaim its power to transform lives and communities through their many diverse and engaging ministries. By prayer in the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, within a full liturgical life and an active apostolate, Blessed Sacrament religious and their associates commit themselves to building Christian communities whose center of life is the Eucharist. Visit our website: www.blessedsacrament.com/vocation or call (440) 442-6311. Code #096.

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 024523097; e-mail: geoffd@stigmatines.com; website: www. stigmatines.com. See ad on page 79. Code #046.

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D Discalced Carmelite Friars, (O.C.D.)—Washington Province We are a religious Order with eremitic roots on Mount Carmel from the late 12th century. In 16th century Spain, St. Teresa of Jesus, with St. John of the Cross, initiated the “Discalced Reform” within the Carmelite Order which became a new, separate Order. The friars desire a life of faithful prayer, seeking union with God through a “life of allegiance to Jesus Christ.” Our Constitutions mandate two hours of silent prayer every day. Our ministries include retreat work, spiritual direction, publications, Marian shrine and mission work in Kenya. As brothers in community we live as a family at the service of the Church—to bear a message of hope, to be a quiet but constant sign of God’s presence in the world. In the company of Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, we ponder the words of her Son and the mystery of His Love. Fr. Michael Berry, OCD, Vocation Director, 1525 Carmel Rd., Hubertus, WI 53033; (262) 2299010; e-mail: ocdvocation@gmail.com; website: www. ocdfriarsvocation.org. See ad on page 61. Code #434. 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; 800553-3321; e-mail: svdvocations@dwci.edu; website: www.svdvocations.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 115. Code #177.

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: vocations@domcentral.org; (312) 243-0011 ext. 725; website: www.domcentral. org. Eastern United States, St. Joseph Province; e-mail: vocations@dominicanfriars.org; (800) 5291205; website: www.dominicanfriars.org. Western United States, The Most Holy Name of Jesus Province; e-mail: vocations@opwest.org; (510) 5961821; website: www.opwest.org. Southern United States, St. Martin de Porres Province, e-mail: frjohn@ dominicanvocations.com; (901) 527-8282 ext. 12; website: www.opsouth.org. See ad on page 31. Code #228.

F 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, 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 Rosary of the seven joys of Mary. 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: www.franciscanbrothers.org. Facebook page: Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 76. Code #102. Franciscan Friars (O.F.M.)—Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province The Franciscan Friars of the Assumption BVM Province joyfully strive to witness to the presence of Christ in the world and proclaim the Gospel through our prayer, our life in fraternity and in a life of minority after the Rule and example of our founder, St. Francis of Assisi. As Franciscans, we serve the People of God in a variety of ministries, including parishes, education, preaching, chaplaincies, working among the poor, and in both foreign and domestic missions. We seek to serve wherever people need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ and to experience God in their lives. Visit us at

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Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (S.S.C.C.) The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary—United States Province, consists of priests, brothers and sisters and includes a secular branch of affiliated lay associates. Our Gospel lifestyle is centered in Eucharistic Celebration and Adoration, in living communally with a spirit of family, and in apostolic service to the poor and un-evangelized. We strive to contemplate, live and proclaim God’s love, as symbolized by the joined Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Like those hearts, we are united in suffering and in joy. Saint Damien of Molokai, a missionary known for his service to victims of Hansen’s Disease (leprosy), has inspired many to join our community. Founded in France in 1800, we are currently present in over 32 countries. Contact: Fr. Paul Zaccone, ss.cc. P.O. Box 111, Fairhaven, MA 02719; (508) 993-2442 ext. 205; e-mail: vocations@sscc.org; website: www.sscc.org. See ad on page 67. Code #230.

C ro s i e r F a t h e r s a n d B ro t h e r s (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. 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) 4075875; e-mail: vocations@crosier.org; website: www. crosier.org. Code #099.

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Men’s communities

www.franciscan-friars.org. Contact: Fr. Mike Surufka, OFM, SS. Francis and Clare Friary, 9230 W. Highland Park Avenue, Franklin, WI 53132; toll free (877) 6363742; e-mail: frmikeofm@gmail.com; website: www. franciscan-friars.org. See ad on page 82. Code #281. Franciscan Friars (O.F.M.)—Province of Saint Barbara The Franciscan friars of the Province of St. Barbara are members of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1209. Like St. Francis and his original followers, present-day friars are called to be brothers to all creation, persons of prayer engaged in active service. Our friars are involved in a broad range of ministries, including outreach to the poor, sacramental and parish ministry, retreat work, hospital and prison chaplaincy, education, social advocacy, foreign and Native American mission work, and more. Friars of the St. Barbara Province currently serve in the states of California, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, and Arizona, as well as in Mexico, Peru, Russia, and the Holy Land. In their ministry among different peoples, the friars try to bring with them the essence of their traditional greeting: “Peace and All Good!” For more information, contact Father Dan Lackie, OFM, at vocations@sbfranciscans.org or (408) 903-3422; website: sbfranciscans.org; Facebook: www. facebook.com/SBFranciscans.Vocations. Code #418. 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 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 76. 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 40 and would like more information on the Franciscan friars, please contact Fr. Brian Smail, OFM, Vocation Director, at 1-800677-7788 or vocation@hnp.org, or visit our website

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at www.BeAFranciscan.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #313. Franciscan Friars (O.F.M.)—Province of the Sacred Heart Our Province is a community of Franciscan Friars in the mid-west of the United States. We minister at home and in the foreign missions of Brazil, Africa, China, Alaska, and Vietnam. We seek to bring the Gospel into the everyday experience of all people through teaching, preaching, and a pastoral setting. We serve in the parishes of twenty dioceses and have a long and proud tradition of providing quality Catholic education at both high school and university levels. We minister to the poor and the outcast, the homeless, the ex-offender, the prostitute, the gay and lesbian community and people with HIV/AIDS. Our friars are artists, musicians, lawyers, doctors, and spiritual assistants for the Secular Franciscan Order. Following the desire of St. Francis of Assisi, our friars are encouraged to use their many skills and gifts to minister in the Church and to serve the human family in various ways. If you are between the ages of 21 and 40 and would like more information about us, please contact Fr. John Dombrowski, OFM, Vocation Director at 773-753-1925 or visit our website at www.befranciscan.com. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See our ad on page 85. 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 high schools and universities, parishes, hospitals (as nurses and chaplains), in inner city ministries, retreat ministry, publishing (books, catechetical aides, CDs and audio books at Franciscan Media), and domestic and foreign missions. In all of our ministries we preach the Good News of Jesus primarily by living as brothers to one another and to the world with a special 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.VocationNetwork.org. Code #233. Franciscan Friars, Conventual The Conventual Franciscans are the oldest 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. To talk to a Friar or for more information, please visit our website at 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. If you are 40 or younger and would like more information contact: Fr. David Kaczmarek, T.O.R., 2400 Dike Rd., Winter Park, FL 32792; 1-800-220-0867; e-mail: davidktor@yahoo. com; website: www.franciscanfriarstor.com. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.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. 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 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 77. 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. Inquire about our “Come and See” programs offered each year in March and October. Contact Vocation Office, 40 Franciscan Way, Graymoor, Garrison, NY 10524-0300;

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org (800) 338-2620, ext. 2126; fax: 845-424-2170; e-mail: vocdirector@atonementfriars.org; website: www. AtonementFriars.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 21. Code #003.

G Glenmary Home Missioners (G.H.M.) Glenmary Home Missioners is a Catholic society of priests and brothers, who, along with coworkers, serve the spiritual and material needs of communities throughout Appalachia and the South. Glenmary brings a Catholic presence to counties where less than three percent of the population is Catholic, a significant percent of residents are unchurched and the poverty rate is twice the national average. For more information contact Brother David Henley, PO Box 465618, Cincinnati, OH 45246; 800-935-0975; vocation@glenmary.org; or visit our webpage www.glenmary.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 22. 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: www.Jesuit.org. California: P.O. Box 519, Los Gatos, CA 95031-0519; (408) 884-1613; e-mail: formation@calprov.org; website: www.jesuitscalifornia.org. Chicago-Detroit: 2050 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614-4788; (773) 975-6363; e-mail: vocations@jesuits-chgdet.org; website: www.thinkjesuit.org. Missouri: 4511 West Pine Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63108-2191; (314) 361-7765; e-mail: vocation@jesuits-mis.org; website: www.jesuitsmissouri.org. New Orleans: 710 Baronne St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70113; (504) 571-1055; e-mail: vocations@norprov.org; website: www.norprov. org/vocations/. New England/New York/Maryland: 39 East 83rd Street, New York, NY 10028-0810; (212) 774-5500; e-mail: vocations@nysj.org; website: www.jesuitvocation.org. Oregon: P.O. Box 86010, Portland, OR 97286-0010; (503) 226-6977; website: 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: www.thinkjesuit.org. Upper Canada: 43 Queen’s Park Crescent East, Toronto, ON M5S 2C3; (416) 962-4500; e-mail: vocation@jesuits.ca; website: www.jesuits.ca. See ad on page 104. Code #104.

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L 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: www.lbgs.org. See ad on page 106. Code #344.

M 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: www.provinceofmeribah.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 81. Code #334. Marianists, Society of Mary (S.M.) An international Roman Catholic religious congregation of priests and brothers. Almost 500 members serve in the Province of the United States, which includes India, Ireland, Mexico, Nepal, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. In the U.S., the Marianists sponsor three universities—The University of Dayton in Ohio, St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, and Chaminade University in Honolulu— and numerous high schools, parishes, and retreat centers. Blessed William Joseph Chaminade founded the Society of Mary in France in 1817, and the Society has been present in the U.S. since 1849. Marianist brothers and priests live and minister together as equals, modeling their lives after Mary, the Mother of Jesus. As part of a wider Marianist Family that includes Marianist sisters and committed lay people, they are dedicated to forming persons and communities of faith through education, parish work, social service, the arts, and other ministries. Marianist National Vocation Office, 4425 W. Pine Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108-2301; (314) 533-1207; website: www.marianist.com/vocations. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #105. 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 3,500 Marist Brothers work with their 50,000 lay colleagues educating close to 500,000 young people, while putting into practice their motto: All to Jesus through Mary; All to Mary for Jesus. Present in 79 countries, the Marist Brothers work in all levels of education and a variety of education-related ministries. In the USA, there are 165 Brothers ministering in 14 high schools, two summer camps, and one retreat center for young people. The Brothers serve as teachers, administrators, campus ministers, guidance counselors and spiritual directors. Br. Michael Sheerin, F.M.S., Br. Dan O’Riordan, F.M.S., Marist Brothers Vocation Co-Directors, 1241 Kennedy Blvd., Bayonne, NJ 07002; (201) 823-1115; e-mail: vocations@maristbr.com; website: www.maristbr.com. See ad on page 83. 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 counseling and Come and See days and weekends. For more information please contact the Marist Vocation Office at (866) 2983715 (toll free) or e-mail us at maristvocations@ sbcglobal.net or visit us on line at www. societyofmaryusa.org. See ad on page 39. Code #107.

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Jerusalem Communities—Montreal The Jerusalem Community consists of brothers and sisters whose vocation is to provide an oasis of prayer, peace, and adoration in the heart of the busy urban center. We seek to live a unique blend of traditional yet modern contemplative monastic life, sharing our witness in fraternal community, prayer, hospitality, and work “in the heart of the city,” while striving to dwell always “in the heart of God.” Our liturgy draws from the Byzantine and Orthodox tradition, and is sung in four-part harmony by the brothers and sisters. We work part-time in the city to earn our income and to live in solidarity, thus allowing us to better “bring the city into our prayer, and our prayer to the city.” Contact us: info@jerusalem-montreal.org; www. jerusalemmontreal.org/bienvenueEng.html; http:// jerusalem.cef.fr/jerusalem/en/en_index.html. For videos of our liturgy see YouTube: FMJ Web. See ad on page 106. Code #445.

Josephite Priests and Brothers (S.S.J.) [The Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart] We are a society dedicated solely to serving the spiritual and temporal needs of the African-American community. The society serves in parishes, schools and special ministries in the dioceses and archdioceses in the United States and the District of Columbia. 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 AfricanAmerican 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 (TX), Los Angeles (CA), Mobile (AL), New Orleans(LA), Washington (DC) and in the Dioceses of Arlington (VA), Baton Rouge, Lafayette (LA), Biloxi, Jackson (MS), and Beaumont (TX). Brother Louis, S.S.J., serves as vocation minister. Josephite Vocation Office, 1200 Varnum Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017-2796; (202) 832-9100; e-mail: vocations@josephite.com; website: www.josephite.com. See ad on page 103. Code #192.

brothers

Becoming a truer version of himself

Brother John Eustice, C.S.V. Brother John Eustice, C.S.V. owes his vocation to a car breakdown. “I wasn’t even looking for this life,” says this 6-foot-5 former Eagle Scout. But, in a pinch during a cross country trip, with a car whisked away for repairs, he and a friend stayed with the Viatorian community in Chicago. While there, John discovered a lively community and a way to build a life out of what he spent a lot of his spare time doing: youth ministry.

What makes you happy? Knowing I am part of something bigger

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than myself, that I am completely supported by a community that trusts and believes in me, and knowing that we are pointing youth toward a deep relationship with Jesus.

Best part of living in community? Kicking back and having fun with one another. Rarely does a a day pass that we aren’t laughing.

Current ministry? Director of the Viatorian mission in Belize and director of youth ministry for St. Francis Xavier Parish in Corozal Town, Belize.

Most loved saints? Oscar Romero and Dorothy Day (they’re not official saints, but they are in my book).

Favorite way to pray?

Any advice to those considering religious life?

Hiking through nature and finding a secluded place with a heck of a view, then breathing in everything around me.

Be yourself. I have found that my life as a Viatorian helps me to become a truer version of me every day.

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org 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. Jim Madden, M.M., Vocation Ministries, P.O. Box 305, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0305; (914) 941-7590, ext. 2416; e-mail: v o c a t i o n @ m a r y k n o l l . o rg ; w e b s i t e : w w w. maryknollvocations.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 109. Code #199.

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; vocation@ cpps-preciousblood.org; 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; voc. office@yahoo.com; www.kcprov.org. See ad on page 110. Code #108. Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (M.S.C.) Making an impact in the world by Building a Civilization of Love. “The Spirit of our Society is one of love and kindness, humility and simplicity; it is, above all, one of love for justice and concern for all, especially the very poor.” (MSC Constitutions #13). MSC priests and brothers are active in 55 countries, most of which are poor and developing nations. Members of the MSC USA Province serve parishes, hospitals, schools, prisons, and conduct special retreat programs to help

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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 Columbia, 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) 9275600; e-mail: mssccusa@aol.com; website: www. missionofsacredhearts.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 66. Code #133. Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.) The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is an international community of over 4,000 priests and brothers founded by St. Eugene de Mazenod in 1816. The mission of the Oblates is to preach the Word of God to the poor in more than 60 countries around the world. We are currently serving in prisons, retreat centers, shrines, innercity parishes as well as other missions in the USA and around the world. Join us in our efforts to make a difference in the world! For more information, please visit us at www.omiusa.org or www.facebook. com/oblatesusa. See ad on page 42. Code #109. Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity (S.T.) We are a Religious Community of Priests and Brothers founded in the United States by Fr. Thomas Agustin Judge, CM in 1929. Since our founding we have given witness to the presence of Our Lord throughout the United States and, in response to the needs of the Church, have also established our missionary presence in Mexico, Costa Rica and Colombia. We value community life and we dedicate ourselves to close collaboration in mission with lay women and men. The dream of our founder is our goal; to “awaken the giant” by insisting that “every Catholic is called to be an Apostle”. We want to listen to your story of faith and discern how God is calling you to be His Apostle. Please contact: Mark McGuthrie, MCA; (800) 298-5602; e-mail: Vocations@ TrinityMissions.org; website: www.Mssst.org, or www.MissionsaryServantsVocations.org; Vocation Office, 3325 13th Street, Riverside, CA 92501-3804, or General Offices, 9001 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20903. We speak Spanish, Hablamos español. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org . See ad on page 113. Code #284.

Contact us. Fr. John Joseph Novielli, O.Praem. Vocation Director, Daylesford Abbey 220 S. Valley Road, Paoli, PA 19301 610-647-2530, ext. 127 jnovielli@daylesford.org

www.daylesford.org

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N Norbertine Fathers and Brothers (O. Praem.) [Canons Regular of Premontre]—Daylesford Abbey Daylesford Abbey is a small Norbertine Community of thirty members. We follow the Rule of St. Augustine in trying to be “One mind and one heart” on the way to God. Our Mission is to enrich the Church by our Norbertine communio (community) nourished by contemplation on God’s word, made visible in worship and service within the local church. Our Abbey is a Liturgical and Spiritual Center nestled in a wooded area in Paoli, PA. Our Community gathers with the laity four times a day to celebrate the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours. Our service include Sacramental Ministry in local parishes, Spiritual Direction, Chaplaincies, Outreach to the homeless and migrant workers. We invite men ages 20-50 to contact us if you wish to discern a Norbertine vocation. 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: www.daylesford.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 139. Code #289. 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

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Men’s communities

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, 104 Cas Hills Dr., San Antonio, TX 78213; (888) 4 THY WILL; (888) 484-9945; e-mail: Vocations@MSF-America.org; website: www.MSFAmerica.org. See ad on page 111. Code #129.

people find healing, love, and joy. The MSC USA Province also supports activities and missions in Colombia (South America). May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be Loved Everywhere, now and forever. Contact: Fr. Andrew Torma, MSC, Vocation Director, 4821 S. Hermitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60609; (630) 862-0979; e-mail: vocation@misacor-usa.org; website: www. misacor-usa.org. Code #130.

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Men’s communities

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: norbertines-ms@hotmail.com; website: www. stmosestheblackpriory.org. See ad on page 17. 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. We became an independent priory in December 2011 as our final step to achieving our goal of being the first Norbertine abbey in the southwest. 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 discerning 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: www.norbertinecommunity.org. See ad on page 17. Code #110. Norbertine Fathers and Brothers (O. Praem.) [Canons Regular of Premontre]—St. Norbert Abbey The Norbertines of St. Norbert Abbey (The Premonstratensian Fathers and Brothers) 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 55 men living primarily at St. Norbert Abbey and St. Joseph Priory in De Pere, WI. We also have a priory in Raymond, MS, near Jackson. As Canons Regular, our first ministry is living the common life devoted to the sung choral office, (Morning and Evening Prayer), daily Eucharist, and common table. From our community life flow various ministries including hospitality and retreats, education and administration at St. Norbert College and Notre Dame de la Baie Academy, parish ministry, and numerous 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) 3374328; e-mail: vocations@norbertines.org; website: www. norbertines.org. See ad on page 17. Code #110.

O 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

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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) 869-2429; e-mail: vocations@ omvusa.org; website: www.omvusa.org. Code #111. Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy (O.deM.) [Mercedarian Friars] One of the ancient Orders of the Catholic Church, the Mercedarian Friars were founded in 1218. The Friars honor Mary, as the foundress and mother of the work of mercy begun by St Peter Nolasco—the redemption of Christians in danger of losing their faith. This work of mercy is conducted in parishes, where faith is attacked; in schools, where empty values threaten our youths; in institutions of health care or detention, where despair is present; and in foreign missions, where social conditions threaten one’s faith. Men, between the ages of 18-40, who desire to live a life centered in Mary and her Son, to pray the rosary daily in common, live in community with one’s “brothers” based upon the Rule of St. Augustine, have a deep love for the Magisterium and in preserving the Faith by catechesis, are invited to contact the Director of Vocations, Fr. Joseph Eddy, 6398 Drexel Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19151; (215) 879-0594; e-mail: vocations@orderofmercy.org; website: www. orderofmercy.org. Code #216. 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: www.heartsofjesusandmary.org. Code #271.

P Pallottines (S.A.C.)—Immaculate Conception Province Founded by St. Vincent Pallotti in 1835, the Society of the Catholic Apostolate works with the Church to revive faith and rekindle charity, empowering lay and religious alike to answer the call to be apostles of Christ for the New Evangelization. We are more than 2,400 priests and brothers working in many apostolates: parish ministry, education, prison ministry, retreats, youth ministry, lay 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 feel a call within yourself to find out more, we invite you to contact our vocation office: Immaculate Conception Province (Eastern United States): 1-800-APOSTLE; website: www.sacapostles.org; e-mail: Vocation@sacapostles.org; or mail: Vocation Director, Pallottine Vocation Office, P.O. Box 5399, West Hyattsville, MD 20782. See ad on page 65. Code #239. Pallottines (S.A.C.)—Mother of God Province Founded by St. Vincent Pallotti in 1835, serves as an active apostolic community within the mission of the Church of the United States. We are priests and brothers engaged in many apostolates, which include parish ministry, education, retreat work, and hospitals inspired by the charism of St. Vincent Pallotti, believing that all persons can live as apostles of Christ. 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....” Each of us has a clear purpose in life, come live it faithfully with us. For more information please visit our website: www.pallottines.org and contact Fr. Leon Martin, SAC; 5424 W Bluemound Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53208; (414) 259-0688 ext. 150; e-mail: vocationspall@gmail.com. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 77. Code #437. 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 serving in other countries. Interested in male candidates, 18-40 years old. Western Province: Fr. Christopher Gibson, C.P.; (773) 266-1942; e-mail: vocationdirector@ passionist.org; website: www.passionist.org. Eastern Province: Fr. Robin Ryan, C.P.; (914) 633-3130; e-mail: rryan@cpprov.org; website: www.thepassionists.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #113. 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 Paulist Evangelization Ministries 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@

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org paulist.org; website: www.paulist.org/vocation. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 57. Code #114. Piarists (Sch.P.) Youth is Our Concern! 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 Kentucky, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, 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) 564-8893; e-mail: dariff@hotmail.com; website: www.piarist.info. See ad on page 107. Code #195.

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 missions 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: www.scjvocation.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 85. Code #116.

R The Redemptorists (C.Ss.R.) [Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer] The Redemptorists are a community of apostolic men—followers of Jesus

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S The Salesians of Don Bosco (S.D.B.) Missionaries among young people. 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 be a missionary among young people at home and abroad, and journey with them toward a deeper relationship with Christ. Salesians serve in various capacities of evangelization and education: youth and campus ministers, teachers, coaches, technical instructors, guidance counselors, mentors, and friends to the young.... We live in community, pray and work together in a common mission. Currently, over 15,500 of us are serving young people in 132 countries. In the United States and Canada, the Salesians operate youth oriented parishes, high schools, boys and girls clubs, and retreat houses. Contact information: East of the Mississippi and Canada: Fr. Dominic Tran, S.D.B., Salesian Vocation Office, 315 Self Place, South Orange, NJ 07079; (973) 761-0201; e-mail: info@ salesiansofdonbosco.org; Facebook: salesian.vocations; website: www.salesiansofdonbosco.org; West of the Mississippi: Fr. Jose F. Lucero, S.D.B., Vocation Office, 13856 Bellflower Blvd., Bellflower, CA 90706; (626) 674-2675; e-mail: info@salesianvocation.org; website: www.salesianvocation.org. See ad on page 13. Code #117. Salvatorians (S.D.S.) [Society of the Divine Savior] The Salvatorians were founded to use “all ways and means which the Love of Christ inspires” to bring the Gospel to the world. We are multicultural and fully embrace the Spirit of Vatican II with compassion for all. 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 and prison chaplaincies, youth ministry, counseling, campus ministry, communications and music, 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) 2581735 ext. 104; 1735 N. Hi-Mount Blvd., Milwaukee, WI

53208-1720; website: www.salvatorians.com. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org and check out our FACEBOOK site at www.facebook.com/salvatorians. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 7. 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 Saint Louis Guanella in 1908, we are now represented in 19 countries. Our Province (United States, Philippines, Vietnam 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, through the intercession of St. Joseph, 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; (484) 474-2467; e-mail: fr.dweber@chs-adphila.org; website: www.servantsofcharity.org. See ad on page 107. Code #118. 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. We also have a student house in Ho Chi Minh City and hope to open a house of prayer near Da Lat, VN soon. God willing we will also open a house in West Africa within the next few years. If you are interested in finding out more about the Servants of the Paraclete, please contact: Very Rev. David T. Fitzgerald, s.P., PO Box 10, Jemez Springs, NM 87025; (575) 829-4138; e-mail: servantgeneral@aol.com; website: www.theservants. org. You will receive a warm welcome. Code #300. 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: www.smafathers. org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 38. Code #136.

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PIME Missionaries [The Pontifical Institute f o r F o re i g n M i s s i o n s ] 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: www.pimeusa.org. See ad on page 127. Code #134.

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: www. redemptoristvocations.com or contact the Vocation office: Fr. Richard S. Bennett, C. Ss.R.; e-mail: vocations@redemptorists.net; telephone: (617) 8179425. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 11. Code #135.

Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org Society of Mary (S.M.) (See Marist Fathers and Brothers.)

Men’s communities

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: www.vocationoffice.org. Code #149. 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-mail: somascans@ yahoo.com. For more information please visit: www. somascans.org. See ad on page 47. Code #120. 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, Vocation Director, 6230 Brush Run Rd., Bethel Park, PA 15102-2214; (412) 831-0302; e-mail: vocations@ duq.edu; website: www.spiritans.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 29. Code #164.

T Trappist Cistercian Monks (O.C.S.O.) Ava, MO— Assumption Abbey Our monastery is located in the Ozark hills and hollows of southwest Missouri. With, 3,400 acres of forest, this is the ideal environment for prayer and solitude. We support ourselves by baking fruit cakes, which is quiet, prayerful work. Our call is to leave all and follow Christ on a desert journey in a community of monks and family brothers. Our guide is the Benedictine monastic way in the contemplative

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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 contemplative and intercessory prayer and sacrifice. We have room for family brothers, and are flexible regarding age and education. Br. Francis Flaherty, O.C.S.O., Assumption Abbey, RR5, Box 1056, Ava, MO 65608; (417) 6835110; e-mail: avavocations@hughes.net; website: www.assumptionabbey.org. See ad on page 105. Code #121. Trappist Cistercian Monks (O.C.S.O.) Berryville, VA—Our Lady of the Holy Cross Our community is oriented by St. Benedict’s Rule for Monasteries, living a life of prayer, supported by the work of our hands, serving the community and our natural environment. We seek to know the Lord through hospitality, sacred reading and study, the celebration of the liturgy, and our communal life; we seek to spread the Gospel through our contemplative life in the Diocese of Arlington. We cultivate priestly ministry within our Cistercian tradition, in service to our monks and nuns; this formation begins after solemn profession. Catholic men over the age of 24 are invited to join us. A high school education is necessary and further education is welcomed but not required. Candidates may apply through our website: www. virginiatrappists.org on the vocation page under the tab “Join Us.” An inquiry form is available there that will be directly emailed to the Vocations Director. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #415.

visitors of all faiths. Inquire about our volunteer program. Good physical and emotional health required, and a desire to seek God alone. Contact: Fr. Charles Cummings, 1250 S 9500 E, Huntsville, UT 84317; phone: (801) 745-3784; e-mail: hta@xmission. com; website: www.holytrinityabbey.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #415. Trappist Cistercian Monks (O.C.S.O.) Lafayette, OR—Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Abbey We, the monastic community of Our Lady of Guadalupe, are located in Oregon’s lush Willamette Valley. Presently, our community is comprised of 28 monks whose life experience expands over three generations. We are contemplative monks who, following the Rule of St. Benedict, live by the work of our own hands. Because of our contemplative nature, all four of our industries, bookbindery, bakery, wine warehouse, and forestry, lie within the enclosure. It is important to us that we should be self-supporting, but our work does not dominate our life, rather it is our prayer that takes precedence. Our prayer consists of chanting the Divine Office, daily Eucharist, private prayer, and lectio divina. For men interested in vocational discernment, we do offer Monastic Life Retreats every other month. Br. Chris Balent, P.O. Box 97, Lafayette, OR 97127; e-mail: Chris@TrappistAbbey.org; website: www.trappistabbey. org/. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #415.

Trappist Cistercian Monks (O.C.S.O.) Conyers, GA—Holy Spirit Monastery In the quiet of the Georgia Piedmont 40 of us share life in a contemplative community. Ages range from 25 to 100. We have joined our neighbors in “going green” by fostering stream restoration, an organic vegetable garden and a green cemetery, with more to come. We value kindness and compassion, the Eucharist, personal and communal prayer, friendship and forgiveness. Commitment, fidelity, and accountability are important to us, as are manual labor, hospitality, solitude and inner silence: a dynamic energy vibrating at the deepest level of soul. We honor the good in our society. But in our own way we challenge its illusions and unrealities, especially the cultural assumption that our identity and value depend on what we do, and on what others think of us. We work with hardships and challenges, knowing that these contribute to spiritual and emotional maturation. Experience reminds us of how good they are at leading or even pushing us beyond resistance to giving ourselves away, at ever deepening levels. Contact: Br. Michael, 2625 Hwy 212 SW, Conyers, GA 30096; (678) 964-2018; e-mail: michael@trappist.net; www.trappist.net/vocation. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #415.

Trappist Cistercian Monks (O.C.S.O.) Moncks Corner, SC—Mepkin Abbey We, the monks of Mepkin Abbey, are responding to God’s call to live in solitude and silence in and for the Church according to an ancient form of radical Christian discipleship focused on seeking and finding God in community where we “are of one heart and soul and everything is held in common” (Acts 4: 32-33). We live the Rule of Saint Benedict embodied in the Cistercian tradition, praising God in our prayer, our meditative reading of Scripture, our work, and our hospitality, obeying the call of the Holy Spirit to ceaseless prayer and sharing the sufferings of the present time until the Lord returns (Rm 8:18-23). All Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappists) bear witness to this contemplative monastic tradition in a particular place and time by living our vows of stability, obedience and “conversatio morum” (conversion of life) in the rhythm of praying the liturgy of the hours and our manual labor—striving always for deeper union with God. If you believe God may be calling you to live this way of life with us at Mepkin, kindly contact our vocation director. Fr. Kevin, O.C.S.O., 1098 Mepkin Abbey Rd., Moncks Corner, SC 29461; (843) 7618509; e-mail: frkevin@mepkinabbey.org: website: www.mepkinabbey.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #415.

Trappist Cistercian Monks (O.C.S.O.) Huntsville, UT—Holy Trinity Abbey For 64 years we have upheld a strong Catholic witness in Utah. Through our life of personal prayer and prayer in community, we deepen our relationship with God and with one another. Seven times a day, our community of 15 senior monks chants the hours of the Divine Office. Unpretentious Quonset buildings reflect the simplicity of our lifestyle. Our monastery is located on 720 acres of fertile farmland in a peaceful mountain valley. We maintain a retreat house and a bookstore that attracts

Trappist Cistercian Monks (O.C.S.O.) Peosta, IA— Abbey of New Melleray Founded in 1849 by Mount Melleray Abbey in Ireland, our community is located in the heartland of Northeastern Iowa, twelve miles from Dubuque. As a contemplative monastery wholly ordered to a life of prayer according to the Rule of St. Benedict, we are members of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance founded in 1098 at Citeaux in France. We support our way of life by carpentry— Trappist Caskets—supplemented by income from our 1,900 acre farm, our 1,300 acre forest, and a

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org Guest House for 22 retreatants or visitors. The entire Liturgy of the Hours and the Eucharist are celebrated in choir every day. For additional information contact Fr. Stephen Verbest, Vocation Director, 6632 Melleray Circle, Peosta, IA 52068; e-mail: frsteve@ newmelleray.org or call (563) 588-2319 ext. 138; website: www.newmelleray.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #415.

Trappist Cistercian Monks (O.C.S.O.) Snowmass, CO—St. Benedict’s Monastery St. Benedict’s Monastery, located in a spectacular valley high in the Colorado Rockies near the small town of Snowmass, belongs to the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (OCSO/Trappist). Prayer is our apostolate, and a contemplative approach to both communal and personal prayer and to our daily tasks characterizes our life. Our daily life is grounded in a schedule of liturgy when, five times a day, we come together for prayer, including daily Mass. We support ourselves by work which includes our ranch and a small cookie business. In accord with our Order’s constitution, we live a life that is ordinary, obscure, and laborious. In other words, a hidden life of prayer in and through the Church for all humankind. We accept applications from men between 22 and 50. For more information visit our website at www.snowmass. org. Contact Fr. Micah, our vocation director at mikamonk@rof.net or (970) 920-5990, ext. 29. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #415. Trappist Cistercian Monks (O.C.S.O.) Spencer, MA—St. Joseph’s Abbey We are a monastic Order wholly directed to contemplation. We dedicate our lives within the enclosure of the monastery to the praise and worship of God in a hidden way of life. Our day is a balance of liturgical prayer; private, personal prayer; lectio divina (prayerful reading of Scripture) and work. By fidelity to our contemplative monastic way of life with its own hidden mode of apostolic fruitfulness, in silence and solitude, in prayer and penitence, we seek to perform a service for God’s people and the whole human race. The

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Trappist Cistercian Monks (O.C.S.O.) Trappist, KY—Abbey of Gethsemani Our monastery is a school of the Lord’s service, a training ground for brotherly love. The monk expresses this love by his desire to share life together at the heart of the Church and to grow into Christ through prayer, work, and sacred reading every day. Located in the knob country of central Kentucky, we Trappists have lived, prayed, and worked in this house of the Lord for over 160 years. Our mission is the praise of God’s goodness and the proclamation of the Kingdom’s nearness. The vows of obedience, stability, and conversion of manners provide our structure, support, and encouragement to persevere in the journey, in the work, in the search. Men between the ages of 22 and 55 may apply. For more information contact Bro. Luke, Abbey of Gethsemani, 3642 Monks Rd, Trappist KY 40051; (502) 549-4103; e-mail: abbey@monks. org; website: www.monks.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #415. Trappist Cistercian Monks (O.C.S.O.) Vina, CA— Abbey of New Clairvaux Our Order of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance (Trappist) follows the Rule of Saint Benedict. It is wholly directed to contemplation through Liturgy, Manual Labor and Lectio Divina. As monks, we strive to seek God, according to the nine-hundred year old Cistercian Monastic tradition. The rhythm of our life helps us to be aware of God throughout the day. By means of obedience, simplicity, solitude and silence, we grow in purity of heart in the School of Charity. Through manual labor we share in God’s creativity, exercising love for each brother, are in solidarity with all people, and cultivate good stewardship of the land. Men between 22 and 40 may apply. For information contact Br. Placid, Vocation Director; Abbey of New Clairvaux, 26240 7th Street, Vina, CA 96092; (530) 839-2161; e-mail: godseeking@ newclairvaux.org; website: www.newclairvaux.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #415. 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: provincial@ trinitarians.org; website: www.trinitarians.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #122.

V 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: Bart Hisgen, Vocation Ministry, 1212 East Euclid Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60004; e-mail: vocations@viatorians.com; website: www.viatorians.com. See ad on page 48. Code #094.

X 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: 4409 Frederick Ave., Baltimore, MD 21229; e-mail: vocations@xaverianbrothers.org; website: www.xaverianbrothers.org. See ad on page 84. Code #198. 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 Saint 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 nonChristians 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. Rocco Puopolo, sx, 101 Summer Street, Holliston, MA 01746; (508) 4292144; e-mail: frrocco@xaviermissionaries.org; website: w w w. x a v i e r m i s s i o n a r i e s . o rg ; b l o g : w w w. xaverianmissionaries.blogspot.com/. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 37. Code #137.

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Trappist Cistercian Monks (O.C.S.O.) Piffard, NY—Abbey of Genesee We are a Roman Catholic community of contemplative monks belonging to the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, commonly known as Trappists. Our community is dedicated to the worship of God in a hidden life within the monastery following the Rule of St. Benedict, leading a life of solitude and silence, prayer and penance, in a joyful spirit of faith. It supports itself by the common work of baking Monks’ Bread. In addition, the brothers help out with cooking, laundry, cleaning, care of the grounds and woods, hospitality, formation of new members, and care of the sick and elderly of the community. Guests are received for quiet, private retreats at the retreat house. The monastic day begins with vigils at 2:25 a.m. and ends with compline at 6:40 p.m. Throughout the day there is a good balance between prayer, reading, and work, all lived in fraternal love and support. Contact: Br. M. Anthony Weber, Vocation Director, Abbey of the Genesee, Piffard, NY 14533; (585) 243-0660 ext. 19; e-mail: AnthonyWeber@GeneseeAbbey.org; website: www.GeneseeAbbey.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #415.

Lord Jesus is our Strength and the Heart of our desire. We are located in central Massachusetts at 167 North Spencer Road, Spencer, MA 01562. Please visit us at www.spencerabbey.org. Vocational inquiries made at: vocation@spencerabbey.org. Typically our candidates are men between the ages of 25 and 45. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #415.

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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 290 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 us at 1-877-236-7377 ext. 1411 (ADORERS) or See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 98. Code #001.

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. Website: www.abfconline.org/sisters. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. Code #004.

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; (203) 988-4742; e-mail: vocations@ascjus.org; Congregation website: www.ascjus.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 89. 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: www. lampsalight.org. Code #161.

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Benedictine Camaldolese Sisters (O.S.B., C a m . ) , W i n d s o r, N Y — Tr a n s f i g u r a t i o n Monastery Contemplative Benedictine Sisters We are a small, contemplative monastery drawing on the Camaldolese charism, which provides for seeking God in both community and solitude, while allowing more outreach and a less restricted enclosure than is usually possible for contemplative nuns. Our small number (currently 4) permits flexibility, creativity, abundant use of individual gifts and the opportunity to help build a monastic foundation. For the last two summers, thanks to the gardening skills of our novice, we enjoyed home-grown organic vegetables. Our monastery honors intellectual development and culture, as well as tradition, along with an openness to the contemporary world. We pray the Divine Office four times a day in English Gregorian chant, with some Latin antiphons and responsories. A retired diocesan priest serves as our on-site chaplain and says daily Mass at the monastery. We accept mature vocations. For more information, or to arrange for a discernment retreat, contact: Sr. Mary Donald Corcoran, Prioress, 701 New York Rte. 79, Windsor, (607) 655-2366; e-mail: bendon@tds.net; website: www.transfigurationmonastery.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. Code #004. 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 a women’s center in Atchison and Kansas City. Our Sisters also work in the area of counseling, health care, parish ministry, and education at all levels. We invite women, ages 21-50, who wish to visit or inquire for more information to contact: Sr. Barbara Smith, O.S.B., 801 South 8th Street, Atchison, KS 66002-2778; (913) 360-6219; e-mail: vocation@mountosb.org; website: www.mountosb.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. Code #004.

Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Beech Grove, IN—Our Lady of Grace Monastery As Benedictine sisters we seek God in community centered on prayer, work and hospitality. Through our monastic promises of obedience, stability and fidelity to the monastic way of life we commit ourselves to the lifelong process of becoming who God calls us to be. Our life of prayer in community flows out into service in the Church and the world. We minister to others in the areas of education, healthcare, pastoral ministry, retreat ministry and spiritual direction. Through this life of prayer and service we come to know our deepest joy. We invite single, Catholic women ages 20–45, who are discerning their vocation, to come and visit us to learn more about the Benedictine way of life. Contact: Sr. Jennifer Horner, 1402 Southern Avenue, Beech Grove, Indiana 46107; (317) 787-3287 ext. 3032; e-mail: vocations@ benedictine.com; website: www.benedictine.com. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. Code #362. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Bismarck, ND— Annunciation Monastery We are a community of 56 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. Gerard Wald, O.S.B., 7520 University Drive, Bismarck, ND 58504-9653; (701) 255-1520; e-mail: vocations@annunciationmonastery.org; website: www.annunciationmonastery.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Bristow, VA—St. Benedict Monastery The Benedictine Sisters of Virginia are a community of 35 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: www.osbva.org; vocation blog: www.monasticsonajourney.blogspot.com. See our web ads at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. Code #321.

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org 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 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 persons who are elderly, homeless, and mentally ill, and participate in efforts to achieve more humane immigration policies. We have taken corporate stands to end exorbitant military spending, to abolish the death penalty, to oppose torture, and to stop human trafficking. Together we pray for peace and justice in our world. 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) 764-2413, ext. 327; e-mail: vocation@osbchicago.org. Visit us at our website: www. osbchicago.org and our Facebook page wwwfacebook. com/BenedictineSistersofChicago. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. Code #004.

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, personal prayer and study 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: www.stwalburg.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. Code #004.

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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 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: www. duluthbenedictines.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ads on pages 69, 125. Code #282. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), E l i z a b e t h , N J — S t . Wa l b u r g a 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: www.

catholicforum.com/bensisnj. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. Code #353. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Erie, PA—Mount Saint Benedict Women living the Rule of Benedict by balancing community life, contemplative and liturgical prayer, silence and ministry; women witnessing to the global issues of world peace, nonviolence, sustainability, and justice, especially for women and children. Come to see; come to the experience; come to know. Contact Sr. Marilyn Schauble, O.S.B., Vocation Director, 6101 East Lake Rd., Erie, PA 16511; (814)899-0614 ext. 2424; email: vocations@mtstbenedict.org; website: www.eriebenedictines.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. 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. Our sisters 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 162 members, five 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: www.thedome.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ads on pages 91, 125. Code #069. 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 54. We are engaged in the work of God through education, pastoral care, 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: www.stscho.org. See our web ad online at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ads on pages 59, 125. Code #341. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Lacey, WA—St. Placid Priory The Sisters of St. Benedict at St. Placid Priory are faith filled monastic women who are dedicated to God through community life, the Liturgy of the Hours, service to people and Earth, and the spiritual growth of themselves and others. They minister mostly through The Priory Spirituality

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Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Colorado Springs, CO—Benet Hill We are a monastic community of 40 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) 6330655; e-mail: smarycolleen@benethillmonastery.org; website: www.benethillmonastery.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 97. Code #270.

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 2045, 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; e-mail: vocations@shmon.org; website: www.shmon.org. See our web ad online at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. Code #280.

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Center, a retreat house that offers spiritual direction and adult faith formation programs and retreats of all sorts. Located in a beautiful and peaceful Douglas fir/ alder forest, the community welcomes each visitor as Christ, in the spirit of the Rule of St. Benedict. New Membership Director: Sr. Monika Ellis; 500 College Street, NE, Lacey, WA 98516; (360) 438-1771; e-mail: mellis@stplacid.org; website: www.stplacid.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Lisle, IL—Sacred Heart Monastery Directed by the Gospel and the spirit of the 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, social concerns and domestic services. We sponsor Daybreak of Lisle. Lectio Divina (a form of praying with scripture) is a way 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) 977-9225; e-mail: ckouba@shmlisle.org; website: www.shmlisle.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. 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 21093-4601; (410) 821-5792; e-mail: pkirk@emmanuelosb.org; website: www.emmanuelosb.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. 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

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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: www.benedictine-srs.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ads on pages 63, 125. Code #202. 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 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, social justice, senior services, behavioral health care, 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: www.osbpgh.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. Code #004.

sacredheartmonastery.com. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. 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) 283-2300 or (800) 650-1257 e-mail: rbussan@smmsisters.org; website and blog: www.smmsisters.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ads on pages 16, 125. Code #152.

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 23 women who follow the Rule of St. Benedict as we live out our Baptismal call. Our prayer, Lectio Divina, and the Liturgy of the Hours, as well as our community life are sources of strength from which all our ministries flow. Our ministries vary according to the gifts and talents of the individual Sister. As Benedictines we seek God in all things and share our Benedictine values of peace, silence, and prayer. We are a monastic community. We are the only motherhouse in the diocese. If you are seeking God’s will and have a desire to grow in intimacy with our Lord, we invite you to come and spend some time with us. Contact: Sr. Florence McManamen, O.S.B., 1851 City Springs Rd., Rapid City, SD 57702-9613; (605) 343-8011; fax: (605) 399-2723; e-mail: srflomcman@aol.com; website: www.blackhillsbenedictine.com. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. Code #004.

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 15 perpetually professed sisters, 1 scholastic, 2 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: 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.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. Code #004.

Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Richardton, ND—Sacred Heart Monastery We are a vibrant community of Catholic Benedictine women who strive to deepen our relationship with God and one another through sharing the spiritual and material gifts God has given to us on this prairie. Founded in 1910 to respond to the needs of the church in rural North Dakota, we provide hospitality, spiritual direction and retreats, and serve in pastoral and health care. We value the common life based on the Rule of Benedict and the monastic promises of obedience, stability and fidelity to the monastic way of life. The contemplative environment of the prairie surrounds our monastery with the beauty of God’s creation. Our monastic life is nourished by daily Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours, contemplative prayer and personal devotions as well as by our brother monks at nearby Assumption Abbey. Vocation Director, P.O. Box 364, Richardton, ND 58652; (701) 974-2121; e-mail: vocations@sacredheartmonastery.com; website: www.

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 40 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 spiritually, education, pastoral care, health and child care as well as other areas of need among God’s People today. We welcome women who are at a new juncture in their lives and who might be experiencing God calling them to a new way of life. If you are in your 30s, 40s and 50s and feel a leaning toward monastic life, you are welcome to a Come and See experience to share life at our monastery. Please contact the Vocation Director, Sr. Marie Fujan, OSB, 2675 Benet Road, St. Paul, MN 55109-5097; e-mail: srmarie@stpaulsmonastery.org; website:

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Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Watertown, SD—Mother of God Monastery We are a community of 55 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, prison ministry, ministry to Native Americans, Latinos and other cultures, spiritual direction and retreats, ministry to the elderly and 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 watertownbenedictines.org, for a description and dates or contact Adrienne Kaufmann, O.S.B., 110 28th Avenue SE, #59, Watertown, SD 57201; (605) 886-4159, vocations@dailypost.com. Like us on Facebook! See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ads on pages 27, 125. 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 formation, education, health and hospitality. We do not identify with any specific ministry, but respect each person’s gifts. Come and see. Contact, Sr. Dorothy, 225 Masters Ave., Winnipeg, MB R4A

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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 107 Sisters, one of whom is 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. Maribeth Wentzlaff; 1005 West 8th St., Yankton, SD 57078; (605) 668-6092; e-mail: mwentzlaff@mtmc.edu; Sr. Eileen O’Connor, 1005 West 8th St., Yankton, SD 57078, (605) 668-6017; e-mail: eoconnor@mtmc. edu; website: www.yanktonbenedictines.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ads on pages 14, 125. Code #143. 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 20 and 47 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 ext. 127; e-mail: vocation@benedictinesisters.org; website: www. benedictinesisters.org. See ad on page 96. 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. Madonna Marie, O.S.F., Vocation Director, 450 St. Bernardine Street, Reading, PA 19607-1737; (610) 777-2967; e-mail: FollowFrancis@ bfranciscan.org; website: www.bfranciscan.org. Visit us on Facebook! See ad on page 121. Code #214.

C Canossian Daughters of Charity (FdCC) Servants of the Poor (aka Canossian Sisters) is an international

missionary congregation of women founded by St. Magdalene of Canossa, canonized in 1988. Our apostolate is rooted in our identity born at the Cross of Christ Crucified, the Greatest Love. We are called to live our consecrated life in simplicity, sharing a common life, contemplative in our prayer and active in our service, for the good of our brothers and sisters. We communicate God’s love for every person through ministries of education and human promotion, evangelization and faith formation, and pastoral care among the suffering. 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 serve in 5 continents (America, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania) and in 34 countries. For more information on vocations with the Canossian Sisters, contact Sr. Lisa Marie Doty at VocationsFDCC@gmail.com or Sr. Marilu Ibarra at ofeiba@hotmail.com; website: canossiansisters.org. See ad on page 96. Code #335. Carmel of Cristo Rey Living in the presence of God is the center of our Marian 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 life ever seeking Divine intimacy as guided by the charism of Saints Teresa of Jesus and John of the Cross. Solitude and silence blended in joyful c o m m u n i t y. H o l y M a s s d a i l y ( O r d i n a r y / Extraordinary Forms) with full Liturgy of the Hours, Spiritual Reading, communal Rosary daily, frequent Benediction service, days of Eucharistic Adoration. A life of simplicity with full traditional habit and Papal Enclosure. Bilingual (English/Spanish) in grateful recognition of our Spanish Teresian heritage, Foundation from Mexico (1927), and American homeland. Required: ability to speak English or Spanish well and willingness to learn the other language; good mental and physical health. Ages: 18-35, some exceptions especially for Externs. C o n t a c t : C a r m e l i t e M o n a s t e r y, Vo c a t i o n Information, 721 Parker Avenue, San Francisco, CA, 94118, (415) 387-2640; vocations@cmcrnuns.org; www.cmcrnuns.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 9. Code #333. Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm (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)

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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: www. stjosephmonastery.org; facebook: facebook.com/ stjosephmonastery; twitter: twitter.com/stjosephmon; blog: www.blogspot.com.stjosephmonastery. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. Code #004.

2A1; (204) 338-4601; e-mail: sister.dorothy@shaw. ca; website: www.stbens.ca. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. Code #004.

Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org 537-4579; e-mail: vocationdirector@gtel.net; website: www.carmelitesisters.com. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 49. Code #153.

woMen’s communities Search WOMen’s communities

Carmelite Sisters of St. Thérèse (C.S.T.) We are a small and lively group of women dedicated to prayer and community life in the Carmelite tradition, while serving the needs of others in any kind of ministry offered to us within our capacity. If you are a female, single, Catholic, 21 or older, consider allowing us to minister to you as you discern your call to follow Christ in a religious vocation. Vocation Director, 1300 Classen Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73103; (405) 232-7926; e-mail: srbj@stjohn-catholic.org; website: www.oksister.com. See ad on page 49. Code #010. 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: vocations@sistersofmountcarmel.org; website: www. sistersofmountcarmel.org. See ad on page 128. Code #013. Cenacle Sisters (r.c.) Cenacle Sisters are active women with contemplative hearts, called to live and pray in 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: www.cenaclesisters.org. See ad on page 33. 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

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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: www.nunocist.org. Code #011. Congregation of Divine Providence ( C . D . P. ) — M a r i e d e L a R o c h e Province Is God calling you to do more with your life? Do you long to respond to God’s loving invitation? Join us in the adventure of making God’s Providence more visible in our world. We live in community, embrace an enriching prayer life, and serve God’s people through a variety of ministries in the Church and in the world. We are risk-takers, open to new ways of meeting the needs of the times. As Sisters of Divine Providence, we are part of a diverse international congregation. The Marie de la Roche Province includes the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. We invite women from 18 to 50 to join us in our mission of co-creating a world of compassion, justice, and peace. Contact us at cdpvocations@yahoo.com or visit us at www.divineprovidenceweb.org or www. facebook.com/divineprovidenceweb. Code #325. Congregation of Notre Dame (C.N.D.) Founded in 1659 in Ville-Marie (Montreal) by Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys, the Congrégation de Notre-Dame (CND) has historically been involved in education. Today, present in eight countries, the CND responds to the needs of the time in areas of ministry that include education, social justice, the Church and ecology. Following Jesus in a preferential option for the poor and living their mission of liberating education in fidelity to the prophetic charism of Marguerite Bourgeoys in today’s world, CND Sisters participate actively in the transformation of society for a more just world. “All I have ever desired most deeply and what I still most ardently wish is that the great precept of love of God above all things and of the neighbor as oneself be written in every heart.” Marguerite Bourgeoys. For information go to www.cnd-m.org. Contacts: Sr. Lucille Cormier, 30 Highfield Rd, Wilton, CT 06897-3802; e-mail: cndsusa@cnd-m.org or call (203) 762-4304. See ad on page 26. 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. Through continuing founder 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: www.BonSecoursVocations.org (or follow us on Facebook or Twitter). See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 35. Code #058. 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: www.chmiowa.org. Code #363. Consolata Missionary Sisters The Consolata Missionary Sisters are members of an international missionary Institute of women religious founded by Blessed Joseph Allamano in Turin, Italy, in 1910. The purpose of our congregation is to fulfill Jesus’ mandate to go and proclaim the Good News of Consolation to all nations. The Sisters are presently committed to this goal by ministering in several countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, South and North America. We do this through a variety of ministries: as catechists, nurses, teachers, pastoral ministers, social workers, pastoral administrators…in whatever way we can. As Consolata Missionary Sisters we simply want to be a presence…a presence of peace, of reconciliation, of love…a presence that comforts and reassures…that hopes beyond hope. With our lives nourished by the Word of God and sustained by the Eucharist, we strive to build communities that are poor and prophetic, centered on the experience of Christ, open to all people for the proclamation of the Gospel. Contact: Sr. Jo Marie Williams, P.O. Box 371, Belmont, MI 49306; Phone: (616) 361-2072; sr.jm@hotmail.com; website: www.consolatasisters.org. Code #440.

D Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (D.C.) The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul is a worldwide Society of Apostolic Life called to serve Jesus Christ in the person of the poor and the marginalized. Motivated by the love of Christ and strengthened by a deep prayer life, we live and pray in community, supporting each other in our common mission of service. We make vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and service of the poor. Our Ministries include education, spirituality, health care, social ministry, the creative arts, pastoral ministry, advocacy for change, and others. We are an international

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org community of over 15,000 women in more than 90 countries throughout the world, including the United States. Faithful to the teachings of the Church we proclaim the Gospel message through our words and actions. Our mission calls us to be innovative and inventive, collaborative and inclusive. In whatever we do, we strive to perform our service in imitation of Jesus Christ. E-mail: sisterdenise.larock@doc.org. Website: www.daughters-of-charity.com; Blog at: http://spiritofthedaughtersofcharity.blogspot.com/. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org.. See ad on page 120. Code #168.

Daughters of St. Paul (F.S.P.) Founded by Blessed James Alberione in 1915 to take up the modern means of communication for the Gospel and the Church, the Daughters of St. Paul bring Jesus Christ to humanity in more than 50 countries. Meeting Christ in the Word and the Eucharist through daily Mass, meditation, community prayer and our Hour of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, we proclaim him to the world through print and e-publishing, radio, Internet, social media, music, art, video, apps, our book and media centers, and media education seminars. Age limit: 18-30 years old. Discernment retreat weekends and Come and See programs are offered, as well as the St. Paul Summer Program for high school women. Website: www. daughtersofstpaul.org. Contact: Sr. Margaret Michael, F.S.P., Vocation Director, 1025 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314; (703) 549-3806; e-mail: vocations@ paulinemedia.com. En español: vocacionesfsp@ gmail.com. Canada: Vocation Director, 3022 Dufferin St., Toronto, Ontario M6B 3T5; (416) 781-9131; e-mail: daughters_stpaul@yahoo.ca. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 19. 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

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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, 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: www.daughtersofwisdom.org See ad on page 67. Code #275. 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 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: www.domlife.org/Vocation. See ad on page 41. Code #018. Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Adrian, MI We Adrian Dominican Sisters are 800 vowed women. We serve in various parts of the world: California, Alaska, Mid-Atlantic States, Florida, Michigan, Illinois, Canada, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Kenya, East Africa. We minister as lawyers, doctors, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and pastoral ministers in the parish, parish administrators, and educators in elementary, high school, college and university. We have the following institutions; a high school, Regina Dominican, Wilmette, IL two academies, St. Joseph, Adrian, MI and Rosarian Academy, West Palm Beach, FL and two hospitals Santa Cruz, CA and Henderson, NV. We continue the Dominican tradition of preaching through prayer, study, ministry and community. We invite you to learn more about us at www. adriandominicans.org. Or better yet, come and get to know us. Vocation Director, 1257 E. Siena Heights Dr.

Adrian, MI 49221-1973, (517) 266 3537 or e-mail: vocations@adriandominicans.org. See ad on page 41. Code #018. 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 websites: www. amityop.org; www.catholicdominicansisters.org or to contact Sister Elaine Jahrsdoerfer, OP at (631) 8426000; e-mail: asstprioress@amityop.org. See ad on page 41. 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. Kathy O’Hanlon, O.P.; e-mail: kohanlonop@netzero.net. See ad on page 41. 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; (862) 210-8362, ext. 4403; e-mail: paclinton@ caldwellop.org. See ad on page 41. Code #018. Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Grand Rapids, MI 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 prayer, study, common life, and ministry, we strive to live the gospel, embodying God’s compassion for our needy world. We are contemplative Dominican

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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: www. fdz.com.au/order. Code #236.

regular meetings, days of prayer and spiritual renewal, community celebrations, and provincewide 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: www.dhmna.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 118. Code #150.

sisters

A swimmer changes course to devote herself to prayer

Sister Maria Victoria Cutaia, O.S.B. As a girl Maria Cutaia wanted to get a degree in early childhood education and then become a religion teacher. She eventually changed course and chose to commit to God and advance God’s teachings in a different way. Today as a junior sister with the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration of Clyde, Missouri, she and her community pray together five times a day, seven days a week, with periods of work and recreation in between.

What is your current ministry? Our main ministry is prayer. I also work in our correspondence department, where my favorite part is reassuring people who write, call, or visit us that we are praying for them and their loved ones daily.

Who are your favorite saints? Rita of Cascia and Padre Pio.

What do you do for fun? I enjoy talking with family and friends, playing cards, reading,

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playing guitar, writing, listening to music, swimming, and walking—especially in the snow.

What is your favorite food? Argentinean. My family moved from Buenos Aires to Louisiana when I was 3-and-a-half.

What is the best part of living in community? That my sisters and I support each other on our journey to God—we don’t leave anyone behind.

What would people be surprised to learn about you? That I am a very competitive swimmer and used to swim in meets when I was younger.

What was the response from family and friends to your vocation? My friends have been very supportive. At first my parents were in shock with my decision to become a nun, but now that they have met the sisters and have spent time with them, they feel more comfortable knowing that I am really happy.

VISION 2013

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org women who desire to become the prayer that we pray, both individually and communally. We have a passion for justice, a desire to be in right relationship with God, one another, and the earth. 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! Sr. Katheryn Sleziak, O.P., 2025 East Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3895; (616) 643-0378; e-mail: ksleziak@grdominicans.org. Visit our website: www.grdominicans.org. See ad on page 41. Code #018.

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. Contact: Sister Kathy Slesar, O.P., 5635 Erie Street, Racine, WI 54302-1900; (262) 898-4083; e-mail: vocations@racinedominicans.org; website: www. racinedominicans.org. Also visit us on Facebook: facebook.com/RacineOP. See ad on page 41. 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

VISION 2013

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Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Sinsinawa, WI As Dominicans we trace our roots to the 13th century when St. Dominic founded the Order of Preachers (O.P.). That provides us with nearly 800 years of history as members of a worldwide Dominican Family. Our U.S. congregation was founded in Wisconsin by an Italian Dominican missionary, Samuel Mazzuchelli, O.P. in 1847. Fr. Samuel, currently recognized as “Venerable,” is well on his way to being named a saint by the Vatican. Today more than 500 Dominican Sisters from Sinsinawa are “called to proclaim the Gospel through the ministry of preaching and teaching in order to participate in the building of a holy and just society” and minister in dioceses all over the United States and in Bolivia, Italy, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago. Share in the vitality of Dominican life. Contact: Sr. Jeri Cashman, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI 53824; e-mail: jericashman@gmail.com. Please visit us at: www. sinsinawa.org; www.facebook.com/sinsinawa; www. catherinescafe.blogspot.com. See ad on page 41. 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. Listen for your call and respond. Contact: Sr. Kathleen Logan, O.P., 175 Route 340, Sparkill, NY 10976; (845) 359-4136; e-mail: Kathy.logan@sparkill.org; website: www.sparkill.org. See ad on page 41. 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, Missouri, South Dakota, Washington, DC and Peru, South America. If you are a woman 18 to 34 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: www.springfieldop.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ads on pages 41, 119. 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. These ministries include education, 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) 579-4060; fax: (253) 272-8790; e-mail: gretta@tacomaop.org; website: www. tacomaop.org. See ad on page 41. 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) 788-7394; e-mail: smtolp@ yahoo.com. See ad on page 39. 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. 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, parish ministry and youth ministry. Vocation Contact Ministry: Sr. Polly Torrino, O.P., 83820 Yosemite Dr., Indio, CA 92203; (760) 564-2598; e-mail: sisteractopisapoloniatorrino@yahoo.com; website: www.oakforddominicans.org. See ad on page 41. Code #018. Dominican Sisters of Peace (O.P.) We are Dominican Sisters whose charism of preaching flows from our contemplation, study, and community. We are 550 Sisters and 450 Associates who live and minister in 29 states and in Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, 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

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Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Mission San Jose, Fremont, CA Is God calling you to a BOLD Awakening? Is there a “God hunger” within you? Does the love of God tug at your heart? Does a “one soul and one heart in God” community resonate with your deepest desires and greatest hopes? Contact the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose (Order of Preachers)—joyful Gospel women whose prayer, study, community, and ministry empower them to preach Jesus Christ by varied missions of evangelization and education that promote justice and peace. Inspired by Saint Dominic, Saint Catherine of Siena, and foundress Mother Pia Backes, we center our lives on the Word of God, contemplate God’s Truth, and share it with others. We serve in education, pastoral, health care, social service, peace and justice and media ministries. Preferentially, we serve those who are young, poor or vulnerable in the United States, Mexico, and Guatemala. Initial contact: Sr. Pauline Bouton, (510)789-7079 or vocations@msjdominicans.org; Vocation Director: Sr. Marcia Krause, (510) 933-6333; 43326 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA 94539-5829. Visit our website: www.msjdominicans.org. See ad on page 41. Code #018.

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) 257-4939; fax: (415) 4538367; e-mail: vocations@sanrafaelop.org; website: www.sanrafaelop.org. See ad on page 41. Code #018.

Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org solidarity, especially for women and children. For more information, please contact Sr. Cathy Arnold, Sr. Pat Dual, or Sr. Pat Twohill at 1220 W. Market St., Akron, OH 44313, toll free 1-855-313-3131 or e-mail: vocations@oppeace.org; website: www. oppeace.org. See ad on page 41. Code #018.

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F Faithful Companions of Jesus (F.C.J) We, Sisters Faithful Companions of Jesus, with Mary and the holy women, follow Jesus to the Cross and beyond….Our Foundress, Marie Madeleine, had a great love of Jesus which led her to seek constantly to do God’s will. Ignatian spirituality is at the root of our way of life. Through discernment we seek to become contemplatives in action. God calls through the everyday events of our lives and of our world. In a world often torn apart by violence and poverty we offer our whole selves for whatever God is asking of us. We desire to be sent with Jesus, accompanying him with loving fidelity. At the heart of our apostolic religious life is our sharing of the Eucharist and of our whole lives t o g e t h e r i n c o m m u n i t y. We l i v e i n s m a l l communities, often multicultural and intergenerational, and are closely connected to our sisters internationally. FCJ’s are willing to be sent anywhere for the sake of the Gospel. For information, please contact Sr. Ellen McCarthy emccarthyfcj@gmail.com or Sr. Alicia Pérez aliciapereza@gmail.com. Find us on: website: www. fcjsisters.org; Twitter@FCJsisters; Facebook: http:// www.facebook.com/#!/pages/FCJ-Young-AdultNetwork/236227646401517; Blog: http://fcjsisters. wordpress.com. See ad on page 166. Code #439. 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, 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 our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 15. Code #025. Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (F.M.M.) We were founded in 1877 for Universal Mission. Our Foundress, Blessed Mary of the Passion, has said: “We have but one country. . . the whole world is ours. Be ready to go anywhere to proclaim the Good News.” Today we are 6,600 sisters from different nations and cultures serving in 76 countries. Like Mary we strive to do whatever God asks. . .ready to bring the Good News of His Love to all. Our Prayer life includes the joy of daily Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.

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In the spirit of St. Francis we are found among the poor and marginalized. Our works include education, health care, social services, prison ministry, pastoral ministry, parish work, soup kitchens, religious education, and working with immigrants and refugees. Vocation Director: Sr. Sheila Lehmkuhle, FMM, 4311 Grove Ave., Stickney, IL 60402; (708) 317-5075; e-mail: fmmvoc@aol.com; website: www. fmmusa.org. See ad on page 50. Code 125. Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady (O.S.F.) Inspired by the vision of St. Francis, the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady answer a call to serve. The ministry of the North American Province of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady focuses on health care and meeting health care needs for those most in need. The ministry includes five Louisiana hospitals—St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe; Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge; Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette; St. Elizabeth Hospital in Gonzales, and Assumption Community Hospital in Napoleonville. The ministry also includes elderly housing, nursing homes and PACE, Programs of All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly, and support of community clinics providing health care to the uninsured and underinsured in all regions served. September marked the 100th anniversary in Louisiana and the Sisters continue to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis to provide a message of hope, care and compassion to those most in need. For more information contact Sr. Ann Catherine Nguyen at (225)765-7837. See our digital web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 48. Code #442. Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi (SFMA) We are called to contemplate the life of Jesus Christ, as did Saint Francis of Assisi and our Founders, and to imitate His service of God’s people. We strive to respond to the will of God, live the Gospel together in our communities and follow the Holy Spirit’s lead. We desire to witness to God’s love alone. We find strength in our common prayer life. Eucharistic adoration is the root of our life in Christ as individuals and as a community. As Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi, we are open to God’s call and we respond by going to where the church needs us among God’s people. Our life as Sisters in international communities is a sign of hope and grace for all who seek to live Christ’s peace in our diverse and rapidly changing world today. “The purpose of this house is for those who desire God alone.” (Fr. Joseph Anthony Marcheselli). Vocation Office, Sr. Sofia Lee, 1039 Northampton St., Holyoke, MA 01040-1320; (413) 532-8156; e-mail: sofiasfma@gmail.com; website: www.sistersofassisi.org. Code #443. Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows (O.S.F.) A Franciscan missionary in China, Bishop Rafael Angelo Palazzi, founded our community in 1939. Our founder entrusted us with a spirit of zeal for Evangelization and Catechesis. As Consecrated Religious we are united to the poor, chaste and obedient Jesus. As Franciscans we witness to the Good News through the joy and hospitality we provide in our apostolates of retreat work, catechesis, teaching in Catholic schools and parish work. We live a vibrant community life, rooted in the Eucharist with a fervent commitment to prayer. We have a special devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, as co-redemptrix

with Christ at the foot of the Cross, and there we stand together with Jesus and Mary in the Church’s great mission for the salvation of souls. We welcome women, 18–49, to contact the Vocation Directress, 3600 SW 170th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 970065099; (503) 649-7127; e-mail: 101bvm@gmail.com; website: www.olpretreat.org. See ad on page 16. Code #126. 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: www.franciscansatspfld.org. See ad on page 63. Code #037. Franciscan Sisters of Allegany (O.S.F.) The Franciscan Sisters of Allegany seek to live the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We witness to God’s love in the Franciscan tradition by living as sisters with all creation, and by serving others, especially those who are poor and marginalized. We are committed to a Gospel stance of non-violence, justice, peace and integrity of creation. We share our Franciscan charism of joy, simplicity and hospitality within varied ministries on the East Coast of the United States, in Jamaica, Brazil, and Bolivia. As Christcentered women of hope, we support one another in community and prayer, and we welcome women who seek the same spiritual values. Sr. Jo Marie Streva, OSF, Initial Formation Office, 1410-1 Park Shore Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33901, (239) 3325260; e-mail: fsainquiry@yahoo.com; website: www. alleganyfranciscans.org. See ad on page 25. 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: lrossi@franciscancommunities.com; or Vocation Coordinator, Carol Lackie (630) 243-3555; e-mail: clackie@chicagofranciscans.com; website: www. chicagofranciscans.org. See ad on page 99. Code #166.

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org 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 as we provide clean drinking water to villagers. We are a group of 300 sisters, 130 associates and numerous volunteers. We sisters serve in a variety of ministries in 11 states, Honduras, Canada, and St. Lucia. We invite you to e-mail us at: Heldorferv@osfdbq.org or call/text at (952) 457-5193. Come visit us in Dubuque, IA or www.osfdbq.org. See ad on page 18. Code #193.

Franciscan Sisters of Oldenburg, IN ( O . S . F. ) We a r e T h i r d O r d e r 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 234 sisters, including two in initial formation. Our Associates number 276. 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 o n c a m p u s . F o r f u r t h e r i n f o s e e w w w. 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.) Our mission is to be a transforming presence in society through witnessing Gospel values. Women of faith, prophetic vision and courage, our

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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. Jeanne Gilligan, FSP (Vowed Membership) or Mrs. Judith Peterson (Associates), 20 Ridge Street, Haverstraw, NY 10928; (845) 9422527; e-mail: secretary@fspnet.org; website: www. fspnet.org. Code #017. Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (F.S.P.A.) As Franciscans we commit ourselves to promoting sustainability, 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 275 Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and 230 Affiliates and 120 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, Guam, 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: membership@fspa.org; website: www.fspa.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 24. 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

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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: sistersofstelizabeth@ franciscansisters.com; website: http://www. franciscansisters.com. See ad on page 59. Code #056. 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, Philippines 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) 230-8200; e-mail: VocationMinistry@graymoor.org; website: www. graymoor.org. See ad on page 88. Code 211.

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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: www.sistersofjohnthebaptist.org Code #354.

98 sisters serve the poor and empower others to live the gospel with hope and joy. Our ministries in 13 states include pastoral care, education, health care, youth ministry and social services. As Franciscan sisters, we relate to creation as sister and have the same mission as St. Francis did to “go and repair.” We strive to foster relationships of interdependence that ensure a just, sustainable and vibrant earth community. We seek to change the framework from which humanity operates, and restore respect for a deep connectedness with earth. Our foundress, Mother Ernestine Matz, stated, “There is no place too far, no service too humble, and no person too lowly.” For information: www.fsolph.org; e-mail: vocations@ fsolph.org; Vocations, 335 South Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, Missouri, 63122; Phone 314-965-3700; Fax: 314-965-3710. See ad on page 27. Code #170.

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families where they serve, the people of these areas come to understand the love and concern of the Catholic Church and their own dignity as children of God. Contact: Barbara O’Nan, e-mail: barbara@ glenmarysisters.org or Sr. Sharon Miller; e-mail: srsharon@glenmarysisters.org; website: www. glenmarysisters.org or call 1-800-301-2689. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 172. Code #138.

The Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy The are dedicated to the care of the sick and to the elderly in various parts of the world: Asia, Africa, Europe, and in the United States. For more information, please contact the Delegate Superior: Address: Sr. Theresina Thadathil, HSM 917 South Main Street Pleasantville, NJ 08232 Email:

hospitaler@verizon.net You also can visit our website:

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Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart—Frankfort, IL (OSF) We, the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, are called by God to live the Gospel life after the manner of St. Francis of Assisi as women religious. We joyfully embrace our vowed life in community which is sustained by our personal and communal prayer and sisterly love. We were founded in the United States, in Avilla, Indiana in 1876. From the very beginning our sisters did a variety of ministries. We continue this tradition through our ministries in health care, social service programs, education, parish and pastoral ministry, retreat work and ministry among the base communities in the Amazon. We are currently in Indiana, Illinois, California, West Virginia, and Brazil (in South America). Contact the Vocation Director: 9201 West St. Francis Road, Frankfort, IL 60423; (815) 464-3848 or (815) 4643873; e-mail: fsshvocations@aol.com; website: www. fssh.net. See ad on page 120. Code #033.

G Glenmary Home Mission Sisters of America The Glenmary Sisters provide missionar y ser vices to all God’s children in the Southeastern United States including Appalachia. Serving in areas where the Catholic population is less than 2 percent, their ministry is guided by the Corporal Works of Mercy to: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit those in prison, and bury the dead. Through the Glenmary Sister’s ministry of presence and willingness to share in the daily struggles of the

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Good Shepherd Sisters (G.S.S.) We are an international congregation with over 4,000 vowed members both apostolic and contemplative. 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. Liz Schille, (314) 381-3400, e-mail: lschille@gspmna. org; Sr. Mary Ann Giordano, (215) 782-8627, e-mail: sunset@catholic.org; US Website: www. goodshepherdsisters.org; Sr. Barbara Wells, Winnipeg, MB; (204) 336-5282, e-mail: barbarargs@ y a h o o . c a ; C a n a d a W e b s i t e : w w w. goodshepherdsisterscanada.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 47. Code #077. Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart (G.N.S.H.) Grey Nuns live our vocation in an apostolic religious congregation. We collaborate with others to create a more compassionate world in the spirit of the gospel and our foundress, St. Marguerite d’Youville, Mother of Universal Charity. Social justice, nonviolence and care of the earth are important values in our living, praying and working. Our Sisters are engaged in ministries which utilize their God-given talents and gifts in response to the emerging needs of our world. We are present in 11 dioceses in the U.S. and Haiti. If you are a woman between the ages of 20-45 with enough love in your heart to serve the poor, and are ready to explore our life and mission, please contact our Vocation Director: 1750 Quarry Road, Yardley, PA 19067; (215) 968-4236; Vocations@greynun.org; www.greynun.org. See ad on page 95. Code #183.

H Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters (S.Sp.S.) As an international community of nearly 3,400 women ministering in 47 countries, we are called to bring the Good News of Jesus to all. Called by the Spirit we embrace the world and are sent to people of diverse cultures, religions, and backgrounds. We participate in the mission of Jesus through education, health care, parish and social services, spiritual direction, and in many other ways in which we can be of service to others. We use our talents to nurture and enrich life, especially where that life is vulnerable. Prayer, presence, community, and service are an important part of our life and mission. We invite Catholic women who want to create a more just and loving world to come and join us! Vocation Ministry Office,

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, 319 Waukegan Rd., Northfield, IL 60093; phone: (847) 441-0126 ext. 704; e-mail: sspsovm@aol.com; or visit our web site at: www.ssps-usa.org See ad on page 113. Code #127. Holy Union Sisters (S.U.S.C.) At the heart of who we are is our name: Holy Union. 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 Non-Governmental 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 are present today in eleven countries. Holy Union Sisters serve as parish ministers, chaplains, teachers, administrators, caregivers to the elderly and in ministries among immigrants. Contact us at husvocations@gmail.com . You can learn more about us by visiting our website: www.holyunionsisters.org. See ad on page 89. Code #368. Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy (H.S.M.) The Congregation of the Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy was founded in Rome, Italy in 1821 by the servant of God, Princess Teresa Orsini Doria Pamphili, with specific charism of ‘Caring for the Sick.’ To assist Jesus in His suffering membership is realized through our service in hospitals and nursing homes where we care for the sick. This charism took root in the USA in 1966 at the invitation of His Excellency Most Rev. Celestino J. Damiano, Bishop of Camden, NJ to staff and administer Our Lady’s Multi-Care Center in Pleasantville, NJ and the Bishop McCarthy Residence in Vineland, NJ. Since 2000 we also administer Villa Raffaella, our own Assisted Living facility. If you feel Jesus is calling you to follow Him, please contact us. Sr. Theresina Thadathil, H.S.M., 917 S. Main St., Pleasantville, NJ 08232; (609) 442-6839; e-mail: hospitaler@verizon.net; website: www.hospitalersistersofmercy.org. See ad on page 154. Code #436.

I Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (I.B.V.M.) [Loretto/Loreto Sisters] IBVM Sisters are an apostolic community of Catholic women present in 26 countries across six continents. We live our Ignatian spirituality—contemplative in action—so cherished by our founder, Mary Ward, who in 1609 believed that “women in time to come would do great things.” We believe that women have great gifts to offer in promoting freedom, justice and integrity within church and society. We discern and embrace God’s desire in today’s changing and challenging times. 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 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. Claire Vandborg, IBVM; (630) 868-2904; e-mail: vocation@ibvm.us. Visit our website: www.ibvm.us. Code #210.

J Jerusalem Communities—Montreal The Jerusalem Community consists of brothers and sisters whose vocation is to provide an oasis of prayer, peace, and

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org adoration in the heart of the busy urban center. We seek to live a unique blend of traditional yet modern contemplative monastic life, sharing our witness in fraternal community, prayer, hospitality, and work “in the heart of the city,” while striving to dwell always “in the heart of God.” Our liturgy draws from the Byzantine and Orthodox tradition, and is sung in four-part harmony by the brothers and sisters. We work part-time in the city to earn our income and to live in solidarity, thus allowing us to better “bring the city into our prayer, and our prayer to the city.” Contact us: info@jerusalem-montreal.org; www. jerusalemmontreal.org/bienvenueEng.html; http:// jerusalem.cef.fr/jerusalem/en/en_index.html. For videos of our liturgy see YouTube: FMJ Web. See ad on page 106. Code #445.

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 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) 5431645; e-mail: lsjm@comcast.net; website: www. thejosephhouse.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 28. 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: 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. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 129. Code #041.

Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (L.S.I.C.) Little Servant Sisters were founded in Poland by a deeply spiritual man and lay apostle— Blessed Edmund Bojanowski in 1850. Inspired by his outstanding love of God and neighbor and devotion to Mary Immaculate, we follow his charism in communal life in USA, Philippines, Poland, Africa, Asia and various countries in Europe. Little Servant Sisters arrived in the USA in 1926 and have been working here in different apostolates committed to: children, the underprivileged, the sick and the elderly. The sisters work in preschools and schools, religious education centers, assisted living, nursing homes, and hospitals. Those seeking entrance must have a sincere desire to follow Christ in vows of chastity, poverty and obedience and do God’s will with great love, accompanied by good physical, mental and spiritual health. For more information, please contact: Mother Dorota Baranowska, LSIC or Sister Teresa Gradowska, Vocation Director, 1000 Cropwell Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003; (856) 424-1962; e-mail: vocations@littleservantsisters.com; website: www. littleservantsisters.com. See ad on page 125. Code #432.

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 in 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) 4335501; e-mail: laura.leming@notes.udayton.edu or gtrautman@sm-usa.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #105.

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 the Eucharist. Embracing the

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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,

Maryknoll Sisters (M.M.) We are women religious missionaries in 25 countries in Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands and the Americas. Rooted in the mission of Jesus, we cross boundaries of cultures, races, gender, socioeconomic-political status and faith traditions, making God’s love and compassion visible. 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. Our journey is shared with people, especially marginalized and oppressed ones, living for truth, justice, peace and integrity. 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; e-mail: vocation@mksisters.org. Our website: www. maryknollsisters.org. See ad on page 109. Code #199. Medical Mission Sisters (M.M.S.) Medical Mission Sisters are women full of passion...for wholeness, for justice, for life. Like our Foundress, Anna Dengel, M.D., “it eats us up” when individuals and communities are denied the resources and opportunities they need to live as human beings. In our broken, wounded world, Medical Mission Sisters are called to live as a healing presence. We try to bring about a world where all live in harmony and no one is in want. We try to live as Jesus did, with care and compassion for all. Our 600 Sisters and 80 Associates partner with others in 17 nations today to help build one world where the gifts of all people, all cultures, all creation are affirmed and celebrated. If you would like more information about our special call in the Church, please contact: Sister Katherine Baltazar at info@medicalmissionsisters.com. We also invite you to visit our websites: www.medicalmissionsisters.org and www.medicalmissionsisters.com See ad on page 89. 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. Joan Grumbach, Vocation Director, Medical Missionaries of Mary, 563 Minnieford Ave, Bronx, NY 10464; (718)

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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; e-mail: vocations@lcmh. org; website: www.lcmsisters.org. See ad on page 117. Code #039.

Canada and Burkina Faso. 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: www.marianites.org. See ad on page 51. Code #162.

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885-0945; e-mail: srjoang@gmail.com; website: www. mmmusa.org. Code #299. Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity (M.S.B.T.) We are missionaries! We follow in the footsteps of the apostles who, filled with the Holy Spirit, went forth to spread everywhere the knowledge and love of Jesus. Our specific mission is the preservation of the faith, which for us means awakening and strengthening faith among those who have a Catholic heritage and are in danger of losing it. We have an ardent zeal for the poor, for those desolate in all things spiritual and for victims of injustice. Our ministries include faith formation, parish ministries, social work, young adult and youth ministry, retreat work, reaching out to immigrants, health care, family development programs, etc. Our chief effort is to develop a missionary spirit in the laity, with the goal that every Catholic be an apostle. We are in the USA, Puerto Rico and Mexico. 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://msbt.org. See ad on page 29. Code #278. 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, countries, and cultures. As women of faith and prayer, we strive to give witness to our 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 in its abundance, especially with those on the margins. Through our ministries 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 christian community and thus, more Godly world. Contact: Sr. Florence Enechukwu, 741 Polo Rd., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010; (610) 520-1974; e-mail: mshr2008@yahoo.com; website: www.mshr.org See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #186. Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (M.S.C.) We are a missionary congregation of sisters who are called to be the Heart of God on earth. United in faith and prayer, we are 800 women risking for the Gospel in the United States 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 to join us in spreading the message that God loves all people. For further information please e-mail Sr. Deborah Reho, MSC, at vocations@ mscreading.org; or visit www.mscreading.org. See ad on page 114. Code #305. 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

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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 17 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.

O Oblate Sisters of Providence (O.S.P.) The Congregation of the Oblate Sisters of Providence was 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 share 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: ospvocations@oblatesisters.com; website: 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) 759-9329; e-mail: VMTOBLATE@ aol.com; website: www.oblatesistersofshj.com. See ad on page 32. Code #196. 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) 9469000; e-mail: twohearts1@mac.com; website: www. heartsofjesusandmary.org. Code #271. Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters (O.L.V.M.) Like Mary, Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters (Victory Noll Sisters) are rooted in the Word of God. They stand with Jesus for justice and compassion for all. They are vowed religious who choose to live out their vows in response to the needs of the poor and oppressed, especially women. Victory Noll Sisters do this in creative and diverse ministries in a personal, non-institutional way, and with an emphasis on the Hispanic community and immigrants. If you would like to explore challenging opportunities to continue the Mission of Jesus as a Victory Noll Sister, contact us at: Vocations, Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, P.O. Box 109, Huntington, IN 46750; (260) 356-0628; e-mail: voc@ olvm.org; website: www.olvm.org. See ad on page 117. Code #201.

P 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: www. pallottinespirit.org. See ad on page 111. Code #435. 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. 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/ Ministry, 98 Harriman Heights Rd., Monroe, NY 10950. Call (English) (845) 492-5076; (Spanish) (845) 238-3917; e-mail: newapostle98@yahoo.com; website: www.pallottinesisters.org. See ad on page 94. Code #433.

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org 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 www.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 60. Code #292.

Poor Clares (O.S.C.) [Order of Saint Clare]— Jamaica Plain, MA Mother Maddalena Bentivoglio, O.S.C., asked her community to take care of their “little sister in Boston”, the last she founded before her death in 1905. The Franciscan hearts of our present 20 sisters, thoroughly dedicated to our contemplative life, are uplifted by the beauty of creation in our enclosure garden and the surrounding area. We are closely inserted into the lives of our neighbors: they turn to us for support in their spiritual needs and for a quiet place to pray, while we depend on their generosity and help in our material needs. Being poor sisters, we work quietly to earn our living, designing and making liturgical vestments, providing altar breads to parishes, making prayer cards for all occasions, rosaries, and other items. We are grateful for the grace of our vocation to be Poor Clares. Please help us to continue our apostolate of prayer within the Church of Boston. Contact: Sr. Mary Francis Hone, OSC, 920 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130-3099; e-mail: bostonpoorclares@yahoo. com; website: www.stanthonyshrine.org/poorclares. See ad on page 25. Code #438. 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 800 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,

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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 God’s 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: www. poorclaresc.com. Please know that as you are reading this your Poor Clare sisters are holding you in prayer. Code #359. Poor Clares (O.S.C.) [Order of Saint Clare]— Wappingers Falls, NY We Poor Clares are a cloistered contemplative community, centering our lives on the Celebration of the Eucharist, the praying of the Liturgy of the Hours, private prayer and spiritual reading. Our daily work helps us to support ourselves, and unites us in a meaningful way with our sisters and brothers all over the world who must also work for a living. St. Clare of Assisi began her mission of prayer in the year 1212, following the inspiration of St. Francis of Assisi and our community was founded in the New York Archdiocese in 1915. In 1999, it became evident that our Bronx location no longer met the needs of our community, and after a temporary move to New Rochelle, the Monastery was built here in Wappingers Falls on the same property as our Franciscan brothers on Mount Alvernia. Monastery of St. Clare, 70 Nelson Avenue, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590; (845) 297-1685; e-mail: clarelight@ gmail.com or claresny@gmail.com; website: www. poorclaresny.com. Code #444. 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 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. 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. 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. The Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, together with the Associate and Fiat Spiritus communities, live the spirit of Blessed Catherine Kasper, their foundress. 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: www. poorhandmaids.org. In Mexico: e-mail: vocacion. spjc@gmail.com; website: www.siervaspobres.org. mx. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #049.

R 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; (845) 3856533; e-mail: ContemplativeCall@gmail.com; website: www.RedemptoristineNunsofNewYork.org or www. rednuns.org; Blog: MonasticMusingsOSsR.blogspot. com; also on Facebook. Code #336. Religious of Jesus and Mary (RJM) The Religious of Jesus and Mary is an international congregation of apostolic women founded by St. Claudine Thévenet and committed to live a simple life style rooted in the Ignatian spiritual heritage. We serve in 28 countries, in various educational, pastoral, social, and spiritual ministries, through which we make known God’s goodness and forgiving love, as revealed in the hearts of Jesus and Mary. Having witnessed the brutal death of two of her brothers during the French Revolution, Claudine Thévenet dedicated her life and resources to alleviating the moral and physical ravages left in its wake. She believed that the greatest misfortune was to live and die without knowing God. Thus, she gathered friends around her to offer shelter and basic education for poor girls, whom she considered the “weakest, the most shameful, the most deprived” of post-Revolutionary French society. Today, the RJM throughout the world continue to respond to this call. Our life of prayer and community supports our ministry to those most in need wherever we are sent. Vocation Office: Sr. Janet Stolba, RJM; (202)8849798; e-mail: rjmvocations@gmail.com; website: www.rjm-us.org. See ad on page 50. Code #414. R e l i g i o u s o f t h e S a c re d H e a r t o f M a r y (R.S.H.M) We are an international Institute, founded in France in 1849, by Fr. Jean Gailhac, to follow Jesus Christ, who came “that all may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10). Our mission, “to know and love God, to make God known and loved,” calls us to be women of prayer and to put ourselves and our resources at the service of those most in need of justice. We live in varied community settings according to our ministries which include: education, social services, pastoral work, health care, retreat work, legal services and other ways of promoting life, especially in those situations where it is denied or diminished. Internationality is a gift from our origins. We are in Brazil, England, France, Ireland,

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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: home.catholicweb.com/ passionistnuns. NO E-MAIL. Please provide a mailing address when you write. Code #047.

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 LanghorneNewtown Road, Langhorne, PA 19047-1297, e-mail: vocation@poorclarepa.org; website: www. poorclarepa.org. See ad on page 115. Code #048.

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org Italy, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Portugal, Scotland, USA, Wales, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Sr. Catherine Deubel, 50 Wilson Park Dr., Tarrytown, NY 10591; (914) 631-8872; e-mail: cdcathydeubel@gmail.com; website: www.rshm.org. Code #273.

missionary service. Contact School Sisters of Notre Dame: e-mail: sisters@ssnd.org; website: www.ssnd. org; YouTube: www.youtube.com/sistersofnotredame; Facebook: www.facebook.com/ssnd.northamerica. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #052.

Religious Teachers Filippini (M.P.F.) Continuing the work of Christ the teacher through education, pastoral ministry, retreats, and foreign missions. The Religious Teacher Filippini, inspired by their foundress, St. Lucy Filippini, build the Kingdom and bring new hope to God’s people by dedicating themselves to Christian education. Community life is nurtured by Scripture, Eucharistic Adoration, daily mass, and common prayer. The sisters minister in the northeast and southwest United States, as well as in Italy, Brazil, Ethiopia, Eritrea, India, England, Ireland, Switzerland, and Albania. As vibrant, enthusiastic women, they are passionately committed to the education of youth and adults as teachers, administrators, tutors, and aides in elementary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education. They also direct retreat houses, provide spiritual direction and serve in parish ministry and missionary work. As RELIGIOUS who care for others and TEACHERS who preach the Word of God, the FILIPPINI Sisters continue the mission of Christ the teacher. Contact: Sr. Shirlee Tremont, 455 Western Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960; (718) 259-9844; e-mail: stbernadetteconvent@gmail.com; website: www. filippiniusa.org. See ad on page 61. Code #051.

School Sisters of St. Francis (OSF)—Milwaukee, WI We are an international community of Catholic sisters who unite with others to build a just and peaceful world. Founded in 1874, we have sisters, associates, staff, donors and volunteers actively working to live the Good News of Jesus and witness to the presence of God as we enter into the lives and needs of people around the world, especially those who are poor. We strive to be a source of new life, new meaning and new hope, and our mission is thriving throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America and India. Sustained by our Franciscan spirituality and prayer, our ministries include education, holistic wellness and healing, pastoral care, social justice and social services, and the arts. Please contact Sister Lee Agnes Hodapp or Sister Patricia Throener, 1515 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53215; (402) 727-7542; e-mail: vocations@sssf. org; website: www.sssf.org. Code #053.

S Salesian Sisters (F.M.A.) The Salesian F a m i l y i s t h e l a rg e s t R e l i g i o u s 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 90 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: www.salesiansisters.org or e-mail us: happynun@yahoo.com. “Like Mary, for Jesus and for the Young.” See ad on page 13. Code #117. School Sisters of Notre Dame (S.S.N.D.) Founded in Germany by Blessed Theresa Gerhardinger, School Sisters of Notre Dame are a vibrant international congregation of vowed apostolic women with nearly 3000 members, living and ministering in 34 countries. We are women of hope, committed to bringing Jesus’ message of love and unity to our world. Our life in mission integrates prayer, community life and ministry. Believing that our international presence gives us a unique global responsibility, we address urgent needs of our time, particularly those of women, youth and those who are poor. Engaged in a variety of ministries, we are educators at heart, believing the world can be changed through the transformation of persons. Some of our ministries include formal education, social services, parish and retreat ministry, health care and

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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; social services and prayer ministry in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, Rome (Italy), Slovakia and South Africa. Contact: Vocation Director, Mount Assisi Convent, 934 Forest Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15202; (412) 761-6004; e-mail: vocationsosf@gmail.com; website: 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. Mary Terese, Vocation Director, Mt. Assisi Convent, 13900 Main St., Lemont, IL 60439; (630) 257-7524; e-mail: v o c a r e o s f @ y a h o o . c o m ; w e b s i t e : w w w. lemontfranciscans.org. See ad on page 88. Code #140.

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: srcathcaron@ hotmail.com; website: 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: www.sscm-usa.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #055. 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. Rose Bernadette Mulligan, Villa Maria House of Studies, 1140 King Rd. Immaculata, PA 19345-0200; (610) 889-1553; e-mail: ihmvoc@aol.com; website: www. ihmimmaculata.org. See ad on page 34. Code #187. Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (I.H.M.)—Monroe, MI We are a progressive, visionary faith community of 400 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) 240-9820; e-mail: membership@ ihmsisters.org; website: www.ihmsisters.org. See ad on page 87. Code #258. Sisters of Charity (Federation) The Sisters of Charity Federation is comprised of 12 religious

VISION 2013

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org 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-ofcharity-federation.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #059.

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: www.schalifax.ca. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #059. Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth (S.C.L.) Impelled by the love of Christ, we, Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth offer every loving service in our power to meet the critical needs of God’s people. We are an apostolic community. We serve in California, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Peru. We serve in a variety of ministries including: Health care: hospitals and clinics for the uninsured; Education: college, high school, elementary; Pastoral ministry: diocesan and parish administration, religious education, spiritual direction, campus ministry, youth ministry; Social services: Catholic Charities, AIDS ministry, social justice advocacy. Sr. Victoria Lichtenauer, 4200 South 4th Street, Leavenworth, KS 66048; (913) 758-6522; e-mail: VickiL@scls. org; website: www.scls.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #059. Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, KY (S.C.N.) We are an international congregation founded in 1812

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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, 6301 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10471; e-mail: vocationsc@scny. org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #059. Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth (S.C.) As women of prayer, rooted in community and committed to the mission of Jesus Christ we are compelled by his love to make God known in the world. We work with and for the poor, to alleviate suffering and dispel ignorance and promote justice in all our ministries. In the spirit of Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Louise de Marillac, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and Mother Mary Xavier Mehegan we are faithful to our charism of charity as we engage ourselves in education, health care, diocesan and parish ministry, counseling, spiritual direction and retreats, hospitals, homes for the aged, adult literacy programs, social services and advocacy for the poor and oppressed. We serve in 17 states and El Salvador, Central America. For more information about us and living BOUNDLESS CHARITY IN YOUR LIFE AND WORK please contact Sister Maureen Corcoran, S.C., P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, NJ 07961-0476; (973) 290-5331; e-mail: mcorcoran@ scnj.org; website: www.scnj.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.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 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: www. scsja.org. Code #060.

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. Barbara Ann Smelko, S.C., and Sr. Yong Son Kim at Seton House International, 4933 W. Patterson Ave., Chicago, IL 60641-3512; (773) 2051822 ext 206; e-mail: barbaraannsmelko42scsh@ gmail.com; cathyysk416@yahoo.com; website: www.scsh.org. See our web ad online at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #059.

Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (B.V.M.) 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. The Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Freed by Love, Acting for Justice. For

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

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: www.scnfamily.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #059.

Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org information, contact: Lou Anglin, BVM; Kathy Carr, BVM; 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003; (563) 588-2351; e-mail: newmember@bvmcong.org; website: www.bvmcong.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #296.

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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 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, or Sister Kim Phuong Tran; e-mail: vocationoffice@CCVI-VDM.org; (713) 928-6053; website: www.sistersofcharity.org. See ad on page 159. Code #061. 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: www. scceast.org. Contact (Western Province) Sr. Carol Bredenkamp, S.C.C., 2041 Elmwood Ave., Wilmette, IL 60091; (847) 920-9341; e-mail: callscc@ sccwilmette.org; website: www.sccwilmette.org. See our web ad at www.digitalVocationGuide.org. See ad on page 17. 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. Together we affirm 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: 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,

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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; websites: www.smr.org or www.maryrep.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. The Institute includes 3,600+ sisters who serve in North, South, and Central America, the Caribbean, Guam, and the Philippines. More than 3,100 associates, eight Companions in Mercy, 891 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: 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/MercySisters or on Twitter, www. twitter.com/SistersofMercy. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 93. Code #063. Sisters of Nazareth, (C.S.N.) Victoire Larmenier founded this prayerful international congregation of religious women in 1851 to follow Jesus by bringing love, respect and dignity to the elderly and children. The sisters do this by following the example of the Holy Family of Nazareth by giving prayerful loving care, apostolic example and support to the elderly, and by teaching young children. In the USA, the sisters are located in California in Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno and San Rafael. If you are a young, single Catholic woman ready to answer Christ’s call to the religious life, and who wants to know more about the Sisters of Nazareth and their Core Values of love, compassion, patience, justice, hospitality and respect, please contact our Vocations Directors or check out our website: www.sistersofnazareth.com. Vocation Directors: Sister Fintan, CSN, (310) 614-9570; vocations@nazarethhousela.org or Sister Linda Rita, CSN, (415) 871-1727, srlinda@nazarethhousesr.com. See ad on page 46. Code #244. 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: www.sndca.org. Kentucky Province: Sister Mary Ruth Lubbers, e-mail: smrlubbers@gmail.com; website: www.sndky. org. Cleveland, OH Province: Sister Kathleen Hine, e-mail: khine@ndec.org; website: www.sndchardon. org. Toledo, OH Province: Sister Marilyn Marie Ellerbrock, e-mail: mellerbrock@toledosnd.org; website: www.toledosnd.org. International website: 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) 3801571; e-mail: Angele.Lewis@SNDdeN.org; website: ASKanSND.org or www.SNDdeN.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 38. Code #065. Sisters of Our Lady of Sion (N.D.S.) We are also known as Sisters of Sion, called to follow Jesus in a consecrated life that is both contemplative and apostolic. The Word of God is central to our lives. Rooted in prayer, we are called to a vocation of reconciliation and justice. God’s Word calls us to work for understanding among Christians and Jews and people of all faiths, and to join with those in situations of conflict and oppression. We are a small international community engaged in ministries such as education, pastoral work, Jewish-Christian, ecumenical and inter-religious relations, ecological concerns and social services. Do you long for something more? Are you drawn to a life of prayer and service? Do you seek a world of justice? Are you open to other cultures and faith traditions? Are you willing to share life in community? Contact: e-mail: celia.deutsch@gmail.com or sosion.info@gmail.com; website: www.sistersofsion.net. Code #366. 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

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org 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: sisterann@rochesterfranciscan.org; website: www.rochesterfranciscan.org. See ad on page 98. Code #213.

Sisters of Providence (S.P.)—Saint Mary-of-theWoods, 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. For more information contact Sister Editha Ben at (812) 535-2895 or eben@spsmw.org; website: www.sistersofprovidence.org. Code #068.

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 Christcentered 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) 2751093; fax: (570) 275-5997; e-mail: debbiesscm@ hotmail.com; website: www.sscm.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 124. Code #181.

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: www. sistersofprovidence.net.; Facebook: www.facebook. com/sistersofprovidencemjp. See ad on page 14. Code #067. Sisters of Saint Francis, 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 and in Colombia, in inner cities and rural areas,

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Sisters of St. Agnes (C.S.A.) The Sisters of St. Agnes participate in the mission of Christ by 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: www.csasisters.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 87. Code #171. Sisters of St. Casimir (SSC) The Sisters of St. Casimir invite YOU to share in a life of prayer, community, and service. As vowed women religious we center our lives on the Gospel message of Jesus and His mission of caring for the poor and marginalized. Our foundress, Venerable Servant of God Maria Kaupas had a deep love and concern for the faith life of immigrants and their needs. It is her vision and spirit that inspire us to serve with love and compassion through education, health care, social services, and advocacy. We minister in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas, and also in Argentina. We journey with others toward a gospel vision of a peaceful, loving and just world. For more information 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: jgolubickis@ssc2601.com; website: www.ssc2601.com. See ad on page 96. Code #071. Sisters of St. Francis (OSF), Sylvania, OH As Sylvania Franciscans, our beginnings brought us to northwest 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, 11 states, and the island of Haiti— not only into education—but into health care, pastoral work, justice and peace efforts, ministry to the materially and spiritually poor. 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 176 Vowed Women and 80 Associates, who witness to God’s love by being rooted in prayer and the Eucharist, strengthened by community life and focused on our mission. Feel the Joy! Live Franciscan! For further information please contact Sister Julie Myers at 419-824-3914; e-mail: jmyers@sistersosf. org; website: www.sistersosf.org. See ad on page 66. Code #085. Sisters of St. Francis (Tiffin Franciscans), Tiffin, OH “This is a powerful place,” said one of our retreatants recently about our campus in Tiffin, Ohio. We are committed to listening and responding to God’s call for us as a community. Indeed, prayer, service and community have been our foundation since 1869, when Fr. Joseph Bihn and Mother Elizabeth Schaefer set out to help orphans and the elderly poor after the Civil War. Peacemaking, concern for the poor, contemplation/ action and care of creation are the directions we follow as we walk through the world, doing what we can to answer God’s call. Today, we serve in Mexico and in several states in the U.S. We are forward looking and inclusive. We are surrounded by beauty on our campus in Tiffin, Ohio, which is home to our Motherhouse, Franciscan Earth Literacy Center, St. Francis Spirituality Center and St. Francis Senior Ministries. Please contact vocations@tiffinfranciscans.org or (419) 447-0435. Visit www.sfctiffin.org and find us on Facebook @ Tiffin Franciscans and on Twitter @ TiffinSisters. See ad on page 164. Code #287. 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. Adele Thibaudeau, 3221 S. Lake Drive, St. Francis, WI 53235; (414) 294-7306;

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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: www.sisofprov.org. Code #066.

Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org 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) 6746168; e-mail: sistersarahelizabeth@gmail.com; website: www.westpeoriasisters.org. See our web ad at www.digitalvocationguide.org. See ad on page 23. Code #279.

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e-mail: vocdir@lakeosfs.org; website: www.lakeosfs. org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 95. 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 vowed members. Inquiries are also welcomed from both men and women interested in the Associate relationship. Vocation Minister: Sr. Juanita Ujcik, O.S.F., 1433 Essington Road, Joliet, IL 60435; (815) 725-8735; fax: (815) 725-8648; e-mail: jujcik@jolietfranciscans. org; website: www.jolietfranciscans.org. See ad on page 22. 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: Vocation Office, 4421 Lower River Rd., Stella Niagara, NY 14144; (716) 754-4311, ext. 9777#; e-mail: vocationoptionssf@yahoo.com; website: www. franciscans-stella-niagara.org and www.franciscanway. org. Visit us on facebook at OSF.Stella.Niagara. Code #142. Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration (O.S.F.) Western Province (Colorado Springs, CO) “Climb every mountain; follow every rainbow till you find your dream, a dream that will need all the love

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you can give everyday of your life for as long as you live.” (from The Sound of Music). Come dream with us—an international congregation of Catholic Sisters whose western provincial home is in the Colorado Springs’ foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Keep your unique identity but add those of a woman Religious and a Franciscan in love with God. Join us in our communal life, service to others and perpetual adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist and in all of creation. We seek to bring God’s love to each other and to all we encounter through our ministries while striving to become ever more contemplative and compassionate women addressing the unmet needs of our times. Learn more at www.stfrancis.org. Contact Sister Dorothy Schlaeger at dorothy@ stfrancis.org or at (719) 210-4588. Code #073. Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia (O.S.F.) Gospel Women Making a Difference! Will you join us in following Jesus Christ? We live the traditional Franciscan Third Order values of contemplation, poverty, humility, and continuous conversion through the evangelical vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Community life, prayer and ministry support and express our relationships with God, others, creation, and self. We choose to take the necessary risks to be a compassionate presence in our violent world—especially with women; children; those who have no voice; and those who are economically poor, marginalized, and oppressed. Our varied ministries allow us to foster right relationships in our Church and promote peace in society in the United States and beyond. Are you interested? Have questions? Contact a vocation director: Sr. Mary Beth Antonelli (East), Sr. Elaine Thaden (West), Sr. Christine Still (West); vocations@ osfphila.org, www.osfphila.org. See our web ad at www.digitalvocationguide.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

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 strive to live in right relationship with God, one another, and all creation. The Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities is composed of four Franciscan communities who have common historical roots. Together, we are in the process of creating a new vision for our reunited 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 talents 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: www.sosf.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 162. Code #294. Sisters of St. John the Baptist (C.S.J.B.) We are an international community founded by Blessed Alfonso Maria Fusco in Italy in 1878. Our charism is to work for the glory of God in the service of our neighbor especially the poor, the abandoned, and those at risk so that they may be able to realize themselves in the Church and in society and become promoters of justice and peace. We seek to remove the obstacles which hinder people from freely accepting the Love of God into their lives through our prayer and community life and our apostolate. We are teachers, Directors of Religious Education, Pastoral Associates, Youth Ministers, School Principals, Administrators and Librarians, Counselors, Ministers of the Eucharist, Health Care Professionals, Pastoral caregivers of the aged, sick and dying. Applicants must be free from canonical impediments, high school graduate, good physical and mental health, appropriate social maturity and a desire to serve God’s people. For more information please contact: Sister Liceria Sayon,CSJB, 57 Cleveland Place, Staten Island, NY 10305; (718) 447-4150 x207 or 172; e-mail: baptistinevoc@aol.com; website; www.baptistines.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 51. 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 time. Over 360 years later, this same mission continues in over 50 countries worldwide. We are vowed religious women from all

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org. Watertown, NY: Sr. Mary Gregory Munger, SSJ, (315) 782-3460; e-mail: smgssj@yahoo.com; website: www.ssjwatertown.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 43. Code #024. Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny The Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, founded in 1807, are an international missionary congregation with approximately 3,000 sisters bringing hope and compassion to people around the world. In the Province of USA and Canada, the sisters currently minister in San Pedro, California; Plainfield, New Jersey; Middletown and Newport, Rhode Island and Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The sisters are involved in ministries of education, parish ministry, small Christian community development, religious education, spiritual direction and retreat work, and social services. If you are searching to respond to God’s will and feel called to a life of simplicity and availability contact the Cluny Sisters at vocations@clunyUSandCanada.org or visit our website at www.clunyUSandCanada.org, or contact: Sister Genevieve Vigil, 853 W. 7th St., San Pedro, CA 90731-3091; (310) 834-5431. See ad on page 18. Code #441. 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) 467-5402; e-mail: jmiller@csjp-olp.org; website: www.csjp.org. See ad on page 99. 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 280 Franciscan vowed religious women and associate members who are dedicated to Gospel living. In the spirit of Jesus and St. Francis of Assisi, 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 14 states, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Peru. For more information 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: www.ssj-tosf.org. See ad on page 46. Code #154. Sisters of St. Mary of Namur (S.S.M.N.) Are you fascinated by God? We are. Are you challenged to deepen your spiritual life and values? We are. T h e S i s t e r s o f S t . M a r y a re a n

international congregation of religious women, consecrated by vows, and living together in community to spread the Word of God. We live and work in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Our service is 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. Patricia Brady, 165 University Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14214; (716) 833-8532; e-mail: bradyp@canisius.edu; website: www.ssmn.us. Contact for Texas: Sr. Yolanda Cruz, 909 West Shaw St., Fort Worth, Texas 76110; (817) 923-3091; e-mail: sycruz@sbcglobal.net; website: www. ssmnvocationchat.blogspot.com. Code #348. Sisters of St. Rita (O.S.A.) As Augustinian Sisters we take seriously St. Augustine’s vision on community life: “To be one heart and soul on our way to God.” This is our main charism. We follow the example of our Patroness, St. Rita of Cascia, who lived the Gospel life through love, forgiveness and justice. The source for our ministries is the Eucharist. As we minister to our brothers and sisters in our daily life, especially the elderly we care for and minister to at St. Monica’s Home, we try to allow ourselves to be “blessed, broken and shared” by becoming Eucharist to them. Our apostolate is spiritual/social family care with all its diverse ministries. If you feel called to this way of life, we invite and welcome mature women 20 to 50 years of age to minister with us. Contact Sr. Angelica Summer, O.S.A., St. Rita’s Convent, 4014 N. Green Bay Rd., Racine, WI 53404; (262)6391766; e-mail: sr.angelica@sbcglobal.net; website: www.sistersofstrita.org. Code #163. 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) 2449900, ext. 327; e-mail: sbsvocof@aol.com; website: www.katharinedrexel.org. See ad on page 124. 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 126 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 cofounder, 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.

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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. 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; St. Joseph Worker Volunteer Program (Albany) (518) 393-0528; e-mail: sjworkers@csjalbany.org; website: www.sjworkers.org. Baden, PA: Sr. Dorothy Pashuta, CSJ, (724) 869-6092; 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, (631) 273-1187 ext. 42; e-mail: vocationcsj@aol.com; website: www.brentwoodcsj. org. Buffalo, NY: Sr. Mary Lou Schnitzer, SSJ, (716) 759-6454; e-mail: SML944@aol.com; website: www. ssjbuffalo.org. Chambery-West Hartford, CT: Sr. Susan Cunningham, CSJ, (860) 987-7053; e-mail: suecsj@juno.com; website: www.sistersofsaintjoseph. org. Concordia, KS: Sr. Beverly Carlin, CSJ, (785) 220-4428: 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) 767-6878; e-mail: ifernandez@csjoseph. org; Sr. Celeste Cotter, CSJ, (708) 310-1292; e-mail: ccotter@csjoseph.org; Lois O’Malley, CSJ, (316) 6894029; e-mail: lomalley@csjoseph.org; website: www. csjoseph.org. Erie, PA: Sr. Linda Fusco, SSJ, (814) 836-4127; e-mail: s.lfusco@ssjerie.org; website: www. ssjerie.org. Honolulu, HI: Sr. Roselani Enomoto, CSJ, e-mail: roselani.enomoto@gmail.com; Rosemarie Montoya, CSJ e-mail: lokecsj@hawaii.rr.com; (808) 244-8123; website: www.csjhawaii.org. Los Angeles, CA: Sr. Ingrid Honore-Lallande, CSJ, (951) 7048888; e-mail: ihonore-lallande@csjla.org; Sr. Darlene Kawulok, CSJ, (310) 889-2117; e-mail: dkawulok@ 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; SSJ Mission Corps Volunteer, Colleen O’Grady, (215) 248-7235; e-mail: cogrady@ssjphila.org; website: ssjphila.org/ volunteers.html. 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, e-mail: lmarkway@csjsl. org or Sr. Kathleen Eiler, CSJ, e-mail: keiler@csjsl. org; (314) 678-0315; 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 (St. Paul): Bridgette Kelly, (651) 690-7049; e-mail: bkelly@csjstpaul.org; website: www.stjosephworkers.

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Praying. Serving. Building community. Together.

SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS 200 ST. FRANCIS AVE., TIFFIN, OH 44883 419.447.0435 vocations@tiffinfranciscans.org

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Broadway, White Plains, NY 10603; (914) 798-1109; fax: (914) 949-5169; e-mail: snbecker2000@yahoo. com; website: www.divinecompassion.org. Code #277. Sisters of the Divine Savior (SDS) We are the women religious branch of the international Salvatorian Family, which also includes priests and brothers, and married or single lay women and men. The Salvatorian Sisters were founded in Rome by Venerable Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan and Blessed Mary of the Apostles in 1888. We carry out our mission to make Jesus our Savior known so that all may experience fullness of life. We minister in 29 countries worldwide, including the U.S. in Alabama, Arizona, California, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Among our apostolic works are parish and retreat ministries, education, health care, advocacy for victims of human trafficking, social work, art and law. We invite women ages 20-50 to explore the Salvatorian Sisters by contacting Sister Mary Lee Grady, SDS at (414) 466-0810, ext. 229; gradym@salvatoriansisters.org; or 4311 N. 100th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53222. Website: www. sistersofthedivinesavior.org.; www.facebook.com/ sistersofthedivinesavior. See ad on page 19. Code #315. Sisters of the Holy Cross (C.S.C.) We, Sisters of the Holy Cross, are a dynamic international congregation of 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 address unmet needs 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. Make a difference in our world by sharing our life and mission. Sr. Katherine Kase, CSC, 4910 Strathmore Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895; e-mail: vocations.us@cscsisters.org; website: www.cscsisters.org. See ad on page 123. Code #269. Sisters of the Holy Family (S.H.F.) For 140 years the Sisters of the Holy Family have responded to the Gospel call to seek out the poor and the needy, especially

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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, anti-human trafficking advocacy & education, social justice work, teachers, special education, social work, and home visiting. Our doors are open to those exploring membership as vowed women religious or associates (both male & female). We invite you to explore a possible calling to serve with the Sisters of the Holy Family. Vocation Director, P.O. Box 3248, Fremont, California 94539; (510) 624-4511; website: www. holyfamilysisters.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.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: www.nazarethcsfn.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 97. 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@ H o l y R e d e e m e r . c o m ; w e b s i t e : w w w. SistersHolyRedeemer.org. See ad on page 42. Code #079. Sisters of the Humility of Mary (H.M.) As Sisters of the Humility of Mary, 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. Her 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. 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 diocese in 1864. Today, we follow in their footsteps, dedicated to works of peacemaking, justice, and care for Earth through a variety of ministries in education, health care, social service, and pastoral ministry. We number 162 Sisters serving in Midwestern states, Florida, and Haiti. Others join in our life and mission as Associates, HM Volunteers and Volunteer Alums. For more information: www.humilityofmary.org. Membership Office, 20015 Detroit Road, Rocky River, OH 44116, (440)356-5711; e-mail vocation@ h m m i n i s t r y. o rg . S e e o u r w e b a d a t w w w. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 58. Code #329. Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament (I.W.B.S.)—Corpus Christi, TX We are called by Christ to extend His Incarnation in time by the witness of our lives in community and by our service to others. We choose to contemplate and to be the human face of God’s love in the world. We invite others to join us! We live together simply. We celebrate Eucharist daily. We share prayer, ministry, and community. Our spirituality is centered in the Incarnation. By the public and permanent consecration of our lives to the Incarnate Word we become a sign of the reign of God. We serve in the Dioceses of Corpus Christi, Brownsville and Beaumont. We spend our energies that others may come to know and love Jesus, the warm, gracious Loving Person Who walked with people and lived in community with them. You will find us in elementary and secondary schools, in hospital pastoral care, in parishes and diocesan offices; as school administrators, as teacher, librarians, as archivists, writers, as artists, musicians, as technology coordinators, as counselors, spiritual directors, as chaplains, and directors of catechesis, being and doing whatever we can do to extend the Incarnation in time. We invite you to visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/iwbscc or at our website www.iwbscc.org. See our ad on page 93. Code #274. 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

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationNetwork.org 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. Colette Fahrner, 800 N. Fernandez Ave.-B, Arlington Heights, IL 60004; (847) 577-5972; e-mail: Kathleen Heer at Kathleen_slw@ yahoo.com or Colette at coletteslw@yahoo.com; website: www.slw.org. See ad on page 153. Code #173.

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: 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 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

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Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (S.S.H.J.) We are Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus founded by Blessed Maria Schinina in 1889. Following the command of Jesus “obey my ministers,” Maria Schinina rejected worldly pleasures and dedicated her life in service to the destitute, the homeless, and the unwanted. The aim of this Congregation is the glory of God and the sanctification of its members through the practice of Evangelical Vows, spiritual and corporal works of mercy. The Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus live their Spirituality of Love and Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through Love and Service to the Poor. The Sisters continue to serve the poor in orphanages, rest homes, parish ministry, schools, missionary work, and in propagating devotion to the Sacred Heart. We live prayer and community life and wear full religious habit. We serve in Italy, Madagascar, Nigeria, Philippines, Romania, France, India, Equatorial Guinea, Panama, Canada, and United States. Age limit is 18 to 35. Contact: Sister Grace Dike, SSHJ, Sacred Heart Villa, 5269 Lewiston Rd., Lewiston, NY 14092; (716) 2848273; e-mail: sshj_vocation@yahoo.com; website: 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 Tanzania. 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@gmail.com; www.becomingasister. org; www.sistersofthesorrowfulmother.org; and www. motherfrances.streitel.org. See ad on page 23. 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 the 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) 655-2645; e-mail: vocation.info@osfhealthcare.org; website: www.franciscansisterspeoria.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 121. Code #081. 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: b e n e d i c i t e @ f a i r p o i n t . n e t ; w e b s i t e : w w w. 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, 4721-J South Woodlawn, Chicago, IL 60615; (773) 405-9884; e-mail: jeankielty@yahoo.com or Sr. Anna Maria Baldauf, 4721-J South Woodlawn, Chicago, IL 60615; (312) 806-1884; e-mail: annamaria.baldauf@yahoo. com. For Spanish contact Sr. Dominga Zapata, 2043 N. Humboldt Blvd., Chicago, IL 60647; (773) 3438832; e-mail: mingaz37@att.net. Visit our website at www.helpers.org. U.S. Provincial House: 4721-J S. Woodlawn, Chicago, IL 60615; (773) 548-5026. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.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.

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Sisters of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S.) For more than 175 years, the Sisters of the Precious Blood have served as unwavering w i t n e s s e s t o C h r i s t ’s re d e m p t i v e , reconciling, and healing love, responding to the world’s urgent needs whenever and wherever it presents itself. The Sisters of the Precious Blood are united by a rich and active contemplative spirituality that is firmly rooted in Eucharistic prayer and devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus. We participate in ministries as diverse as the Sisters who engage in them. These ministries include health care, education, pastoral care, and outreach to name a few. Life as a Sister of the Precious Blood is for women who feel motivated to go beyond themselves. Sisters of the Precious Blood, 4000 Denlinger Rd., Dayton OH 45416. Phone: (937)837-3302. Learn more at www. PreciousBloodSistersDayton.org or vocations@ PreciousBloodSistersDayton.org See ad on page 50. Code #318.

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: www.resurrectionsisters.org. Chicago Province: Sr. Kathleen Ann, C.R., 7432 W. Talcott Avenue, Chicago, IL 60631; (773) 792-6363; e-mail: callres1946@gmail.com; website: www. crsisterschicago.org. See ad on page 26. Code #215.

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. . . be companions of Jesus whose lives reveal him to the world.

FCJ Constitutions

. . . captivated by Jesus and his mission . . .

www.fcjsisters.org

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Discover if God is calling you to witness to his love in our world. Contact: Sr. Clarice Suchy, S.T.J., 18080 St. Joseph Way, Covington, LA 70435; (504) 615-4504; e-mail: teresianvocations@yahoo.com; website: www. teresians.org. See ad on page 123. Code #261. 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 13 states. For more information, please contact: Anita Quigley, SHCJ; 1341 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, PA 19010; (610) 626-1400, ext. 304; e-mail: aquigley@shcj.org. Visit our website at www. shcj.org/american. See ad on page 90. Code #172.

T Trappistine Cistercian Nuns (O.C.S.O.), Crozet, VA—Our Lady of the Angels Monastery Our way of Christian discipleship is a gospel life according to the teaching of the Church, the Rule of St. Benedict and the Constitutions of our Cistercian Trappist Order. Daily we celebrate the Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Hours, and we also give time each day to meditation and adoration, sacred reading and study. The whole community works together in our means of self-support—the making of a fine quality cheese on our monastery farm. We also offer hospitality to retreatants in our guest cottages, and we exercise stewardship over our woodlands and cultivated fields here in the heart of Virginia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains. We invite single Catholic women between the ages of 20 and 40 to contact us through our website: www.olamonastery.org or by e-mail: vocations@olamonastery.org or by writing to: Vocation Director, Our Lady of the Angels,

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3365 Monastery Drive, Crozet, VA 22932. We look forward to welcoming you! See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #415. Trappistine Cistercian Nuns (O.C.S.O.), Dubuque, IA—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 and in our care for others. Lectio Divina is the prayerful reading and pondering of God’s Word. Our manual work is the prayer of our hands which supports us. 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. Gail Fitzpatrick; Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey, 8400 Abbey Hill Lane, Dubuque, IA 52003; (563) 582-2595, ext. 141; e-mail: vocations@olmabbey.org; website: www.mississippiabbey.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #415. Trappistine Cistercian Nuns (O.C.S.O.), Sonoita, AZ—Santa Rita Abbey As the mountains surround us, so the monastic observance surrounds and fosters our contemplative longing to behold the face of God. We live out the divine and human gifts of simplicity, community, liturgy, joy and prayer. Are you being invited by the Spirit into this School of Charity that is the Cistercian Southwest? Sr. Miriam Pollard welcomes your questions at Santa Rita Abbey, HC 1, Box 929, Sonoita, AZ 85637; e-mail: sracommty@ gmail.com; website: www.SantaRitaAbbey.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #415. Trappistine Cistercian Nuns (O.C.S.O.), Whitehorn, CA—Redwoods Monastery Our monastic roots began in France in 1098 by Benedictines, who desiring a God-centered 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. Suzanne; e-mail: vocationdirector@redwoodsabbey.org; website: www. redwoodsabbey.org; blog: www.redwoodsabbey. blogspot.com; or write, Vocation Director, Redwoods Monastery, 18104 Briceland-Thorn Rd., Whitehorn, CA 95589; (707) 986-7419. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #369. Trappistine Cistercian Nuns (O.C.S.O.), Wrentham, MA—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 self-knowledge. 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: www.msmabbey.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #415.

U Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland (O.S.U.) As Ursuline Sisters we are called to live 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: www.ursulinesisters.org. Code #311. Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph (O.S.U.) We are Ursuline Sisters proclaiming Jesus through education and Christian formation,

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Search these other Communities/Programs online at VocationNetwork.org 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, New York, Washington, D.C., and Chile, South America. Our focus is in four areas: education, from primary grades to college; church ministry; social outreach and justice advocacy with the poor, children, elderly, immigrants, and the homeless; and ministries of body, mind and spirit. We sponsor Brescia University and offer opportunities for spiritual growth and reflection at the Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center. More than 400 Ursuline Associates join us in prayer and ministry. Vocations: Contact Sister Martha Keller, (270) 2294103, ext. 212; vocations.msj@maplemount.org; 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356. Visit us at www.ursulinesmsj.org . Code #222.

V Visitation Sisters of Minneapolis (VHM) Learn more about the Visitation Sisters of Minneapolis through their Visitation Engagement offerings, the five offerings available to those who, like the Visitation Sisters, want to Live Jesus in an urban setting! •Following the Spirit Discernment Series: resources and reflection on discernment for all of life’s decisions. •Visitation Internship Program: giving young adults the opportunity to live in community and provide a year of ministry within north Minneapolis. •Visitation Companions: committing to an intentional study of Salesian Spirituality to nourish and deepen one’s personal spiritual journey. •Monastic Immersion Experience: a unique opportunity for an in-depth experience of the Sisters’ monastic way of life in an urban setting. •Vowed Religious Life: Live a monastic life of prayer and community: being present and reaching out to all in the diverse setting of north Minneapolis to “Live Jesus.” For more information, please contact Sister Katherine Mullin at katherinefmullin@gmail. com or call (612) 521-6113. Visit our website at www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/minnemonastery; and “Like” us on Facebook (“Visitation Monastery North Minneapolis”)! See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #086.

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Associate Community of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ We are baptized men and women who make a non-vowed renewable covenant with the Associate Community 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. The Associates, together with the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and Fiat Spiritus Community, live the spirit of their foundress Blessed Catherine Kasper. Contact: Donna Sikorski, P.O. Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513; (574) 936-9936 ext. 733; e-mail: dsikorski@poorhandmaids.org; website: www. poorhandmaids.org/associates. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #049.

new communities of consecrated life Fiat Spiritus Community (FS) We are a community of vowed Christian men and women who are committed to living an apostolic life. We are called to listen to the Holy Spirit through community which empowers us to discern our response to the needs of our time especially with the needy and underserved. The Fiat Spiritus Community, together with the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and Associate Community, live the Spirit of Blessed Catherine Kasper our foundress. Contact: Brother Bob Overland, FS, P.O. Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513; (574) 936-1726; e-mail: boverland@poorhandmaids. org; website: www.fiatspiritus.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.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: 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 Days of Recollection. 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 334H, Scarsdale, NY 10583-5834; e-mail: seculardbv@aol.com. Code #360. 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 fastestgrowing vocation in the Church today. For more information see 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) 352-8425; e-mail: sklewis@comcast.net. Code #147.

woMen’s communities sarch other communities/programS

Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union U.S. Provinces (O.S.U.) The Ursulines were the first religious women in what is now the United States, arriving in New Orleans in 1727. We have been serving God’s people here continuously since that time. Like our foundress, St. Angela Merici, Ursulines believe that every day is a journey toward God. We seek to be faithful to a daily rhythm of contemplation, community life and ministry. We dare to confront the oppression of women and to stand in solidarity with the poor. We fulfill our mission in varied works by helping people recognize and develop their gifts for the service of others. For information, please contact: Sr. Jean Hopman, OSU, sjeanosu@gmail.com, (773) 844-0950; Sr. Elisa Ryan, OSU, elisaosu@gmail.com, (314) 825-9733; www.usaosu.org; backlitwithjoy. wordpress.com. Code #218.

Associate communities

UK/Irish Communities Find UK and Irish Communities online through our community search or in o u r d i g i t a l e d i t i o n o f Vi s i o n : w w w. digitalvocationguide.org. 167

Index to religious communities advertising in Vision ’13 VocationNetwork.org

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Men’s

Marianists, Society of Mary, p. 137

136 Society of African Missions, p. 38

230

298

Marist Brothers, p. 83

107

Marists Fathers and Brothers, p. 39

107 Society of Mary (See Marists Fathers and Brothers), p. 39

Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 67

207

Augustinian Friars, p. 78

020

Augustinian Monks of the Primitive Observance, p. 131

328

Augustinians of the Assumption, p. 131

254

Barnabite Fathers, p. 24

308

Basilian Monks, p. 131

177 Divine Word Missionaries, p. 115

355

Benedictine Monks, Marmion Abbey, p. 131

228 The Dominicans, p. 31

217 Benedictine Monks, Mount Saviour Monastery, p. 133 182

Benedictine Monks, Newark Abbey, p. 105

417

Benedictine Monks, Portsmouth Abbey, p. 82

204

Benedictine Monks, Saint Anselm’s Abbey, p. 133

349 Benedictine Monks, Saint Gregory’s Abbey, p. 133 132 408

129

Missionaries of the Holy Family, p. 111

164 Spiritans, p. 29

108

Missionaries of the Precious Blood, p. 110

133

Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 66

094

Viatorians, p. 48

198

Xaverian Brothers, p. 84

137

Xaverian Missionaries, p. 37

Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, p. 76

281

Franciscan Friars-Assumption of the BVM Province, p.82

109

418

Franciscan Friars-Province of St. Barbara, p. 136

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, p. 42

284

370

Franciscan Friars-Province of the Immaculate Conception, p. 76

Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, p. 113

Franciscan Friars-Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, p. 136

289 Norbertine Fathers and Brothers, Daylesford Abbey, p. 139 110 Norbertine Fathers and Brothers, p. 17

Benedictine Monks, Saint Joseph Abbey, p. 133

216 Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, p. 140

098

Franciscan Friars, Conventual, p. 136

271 Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 140

100 Brothers of the Christian Schools, p. 134 Brothers of the Sacred Heart, p. 28

295 Franciscan Friars, T.O.R., Immaculate Conception Province, p. 81 232

003

122 Trinitarians, p. 143

Missionaries 267

Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 89

214

Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, p. 121

203

Brothers of the Sacred Heart, p. 28

013

Carmelites, Congregation of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, p. 128

440

Consolata Missionary Sisters, p. 148

239

Pallottines, Immaculate Conception Province, p. 65

168 Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, p. 120

Franciscan Friars, T.O.R., Province of the Most Sacred Heart, p. 77

437

Pallottines, Mother of God Province, p. 77

177 Divine Word Missionaries, p. 115

113

Passionists, p. 140

281

Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, p. 21

114 The Paulist Fathers, p. 57

Franciscan Friars-Assumption of the BVM Province, p. 82

125

Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, p. 50

442

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady, p. 48

443

Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi, p. 152

103 Glenmary Home Missioners, p. 22 445

Jerusalem Communities, Montreal, p. 106

104

Jesuits, p. 104

Carmelite Friars, St. Elias Province, p. 134

192

Josephite Priests and Brothers, p. 103

Congregation of Christian Brothers, p. 83

344 Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd, p. 106

Congregation of Holy Cross, p. 75

334

Capuchin Franciscan Friars, p. 45

415 Trappist Cistercian Monks, p. 142

Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, p. 139

102

313

121 Trappist Cistercian Monks, Ava, MO, p. 105

130

Franciscan Friars-St. John the Baptist Province, p. 136

206 Brothers of Christian Instruction, p. 79

168

120 Somascan Fathers and Brothers, p. 47

233

Benedictine Monks, Subiaco Abbey, p. 101

097

434 Discalced Carmelite Friars, p. 61

149 Society of St. Paul, p. 142

199 Maryknoll Congregation and Society, p. 109

Benedictine Monks, Saint John’s Abbey, p. 40

256

095

Crosier Fathers and Brothers, p. 135

111 Oblates of the Virgin Mary, p. 140

Benedictine Monks, Saint Meinrad Archabbey, p. 102

307

099

Franciscan Friars-Province of the Sacred Heart, p. 85

014

091

046 Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata, p. 79

283

088 Benedictine Monks, Saint Mary’s Abbey, p. 2

203

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105

Alexian Brothers, p. 171

Benedictine Monks, Mount Angel Abbey, p. 78

096 Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, p. 135

141

365

VocationMatch.org

Marianists, Province of Meribah, p. 81

195

Piarists, p. 107

134

PIME Missionaries, p. 127

116

Priests of the Sacred Heart, p. 85

135 The Redemptorists, p. 11 117 Salesians of Don Bosco, p. 13 145 Salvatorians (Society of the Divine Savior), p. 7

056 Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth, p. 59

118 Servants of Charity, p. 107

033 Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, p. 120

300 Servants of the Paraclete, p. 141

138 Glenmary Home Mission Sisters of America, p. 172

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Index to religious communities advertising in Vision ’13 (continued from page 168) 103 Glenmary Home Missioners, p. 22 127

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, p. 113

Women’s 001

041 Little Sisters of the Poor, p. 129

Adorers of the Blood of Christ, p. 98

267

199 Maryknoll Congregation and Society, p. 109

Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 89

161

Augustinian Nuns, p. 144

042

Medical Mission Sisters, p. 89

004

299

Medical Missionaries of Mary, p. 155

Benedictine Sisters/ A.B.F.C., p. 125

129

Missionaries of the Holy Family, p. 111

108

Missionaries of the Precious Blood, p. 110

321

130

Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, p. 139

133

Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 66

270 Benedictine Sisters, Colorado Springs, Co, Benet Hill, p. 97

109

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, p. 42

278

Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity, p. 29

284

Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, p. 113

186

Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, p. 156

044 Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 3 289 Norbertine Fathers and Brothers, Daylesford Abbey, p. 139 201 Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, p. 117 435 113

Pallottine Missionary Sisters, p. 111 Passionists, p. 140

362 Benedictine Sisters, Beech Grove, IN, Our Lady of Grace Monastery, p. 125

280

Benedictine Sisters, Bristow, VA, p. 125

Benedictine Sisters, Cullman, AL, Sacred Heart Monastery, p. 125

282 Benedictine Sisters, Duluth, MN, St. Scholastica Monastery, pp. 69, 125 353 Benedictine Sisters, Elizabeth, NJ, St. Walburga Monastery, p. 125 069

Benedictine Sisters, Ferdinand, IN, Monastery Immaculate Conception, pp. 91, 125 341 Benedictine Sisters, Fort Smith, AR, St. Scholastica Monastery, pp. 59, 125 202

Benedictine Sisters, Mt. Angel, OR, Queen of Angels Monastery, pp. 63, 125

013

Carmelites, Congregation of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, p. 128

188

Cenacle Sisters, p. 33

011 325

170

Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, p. 27

017

Franciscan Sisters of Peace, p. 153

Cistercian Nuns, p. 148

030

Congregation of Divine Providence, Marie de La Roche Province, p. 148

Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, p. 24

056

Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth, p. 59 Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement, p. 88

012

Congregation of Notre Dame, p. 26

211

058

Congregation of Sisters of Bon Secours, p. 35

033 Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, p. 120

363

Congregation of the Humility of Mary, p. 148

138 Glenmary Home Missions Sisters of America, p. 172

440

Consolata Missionary Sisters, p. 148

077 Good Shepherd Sisters, p. 47

168 Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, p. 120

127

236 Daughters of Divine Zeal, p. 149

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, p. 113

368

Holy Union Sisters, p. 89

015 Daughters of St. Paul, p. 19

436

Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy, p. 154

150 Daughters of the Heart of Mary, p. 118 275 Daughters of Wisdom, p. 67

210 Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, p. 154

018 Dominican Sisters, p. 41

445

019 Dominican Sisters, Springfield, IL, pp. 41, 119 022 Dominican Sisters of Divine Providence, p. 39 439

Faithful Companions of Jesus, p. 166

025

Felician Franciscan Sisters, p. 15

125

Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, p. 50

292 Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, p. 60

152 Benedictine Sisters, Rock Island, IL, St. Mary Monastery, pp. 16, 125

442

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady, p. 48

114 The Paulist Fathers, p. 57

157

443

Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi, p. 152

134

PIME Missionaries, p. 127

135

Redemptorists, p. 11

414

Religious of Jesus and Mary, p. 50

300 Servants of the Paraclete, p. 141 060 Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida, p. 159

Benedictine Sisters, Watertown, SD, Mother of God Monastery, pp. 27, 125 143 Benedictine Sisters, Yankton, SD, Sacred Heart Monastery, pp. 14, 125 008 214

Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, p. 96 Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, p. 121

183 Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, p. 95

126

Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows, p. 16

037 Franciscan Sisters at Springfield (Hospital Sisters of St. Francis), p. 63

Jerusalem Communities, Montreal, p. 106

039 Little Company of Mary Sisters, p. 117 432 Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, p. 125 361 Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary, p. 28 041 Little Sisters of the Poor, p. 129 105

Marianists Sisters, p. 155

162

Marianites of Holy Cross, p. 51

199

Maryknoll Sisters, p. 109

042

Medical Mission Sisters, p. 89

299

Medical Missionaries of Mary, p. 155

278

Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity, p. 29

186

Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, p. 156

305

Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 114

189

Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, p. 25

166

Franciscan Sisters of Chicago, p. 99

193

Franciscan Sisters of Dubuque, IA, p. 18

044 Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 3

441 Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, p. 18

335

136 Society of African Missions, p. 38

Canossian Daughters of Charity, p. 96

333

Carmel of Cristo Rey, p. 9

153

Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, p. 49

354

Franciscan Sisters of John the Baptist, p. 153

340 Oblate Sisters of Providence, p. 156

010

Carmelite Sisters of St. Thérèse, p. 49

167

Franciscan Sisters of Oldenburg, IN, p. 153

196 Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 32

222 Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph, p. 166 198

Xaverian Brothers, p. 84

137

Xaverian Missionaries, p. 37

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169

Index to religious communities advertising in Vision ’13 (continued from page 169)

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Women’s (continued) 271 Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 156 201 Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, p. 117 435

Pallottine Missionary Sisters, p. 111

433

Pallottine Sisters, p. 94

292 Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, p. 60 047

Passionist Nuns, Ellisville, MO, p. 157

438 048

073 Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, Western Prov., p. 162

059 Sisters of Charity (Federation), p. 158

139 Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, p. 162

060 Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida, p. 159

279 Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception, p. 23

296 Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, p. 159

294 Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, p. 162

061 Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Houston, TX, p. 159 212 Sisters of Christian Charity, p. 17 264 Sisters of Loretto, p. 160

075 Sisters of St. John the Baptist, p. 51 024 Sisters of St. Joseph (Federation), p. 43

Poor Clares, Jamaica Plain, MA, p. 25

063 Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, p. 93

227 Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, p. 99

Poor Clares, Langhorne, PA, p. 115

244 Sisters of Nazareth, p. 46

154 Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis, p. 46

049

Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, p. 157

336

Redemptoristine Nuns, p. 157

414

Religious of Jesus and Mary, p. 50

273

Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, p. 157 Religious Teachers Filippini, p. 61

117 Salesian Sisters, p. 13 School Sisters of Notre Dame, p. 158

053 School Sisters of St. Francis, Milwaukee, WI, p. 158 357 School Sisters of St. Francis, Pittsburgh, PA, p. 158 140 School Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King, p. 88 054 Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, p. 158 055 Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary, p. 158 187 Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immaculata, PA, p. 34

170

258 Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe, MI, p. 87

356 Sisters of Mary Reparatrix, p. 160

444 Poor Clares, Wappingers Falls, NY, p. 157

052

441 Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, p. 18

359 Poor Clares, Travelers Rest, SC, p. 157

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064 Sisters of Notre Dame, p. 160 065 Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, p. 38 366 Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, p. 160 066 Sisters of Providence, Holyoke, MA, p. 160 068 Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN, p. 161 067 Sisters of Providence, Seattle and Spokane, WA, p. 14 213 Sisters of Saint Francis, Rochester, MN, p. 98 181 Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius, p. 124 171 Sisters of St. Agnes, p. 87

348 Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, p. 163 163 Sisters of St. Rita, p. 163 076 Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, p. 124 277 Sisters of the Divine Compassion, p. 163

036 Sisters of the Holy Family, p. 35

081 Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, p. 121 367 Sisters of Transfiguration Hermitage, p. 165 223 Society of Helpers, p. 165 261 Society of St. Teresa of Jesus, p. 123 172 Society of the Holy Child Jesus, p. 90 415 Trappistine Cistercian Nuns, p. 166 369 Trappistine, Cistercian Nuns, Whitehorn, CA, Redwoods Monastery, p. 166 311 Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland, p. 166 222 Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph, p. 166 218 Ursuline Sisters, Roman Union, p. 167 086

329 Sisters of the Humility of Mary, p. 58

287 Sisters of St. Francis, Tiffin, OH, p. 164

274 Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, Corpus Christi, TX, p. 93 173 Sisters of the Living Word, p. 153 318 Sisters of the Precious Blood, p. 50 327 Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque, IA, p. 165

Visitation Sisters of Minneapolis, p. 167

Associate communities 049

155 Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, p. 97

085 Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania, OH, p. 66

142 Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, Holy Name Prov., p. 162

034 Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, p. 23

269 Sisters of the Holy Cross, p. 123

079 Sisters of the Holy Redeemer, p. 42

252 Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, p. 22

165 Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 165

315 Sisters of the Divine Savior, p. 19

071 Sisters of St. Casimir, p. 96

072 Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, p. 95

215 Sisters of the Resurrection, p. 26

Associate Community of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, p. 167

New communities of consecrated life 049

Fiat Spiritus Community, p. 167

Secular institutes 347 Caritas Christi Secular Institute, p. 167 360 Don Bosco Volunteers, p. 167 147 United States Conference of Secular Institutes, p. 167

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communities based in the united kingdom

communities based in the United Kingdom

women’s communities A

Association of British Carmels The Carmelite Nuns belong to the worldwide Order of the Discalced Carmelites. There are 20 Carmelite Monasteries and almost 300 nuns in the UK. Their lives are dedicated to prayer in silence and solitude. Carmelite monasteries speak to the world of God and spiritual realities. The sisters value the companionship of Jesus above everything else. They are aware of sin and suffering and sadness and death throughout the world. They know that only Jesus has the answer; they are prepared to stake their lives on this. On behalf of all people, they choose to live out with Him the mystery of His life and death, through which all will come to His resurrection and the promise of fullness of life and joy. They unite themselves with Jesus “who lives ever to make intercession for the world” and their life’s purpose is to bring themselves and all humanity closer to the love of God. http://www.carmelnuns.org.uk; carmel.nuns@ tesco.net. Member of Compass. Code #373. Augustinian Sisters, Burgess Hill The Augustinian Order was founded in 1842 in Bruges, Belgium by Reverend Canon Peter John Maes who devoted his life to the care of the mentally ill. The Sisters of St. Augustine was re-formed in 1866 when it established its first home, St. George’s Retreat in Burgess Hill, Sussex, principally to care for the mentally and physically ill. The Sisters have continued to care for those that need it ever since. Today our Sisters work in our own houses in the Diocese of Plymouth, Northampton. We also have Sisters in Birmingham and Westminster still carrying on the vision of Canon Peter Maes. St. George’s is the Mother House, where the new care village and three care homes have been established. http://www.anh.org.uk; patf@ank.org. uk. Member of Compass. Code #374.

Carmelites, Notting Hill, UK The mission of the Carmelite is to enter, by the total gift of herself, into the saving mission of Christ, who gave himself for us that we might come to a fuller life in God. The Carmelite is one with all people, those who believe, those who search, and those who do not know that they are searching, She identifies with all that is worthy of humanity’s endeavour. Yet she is called to a life that is counter-cultural: to live quietly, against the background noise of the city; to live sparingly in an increasingly wasteful age; to live hidden in a competitive society; above all, to live lovingly in a violent world. In her contemplative prayer, the Carmelite carries the needs and hopes of every person before God, lifting the face of humanity to the Father, and opening her heart to be a channel of his outpouring love for all. Each sister works for the good of all and everything is held in common. While silence is maintained throughout the day as far as possible, this is balanced by two periods of recreation when the sisters come together to strengthen the bonds of community life. http://www.carmelitesnottinghill. org.uk/formation.htm; carmelnottinghill@talktalk.net. Member of Compass. Code #393. Cenacle Sisters, Liverpool Cenacle Sisters are inspired “to work for the transformation of the world by awakening and deepening faith with and for the people of our time.” Our three-fold mission is lived out through Apostolic

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Service, Prayer, and Community Life. Apostolic Service of making Christ known and loved is carried out through a variety of ministries, retreats, spiritual direction, chaplaincies, and faith development. Prayer is at the centre of the mystery of the Cenacle and our lives as Cenacle Sisters. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, prayer is at the heart of our ministry and our ministry inspires our prayer so that in all things Christ may be made known and loved. Community Life is where we come together and seek to have but one heart and soul. Our community of faith is gathered out of love for God, united in our mission, nourished by the Word of God and the Eucharist so that we may have the grace of loving one another as Christ has loved us. http:// www.cenaclesisters.co.uk; provcenacle@btconnect.com. Member of Compass. Code #376. Congregation of Jesus Despite centuries of struggle in a Church and a world unprepared for Mary Ward’s pioneering vision, sisters of the Congregation of Jesus today are fulfilling her Ignatian dream of women at the apostolic service of the Church and their fellow human beings all over the world. Formed in the tradition of St. Ignatius and the Spiritual Exercises we aspire to: • be “wholly God’s” - finding God in all things; • be “lovers of truth and workers of justice” in the light of the gospel; • live as companions of Jesus, sharing in His mission to our brothers and sisters. Whether by working in schools and universities, prisons or hospitals, spirituality centres or chaplaincies, through education, spiritual direction, social action for justice and hospitality we try to: • live with passion; • act with integrity; • pray with desire. http://www.cjengland.org/; jfl.cj@virgin.net. Member of Compass. Code #377. Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, Ireland and England The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts represented by the abbreviation SS.CC. after its Latin name Sacrorum Cordium, is a worldwide missionary order whose mission is to contemplate, live, and proclaim God’s love in the world. There are over 1500 in the Congregation made up priests, brothers, and sisters and an increasing number of lay associate members in over 30 countries throughout the world. The Ireland-England Province has its provincial house near Dublin for priests and brothers as well as sisters. There are currently 23 male members and 16 female members involved in a range of ministries from school chaplaincy and retreat work, parish and pastoral support activities as well as missionary support programmes. In Ireland, the community is involved in parish work, chaplaincy, pastoral care, and youth initiatives. In England, the congregation is active in parish work in Ealing, Acton, and Nunhead in South London. http://www.sacred-hearts.net; mikeruddy@eircom.net. Member of Compass. Code #378.

Daughters of Jesus Before speaking in terms of action and of service, the choice of religious life, for us, is founded on an obvious interior fact: Christ has taken hold of us and we have replied. This spiritual experience of an encounter is a source of renewal and strength for mission. We feel a “family relationship” with the women of the Gospel: Mary, the mother of Jesus; the Samaritan woman; Mary of Magdala... who received the mission to announce the Good News. Today, women have an important role in

attentiveness to the various forms of suffering that pervade our societies, as well as in handing on the Faith. In community we receive the mission to carry the Good News of Jesus the Saviour into the varied realities of our lives. The Sisters, since the beginning, have been able to adapt to respond to the calls of the Church and the needs of the milieus to which they are sent. http://www.fillesdejesus. org; thompsona@ukonline.co.uk. Member of Compass. Code #379. Daughters of Mary and Joseph, UK We, the Daughters of Mary and Joseph, are an international community of vowed women religious. We are committed to deepening our relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship manifests itself as an individual and corporate response to the needs of today’s world. Our mission is to be a compassionate, joyful presence that enables each person to recognize his or her value and dignity. We are dedicated to sharing the merciful love of God with all who experience brokenness and poverty in any form. In England, we are involved in a variety of ministries including retreat centers and pastoral ministries. Whatever we do and wherever we are, we are concerned for those seeking spiritual meaning and values in their lives and we are called to make room in our hearts for each person, especially those of whom society says, “There is no place for you here.” http://www. daughtersofmaryandjoseph.org; fabwbowker@yahoo. co.uk. Member of Compass. Code #380. Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters), UK Our religious family has its origin in the heart and mind of St. John Bosco and the creative fidelity with which St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello and her sisters assumed the project he intended, that of being called Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. The Salesian Sisters of the Province of St. Thomas of Canterbury feel strongly called to follow Jesus, dedicating our lives to God through service for others. The Salesian charism—our special gift and responsibility—is to reach out to the young offering friendship, support, and help for their journey through life, and especially looking out for those most in need. Community is a key value for us. We consider it important to live together as “family.” We encourage others to work with us for the good of the young, and most communities benefit by the presence of committed Salesian cooperators and co-workers. http://www.salesiansisters.org.uk/; fmaprovincial@ukonline.co.uk. Member of Compass. Code #381. Daughters of St. Paul, UK We are an international Catholic community of religious women dedicated to spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ, using all forms of communication. Our spirituality is nurtured by the Eucharist and the Word of God and expressed through our collaborative effort to present the living message of Christ in a way that is meaningful for people today. We are committed to spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ, through word, color, and sound in the spirit of the apostle Paul. We use all forms of communication, new and old, to enable people of every nation to find for themselves an answer to their hearts’ deepest questions. http://www. pauline-uk.org/Contactus.asp?id=69; catherine@paulineuk.org. Member of Compass. Code #382. Daughters of the Cross of Liege, UK We are an international group of Roman Catholic women who have been called to understand and proclaim to others that the love of God has been revealed to us in the most striking way in the Passion and Death of Jesus. Our RESPONSE to this great love is to honor Christ by loving and serving

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Search these Communities based in the United Kingdom online at VocationNetwork.org Him above all in the poorest, weakest and most suffering people. Living in a religious community means choosing to live with God and with others, for God and for others. Today the Daughters of the Cross seek to build communities of faith, centered on the Eucharist and nourished by prayer, in order to fulfill the Congregation’s apostolic mission. Our ministries are many and varied. You will find us: visiting and caring for the sick and infirm; providing pastoral ministries in parishes, schools, and hospitals; and working for peace and justice. http://www. daughtersofthecross.org.uk; paainsworth@fcfriends.com. Member of Compass. Code #383.

Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, Newcastle, Natal We are passionate about our call to follow Christ and share in His mission. Through contemplative prayer and reflective study our minds are open to truth. We are a multi-cultural, prophetic community who are committed to right relations with God, each other, society, and creation. Inspired by the zeal of Saint Dominic; we desire to bring the liberating message of the Gospel to a world searching for meaning and hope. This we do as Dominicans through various forms of the ministry of preaching, particularly in education and evangelization. We are sent out on our apostolate by the community and return to our communities to be refreshed by the prayers and goodwill of the community. We strive to share our faith and doubts with each other. In wrestling with the truth together we make sense of who we are, and what we are called to be in the light of the Gospel. http://www. dominicansisters.co.uk; anncunningham@rosarypriory. co.uk. Member of Compass. Code #392.

Faithful Companions of Jesus Our vocation is simply to be Companions of Jesus, sharing in the mission of Jesus in the world. We are called to follow Jesus faithfully, willing to stand at the foot of the cross like Mary and the holy women. To be one with Jesus in his thirst for the coming of the Kingdom of God. We live an Ignatian spirituality and, as Faithful Companions of Jesus, our missionary spirit urges us to adapt our work to the changing needs of Society and to the culture in which we live. In a world often torn apart by violence and poverty we offer our whole selves for whatever God is asking of us. lynnefcj@hotmail.com; http://www.fcjsisters.org/. Member of Compass. Code #426. Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood We are an International Religious Congregation of Catholic women who proclaim with their lives the joy and freedom of the Gospel in the spirit of Francis and Clare of Assisi. We share in Christ’s mission and witness to our charism by channelling our energies and resources primarily for the voiceless and the vulnerable in our beautiful but

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Infant Jesus Sisters We are an International group of Catholic Women Religious serving in 16 countries. We desire to center ourselves in God, who is constantly creating and recreating all that lives. Our institute, founded in France in 1662, has always had a strong focus on mission, with sisters being trained to serve the needs of people in Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Africa. In collaboration with others, our current ministries include teaching, working with refugees and asylum seekers, visiting and supporting the “traveling community,” running a pony center, bereavement counseling, art therapy, awareness raising in the field of ecology and care of the earth, catechetical formation of children and adults, pastoral leadership in parishes, and many activities in the promotion of justice, peace, and integrity of creation. http://www.infantjesussisters.org; rbarterijs@eircom.net. Member of Compass. Code #386.

La Retraite Sisters We are an international group of Catholic religious women committed to witnessing to the love of God in the world. Our name touches both our history and who we are today. When we began in 1674, in Brittany, France, we provided retreats for women and that’s how our name ‘La Retraite’—from the French word for retreat—stuck. Today, retreat work means helping people in their prayer and human and spiritual development. This happens not only through formal retreats and spiritual direction, but through chaplaincy, pastoral work, teaching, health care, and adult formation and education. The center of our life as La Ratraite Sisters is a personal and loving God that is mighty and tender, real and hidden, reassuring and challenging. The things which help us deepen our faith and commitment include the experience of the love and faithfulness of God, our Rule of Life, our communities (small groups of sisters living together), and Ignatian spirituality. http://www.laretraite.ws/en/0. htm; ann@emmaushouse.org.uk. Member of Compass. Code #388. La Sainte Union Sisters As Holy Union Sisters we draw our inspiration from the Mystery of the Incarnation believing that in Jesus of Nazareth, God became one of us, fully engaged in human history, alert and responsive to human need. We draw strength and encouragement from our personal prayer and relationship with God; reflection and prayer together; and from our awareness of Christ. We began as educators in the 19th century and we continue to serve as educators and are now also engaged in many other diverse ministries, including spiritual and human development, faith formation, pastoral ministering in parishes, schools, prison nursing care, community development, and work with immigrants and refugees. We are called to be at the heart of the world revealing God’s love. http://www.lasainteunion.org/; michtotslu@ntlworld.com. Member of Compass. Code #389. Little Company of Mary Sisters, UK Inspired by the faith, courage, and initiative of our founder, Mary Potter,

we are women of many nations who have heard a call to FOLLOW JESUS, in the spirit of Mary the Mother of Jesus. We are women who simply believe beyond belief that our small talents and capacity to love and serve echo the love and service Jesus gave to those he encountered in His life. Our ministries may vary, but we are all called to bring to the world the healing presence of Jesus. The individual way we do this is through our involvement in: prayer for the dying; hospital/hospice/parish visits; bereavement support; spiritual direction; support of the elderly in their own homes; working with the homeless; and school chaplaincy. http://www.lcmsisters.org.uk/; sisterm@btinternet.com. Member of Compass. Code #390.

Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, Ireland At the core of being Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary is missioning – the readiness to be sent, to go beyond the boundaries of our own country and culture to find, nurture, and share the Good News with those in any kind of need, especially with the poor, oppressed, and exploited through the ministries of healing, education, pastoral work, and community development. We are always searching for new ways in which to find and nurture the seed that is Christ in every culture – the living hope of liberation. Come join us on this remarkable journey of faith, worship and service! Learn how to love your neighbors in the global community. Experience the wonders of many cultures. Speak the language of the poor wherever you are led. http://www.holyrosarymissionarysisters.org; mshrgen@eircom.net. Member of Compass. Code #391.

Oblates of the Assumption Missionary Sisters, UK The Oblates of the Assumption live and work in over 20 countries worldwide. We live lives of Contemplation in action; driven by a love of Christ, the Virgin Mary and the Church (to be deepened continually and taken “to the world”). We live in international and intergenerational communities; with an ardent desire for the Coming of God’s Kingdom: within us, between us, around us. We are open to the modern world with a passion for mission; in collaboration with our Brothers: the Augustinians of the Assumption (with whom we share the same founder). Faithful to the spirit of our founder, Emmanuel d’Alzon, we aim to live this mission as: daughters of the Church and workers for unity who seek the Glory of God and the realization of the ultimate desire of Christ: “May they be one”. Ecumenism and Inter-Faith dialogue are, therefore, foremost in all that we do. Our Motto is: Thy Kingdom Come. http://www. assumptionoblatesisters.org.uk/; mnicannaid@yahoo.ie. Member of Compass. Code #394.

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Daughters of the Heart of Mary, Ireland and England The Society of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary is a world-wide congregation of Women Religious born in the 18th century through the inspiration of a priest and a laywoman who ardently desired to imitate Our Blessed Mother and live like her. Today we Daughters of the Heart of Mary continue to live out our founders’ inspiration through lives of contemplation in action. Living together is not obligatory, so you will find us living in common houses, individually, or with family members. We gather as often as we can in community, giving support to each other in our ministries through sharing and prayer. A partial list of individual ministries includes teachers, religious educators, pastoral associates, social workers, nurses, spiritual directors, and a variety of secular professions which, through obedience, become our apostolates. http://www. dhmary.com/; mbdhm@eircom.net. Member of Compass. Code #384.

broken world. Our common vision of Gospel community flows into service through education, health-care, social, pastoral, and spiritual support. As Franciscan women we commit ourselves to living as ‘sister’ to all people and the whole of creation. Right relationships lie at the heart of our charism. We rejoice in our gifts of family, simplicity and joy that permeate our communities. As a small International congregation we are enriched by our cultural diversity. We value our personal and community prayer which nourishes us for the many and different ways in which we are called to serve God’s people. http://www. fmdminternational.co.uk/; onengmendoza.fmdm@yahoo. co.uk. Member of Compass. Code #385.

Poor Servants of the Mother of God, UK We are an international group of Catholic women who share a life commitment to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate God. We combine prayer and community life, which supports our gospel response and service to the poor and vulnerable. We are involved in local parishes and communities in pastoral care and catechetical work. Many sisters also take part in such ministries as prison, school, and university chaplaincy and work with the homeless, refugees, asylum seekers, and others in need. Our foundress, Frances Taylor, understood the “Word made flesh” as the Father’s greatest gift to humanity. Her response to God’s great love and self giving in the person of Jesus was her own self-giving love expressed in service of the poor. From her example flows the central philosophy and ethos of the Congregation, the unique value and inherent dignity of each person as created by God and redeemed by Jesus.

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woMen’s communities Search communities based in the United Kingdom

http://www.poorservants.com; margaret.oshea@psmgs. org. Member of Compass. Code #396. Presentation Sisters As a religious Community, we commit ourselves to deepening our relationship with God, supporting each other and continuing the Mission of Jesus. At the heart of Presentation Spirituality is compassion and hospitality. We are called to a reflective way of living in which our prayer moves us to action and our action to prayer. Nano Nagle, our foundress, began her work of liberation of the poor in Cork, Ireland, in a setting of political oppression, displacement of people, economic and social injustice and deprivation of human rights. She brought to the sad reality of her day all that a person can ever bring - her own response made in faith to God, whom she knew to be present in each human life. Inspired by her example, other women, in circumstances at once amazingly different, amazingly similar, have down the centuries, brought to the developing story their own unique contribution in every continent. pbvmnottm@ yahoo.co.uk; http://www.presentationsisters.co.uk/. Member of Compass. Code #429.

Religious of the Assumption, UK The Religious of the Assumption are inspired by a vision of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. He came on earth to inaugurate. With our many friends and associates, we strive to make the earth a place of glory for God, and humanity a people that reflects that glory. We are women of faith living together in communities; passionate about God; passionate about people. We are educators by vocation, called to the transformation of society in the light of the Gospel. We strive to discover the good in each person and to help them develop it; to forge strong characters; to give young people roots and wings. Convinced that each of us has a mission on earth, we want to help people discover the meaning of their lives and how they can be of service in our world. www.assumptionreligious.org/; simoncatlinra@hotmail. co.uk. Member of Compass. Code #397. Religious Sisters of Charity, UK We are a Catholic religious congregation of women founded in Ireland in 1815 by Mary Aikenhead. We have been working in England since 1840, and in Scotland since 1948. Through our ministries and in the spirit of our 4th vow of ‘service to the poor’, we desire to reach out with the compassion of Christ to all especially the most vulnerable and those in greatest need. As each new need has been perceived, we have endeavored to discern our response in ways that will serve the most pressing needs. Sometimes this means finding new and creative ways of being with people. Currently our ministries include hospice care, pastoral parish work, social justice and environmental advocacy, education, and hospital chaplaincy. http://www.religioussistersofcharity. org; jboland@pobox.com. Member of Compass. Code #398.

Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, UK As Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, we follow Christ who is always to be found in those places where pain, hunger, intolerance, and hatred tear people apart. We are particularly sensitive to women and children; people with special needs; and to vulnerable and marginalised people who are denied the fullness of life. Our communities strive to be places of hospitality, where forgiveness and healing are ongoing, and each person’s culture, gifts, and talents are acknowledged, respected, and celebrated. In keeping with our Mission Statement we are called to help shape communities of gentleness, justice, and peace that witness to the healing, liberating, and empowering

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love of God. Our home base is in Ireland and the UK, with over 20 communities spread across these isles. Our sisters also serve in the U.S., South America, Africa, and Asia. http://www.sacredheartsjm.org/; shjmleader@shjm.org. uk. Member of Compass. Code #399. Servite Sisters, UK Servite women desiring to follow Jesus, look to Mary who was the first disciple of Jesus and the best. As Mary did, we strive to listen to the Word of God, live as women of faith, and live in hope. Mary’s patient suffering and her presence at the foot of the cross embodies our charism which is one of compassionate presence. We are open to needs as they arise and change our focus in keeping with emerging needs. As sisters we normally live in community and put ourselves and our gifts at the service of the Church’s mission, welcoming others in a spirit of hospitality. Prayer and contemplation coupled with ministry is integral to our lives. Through our ministries in education and healthcare among others, we nurture in others an awareness of their own dignity and beauty and help them realize their potential. http:// servitesistersinternational.org/; eoriordan@btinternet. com. Member of Compass. Code #402. Sisters Hospitallers of the Sacred Heart The Congregation of Sisters Hospitallers is an international Religious Congregation providing health care to people with psychiatric illnesses, people with physical and mental disabilities, people who are elderly or suffering with dementia and people with other illnesses in accordance with our founding charism. From the moment of its foundation, the Congregation has had among its primary objectives the provision of complete care and acceptance of the sick. We aim at caring for the person in her/his entirety, working to maintain or reinsert the person into society and in defence of her/his dignity. councillor@hsc-uk.org; http://www.sistershospitallers.org/. Member of Compass. Code #428. Sisters of Christ, UK We are members of an international apostolic congregation in the Roman Catholic Church. Our consecration to God by the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience is rooted in our baptism. Gathered together in the diversity of nationalities, countries, activities, and age, we are united in Christ and live together at the service of communion wherever we are sent: into the heart of the world; to be present in people’s lives where there is suffering, oppression and division; to understand, discern and nurture the seeds of unity and hope which are already present in human situations; to risk, if necessary, persecution for the Kingdom and thus be able to proclaim Jesus Christ who is the way of reconciliation and unity. http://www.sistersofchrist.org.uk; joycebone@iname.com. Member of Compass. Code #403. Sisters of Christian Instruction (St. Gildas) The apostolic zeal of Gabriel Deshayes and the openess of Michelle Guillaume to the will of God led to the birth of our Congregation in Beignon - Brittany on the 8th November 1820. The spiritual experience of our founders has become for each of us today, a light by which we respond to our vocation in the Church and in the world. Our mission is to witness to Jesus Christ and to proclaim the Gospel. Our first task in the Church and in the world is to be humble witnesses of the love of God. The power of the Gospel message is an invitation to reach out from wherever we are to those who are most affected by injustice and poverty. Today in England, France, Ireland, Africa and Mexico small communities of sisters live in rural areas or small towns, in suburbs, town centres or on housing estates. Activities and professions are varied: Education, social work, care of the sick and elderly, pastoral work, in all its forms. a4386@hotmail.com. Member of Compass. Code #431.

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Sisters of Notre Dame, UK Saint Julie Billiart founded the Sisters of Notre Dame to make known God’s goodness, especially among the poorest and most abandoned people. Today, Sisters in Britain find themselves engaged in a wide and rich variety of ministries. The sisters contribute to the pastoral work in many dioceses in England and Scotland and to projects for the poor and marginalised around the country. Many sisters have chosen to work with the homeless, asylum seekers, refugees, and others in need of help and support. Other sisters are engaged in work with interfaith groups, spiritual direction, retreat work, and various forms of therapy and counselling work. We too strive to be women of prayer, who seek in every aspect of our lives to be united with God and to be responsive to the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of love. http://www.sistersofnotredameuk. org/; kathleen.mcgee@sndden.org. Member of Compass. Code #404. Sisters of Our Lady of Providence, UK The Sisters of Our Lady of Providence established several convent schools early in the last century, and they continue to be active in education and parish work with a convent school in Alton, a convent in Basingstoke, and a mission in India where there are now 11 convents. The sisters do not currently have a website. avery.webb@btopenworld. com. Member of Compass. Code #405. Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions, UK We are committed in a special way to working with women and the young because we believe that when you educate women, you help to educate families and to build a better world. We allow ourselves to be called to account by the Gospel and to respond with responsibility and prophetic ardour similar to those which animated our founder, Euphrasie Barbier. In the light of reflection and research in today’s Church, we are convinced that mission demands solidarity on the one hand and, on the other, a change of direction in the name of the Gospel. The possibilities for ministry here are limitless. At present our apostolic involvement includes teaching, retreat work, parish ministry, adult education, social work, mission appeals, work with immigrants and refugees, care of the elderly, hospital and hospice chaplaincy, working with the homeless, and hospitality for student sisters from Bangladesh, Kenya, Myanmar, and Vietnam. http://www. rndm.org; rndmshields@aol.com. Member of Compass. Code #395. 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 charism of peace through justice challenges us to prophetic risk so that God’s reign might be more fully realized. We serve in the Western United States, Eastern United States, the United Kingdom, El Salvador and Haiti. Our ministries include healthcare, education, spirituality, justice advocacy, women and families, and missions. 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. http://www.csjp. org. Member of Compass. Code #227. Sisters of the Holy Cross We are a community of sisters gathered under the cross where new life emerges. Our way to God is made through our mission in the world. The purpose of our mission is the transformation of society with the Gospel. We work to set the positive energies in human persons free for a Gospel way of life. Together with others we work for justice in the world. We centre our lives in a relationship with God: in personal and community prayer; in the Word of God; in the liturgy; in creation and in interpersonal relationships. holycross@hcengland.co.uk ; http:// www.holycrossengland.org.uk/. Member of Compass. Code #421.

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Search these Communities based in the United Kingdom online at VocationNetwork.org Sisters of the Holy Family of Bordeaux The Holy Family was founded in 1820 by Pierre Noailles, a priest of Bordeaux. Our Family is characterized by its inclusive nature, incorporating Apostolic and Contemplative sisters who together form a Religious Institute; an Institute of Consecreated Seculars; Priest Associates and Men and Women Lay Associates. We are present on five continents and have communities in 24 countries throughout the world. In our diverse ministries, we continue the mission of Jesus who came to bring good news to the poor and to gather all God’s children into one family. We model our lives on the Holy Family of Nazareth and the first Christians who had but one heart and one mind. Our spirituality calls us to choose life and to live in communion with God and the entire cosmic family. Together we form a sacred community of life whose source is our Trinitarian God. http:// www.holyfamilybordeaux.org; maria@mcrowley.wanadoo. co.uk. Member of Compass. Code #372.

Stone Dominicans Our religious life is essentially lived in community, which is a sign in the Church and in the world of that fellowship in Christ to which everyone is called. We have prayer in common; we have shared meals, and various forms of relaxation. Our community life is also enhanced by our dependence on one another for our needs, since we hold all things in common. Since we have renounced the intimacy of marriage, friendship is all the more important to us. Our ministries are diverse, but in prayer, listening and mutual support, encouragement and active works, we are united in a Christ-centred purpose. We commit ourselves to a search for Truth, and to the strengthening of justice in our Congregation, and in the wider communities in which we live. Together we journey in hope to make the Incarnation a reality in the lives of all people. valeryop39@googlemail.com; http:// www.stone-dominicans.org.uk. Member of Compass. Code #430.

Ursulines of Jesus An international religious congregation, we are women who allow the Holy Spirit to urge us to be the image and presence of Christ in the world today. Today, as at the beginning of our Congregation, the love of Christ spurs us on to look at the pressing needs of our time in order to be at the service of life. Our original ministries of education, nursing and support of priests are now expressed in: parish pastoral ministry, catechesis, spiritual accompaniment, university and hospital chaplaincy, counseling, holistic therapies, healthcare and working with the marginalized. agnescuj@googlemail. com; http://www.ursulinesjesus.org/. Member of Compass. Code #424.

Ware Carmel As Christians and Carmelites we try to follow Jesus Christ in faith hope and love for the glory of God and for his reign on earth. The apostolic nature of our contemplative prayer gathers all engaged in the active ministry

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Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, Ireland and England The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts represented by the abbreviation SS.CC. after its Latin name Sacrorum Cordium, is a worldwide missionary order whose mission is to contemplate, live, and proclaim God’s love in the world. There are over 1500 in the Congregation made up priests, brothers, and sisters and an increasing number of lay associate members in over 30 countries throughout the world. The Ireland-England Province has its provincial house near Dublin for priests and brothers as well as sisters. There are currently 23 male members and 16 female members involved in a range of ministries from school chaplaincy and retreat work, parish and pastoral support activities as well as missionary support programmes. In Ireland, the community is involved in parish work, chaplaincy, pastoral care, and youth initiatives. In England, the congregation is active in parish work in Ealing, Acton, and Nunhead in South London. http://www.sacred-hearts.net; shane_halpin@yahoo.co.uk. Member of Compass. Code #378.

Josephite Community, UK The Josephites are a Roman Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in Belgium in 1817 specifically to work with young people. Currently our confrères work in England, Belgium, California, DR Congo, Gabon, and Cameroon. The traditional apostolate of Josephites has been in schools, but in recent years the scope of our work has widened to include parishes and universities. The “Family Spirit” is one of the distinguishing features of the way of life lived by Josephites. Our strong sense of community life expresses itself in a number of ways including our celebrations of the liturgy, sharing meals, and enjoying each other’s company. http:// www.josephiteweb.org; bmuircity@aol.com. Member of Compass. Code #387.

Missionaries of the Sacred Heart More than ever, what the world needs now are men and women who can be missionaries of God’s compassion, kindness, gentleness, and healing love. Whether you feel called to be a Religious (a priest or Brother) or lay missionary, we invite you to join our congregation. Through all of our actions and words, we seek to promote healthy relationships with self, others and God, to reach out to the isolated, marginalized and the poor, and to proclaim God’s love to the world. Walk with us as we follow the Way of the Heart and be on earth the Heart of Christ. dnixon@mscvocations.com; http://www. misacor.org/. Member of Compass. Code #427.

Order of Discalced Carmelites, English Region The Eng-

lish Region of Discalced Carmelites have communities at Kensington (London), Boars Hill (Oxford), Gerrards Cross and Preston. We embrace the religious life in friendship and service of Jesus Christ, in imitation of and under the patronage of the Virgin Mary, whose life of faith, simplicity and intimate union with Jesus and his mission, constitutes for us the interior model. Our vocation aspires to union with God by the way of contemplation and apostolic zeal indissolubly united, and to the formation of a fraternal community as a sign of communion in the world. Prayer, which is a life of prayer and a prayer of life, is nourished by listening to the Word of God and the liturgy and with the joys and hopes, sorrows and anxieties of the Church and of humanity. It is a way of life of faith, hope and love. http://www.carmelite.org.uk; mmcgoldrickocd@gmail. com. Member of Compass. Code #375.

Salesians of Don Bosco, UK The Salesians of Don Bosco, (SDB) are an international Roman Catholic Religious Order of men dedicated to be signs and bearers of the love of God for young people, especially those who are disadvantaged. Founded by Saint John Bosco in Italy during the 19th century, we now number over 16,000 Priests and Brothers, present in 128 different countries all over the world. Wherever we work, the development of the young through education and evangelization is the focus of all our concern because we believe that our total dedication to the young is our best gift to humanity. Saint John Bosco said, “I have promised God that I would give of myself to my last breath for my poor boys.” In the Salesian province of Great Britain we have over 80 Salesians (Priests and Brothers) working from eight communities, with responsibility for schools, parishes, youth work, and a retreat center. We collaborate with other members of the Salesian Family including the Salesian Sisters, Cooperators, Volunteers of Don Bosco, and past pupils. http://www.salesians.org.uk/; provincial@ salesians.org.uk. Member of Compass. Code #400. Servites, UK Before the Servites ever existed as an official religious Order, seven prosperous men came together in the city of Florence, Italy. As a reflection of the penitential spirit of the times, it had been the custom of these men to meet regularly as members of a religious society established in honor of Mary, the Mother of God. Eventually, the seven left their comfortable homes, put aside their finery and went to live together in a ramshackle building. Today Servite Friars are found in Europe, North and South America Africa, Asia, and Australia. From a humble beginning we have been blessed with a long and rich history. Like our Seven Founders, we go where the needs of God’s people demand and seek the perfection of the Gospel way of life under the protection of Mary, the Mother and Servant of the Lord. http://www.servitechurch. org; patryalosm@aol.com. Member of Compass. Code #401.

woMen’s communities sarch communities based in the United Kingdom

Society of the Holy Child Jesus We are an international community of Catholic women religious committed to Christ, living their consecrated life in the spirit of the Society founded by Cornelia Connelly in 1846. We believe that God has chosen to need women and men in every age to reveal God’s love as Jesus did. We serve in a variety of educational, pastoral, social, legal and spiritual ministries, through which we continue our mission to help others understand that God lives and acts in them and in our world and to rejoice in God’s presence. Trust and reverence for individual dignity and God’s loving mercy for the human family and for all creation mark our lives and our work wherever we are. europeanprovince@shcj.org; http://www.shcj.org/. Member of Compass. Code #422.

of the church (priests, theologians and lay persons) and places us at one with the needs and longings of the whole human family. Through the total gift of ourselves to God we strive under the Spirit’s action to establish a community of love. The Eucharist is the focal point of each day and is prolonged and renewed by the Liturgy of the Hours, a celebration of divine praise. Two hours daily are set aside for silent and solitary prayer and there is further time for spiritual reading. Through a careful balance between solitude and life in community and all that is required to earn our own living we try to give gospel values priority. “In the heart of mother Church I will be Love” This is St Therese’s understanding of the life - work of a Carmelite. warecarmel@btinternet.com. Member of Compass. Code #425

The Society of Jesus Founded by St. Ignatius of Loyola in 1540, and living in the spirit of his Spiritual Exercises, we are servants of Christ participating in the Church’s overall mission of evangelisation. We seek to proclaim Christ’s love by our service of the poor and our work for justice. We seek to uncover His presence in our world through our engagement with culture and through dialogue with men and women of other faiths. We seek to promote His kingdom by being instruments of reconciliation, in humanity’s relationship with God, with creation, and amongst peoples. We are sent to where the needs are greatest, and in particular to the frontiers where faith and culture meet, where peoples of different faiths and no faith encounter one another. We receive particular missions entrusted to us by the Pope for the service of the Church. matthew.power@jesuits.net; http://www.jesuit. org.uk/. Member of Compass. Code #423.

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