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NRVC UPDATE
UPDATE FROM THE NATIONAL RELIGIOUS VOCATION CONFERENCE
A
S THE NRVC closes its Jubilee Year and its first quarter century in service to the church, we Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C. look to the future in hope. We have been blessed with an active and committed membership and many generous benefactors who support our work as an organization and the work of Catholic men and women in religious life. I particularly want to thank the Conrad H. Hilton Foundation, which has helped support our effort to expand our programming and offer additional resources for the Year of Consecrated Life. We are offering a parish package that includes a copy of the 2015 VISION Vocation Guide with its special section on the Year of Consecrated Life, the Consecrated Life Timeline Poster, sample homilies, and other parish resources for workshops and gatherings to educate Catholics about contemporary forms of consecrated life and inspire people to master the art of discernment and invite others to consider consecrated life. We hope our many efforts in terms of inclusion, invitation, and outreach will instill a sense of hope in all the Catholic faithful that the unique and prophetic witness of those in consecrated life continues to be necessary and attractive to a new generation of Christ’s disciples. —Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C. NRVC Executive Director
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THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS VOCATION DISCERNMENT GUIDE
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) Art Direction/Cover Design Tom Wright
Advertising Production Manager Dianne Potter (dpotter@truequest.biz) Sales Patrice J. Tuohy Dianne Potter
Customer Service 800-942-2811 mail@VocationGuide.org
VocationNetwork.org
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 ©2014, National Religious Vocation Conference Published by TrueQuest Communications, 53 West Jackson Blvd., Ste. 1140, Chicago, IL 60604-3619; 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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PUBLISHER’S NOTE A year of living radically
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HEN THE announcement came from the Vatican that Pope Francis had named 2015 the Year of Consecrated Life, I was rendered speechless. And as anyone who knows me can attest, that is no easy feat. What a welcome treat for those of us who work in vocation ministry to have the directive coming from on high, as it were, to say now is the appointed time to focus on consecrated life. Appropriately the year begins with a call—in three parts: 1. For renewal: for the men and women in consecrated life. Please pray for them as they reexamine and renew their commitment to vowed life. 2. For appreciation and thanksgiving: for the witness and service of those in consecrated life. These are men and women who have given up everything to follow Christ and devote their lives to the establishment of God’s reign through unceasing prayer, unflinching courage, and unassailable hope that all things are possible with God. Sign up for E-Vocation, VocationNetwork. org/newsletter) to receive updates and inspiration throughout the year. Order free VISION vocation resources online at VocationNetwork.org/orders or call 800-942-2811.
3. For invitation to the next generation of Catholics to “Be courageous!” in the words of Pope Francis, and “wake up the world to a different way of doing things, of acting, of living!” VISION Vocation Guide answers this three-part call in honor of consecrated life in every article we publish in print and online, but in this 2015 issue we have expanded our pages to include a special section for the Year of Consecrated Life that features a consecrated life timeline, a survey to gauge the mood of contemporary Catholics regarding consecrated life (see page 70), and a compilation of inspirational quotes about religious life. We are also extremely proud to introduce the hymn that we commissioned acclaimed Catholic composer Steven Warner to write in honor of the Year of Consecrated Life (see page 138). We encourage you to sing this new song throughout the Year of Consecrated Life. Finally we invite our readers who are discerning a religious vocation to be brave and wake up the world with your commitment to Christ! —Patrice J. Tuohy VISION Executive Editor
Guides | Posters | Bookmarks | Outlines for workshops | Sample homilies | Bulletin inserts
Help us promote religious vocations in the Year of Consecrated Life! Please make sure that VISION Vocation Guide and other VISION resources are on hand wherever Catholics gather. Enter #044 at VocationMatch.com VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 5
CONTENTS
VISION 2015 CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS VOCATION DISCERNMENT GUIDE
20 28
RELIGIOUS SIGHTINGS
8
Nuns, priests, and brothers in the news
SISTER JEAN HINDERER, C.S.A.
34 42
5 steps to finding your vocation BROTHER DAVID STEINDL-RAST, O.S.B.
20
What is your spiritual path? ROGER O’BRIEN & THE VISION EDITORS
Art: A way into prayer SISTER PENELOPE MARTIN, O.C.D.
PRAYER & DISCERNMENT
12
How to wait for clarity about your vocation
How to talk to your family about your vocation FATHER ANDREW HOFER, O.P.
RELIGIOUS LIFE
46
Meeting God in the city FATHER LINH HOANG, O.F.M.
54
86
62
Can your career fit into religious life?
YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE
SISTER JANET GILDEA, S.C.
62
Breathing life into sacred stones
70
TEXT BY CAROL SCHUCK SCHEIBER. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ABBEY OF OUR LADY OF NEW CLAIRVAUX
68
VISION Infographic
Among the lights and shadows: The mood of Catholics around consecrated life BROTHER PAUL BEDNARCZYK, C.S.C. COMPILED BY VISION EDITORS
80
Consecrated life: Words of wisdom
82
Consecrated life through the ages THE VISION EDITORS
Many of the articles you see here and in prior issues of VISION are available in Spanish and French. Find them online at www.vocationnetwork.org.
Cover design TOM WRIGHT & PATRICE J. TUOHY
SISTERS
104
132
Why I’m a Catholic sister
SISTER SUSAN KIDD, C.N.D.
SISTER SU FERN KHOO, V.D.M.F.
110
Online door never closes on discerners
136
Sidebar: Saying good-bye
VISION SPOTLIGHT Nourishing body and soul SISTER SHERYL FRANCES CHEN, O.C.S.O.
God rushes in FATHER PADDY GILGER, S.J.
98
Picture this
SIDNEY NURNBERGER
BROTHERS
116 148
Friar commitment BROTHER JOE RUIZ, O.S.A.
MISSIONARIES
120
The smiling priest
54
Starting over from scratch TEXT BY CAROL SCHUCK SCHEIBER. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE BROTHERS OF THE SACRED HEART
PAULA DOYLE
143 Service with a side
Brothers in the making BROTHER JAMES JOOST, F.S.C.
PRIESTS
92
to St. James SISTER DESIRÉ ANNE-MARIE FINDLAY, C.S.S.F
46 86
Why are there parishes? ALICE L. CAMILLE
HEIDI SCHLUMPF
158
Can your body be sacred in the age of twerking?
of adventure
BEING CATHOLIC
PETER LATOUF, M.M.
128
ART OF DISCERNMENT
138
Wake the world with dawning joy STEVEN WARNER
Called to follow Christ JOHN W. MARTENS
120
COMMUNITY DIRECTORY
140 153 178 179 182
Men’s Communities Search Women’s Communities Search Other Communities Community Advertiser Index Calendar of events
ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG Vocation Match Service
Complete an online profile and find the vocation/community that might be right for you.
Community Search Events Calendar Videos/Apps Vocation FAQs Questions Catholics Ask SpiritCitings Blog Spanish/French Resources Digital Edition
RELIGIOUS SIGHTINGS SISTER STARES DOWN KILLERS
S 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.
ISTER CONSUELO MORALES, C.S.A., a Canoness of St. Augustine of the Congregation of Our Lady, spends her days thinking about things the rest of us would rather not: torture and assassination by drug lords and corrupt government officials in Mexico. The Los Angeles Times called her “one of Mexico’s most indefatigable and effective defenders of human rights.” In 1992, following what Sister Consuelo has called her own crisis of faith, she founded CADHAC, the Spanish acronym for Citizens
in Support of Human Rights. She and other CADHAC staff receive a steady stream of visitors to their Monterrey, Mexico office: usually distraught family members of victims and survivors of violence. They listen to and document violations of human rights, and they take legal steps toward justice. Often that means walking past or confronting soldiers and officials complicit in the crimes. “She can be disarming to authority figures who are used to people fearing them. She could be their grandmother. It’s a firmness and sincerity they have not heard before. But then she also has this gentleness and warmth with the victims and families,” Nik Steinberg of the organization Human Rights Watch told the Times. Morales’ work has stirred anger, but love and admiration are perhaps more common. In 2011 she was presented the Alison Des Forges Award from Human Rights Watch for valor in defending human rights. SISTER CONSUELO MORALES speaks at a CADHAC (Ciudadanos en Apoyo a los Derechos Humanos) event.
Rare “twinning” brings men and women monastics together
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HOSE WHO LIVE an “enclosed” religious life of contemplative prayer generally see only the members of their own, single-sex community on a regular basis. The Benedictine monks and nuns of a pair of religious com-
munities in Petersham, Massachusetts, however, have an unusual arrangement: They are twinned. That means the sisters of St. Scholastica Priory and the brothers and priests of St. Mary’s Monastery attend daily Mass together, pray five of the seven daily prayers of the Divine Office as a group, share responsibility for a guest house, gather for conversation once a week, and occasionally attend talks and lectures together. Mother Mary Elizabeth Kloss, O.S.B., prioress of St. Scholastica, tells VISION: “Our experience of the twin community has enriched our life on several levels. The
SISTER MARY Frances Wynn, Marlene Gomez (postulant), Brother Bernard Osbaldeston, Brother Matthew Jackson, Sister Mary Emmanuel Wade, Brother Isidore Colm, Sister Mary Paula Wenzel, and Sister Mary Angela Kloss at an intercommunity gathering.
first is that our liturgical celebrations are richer and fuller. . . . The men’s voices keep ours from becoming too high and delicate, and the female voices help to keep their voices bright somehow. . . . We are friends both collectively as communities and as individuals. This relationship keeps us from getting too ‘ingrown’ and self-centered and fosters charity.” Mother Kloss says this kind of pairing of independent men’s and women’s communities is rare—she knew only of three communities worldwide—but it has existed since the fourth century. “We’re celibate,” she says, “but there’s a mutuality of relationship that’s natural between men and women.”
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RELIGIOUS SIGHTINGS COMPANIONSHIP AND HOPE FOR THE HOMELESS
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HANKS TO the combined efforts of the Jesuit religious order and dedicated collaborators, more than 5,000 homeless men and women around the country have had the opportunity to attend what are sometimes life-altering retreats. In 1998 Jesuit priest and retreat director Father Bill Creed, S.J. and Ed Shurna,
director of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, began working to offer retreats for the homeless. Their pioneering model blends concepts from the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step process with the Spiritual Exercises developed 500 years ago by Saint Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. “Their faith and trust . . . humbled me, evangelized me,” Creed told St. Anthony Messenger about those he met on the first retreat. “God was palpably present” for them. Thus the Ignatian Spirituality Project (ISP) was born. It now has a staff of seven and organizes retreats and programs in 20 cities. A two-year study of ISP retreatants showed a decline in loneliness and improvements in housing and employment after the retreat. Learn more at ignatian spiritualityproject.org. FATHER BILL CREED, S.J. leads a reflection at a men’s shelter in Chicago.
“I have a gift and I am giving it to you.” —Sister Cristina Scuccia, an Ursuline Sister of the Holy Family from Milan, who was the 2014 winner of Italy’s The Voice competition during her blind audition. The 25-year-old nun, who became an internet sensation with 50 million YouTube views of her rendition of Alicia Keys’ “No One,” said of her participation in the popular show that she was fulfilling Pope Francis’ call for the Catholic Church to be closer to ordinary people.
Connect with communities by app
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S RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES continue to venture into social media, apps connected to religious orders are becoming more common. Many of these are found easily by searching the name of the religious community. Here is a sampling:
ANun’sLife.org Aggregates and organizes the many podcasts produced by aNunsLife.org ministry. (See “Online door never closes on discerners” on page 110 of this issue of VISION for more on this effort.) Light a Candle by the Daughters of St. Paul. Virtual candle lights with a tap; prayer intentions sent directly to the sisters;
inside look at life of the Daughters of St. Paul.
MGL by the Missionaries of God’s Love. Provides homilies and scripture reflections, primarily by their own priests and brothers, in text and podcast form. Prayers Please by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Send a prayer request to this community. Honor Your Inner Monk by Saint Meinrad Monastery. Offers morning and evening prayers; records use of app to encourage regular prayer.
VISION Vocation Network Easily view and read current and back issues of VISION on your smartphone.
Find and follow us everywhere! Download the app for digitalvocationguide.org.
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PRAYER & DISCERNMENT
5
DIEGO ORTIZ MUGICA, DIEGO@ORTIZMUGICA.COM
steps to finding your vocation by Brother David Steindl-Rast,
“WE ARE LIKE so many different soap bubbles, all filled with one and the same divine lifebreath.”
O.S.B.
It’s as simple as ask, trust, stop, listen, and respond. Brother David Steindl-Rast, O.S.B. is a Benedictine monk, an author and l e c t u r e r, a n d the cofounder of gratefulness. org.
D
ID YOU KNOW THAT THE WORD VOCATION is related to the term “vocal cords” and means “a calling”? More precisely it means spending your life doing what your innermost heart feels called to do. To follow a vocation means living your own unique life. That’s of course what all of us would like to accomplish, but how shall we do it? If we ask people who are doing what they really love to do, “How did you get to where you are?” we find that many of them started by asking themselves some basic questions 1. What would I really like to do? 2. What am I good at doing or learning? 3. What opportunity is life offering me, right now, for doing what makes me come joyfully alive? Thus they started with themselves, with their own gifts and preferences.
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1.
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Ask what makes you come alive
Does starting with yourself sound selfish to you? If so you are most likely concerned with serving the world. That is certainly a worthwhile goal, and a most important one. But do you have the right approach? Howard Thurman, an outstanding civil rights activist, author of Jesus and the Disinherited, and a mentor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., gave this advice: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” So what is it that makes you come alive? Whatever your answer it will point toward that way of serving the world for which you are best suited. When you do that, you ex-
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press your unique personality—with all your talents and all your limitations and shortcomings and your struggle to overcome them—which makes you who you are, and this uniqueness is what the world needs. Maybe you have heard about Helen Keller or have seen the film about her, The Miracle Worker. Keller was born with a brilliant mind, but when she was not yet 2 she lost forever both her eyesight and hearing. In spite of that, and with the help of her gifted and dedicated teacher Anne Sullivan, she learned to speak and write. She also became the first blind and deaf student to earn a bachelor of arts degree, got married, and distinguished herself as a social activist, lecturer, and writer. There were even great saints— John Vianney for example—who struggled with school and found it
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“
What the world needs is people who have come alive.”
extremely hard to study. They may have failed their exams but they didn’t give up, and in the end they changed the world by their love and courageous service. Examples of this kind can help you see that even your challenges and the way you deal with them are part of coming alive and thus serving the world. Yet, examples are given us for inspiration, not for imitation. There is a Jewish story about a rabbi who wanted to imitate Abraham, the father of faith. “Make me like Abraham,” he prayed, “make me like Abraham!” But God said to him—so the story says— “Look, I have already an Abraham. I want you.” Anyone you admire has already played her or his part; now it is up to you to play your own. When you think of coming alive and playing your part, the image of a jazz band may help you see it is not selfish at all. How the members of a band play will depend not only on their skill as musicians but on how well they listen to each other. That is where we come to the third question that people who found their true vocation had asked themselves. After they wondered, “What would I really like to do?” and “What am I good at?” they listened to all the other players and asked, “What opportunity is life offering me—right now?” Enter #025 at VocationMatch.com VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 15
DIEGO ORTIZ MUGICA, DIEGO@ORTIZMUGICA.COM
“LISTEN with the ears of your heart. To what does life invite you, right now? Sometimes life invites you to learn something.” Enter #175 at VocationMatch.com
What do you desire?
. A deep prayer life? . A life dedicated to others for God? . Joy in doing your thing . . . HIS way?
As Dominicans we emphasize the pondering of divine truths. To witness to God’s primacy, to our ow of poerty 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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2.
Trust the opportunities life and God are offering
Once you know what gives your heart deep and lasting joy, go for it! Trust life to provide every moment with exactly what you need (this courageous trust is called faith). If you truly trust in life, you can let go of your wishful daydreams and open yourself to reality with all its surprises (this openness for surprise is called hope). Going forward with trust and openness is like shouting a joyful “yes!” into the strong wind of life that meets you. Suddenly you realize: We all belong together. Life is a network of mutual belonging (and your “yes” to belonging is called love). We sometimes get that wrong; we think that faith means believing
something. But that is belief. Faith is courageous trust in life—trust in that mysterious source of life and aliveness that is called “God.” And often we confuse hope with our hopes. But our hopes are for things and events we imagine; hope is openness for the unimaginable, for surprise; in fact surprise is a good name for God because it doesn’t box God in. Love, too, is often misunderstood; we tend to confuse it with preference. But what makes love to be love is not preference but the sense of mutual belonging. And because everything in the universe belongs inseparably together with everything else, love in the full sense is your “yes” to limitless belonging—a “yes” that is expressed not by words but by the way we live. To live in faith and hope and love means finding your true vocation. It means to experience life with trust
“
Trust life to provide every moment exactly what you need; this courageous trust is called faith.
and openness and an all-embracing “yes” and so to come alive with the divine life within you. In the biblical story of creation we are given a beautiful image: As human beings we come alive when God breathes life into us. To use an image closer to us, we are like so many different soap bubbles, all filled with one and the same divine life-breath. To remind myself of that I like to blow soap bubbles on my birthday every year. If you remember that truth, you look differently at others—and not only at others; you look differently at yourself and at your relationship to that source, fullness, and dynamism of life that we call God. Then you understand why Saint Paul said: “In him we live and move and have our being”(Acts 17:28). Is there a simple method to put all this into practice? There is. But remember, simple doesn’t mean easy; you’ll have to give it all you have. The method has three parts: Stop, listen, respond.
3.
Stop
Stop, or you will zoom right past the opportunity life is offering you this very moment. Unless you learn to stop, you are driving on automatic. You need to build stop signs into your daily life. Before you open your
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eyes in the morning, before you put the key into the ignition, before you open your computer, these beginnings invite you to stop for a split second. So do moments when something makes you stop—a traffic light, a line at the checkout counter, or someone arriving late. Endings, too, make good stopping points: As you get up from table, close your book, or turn off the light, stop ever so briefly. By stopping, you practice faith: You trust that life, and the Giver of Life, has a message for you, an invitation.
4.
Listen
And then you listen—with the ears of your heart. To what does life invite you, right now? Most of the time life invites you to enjoy—what you see, Enter #353 at VocationMatch.com VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 17
a life to come home to
“
Stopping and listening makes you come alive with all your senses.
taste, smell, touch, or hear. Stopping and listening makes you come alive with all your senses. Otherwise you miss these pleasures by rushing past them. But sometimes life invites you to learn something—for instance patience (that’s not so pleasant)—or to move beyond what you are used to (that can also be challenging). At other times life may invite you to share—your time, your experience, your resources—or to stand up and be counted or to clean up a mess. Whatever it might be it will always be surprising if you only listen deeply enough. For this kind of listening is an exercise in hope. It makes you more and more open for surprise.
shared prayer
purpose
community
Benedictine Sisters St. Mary Monastery Rock Island, Illinois
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5.
Respond
The greatest surprise will be to discover how by stopping and listening you come to interact lovingly with others if you practice the next step and respond to life’s invitation at a given moment. That response is an exercise in love, your lived “yes!” to belonging. It is your answer to a very personal calling, and it turns whatever you are doing into a vocation, your unique vocation—for no other person can listen and respond with your heart. The joy you will find on this path, no matter how rough it may be at times, will prove to you that it is the right path for you. Then you will realize what it means when Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10). =
WELCOME HOME
PHOTO: DAMON D’AMATO FROM N. HOLLYWOOD, CA
A
CTOR Martin Sheen, a wellknown Catholic, actually left the church for many years. But, as he reports in Along the Way: The Journey of a Father and Son (Free Press), a book he co-wrote with his son Emilio Estevez, Sheen recalls the Irish MARTIN SHEEN Passionist priest who at a peace rally. was there for him on a pivotal day when he chose to go to Confession: I unburdened a heavy load from my soul. Father listened patiently and gave me some spiritual advice. Then he gave me a penance before absolution. “For your penance, say one Our Father,” he said. “One Our Father?” I asked. “Have you been gone so long,” asked the priest, “that you can’t remember the Our Father?” “No, I remember it,” I laughed. “I just hadn’t expected the penance to be so light for someone who’s been gone as long as I had and who’d accumulated so much to confess in the interim.” Enter #157 at VocationMatch.com
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 joinus@spiritans.org www.spiritans.org
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PRAYER & DISCERNMENT
THERE ARE four main dispositions that help describe how people behave on their spiritual journey.
What is your spiritual path? by Roger O’Brien and the VISION editors
Roger O’Brien has a master’s degree in theology and worked as a training manager for banks.
Discover the four basic spiritual pathways and see how they apply to your own spiritual development—and vocation discernment.
T
HROUGHOUT HISTORY spiritual directors have warned against casting spiritual seekers into one mold. Saint Ignatius Loyola said there is “no greater mistake in spiritual matters than to force others to follow one’s own pattern.” Many observers have noted four main dispositions, or temperaments, that help describe how people behave on their spiritual journey: the path of intellect, the path of devotion, the path of service, and the path of asceticism. These four main pathways are anchors in the Catholic spiritual tradition and worth exploring in some depth to help you understand your own spiritual preferences. What helps you develop spiritually often is dramatically different from what attracts the person in the next pew to a deeper spiritual life. Take the quiz on page 23 to test your spirituality type. Your quiz results may confirm what you already know about your spiritual leanings, or you may feel called to explore a different pathway. Consider your results an invitation to know yourself better and explore different forms of prayer, worship, and medi-
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mid-america
303.477.5436
www.capuchins.org vocations@capuchins.org
Midwest USA
773.475.6206
www.capuchinfranciscans.org vocation@capuchinfranciscans.org
NEW YORK/ NEW ENGLAND
845.642.1025
www.capuchin.org/vocations brotimjonesofmcap@gmail.com
Pennsylvania
888.263.6227
www.capuchin.com frtomcap@yahoo.com
western america
805.686.4127
www.beafriar.com peterbanksofmcap@yahoo.com
New Jersey/ Southeast USA 201.863.3871 www.capuchinfriars.org capuchinlife@aol.com
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“
Drawing closer to God and unraveling the mystery of God is the work of a lifetime.
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tation. It is best to not feel bound by or limited by your result—your spirituality could very well be a combination of these four pathways. It is merely a tool to give you more insight into your preferences when it comes to living out your Christian call. Religious orders represent a rich multitude of spiritualities drawing on these traditions but their spirituality is also far more nuanced and complex than these categories. Do not limit your exploration of religious communities to the traditions and saints associated with these spiritual paths. Simply use it as a starting point. Remember: Drawing closer to God and unraveling the mystery of God is the work of a lifetime. Now, please take the quiz on page 23 to see which of the four basic spiritual paths described below you currently find yourself following:
Path of intellect (Thomistic prayer) The method of Saint Thomas Aquinas is known as scholastic prayer. The main emphasis is on the orderly progression of thought from cause to effect. People drawn to this prayer type prefer neat, orderly forms of the spiritual life as opposed to the more free-spirited attitude of the Franciscan approach. Their spirituality is centered on the earnest pursuit of all the transcendental values: truth, goodness, beauty, unity, love, life, and spirit. Like Saint Teresa of Avila, they are willing to exert superhuman Enter #108 at VocationMatch.com 22 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
Find your spiritual path INSTRUCTIONS: 1. There are four words in each row across. Choose the word that is most descriptive of you here and now (not what you would like to be some day), and circle “4” in front of that word. 2. Pick the word that is least descriptive of you here and now, and circle “1.” 3. Circle a “3” next to the second most descriptive word and a “2” next to the third most descriptive. 4. Repeat the above steps for each row. 5. When you are finished, total up the circled numbers in each vertical column and write the sum in the box below each column. Whichever column has the highest score represents your preferred spiritual pathway: column 1 — path of intellect column 3 — path of service column 2 — path of devotion column 4 — path of asceticism 4 3 2 1 independent
4 3 2 1 compassionate
4 3 2 1 spontaneous
4 3 2 1 factual
4 3 2 1 logical
4 3 2 1 creative
4 3 2 1 adventurous
4 3 2 1 thorough
4 3 2 1 straightforward 4 3 2 1 empathetic
4 3 2 1 adaptable
4 3 2 1 systematic
4 3 2 1 visionary
4 3 2 1 idealistic
4 3 2 1 self-determined
4 3 2 1 dependable
4 3 2 1 demanding
4 3 2 1 committed
4 3 2 1 observant
4 3 2 1 organized
4 3 2 1 speculative
4 3 2 1 curious
4 3 2 1 enthusiastic
4 3 2 1 realistic
4 3 2 1 original
4 3 2 1 expressive
4 3 2 1 playful
4 3 2 1 loyal
4 3 2 1 challenging
4 3 2 1 perceptive
4 3 2 1 vivacious
4 3 2 1 responsible
4 3 2 1 clever
4 3 2 1 friendly
4 3 2 1 excited
4 3 2 1 traditional
4 3 2 1 questioning
4 3 2 1 imaginative
4 3 2 1 tolerant
4 3 2 1 detailed
4 3 2 1 decisive
4 3 2 1 personable
4 3 2 1 fun-loving
4 3 2 1 devoted
4 3 2 1 tough
4 3 2 1 verbal
4 3 2 1 pragmatic
4 3 2 1 conscientious
4 3 2 1 strategic
4 3 2 1 concerned
4 3 2 1 risk-taker
4 3 2 1 reliable
4 3 2 1 change agent
4 3 2 1 supportive
4 3 2 1 troubleshooter
4 3 2 1 consistent
______ TOTAL, COLUMN 2
______ TOTAL, COLUMN 3
______ TOTAL, COLUMN 4
______ TOTAL, COLUMN 1
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effort to achieve their goal. Because of their disdain for second best, they seek total truth and authenticity in their lives and work hard to reach the whole truth about themselves, about God, and about sanctity. This intense pursuit of truth colors their whole spiritual life. Books of prayer frequently call the Thomistic method of prayer “discursive meditation.” In this type of prayer one takes a virtue, fault, or theological truth and studies it from every possible angle. Change of behavior is an essential part of this prayer—it doesn’t stay at the intellectual level.
Path of devotion (Augustinian prayer) This pathway to spiritual growth uses creative imagination to transpose the world of scripture to today’s situation—as if the scripture pasEnter #077 at VocationMatch.com 24 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
sage is a personal letter from God addressed to each one of us (like Saint Augustine picking up Romans 13 and reading a message pointed directly at him). The essential element of this spirituality, going back to New Testament times (Jesus, Saint Paul, and the early church leaders), is experiencing a personal relationship with God. Because they read between the lines and catch what is inexpressible and spiritual, those who follow the path of devotion understand symbols and their use in liturgy. This path concentrates on meditations that loosen the feelings and expand the ability to relate to and love others. The stress is on the love of self, others, and God. Those on this path can follow the four steps of Lectio Divina: listen to what God says in scripture; reflect prayerfully and apply it to today; respond to God’s Word with personal feelings; remain quiet and stay open to new insights.
Path of service (Franciscan prayer) Like Saint Francis of Assisi, those who follow this path must be free, unconfined, and able to do whatever their inner spirit moves them to do. One thinks of Saint Peter impetuously jumping into the water to join Jesus as a typical action of this type. Franciscan spirituality leads to acts of loving service that can be a most effective form of prayer. The gospel stories about Jesus have a special appeal, particularly the Incarnation of God in the life of Jesus, which is the center around which Franciscan life and spirituality revolve. Franciscan prayer is flexible and free-flowing, making full use of the five senses; it is spirit-filled prayer. Those on this path can make a meditation on the beauty of a water-
Whatever you did for one of the least of these … www.edmundricebrothers.org Br. James McDonald call or text: 815 272 7742 bromaccfc@yahoo.com Enter #095 at VocationMatch.com
. . . 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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Fr. Italo Dell’Oro, CRS 610 W. Melwood St. . Houston, TX 77009 somascans@yahoo.com . www.somascans.org
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fall, flower, meadow, mountain, or ocean—all of God’s creation. There is more stress in prayer on the events of Jesus’ life rather than his teaching. Like Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, prayer is done with total concentration as if it is the most important thing to be doing at this moment. Thérèse did all tasks knowing that each was a part of the total harmony of the universe.
Path of asceticism (Ignatian prayer) This pathway involves imagining oneself as part of a scene in order to draw some practical fruit from it for today. This spirituality goes back to the Israelite way of praying in 1000 B.C. in which one remembers and immerses oneself in an event and thus relives and participates in the event in a symbolic way. That is how Saint Ignatius of Loyola meditated on the figures in the Nativity scene: ‘’I will make myself a poor, little, unworthy servant, and as though present, look upon them,
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Those on the path of service can make a meditation on the beauty of a waterfall, flower, meadow, mountain, or ocean— all of God’s creation.
contemplate them, and serve them in their needs with all possible homage and reverence. Then I will reflect on myself that I may reap some fruit.’’ Ignatius’ preoccupation with order was evident in his Spiritual Exercises, which he aimed at overcoming “disorderly affections, so that [people] may make a decision that is in keeping with God’s will,” says Thomas Clarke in Playing in the Gospel. According to Clarke, “Most souls who are willing to endure the discipline of the 30 days of intense prayer activity of the Spiritual Exercises are rewarded with an unforgettable spiritual experience that frequently changes the whole direction of their lives.” =
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PRAYER & DISCERNMENT
SISTER JEAN HINDERER, C.S.A.
How to wait for clarity about your vocation by
Sister Jean Hinderer, C.S.A. is a Sister of St. Agnes, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. She is vocation discernment director for her community, a retreat director, and a spiritual director. See her blog at csavocations.blogspot. com/.
Sister Jean Hinderer, C.S.A.
“SOMETIMES we don’t seem to know it,” writes author Sue Monk Kidd, “yet in some holy place within us, God lives and moves and has being. At this inmost center of our being, . . . is the Presence in our midst.”
Waiting is inevitable in the human condition. It can also be an important part of discernment.
L
IFE OFFERS MANY OPPORTUNITIES to wait. According to statistics we wait an average of 62 minutes every day, and throughout a lifetime a person spends five years waiting in lines and six months waiting for traffic lights. We wait for our name to be called at the dentist office, for an elevator to arrive, for a computer program to download, for a line to move, for voting results, for a soldier to return, and for time to pass. Often we find it physically and emotionally uncomfortable. When we wait our inner landscape might connect with our feelings of fear, self-doubt, and anxiety. But waiting also excites our thoughts of eagerness and hope. We wait for flowers to grow and bloom, for wounds to heal, for friends to call, for bread to rise, for wine to age, for children to grow and mature. Waiting in the spiritual life can be a sacred exercise of a willingness to “stay where we are and live the situa-
28 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
tion out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us,” wrote Father Henri J. M. Nouwen in Eternal Seasons.
We’re not spiritual couch potatoes When we wait in discernment, there is a struggle to let go of our sense of discomfort with powerlessness, our lack of control over the present moment and the anticipated future, and our judgments about wasting time. In the sacred time of discernment, waiting is not passive. It invites us to live actively and nurture the present moment. There in the fullness of the moment we are companioned by the gift of mystery and the God who gently nudges us to become what God so desires us to be. Some time ago my niece was pregnant with her first child. When she was two weeks overdue, she became aware that the baby was no longer moving. With apprehension she went to the emergency room, and after a number of tests she was informed that all was well. The nurses then told her that before moving into the birth canal the baby rests. For me that is one of the holiest elements of coming to be who we are, which we learn far before we are born. Preparing, forming, listening, nurturing, resting: All are aspects of living actively while waiting. This same sacred intuitive knowing is the rhythm we encounter each time we are willing to hold still and listen to our heartbeat as we ponder the learnings, wisdoms, and direction
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SISTER JEAN HINDERER, C.S.A.
POOR SISTERS OF ST. CLARE
Do you love God & our Beautiful World enough to become a Poor Clare? Enclosed Franciscan Contemplative Nuns Jamaica Plain, Boston, MA
Saint Clare’s charism of POVERTY, PRAYER and HOLY UNITY frees us to love God totally and be a prayerful support for the Whole Christ. Check us out: PoorClaresBoston.org BostonPoorClares@yahoo.com or call us at 617-524-1760 Enter #438 at VocationMatch.com
Y C X U T A E
C O R E L I G
G N L I I O S
O S Z F F C X
B E A B E S B
S C E W I E T
L R G O Z R C
L A I T Y V I
H T U A E A A
Y E E C T N L
T D R L I T H
V I M O M R G
P F N V P S B
F A F F I L I
K P J M
I O U S
B I R R
T V B I
K J T C
E A O U
J M I Y
P B O K
N C V G
P Q B F
L X C C
X V D V
Z A T I
A T E O
RELIGIOUS LIFE | SERVANT COMPANION | CONSECRATED LAITY | AFFILIATE
SERVANTS OF THE HOLY HEART OF MARY FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Sister Marie Mason, sscm
PHONE: (815) 370-7228 | E-MAIL: vocation@sscm-usa.org
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“WAITING,” said author John Ortberg in his book If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat, “is part of the process of becoming what God wants us to be.”
to which God is inviting us. Thus listening with our heart moves us to rise, to decide, and to take action. We learn to trust our inner knowing and God’s grace even though the next steps may be blurry.
Patient and hopeful waiting Waiting is always accompanied by patience and hope as our teachers. Waiting with patience involves giv-
Your Mission ~ to work for the transformation of the world by awakening and deepening faith with and for the people of our times. Your Life ~ prayer, community, and a ministry of helping others deepen their relationship with God through retreats, spiritual direction, and adult faith formation.
we’re waiting for
you! 773-528-6300 vocations@cenaclesisters.org
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DISCOVER YOUR PLACE IN GOD’S PLAN... Experience the Benedictine way of life. Attend one of our
VOCATION WEEKENDS ing over our restlessness, expectaV14pp131-172.indd 174 tions, assumptions, judgments, fears, and illusions. Waiting with hope is the grace to embrace the yearning for something to change and happen. Being a person of hope means we are called to be creative and imaginative so that what we have encountered within will take form upon our moving forward. The mingling of patience and hope in our active waiting offers us a wisdom that is uniquely
4/26/2013
www.osbmonks.org click ‘vocations’ or email Giles@delbarton.org
ST. MARY’S ABBEY At DELBARTON
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“
The mingling of patience and hope in our active waiting offers us a wisdom that is uniquely ours.
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ours. It is in this time that the Divine reveals to us our purpose, passion, and call. It is in our newfound awareness that our “yes” to God’s dream for us has been revealed in the outer landscape of our lives through individuals, events, and in our faithfulness to prayer. Our response is one of moving on and daring to risk from what we have heard within. A discerner says: “Although the comfort of complacency lingers and tugs at my spirit, it is through God’s laser-like grace that my heart’s desire is given form with greater transparency on this sacred vision-quest.”
Waiting to act Waiting to discern our call with passion and purpose is truly a dance of resting and being active all at the same time—truly a paradox that God has somehow designed for our becoming. While we are resting, we patiently hold still to let ourselves be known, healed, loved, and made whole by our God who is gradually lighting our way with signs that give us meaning and direction. It is with a hopeful response that we then pick up our mat and walk (see John 5:8) to the next moment by embracing our call in our process of becoming what God wants us to be. = Enter #072 at VocationMatch.com 32 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
CAN YOU LIVE A CELIBATE LIFE?
T
O TEST YOUR ABILITY to live successfully as a celibate person, answer yes or no to the following statements:
1. YES NO
I have close friends. Some of my friends are my peers (around my own age, with similar education, and in my social circle).
2. YES NO
I have a life!
3. YES NO
I can enjoy time alone.
4. YES NO
I can set limits.
5. YES NO
I have a personal relationship with God and spend time in prayer.
6. YES NO
I can say no.
7. YES NO
I am willing to love those no one else will love.
8. YES NO
I don’t need to satisfy my own needs immediately.
9. YES NO
I can delay gratification.
10. YES NO
My social circle is a mix of men and women.
11. YES NO
My prayer life supports my struggle to be chaste (not chased!).
12. YES NO
I know how to be intimate without being active sexually.
13. YES NO
I have made and kept commitments in my life.
14. YES NO
I can be honest, down to earth, realistic, joyful, and warm (though not all necessarily at the same time; no one is perfect!).
15. YES NO
Most of the time I am comfortable with my own body and emotions.
Positive answers to these questions indicate you have the capacity to live the celibate life well. —Sister Kathy Bryant, R.S.C.
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PRAYER & DISCERNMENT
“THIS BOWL may be the empty bowl of my life, which I offer Him,” writes Sister Penelope Martin, O.C.D., “earnestly desiring that He fill it with whatever way of life most pleases Him.”
Art: A way into prayer by Sister Penelope
Martin, O.C.D.
REMEMBER THIS, BY LORETTA ROOME
Art is a pathway to the divine.
Sister Penelope Martin, O.C.D. is a Carmelite nun and a member of the community at the Carmelite Monastery, Quidenham, Norfolk, England, quidenhamcarmel.org. uk.
A
RT HAS ALWAYS PLAYED a major role in my prayer as a member of my religious order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Carmelites have as their reason for being the work of prayer: praying for the church and for the needs of the whole world. To this end we are an “enclosed” community—that is, we do not leave the monastery except for essential business. Far from being a restriction for its own sake, it is designed to free us and all our energies for our great task of prayer. In everyday terms it means we follow a strict timetable, known as the horarium (from the Latin hora—an “hour”), which revolves around the singing of the Divine Office of the church and one hour of private, silent prayer every morning and evening. Each person has her own way of being during this silent prayer hour, and it is probably true to say that there are as many ways of praying as there are people
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maybe your place — in
God’s Plan
Sr. Olga Maria Ayala, Novice.
is with the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago
You’re unique and so are we. We’re an exceptional congregation of women that share the joys and challenges of life in the community. We live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the spirit of St. Francis by proclaiming God’s love among all people serving them generously. Please call Sr. Lois M. Rossi (773) 328-5566 or email lrossi@franciscancommunities.com to learn more about the Sisters today!
FRANCISCAN SISTERS OF CHICAGO Founded 1894
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OF PRAYING with Mark Rothko’s Orange and Yellow (1956) the author says, “I can imagine entering into that space as surely as in my prayer I enter into the very Being of God and am held there.”
committed to prayer. Fortunately for me I discovered meditation using pictures.
You don’t have to be an expert This monastery has always encouraged looking at art in the form of reproductions either for its own sake or as an aid to prayer. We are
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fortunate in having a large library of well-illustrated art books, and sisters regularly give talks about or write commentaries on pictures that appeal to them. At first I was somewhat overawed by these offerings. Surely I would need a degree in the history of art to arrive at such insights? At the very least I would have to have studied art—and I had not. Then came a Enter #483 at VocationMatch.com VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 37
REMBRANDT’S The Return of the Prodigal Son (1669).
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“eureka” moment. Somebody with an extensive and profound knowledge of art said this: Everyone’s response to a work of art is valid. The important thing is to really take time to look at a painting. A true work of art will always elicit its own response. In other words: Anyone can do it—even an “ignoramus” like me. How to begin?
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way into using art as a pathway to prayer is simply to try it out. The first thing is to find a picture—be it of a drawing, painting, or sculpture—that you like, and then to spend time with it. Using the internet can be helpful: There are thousands of photographs of paintings and sculptures online as well as a wealth of information about each work and every artist, and that is certainly valuable as background information. But to pray with an image you need to have it, if not actually in front of you, then at least securely in your mind’s eye. So I think an actual
“
Prayer is actually God’s work, and focusing on a work of art is merely one way of trying to keep my mind on the things of God.
reproduction is essential. I keep it propped up in a place where I can see it often so that I can think about it often. Gradually it, too, speaks to me. To put it another way: We become well-acquainted. The image becomes a visual memory, one that I can recall either during my prayer hour or at any time as I go about my day. I think about it perhaps in its historical setting but mostly with reference to God and the life I try to live in Christ. Thus I find myself praying with this image; maybe using words, maybe just letting it be in my mind’s eye, offering it to God and asking God to work in and through it. It cannot be stressed too strongly that prayer is actually God’s work, not mine or yours, and that focusing on a work of art is merely one way of trying to keep my mind on the things of God rather than on myriad distractions. “Let your minds be fixed on heavenly things, not on things here on earth,” writes Saint Paul in his Letter to the Colossians (3:2). Art at its best is a pointer, or doorway, to heavenly things.
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Art at its best is a pointer, or doorway, to heavenly things.
brandt’s The Return of the Prodigal Son—to abstract works by contemporary artists. Sometimes I find that nonrepresentational, modern art gives me a greater freedom of interpretation—or is simply more restful. I might, for example, choose a very simple painting by Mark Rothko. I have never seen an original Rothko. I can only imagine how powerful one of his enormous rectangles of almost translucent color could be, but I can imagine entering into that space as surely as in my prayer I enter into the very Being of God and am held there. Alternatively I might choose a more complex image. One of my favorite paintings is Child with a Dove, one of Pablo Picasso’s earlier works and a portrait surely of the innocence and vulnerability of children. The dove, which the child is clasping so firmly yet so gently, I see as the Spirit of Life within each of us. Child and dove are so helpless, so easily crushed; life can be brutal, as we know. Yet Jesus tells us, “Every hair on your head has been counted” (Matthew 10:30). What a challenge this protestation of extravagant love is to us—and how we need to hold fast to it! As that great Carmelite saint, Thérèse of Lisieux, knew only too well: Growth in the Spirit relies on “trusting to the last in His fatherly goodness.” So hard, and yet that is all there is to it. An image I have turned to again and again over the years is Remember This (see page 34), a strikingly
CHILD WITH A DOVE by Pablo Picasso (1901).
beautiful yet very simple picture of an empty bowl by the contemporary American artist Loretta Roome. The title of this painting seems to suggest a past association, but for me this picture is all about the future, about potential. I may see it as the bowl of my “daily bread”: an empty bowl, which I hold up in trust, each day, to my heavenly Father, knowing that he will fill it with nourishing bread. “What father among you would give his son a stone, if he asked for bread?” (Luke 11:11). What a challenge to faith when what I get seems to be very far
from good, satisfying bread.
“Something happens” There are many ways in which an artist may let us see a picture. Whether we know the artist’s personal point of view does not necessarily matter. It may be of interest—but it may also inhibit my own response. A true work of art surely has a life of its own, and when I really engage with it, with all humility, openness, and a readiness for God, then something happens and I am truly enriched. = Enter #024 at VocationMatch.com VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 41
PRAYER & DISCERNMENT
THERESA DANAHER
How to talk to your family about your vocation by Father Andrew Hofer,
BROTHER TIMOTHY Danaher, O.P. with his parents William and Theresa.
O.P.
Do your parents have doubts about your vocation? Here are some ways to listen and talk to them about their concerns. Father Andrew Hofer, O.P. is the student master for the Province of St. Joseph at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.
A
FAMILY CAN SEE A RELIGIOUS VOCATION given to a son or daughter as a great blessing. They can also consider it a threat. If you think God is calling you to be a member of a religious community, and your parents are opposed or have serious doubts, here are some things to keep in mind.
Have you listened to your parents’ reasons? Allow them to tell you what their concerns are. They may want you to have a “normal” life because they think that the celibate life is too hard and unnatural. They may think that if you join you will abandon them and never see them again. They may believe you need to have several years of experience after college before you can make a decision to enter a community. They may think that you’re throwing away your education. Maybe they’ll judge from their experience of certain members of religious communities that all religious are misfits. They may condemn the
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Let your parents know that you want to follow the Lord. Jesus said, “Everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29). There are many different ways of living a total faith commitment. At the same time there’s something especially radical about religious life. Perhaps that’s exactly the reason it draws more questions and opposition to it than so many other ways of living the Christian faith.
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Society of Mary church as so riddled with problems that it will drag you down, or they might condemn a religious community as hopelessly out of touch with the real world. They may wish you to be happier and be more productive in doing just about anything else than becoming a religious community member.
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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After hearing whatever reasons your parents give, remind them of your unconditional love for them. Allow them to know that you will always be their son or daughter. Give them the respect and gratitude they deserve. Let them also know that your love and prayer for them will continue and grow in religious life.
Let them know the details of the application process, which may allay some of their fears. Explain to them what you know. The church and religious communities have all sorts of conditions that ensure there’s a time for waiting before entrance and much, much time before any definitive decision is made. A religious community should not be too eager to welcome someone into their company, and a hasty entrance often makes for a hasty exit. Explain to your parents how the decision to enter a community usually involves extensive reviews, recommendations, interviews, and psychological and physical health examinations, among other things. Also, in a typical religious community several people take part in this decision.
Talk to your parents about the steps of initial formation in a religious community.
“
Let your parents see that your answer to God’s call is precisely for the reason of happiness.
Such steps are often called postulancy, novitiate, and formation in temporary vows. While religious communities have many variables on how long a postulancy lasts, the novitiate must last at least one year according to the church’s law. Temporary vows must last at least three years before a final profession of vows. Therefore a definitive commitment in final profession cannot occur before at least four years after your entrance. For some religious communities, the formation before final profession is considerably longer, and communities of priests will have periods of time after final vows and before ordination to the diaconate and priesthood. Just entering a religious community does not mean that everything has been settled. The church and religious communities would not allow for that. Initial formation is an extended time of mutual consideration before God if the candidate thinks that the community is right and the community thinks that the candidate is right. It includes much prayer, education, and work. Explain to your parents how there are various directors, masters, and superiors who are guiding the whole process of religious formation.
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Let your parents experience something of your joy and excitement in a religious vocation. You know that God wants you to be happy. Let your parents see that your answer to God’s call is precisely for the reason of happiness. Allow your parents to see how people who could have had marriage and family can thrive in a life that is a special gift from God. Invite your parents to visit the religious community with you before you enter, and let them meet various members of religious communities, who are real individuals— like your parents. Also, find out from the community when your parents can visit while you’re in formation. These steps can calm your parents’
fears because they will be able to see how religious life, with the community’s love and support system, is a blessing for their child.
Let your parents see that a very large family is joining your family. Once your parents come to see others in your religious community, they often feel bonded with the brothers in their son’s formation or with the sisters in their daughter’s formation, and they come to realize that their child is gaining many brothers or sisters. For their part, members of religious themselves look with affection on the parents of one of their own. =
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RELIGIOUS LIFE
FRANCISCAN FATHER Mike Duffy, O.F.M. visits a guest at the St. Francis Inn soup kitchen in Philadelphia. Hospitality is of great importance to Franciscans.
Meeting God in the city by Father Linh Hoang,
O.F.M.
BROTHER OCTAVIO DURAN, O.F.M.
Father Linh Hoang, O.F.M. is a member of the Franciscan Friars, Holy Name Province. He is an associate professor of religious studies at Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y. where he also lives in student housing as a friar-in-residence.
A young man discovered his vocation by immersing himself in the pillars of Franciscan spirituality—starting with a sense of place in a beloved city.
I
MOVED TO NEW YORK CITY from Topeka, Kansas in 2000 to pursue my doctorate in theology at Fordham University. It was going to be my first time living in New York. Though I had been in Chicago a few years earlier and so big cities did not intimidate me, I would come to learn there is definitely something quite different about NYC. The people, the traffic, the buildings, and the massive public transportation system created a web of human interactions that can be overwhelming to the uninitiated. Constant activity keeps the city beating at all hours of the day and night. There is hardly a place where one will not run into another person. It was a city unlike any other I had visited, where all my senses were stirred. It was also the place where I discerned my religious vocation. That may sound strange to some people that a secular city can have such a spiritual influence, but it was very fitting because a sense of place is an important
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JOLIET FRANCISCAN Sister Dolores Zemont, O.S.F. distributes the Eucharist. Gospel living through prayer and action is a key part of Franciscan spirituality.
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dimension of Franciscan spirituality. Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), founder of the Franciscans, was influenced by the places where he lived, including natural areas such as a mountaintop and the lush pastoral lands of Italy. In fact Franciscans have three cornerstones to their spirituality: • Place as created and lived Enter #079 at VocationMatch.com 48 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
COURTESY OF THE JOLIET FRANCISCAN SISTERS
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• Hospitality practiced in fraternity • Living the gospel through prayer and action
A sense of place For me the city exudes humanity from its worst to the best examples of care and kindness. The city holds
both secular institutions as well as religious locations. They are built next to one another and in some cases they have impacted one another. The city was where I met the Franciscan friars of the Holy Name Province living and ministering in mid-town Manhattan. From my initial meeting to my eventual entrance into formation and then final profes-
sion, I was convinced that a place really has an impact on a religious discernment. For many years I had wanted to be a priest. I had studied for a diocese and also with another religious community. Those attempts, however, did not lead me to a full commitment but left me searching for something else. Being thrust into the VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 49
BROTHER OCTAVIO DURAN, O.F.M.
Praying. Serving. Building community. Together.
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS 200 ST. FRANCIS AVE., TIFFIN, OH 44883 419.447.0435 vocations@tiffinfranciscans.org
sfctiffin.org sfctiffin.o FIND US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. Enter #287 at VocationMatch.com
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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. Enter #274 at VocationMatch.com 50 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
concrete jungle of New York filled with people really opened my eyes to a living gospel and a renewed interest in my vocational commitment. During the summer of 2000 I visited St. Francis of Assisi Church on 31st Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. It sits snugly between Penn Station, Madison Square Garden, and the Empire State Building, and the foot traffic is constant. Some people choose to go in. Once inside you find an oasis away from the noisy city. That was where I found myself during my first visit, just taking in the quiet of the inside and reflecting on its contrast from the bustle outside.
Hospitality practiced in fraternity I returned later to speak to one of the friars, Brother Nathaniel. My visit with him was a wonderful experi-
FATHER LINH HOANG, O.F.M. teaches at Siena College in Loudonville, New York.
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ence of hospitality. I remembered that the first place he ushered me into was the kitchen; I would come to learn that the kitchen was the favorite place of the friars to welcome everyone. This hospitality is to help make people feel comfortable and give them something to quench their thirst and fill their stomachs. This hospitality also extended beyond the kitchen and into every aspect of their life. I was accepted and entered the province in 2002 after my classes were done at Fordham. Those of us in formation would visit the various houses of the province along the East Coast. At each we would be warmly welcomed. I felt that it was part of being a religious brother. I would learn this hospitality and make it part of being a Franciscan myself, and I have experienced it from friars in the United States as well as across the world I
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A sense of place is an important dimension of Franciscan spirituality.
have had the privilege to visit. Hospitality-in-fraternity means living with vowed members but it also extends to the larger human community—people religious work with, minister with, and encounter daily. Hospitality-in-fraternity means embracing all people as brothers and sisters. Everyone wants to be more than only recognized. Franciscan hospitality means feeling the yearning of all people to be accepted and welcomed into a spirit larger than them. I live now in the largest house in my province at Siena College two Enter #133 at VocationMatch.com VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 51
SISTER ANNETTE KUREY, O.S.F. of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity in Manitowoc, Wisconsin helps a summer camper with her prayer beads.
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hours outside of New York City. I was sent there after my doctoral work to teach in the religious studies department. We are in the middle of all the events and intrigue involved in college life. This place affords me the opportunity to live among the brothers as well as the larger college campus. I chose to do both, which gives me time with the brothers and time with students, faculty, and staff. I do not see it as two separate places but rather one with different experiences. Being at Siena has provided me the proximity to visit the city as often as I would like, and I take the opportunity as much as I can because it was the first place of my Franciscan vocation.
The gospel in prayer and action Living the gospel message that is grounded in knowing the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and living hospitality-in-fraternity nourEnter #476 at VocationMatch.com 52 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
ished my vocation. It is Jesus’ story I continue to live out in a different expression through an urban city. From the beginning of their formation the friars are encouraged to continue to read and learn more about the gospels. It was the gospels that really moved Saint Francis of Assisi to live fully as a religious brother. My prayer life consists in the Divine Office with the community and also making time for personal prayer. That I do through quiet contemplation as well as spiritual reading. The prayer times provide the nourishment I need to live with my brothers as well as to work with other people. It is a very necessary part of my religious life because it weaves into perspective the dwelling-in-place and the hospitality-in-fraternity aspects that are now made clearer.
Walking in place My Franciscan spirituality blossomed in an unexpected place—the bustling
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Franciscan hospitality-in-fraternity means feeling the yearning of all people to be accepted and welcomed into a spirit larger than them.
city of New York—and in the warm hospitality of the friars, the solace of a quiet church building, and in living out the gospel message. The uniqueness of a Franciscan spirituality is to live in and bring the gospel message to the people in a certain place. That may sound contrary because Franciscans are considered to be “itinerant,” on the move, but is it not because as itinerants we learn to create a space where God can dwell and where we can preach the message of God’s love? =
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RELIGIOUS LIFE FOR MOST of her life as a member of a religious community, Sister Janet Gildea has been able to work as a physician.
Can your career fit into religious life? by Sister Janet Gildea, S.C.
Sister Janet Gildea, S.C. is a Sister of Charity of Cincinnati and a family physician.
Becoming a sister, brother, or priest doesn’t have to mean giving up your professional path. Not only that, a religious vocation can reshape your career in surprising ways.
I
WAS SO CLEAR ABOUT MY CALL to be a family physician. I had been accepted to medical school. I desired to serve those most in need of health care—people I had met at a free clinic sponsored by an inner-city parish and where I volunteered in high school. The doctors, nurses, and other parishioners who served the sick in the evenings at the clinic taught me that health care is a basic human right and that my faith calls me to be sure that everyone has access. That was my calling. During college I also began to notice within myself a growing curiosity about religious life. The sisters who taught many of my classes and lived on campus were dedicated professionals and academics with a spiritual side that showed in their interactions with students, staff, and colleagues. Some lived in the college convent,
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ATTORNEY and Sister of St. Joseph Alison McCrary, C.S.J. notarizing and completing incorporation papers for a New Orleans nonprofit.
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! 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@comcast.net You also can visit our website:
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WHAT ABOUT MY STUDENT LOANS?
I
N COOPERATION with the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate and through a grant from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC), VISION’s publisher, completed a formal Educational Debt Study in 2013 that showed that student loans often prevent discerners from acting on a desire to be a religious priest, sister, or brother. As a result of the findings of that debt study, the NRVC
initiated the establishment of the National Fund for Catholic Religious Vocations (NFCRV.org) to assist religious communities with student loan payments for new members. The fund, an independent entity affiliated with the NRVC, is scheduled to be fully functioning by 2015. The details regarding the nature of assistance and how religious communities may apply will be publicized through the NRVC (NRVC.net).
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I thought that becoming a sister, brother, or priest meant giving up most other professional paths and very likely the freedom to have any say about it. Not true! Enter #126 at VocationMatch.com
others on the floors of the dorm, others in small groups in homes across the road from the school. I was intrigued, but I felt I was removed from them because in my understanding, “Sisters couldn’t be doctors.”
Don’t limit your possibilities Many young adults, students, and
professionals make the same assumption I did—that ministry work for religious sisters and brothers has a fairly narrow scope: teaching, nursing, parish, or other church-related service. I thought that becoming a sister, brother, or priest meant giving up most other professional paths and very likely the freedom to have any say about it. Not true!
A story in a diocesan newspaper about a Franciscan sister who was in a family practice medical residency awakened me to the possibility that I might have “a call within a call.” There were sister-doctors. Uh-oh! There are also sister-lawyers, sisterveterinarians, sister-cello professors—in short, the people of God need all of these ministries, and reli-
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St. Guido Maria Conforti Founder, Xaverian Missionaries
!
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS FOR PEOPLE IN RELIGIOUS LIFE
Association of Sister, Brother, and Priest Physicians Contact medical doctor Sister Janet Gildea, S.C. Janetsc@juno.com 915-525-5882
Intercommunity Legal Conference Contact attorney William D. Buckley wbuckley@ garbarini-scher.com 212-689-1113
Fr. Rocco Puopolo, sx 101 Summer St. Holliston, MA 01746 Phone: 508-429-2144 Email: frrocco@xaviermissionaries.org
gious women and men can respond with great freedom and creativity according to their abilities. The active apostolic life can support the diversity of gifts young adults offer today. Even communities with a very specific focus, like nursing the elderly, service to immigrants, or education, can many times incorporate persons with a breadth of professional training and skills. The sense of a call to serve in a particular profession can help in the discernment process by narrowing the field of congregations you may want to consider.
Challenges and opportunities Incorporating new members with professional training can have special challenges for religious communities. Educational debt is an issue that congregations are trying to help candidates address (see the box on page 56). Another challenge can be negotiating the demands of a career or training program within the Enter #137 at VocationMatch.com 58 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
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JESUIT FATHER Frank Brennan, S.J. has played a prominent role in Australia in defending the rights of native peoples.
structures of formation for religious life. In some ways it is important to discover early in the discernment process whether your professional commitment blends well with the life of the congregation. During the time of considering and then beginning religious life, many communi-
ties negotiate the give-and-take of religious life and professional work. In my case the three years of medical residency training were ideal for an extended candidacy period—when those joining religious communities can observe and participate in religious life from the inside—allowing Enter #292 at VocationMatch.com VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 59
MICKEY TRAGESER
MARIANIST BROTHER Frank O’Donnell, S.M. is a lawyer who has put his legal skills to work for various nonprofits.
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for nights on-call at the hospital and a more gradual introduction to life in community.
Time to take the plunge
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THE MARIANISTS
The Province of Meribah
To Jesus Through Mary RELIGIOUS BROTHERS AND PRIESTS COMMITTED TO: EUCHARIST | PRAYER | COMMON LIFE | DEVOTION TO MARY EDUCATION OF YOUTH |FAMILY SPIRIT | SERVICE
www.intothedeepblog.net Enter #334 at VocationMatch.com 60 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
At some point, however, the seriousness and requirements of your commitment to religious life must take priority. A year or so away from the demands of professional training won’t ruin a professional life but will build the solid foundation required for consecrated life. Taking some time off during initial formation is not so different from choosing to be a stay-at-home mom or dad for a while, as did several of my colleagues in medicine. My novitiate year—a period of discernment, preparation, and formation activities before taking temporary vows—began just after completing my medical residency, and to be honest I looked forward to the immersion into the deep story of my congregation and to the opportunity for prayer and study of the vows. The reentry to full-time work was exciting, and I felt that my
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A religious vocation can reshape your career in surprising ways.
novitiate period helped me to integrate my call within a call. Congregations with members in the profession for which you are prepared have experience working with issues such as liability insurance and ongoing educational and licensing requirements. Vocation ministers can put you in contact with vowed members who have navigated the waters ahead of you, and these people can be valuable resources. Organizations of professionals (see sidebar) have annual meetings and provide regional networking possibilities to support the integration of professional life and religious commitment.
Vocation forms your career A religious vocation can reshape
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your career in surprising ways. Religious congregations are continually evaluating their ministries as they reflect on the signs of the times, listening for the call of their charism—their particular focus and spirit—in the light of the gospel. There are traditional needs in community-sponsored ministries such as schools and hospitals, but new projects spring up that require fresh eyes and new skills. A psychologist might work with veterans or women released from prison. An accountant can handle the financial side of a struggling social service agency. Sometimes the formation experience itself illuminates new interests or aptitudes through opportunities for growth in selfknowledge. Many occupations can be put to good use for the sake of the kingdom. What could God do with yours? = Enter #170 at VocationMatch.com VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 61
RELIGIOUS LIFE
Breathing life into sacred stones Text by Carol Schuck Scheiber Photos courtesy of the Abbey of Our Lady of New Clairvaux
THE MONKS (above) celebrate the completion of the ceiling of their restored monastery building. THOUSANDS OF GUESTS visit the abbey each year to see the reconstructed building (facing page).
A community of Trappist monks in California have a unique relationship with a monastery that is an ocean of water—and time—away.
T
Carol Schuck Scheiber is content editor of the VISION Vocation Guide.
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HE TRAPPIST MONKS of the Abbey of Our Lady of New Clairvaux in Vina, California have a story that parallels the Christian story of death and resurrection: They helped resurrect, in a way, a shuttered Trappist monastery founded in northeastern Spain in 1181. That monastery maintained for 654 years the simple life of prayer and work that Trappist monks around the world have adhered to for nearly a millennium. In 1835 the Spanish government dissolved the Ovila, Spain monastery, giving the land and church buildings to private owners. Fast forward to 1931: The rich and prominent publisher William Randolph Hearst became enchanted with Gothic architecture while touring Europe. He spent part of his fortune purchasing the stones of the monastery of Ovila and moving them to California to use in a castle he hoped to build. The Great Depression, however, caught up with Hearst, and the project was abandoned. The stones sat for decades among weeds in a San Francisco park. Then, many years after the Spanish monastery had been dismantled,
the leader of the Trappists in Vina, California began a lengthy process of lobbying, fundraising, and painstaking reconstruction to put the pieces of structure back together. His vision was to bring the stones back to Cistercian soil and rebuild the “chapter” house of the Spanish monks. The Vina monks envisioned bringing back to life a destroyed monastery built centuries ago by their own Trappist forebears. In so doing they would pay homage to the timeless 64 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
value of the Cistercian life of prayer. With much outside support, the monks have succeeded in step one of their plan. In 2012, in a joyful celebration, the Vina community of monks began once again to worship within the building that had belonged to their brothers across the centuries and the sea. The chapter house is only partially rebuilt and is not yet used as their main church, but the California monks look forward to the time when seven days a week they will chant, sing, and
give praise to God within the walls of what they have come to call their place of “sacred stones.” “We got into possession of the stones,” Abbot Father Paul Mark Schwan, O.C.S.O. told the New York Times, “and they’ve come home—a long ways from Spain, but back on Cistercian land with Cistercian monks returning it to sacred space.” = Thank you to Brother Christopher Cheney, O.C.S.O. and Susie Zimmer for contributing to this story.
FATHER THOMAS DAVIS, O.C.S.O. (facing page, left), a former abbot, discusses the progress of the building with master stonemason Frank Helmholz. THE RECONSTRUCTED medieval section of the new church (above). ABBOT PAUL MARK Schwan, O.C.S.O. (from left), Brother Luis Cortez, O.C.S.O., and Father Placid Morris, O.C.S.O. celebrate the completion of the medieval section of the rebuilt church.
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FATHER BERNARD JOHNSON, O.C.S.O. and Father Thomas Davis, O.C.S.O. (at left and center), both previous abbots.
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THE EXTERIOR of the new church (above), built with the stones brought from Spain. Still to be constructed are the lobby, sacristy, and the connecting cloister. THE MONKS gather inside the new church during the rebuilding process.
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RELIGIOUS LIFE
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National Religious Vocation
©National Religious Vocation Conference
Data from VISION’s VocationNetwork.org and VocationMatch.com reader statistics, based on 4,840 reader responses in one year.
YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE
Among the lights and shadows: The mood of Catholics around consecrated life by the VISION editors with an introduction by Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C.
Holy Cross Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C. is executive director of the National Religious Vocation Conference. He also serves on the Provincial Council for the Moreau Province of Holy Cross Brothers and was vocation director for nine years.
A
S THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH commences upon a year-long celebration of consecrated life, it is heartening to know that the enduring values of this unique form of Christian discipleship remain relevant and appreciated by contemporary Catholics. In a survey of a broad spectrum of Catholics conducted by the editors of VISION, 94 percent offered a thumbs up to their positive experience with men and women in consecrated life, even among the under-30 set who have grown up in the wake of church scandals and in a time when men and women in consecrated life are not as visible in schools or parish life as they once were. It is not surprising that respondents found communal aspects of prayer, mission, and service as being most attractive about a religious vocation, just as newer entrants in the 2009 NRVC/CARA Study on Recent Vocation to Religious Life attributed these same values to the origins of their own vocations. Deepening one’s prayer life through active participation in the sacraments and periodic retreats were also identified as being most helpful in enhancing an appreciation for the vowed life. What is most encouraging is that more than 70 percent of the survey participants have invited someone to consider religious life. Ideally the promotion of vocations is the responsibility of the entire church, not only of the clergy or religious themselves. Pope Francis promulgated the Year of Consecrated Life to raise the church’s awareness about the importance of this unique vocation within the communion of vocation we all share as baptized Christians. What a gift and blessing for the entire church!
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94% of all respondents* have a positive view of consecrated life.
1. I would describe my overall experience with those in consecrated life as: Under 30 (496 answered)
61% Very positive 32% Positive
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55+ (925 answered)
30-54 (609 answered)
59% Very positive 35% Positive
51% Very positive 41% Positive
I felt called to this way of life. I responded to that call and have never felt disappointed.
2. Gender: All ages (2,025 answered)
—Father Tom, 60-64, member of a religious community
3. Age:
Under 30: 24%
55+: 46% 30-54: 30%
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The witness [of men and women in consecrated life] inspires the world to remember to seek God and seek Him seriously in Jesus. —A., female, 25-29, discerner
Admirable and attractive qualities of those in consecrated life: Joy and authentic kindness in interactions with others. —Female, 18-24, discerner
pleasure, and a misunderstanding of human intimacy. —L., female, 40-44, discerner
Doing the work of Christ in humility. —R., male, 65+, Catholic in the pew
Prayers for the world, which desperately needs them. —Male, 45-49, Catholic in the pew
Humility, peace, gifts of understanding, living the Beatitudes. —Female, 65+, member of a religious community As an American, I find consecrated life to be particularly appealing because the lifestyle and vows indicate subtly, yet powerfully, a refusal to buy into a culture built on materialism, “ambition,” the pursuit of superficial
They follow Christ’s footsteps and live for his sake. Very humble and selfless. They can teach us how to follow Christ. —Female, under 18, discerner Show to all that God is always present, and demonstrate to the rest of the world the difference between want vs. need. —S., male, 50-54, former postulant
* 2,030 completed surveys, conducted online from Feb. 20 - May 21, 2014. E-mail notices were sent to approximately 43,000 Catholics, including lay Catholics, those discerning a religious vocation, and those in consecrated life. 72 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
96% of members of religious communities are optimistic about the future of consecrated life. 4. Status: All ages (2,030 answered)
Discerner
Under 30 (496 answered)
Member of a religious community
Diocesan priest, deacon, or parish minister
Catholic in the pew
Nonpracticing Catholic
Not Catholic
Other
5. Top 10 obstacles to attracting young people to consecrated life:* Secular world Aging religious Vows (life commitment ) No encouragement
30-54 (609)
Lifestyle No examples Awareness
55+ (925)
No information Other ways to be involved Women’s position in the church * In the opinion of members of consecrated life
Their attitude towards me. They thought my spirituality was important. —M., female, 55-59, Catholic in the pew Teaching by word and example: the gospel, a living relationship to Christ, and a practical spirituality. —Tom, 45-49
Camaraderie centered around Christ. —Female, 65+, Catholic in the pew The example they provide to others, especially Catholics, to live out the principles they practice, such as poverty and chastity, in their daily lives. —A., male, 18-24, Catholic in the pew
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6. Attractive or admirable aspects of religious life: All ages (2,030 answered)
Communal life and shared resources
Shared prayer and spirituality
Shared mission and vocation
Service to others
Scholarly work, studies
Vows, which include poverty, chastity, and obedience
Other
Under 30 (496 answered)
7. Top 10 attractive/admirable aspects of consecrated life:*
Service to others
Lifestyle Christ-centered
30-54 (609)
Prayer Habit
Shared prayer
Joy Community Witness
55+ (925)
Love Commitment Service
Service to others
* All respondents
More admirable and attractive qualities of consecrated life: Collaboration with others: prayer, service, and justice issues. —Female, 65+, member of a religious community Live a Presence of joy. —Female, 65+, member of a religious community
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Devotion to God and the Holy Spirit and living in Peace without the clutter of the material world. —Wally, male, 45-49, Catholic in the pew Vows: admirable; service and shared prayer/spirituality: most attractive. —Female, 55-59, Catholic in the pew
8. The most important contribution members of consecrated life make:
Witnessing the love of God through a heroic virtuous life. —S.R., male, 35-39, Catholic in the pew
Being a visible representation of the faith and carrying out the church’s mission. —S.B, 25-30, Catholic in the pew
Their joy and virtue in hardship. And getting young people excited about Christ! —Female, under 18, discerner
Witness to God, joy, understanding, enduring relationships, peace. —Female, 65+, member of a religious community
Helping the rest of us to become better disciples of Jesus. —Frank B., 65+, deacon
Commitment to prayer, and public witness. —Female, 25-29, member of consecrated life
As educators As parish ministers or parishioners On retreat (as directors or participants) At lectures or study programs In service As family members or friends I do not know any religious Other
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9. The ways in which Catholics and others meet men and women in consecrated life:
The only people I know in consecrated life are those on TV except for the Third Order Franciscan who helped me begin my journey to the church in RCIA. His example was one of the greatest influences toward my father’s and my conversion.
—Male, 18-24, Catholic in the pew
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70% of all respondents believe those in religious life are happy and at peace with their chosen path. 10. Those in consecrated life are generally:
11. I was asked to consider religious life by: Someone in consecrated life
44.53%
A teacher 21.82% A parish priest/deacon 21.48% A friend 21.28% A family member 14.19% A youth/young adult/campus minister I was never asked to consider a religious vocation
12. My interest in or appreciation for vowed life was enhanced by:
Liturgies/homilies
Sacraments
Daily prayer
Retreats
Youth conferences
Parish ministry
Social service/ justice work I’ve done Invitation by someone I respect to consider a religious vocation
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7.44% 27.68%
86% of all respondents agree that prayer is essential in fostering appreciation for and interest in vowed life. 13. The following describes my current situation regarding a religious vocation:
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Although I was never specifically asked to consider a religious vocation, the environment I grew up in was very positive towards religious life.
14. I have invited others to consider religious life: Under 30 (496 answered)
30-54 (609)
55+ (925)
—D., female, 18-24, discerner
15. One thing I would change about consecrated life:
Religious people need to find ways to be much more visible to the public. Every religious person should wear distinctive religious garb, especially in public. —Male, 45-49, Catholic in the pew Make it less rigid and rule-bound, more flexible, creative, fun, joyful, and more open to people outside the church. —Isabel, 40-44, member of a religious community
Perhaps continued attention to race and cultural biases that poke up from time to time. —Male, 60-65, member of religious community Allow older people to join and actively recruit them. —Female, 55-59, discerner Mobilize them to evangelize! —Female, 40-44, Catholic in the pew VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 77
16. Some things the church could do to encourage Catholics to consider consecrated life: Leading by example in being Christ-like. —Samuel B., 25-29, Catholic in the pew It is important to help educate Catholics about all forms of consecrated life. The vocation to secular institutes is rarely mentioned. —Female, 65+, member of a secular institute Make it more widely known about and celebrated in the Catholic community. —Gary T., 30-34, discerner
Existing religious communities could give a good witness by their youthfulness of spirit, even if they actually mostly include older people. Bring together young people and religious in informal non-vocations oriented settings. —Female, 40-44, member of a religious community Setting an example of leading a holy life, leadership, guidance, and education. —Male, 65+, Catholic in the pew
Inspirations: Saint Francis of Assisi, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Saints John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Ignatius of Loyola
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17. My inspirations:
Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Clare, whose spirit and mission drives S.I.M., my missionary congregation. —Female, 40-44, member of a secular institute
Sister Timothy Marie (Maryknoll Sister). She was my fourth-grade teacher, the Spirit seemed to flow around her even when she was angry. —Kevin H., 50-54, Catholic in the pew My old parish priest Father Anthony Lawton in Lancashire, U.K. I remember how warm, kind, and friendly he was, especially when my grandma passed away when I was only 11 years old. He was there after the funeral for us if we wanted to talk. I hope to become like him one day. —C.T., male, 35-39, discerner Nearly all the Missionaries of Mary Mediatrix I have met
I was inspired by a religious sister who was my professor in college; her caring for her students, her kindness and sense of humor. She was a wonderfully human person. —Anita, 65+, member of a secular institute
I have found to be incredibly inspiring, working in extraordinary circumstances, close to God but very realistic about the reality of and needs of the world. —Female, 40-44, Catholic in the pew Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Saint Therese of Lisieux, Sister Helen Bamber, S.H.C.J., Father Louis (Thomas Merton) O.S.C.O., Father Niko, O.S.C.O. (Southern Star Abbey, Kopua, New Zealand), a sister at the Wetherby Carmelite monastery, Yorkshire. —Ann, 40-44, discerner
18. How religious communities meet young people:
In our ministries 78 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
In parishes
At liturgies or prayer services
By invitation
At retreats
At youth conferences
Through social networks
Through vocation-related services
19. Lights and shadows of consecrated life: Lights: Living with other dedicated, loving, generous women. Shadows: Times when people I admired left the congregation or the priesthood. The destructive way the hierarchy handled clergy sexual abuse. —Female, 65+, member of a religious community Lights: Being in community with people who have made a conscious choice towards simplicity and solidarity, respect, and love for everybody. Shadows: experience of a gulf between the ideal and the reality. —I.H., female, 40-44, member of a religious community
Lights are strong community life, a clear mission and purpose in the church, and the example of many saints who have gone before me. Shadows are weaknesses in myself and my community to live out our way of life with fidelity and enthusiasm. —Male, 25-29, member of a religious community Lights: Shared community values, charism, spirituality. Shadows: Misunderstanding and lack of appreciation for my chosen vocation by family and friends. —Male, 45-49, member of a secular institute
20. How parishes promote religious life:
Vocation LiterYouth Rel. ed. Talks by In bulletin events ature/ ministry men/ material women religious
21. What more we need: We need to know how to talk to teenagers and young adults about how to discern their vocations. Our diocese struggles to reach out to the people and to be available for those that are interested or discerning. The only way vocations are mentioned is if a parishioner brings it up. There seems to be a lack overall in knowledge on how to help men and women who are curious about their vocation. —K.L., female, 25-29, discerner We do not have much access to religious life in our state. This makes sharing religious life with others difficult. There is a religious sister who is a part of the parish. However, she is not easily identified as a religious sister nor would our youth easily identify with her or her community. —C.S., male, 30-34, discerner Our parish is on the campus of Kent State University— with so many young persons on campus, I feel that more involvement with sisters and deacons might encourage and influence those who are thinking of entering religious life. Our 8 p.m. Mass is 95 percent students—what an awesome captive audience! —Female, 55-59, associate with a religious community Always strive to find ways to unite us and to show that religious are one whether or not we are cloistered or active, in habits or in street clothes, highly educated or not. —Female, 65+, member of a religious community
Service programs with religious
Mission Prayers Invite to specific programs for vocations parishwith ioners religious
Other
Resources at the parish: A conversation with a vocation director A conversation with a parish priest Printed material, such as VISION Vocation-related websites Diocesan website
I met some nuns at a truck stop one day. Can’t remember where they were going, but it was great talking to them.
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At Sunday Mass
—Male, 35-39, Catholic convert
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YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE
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From the very beginning of the f you are what church men and women have you should be, set about following Christ with then you will set greater freedom and imitating him more closely through the the world on fire.” practice of the evangelical —Saint Catherine counsels, each in their own way of Siena leading a life dedicated to God.” —Second Vatican Council, Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life Perfectae Caritatis, no. 1
“In every age consecrated men and women must continue to be images of Christ the Lord, fostering through prayer a profound communion of mind with him.” —Pope Saint John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata, no. 9
“Some of the best love poems have been written by monks and nuns.” —John Geddes, A Familiar Rain “In accordance with the Divine Plan a wonderful variety of religious communities has grown up which has made it easier for the church . . . to be equipped for every good work and ready for the work of the ministry—the building up of the Body of Christ.” —Second Vatican Council, Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life Perfectae Caritatis, no. 1
We are not called
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upon to do all the
iscovering vocation does not mean good that is possible, scrambling toward some prize but only that which just beyond my reach but accepting the we can do.” treasure of true self I already possess. —Mother Theodore Guerin Vocation does not come from a voice ‘out there’ calling me to be something I am not. It comes from a voice ‘in here’ calling me to be the person I was born to be, to fulfill the original selfhood given me at birth by God.” —Thomas Merton
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the gospel at all times. “Preach When necessary, use words.”
—Saint Francis of Assisi
“Every vocation to consecrated life is born in contemplation, from moments of intense communion and from a deep relationship of friendship with Christ, from the beauty and light which was seen shining on his face.” —Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Starting Afresh from Christ: A Renewed Commitment to Consecrated Life in the Third Millennium, no. 9
“Invited to leave everything to follow Christ, you, consecrated men and women, no longer define your life by family, by profession, or by earthly interests, and you “ eligious choose the Lord as your only orders are not identifying mark. Thus you acquire a new family identity.” formed for —Homily of Pope Saint John the purpose Paul II, Jubilee of Consecrated of gathering Life, February 2, 2000 together perfect people but those “At last I have found my who have the vocation: My courage to aim vocation is at perfection.” love.” —Saint Francis de —Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Sales (1567-1622)
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(1873- 1897)
“Already dedicated to him through Baptism, the person who surrenders themself to the God they love above all else thereby consecrates themselves more intimately to God’s service and to the good of the church.” —Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 931
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“Religious life ought to promote growth in the church by way of attraction. The church must be attractive. Wake up the world! Be witnesses of a different way of doing things, of acting, of living! . . . It is this witness that I expect of you. Religious should be men and women who are able to wake the world up.” —Pope Francis, meeting with the Union of Superiors General, November 29, 2013
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YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE
Consecrated life through the ages by the VISION editors
From ancient desert monasticism to contemporary forms of religious life, a small band of Christian men and women in every generation choose to consecrate their lives to God with unique vows of love and service that give radical witness to the gospel.
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INCE the call of the first disciples, some followers of Jesus have sought a different way to live their faith. In the early church groups of widows gathered to dedicate themselves to prayer and good works. Others craved solitary prayer, so they fled to the desert to commune with God and guide others in the pursuit of holiness. Monasteries, cloisters, and religious houses eventually came into being, and religious life as we know it began to take shape. Consecrated life—in its diverse expressions around the globe—is a gift to the church and world. Its prayer lifts the entire church. Likewise, good works and the pursuit of justice
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shape society to more closely resemble the reign of God. A life of chastity, poverty, and obedience gives powerful witness to faith in Jesus without a word being uttered. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, religious communities of men and women rise up, serve a purpose, thrive, and live on or come to an end. This ebb and flow has occurred for 2,000 years and will continue for millennia to come as new members around the world take vows and join their lives to communities to live out the gospel in radical ways. What follows is a brief timeline of the major events in the history of consecrated life through the ages.
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A.D. 5065
50313
251356
Letters of Saint Paul refer to distinct groupings in the early church, including groups of celibate women dedicated to prayer and charity.
Persecution of Christians. In 313 Roman Emperor Constantine issues the “Edict of Toleration.” Christians seek ways other than martyrdom to give themselves completely to the faith. Saint Anthony the Great heeds the gospel call to sell all he has, serve the poor, and live a life of asceticism. He eventually takes up residence in the desert to live in solitude and prayer. His story is recorded by Saint Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, and becomes a fourthcentury “bestseller” that inspires other men and women to live as hermits.
I saw the snares that the enemy spreads out over the world and I said groaning, “What can get through from such snares?” Then I heard a voice saying to me, “Humility.” –SAINT ANTHONY
313400
Houses of monks and nuns are established in the Egyptian desert. Pachomius, a contemporary of Saint Anthony the Great
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and a convert to Christianity, creates a model for a cenobitic, or common, way of life based on the early Christian community in Jerusalem, with all members sharing their goods and praying in common.
350370
386
Saint Basil establishes large communities of monks in Asia Minor (modernday Turkey). As bishop of Cesarea, Basil has his monks engage in the apostolic work of teaching and pastoral care.
400500
Surge of monastic communities in the Eastern and Western church. In 470 Saint Brigid establishes Kildare Abbey in Ireland, a double monastery for monks and nuns.
500600
Common life (or community) becomes more dominant than the hermit’s way of life and spreads to France, Germany, and Italy.
FROM THE RULE OF BENEDICT: Of the Reception of Guests–Let all guests who arrive be received as Christ, because he will say: “I was a stranger and you took me in” (Matt 25:35).
Saint Benedict of Nursia (480-547) founds monasteries and writes a rule for monks, moderate in tone compared to other rules for monks of the time. It soon becomes the standard for European monasticism and is still used today by Benedictines throughout the world. Benedict’s twin sister, Saint Scholastica, heads a community of women near Benedict’s monastery at Monte Cassino. She later is named the patron saint of nuns.
Saint Jerome, scholar and Bible translator, moves to Bethlehem where he sets up and lives in a monastery.
What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like. –SAINT AUGUSTINE
400
Saint Augustine writes rules for monks and nuns during his early years as a bishop in North Africa. He also founds monasteries.
6001000
Monasteries in Europe maintain the literature of the ancient world, and Christian scripture is preserved and copied. Larger monasteries are centers of cultural and eco-
nomic activity, harboring schools, hospitals, guest houses, and farms. Meanwhile, Europe is ravaged by war and instability.
910
Benedictine Abbey of Cluny in central France spearheads reform of the medieval church and produces leaders, including monks who become bishops and even popes.
1050- Camaldolese and 1150 Carthusian hermit
and contemplative monks are founded by Saint Romuald (in Italy) and Saint Bruno (in the French Alps). Both continue to this day.
1098- Cistercian order 1105 (Trappists) greatly
increases in number and influence with the help of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux.
He who prays and labors lifts his heart to God with his hands. –SAINT BERNARD
1121
Saint Norbert combines a monastic regimen with parish work, foreshadowing the coming of the mendicant, or “begging,” orders and their service in cities. The first “lay association” or “third order” of laity affiliated with a religious order is founded with the
establishment of the Norbertine Third Order (often referred to as associates, tertiaries, lay associates, or secular tertiaries). Such associations continue today.
11501300
Mendicant religious orders emerge as towns and cities develop. In contrast with the previous emphasis on contemplative life, these new religious orders preach the gospel and respond to the needs of the poor. The four major mendicant religious orders are the Carmelites (founded in 1150), Franciscans (1209), Dominicans (1214), and Augustinians (1256). Saint Thomas Aquinas joins the Dominicans in 1242. Among the church’s greatest theologians, canon law deems him the guide to be followed for those studying for the priesthood.
12061214
Carmelites establish a “rule,” actually a set of rules meant to guide a daily life of prayer and contemplation. As the Carmelite order grows, it combines contemplative life with apostolic activity.
orders and new forms of religious life.
Preach the gospel at all times and when necessary use words. –SAINT FRANCIS
1209
1517
Saint Francis of Assisi founds the Franciscan order. Over the centuries various branches of Franciscan men’s and women’s communities emerge, with members exercising influence as teachers. Franciscans also promote popular piety practices, such as the Christmas crib and stations of the cross.
1540- Apostolic religious 1900 orders of men and
women are established. These new communities emphasize serving the needs of the poor, especially through education and medical care. With Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Louise de Marillac forms the first community of non-cloistered sisters. Many religious orders are founded in Europe to meet social needs in the wake of the French Revolution. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton founds the first apostolic community of women in the U.S.
Martin Luther proposes 95 “theses” in Wittenberg, Germany, symbolically beginning the Protestant Reformation and its accompanying social and religious upheaval.
1947
1534- Saint Teresa of Ávila 1585 and Saint John of the Cross are Carmelite mystics, writers, and reformers in Spain whose writings continue to influence Catholic spirituality.
1540
Jesuits are founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Their efforts in education and mission continue to wield influence in the church and world.
IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY: “Every way of preparing . . . to find the Divine Will as to the management of one’s life for the salvation of the soul is called a Spiritual Exercise.”
1545- Council of Trent 1563 encourages
renewal of religious
Pope Pius XII encourages the formation of secular institutes, a distinct form of consecrated life. These groups of priests and laity promise poverty, obedience, and chastity without communal life or distinctive clothing.
1950- Peak growth years 1965 for U.S. religious
communities. Religious women in the U.S. reach their highest number of 179,954 in 1965. They outnumber men in religious life 4 to 1.
1962- Second Vatican 1965 Council. Among
many other reforms meant to modernize the church, this worldwide council (or gathering of bishops) calls for renewal of
religious communities. Communities are urged to return to their roots and original charism—or guiding spirit—as well as to respond to the needs of the times. Religious communities experience change and upheaval.
1965- People continue, 2009 as always, to found
new religious communities in response to God’s call. Religious life begins to attract new interest.
FROM PERFECTAE CARITATIS (Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life): Religious should remember there is no better way than their own example to commend their institutes and gain candidates for the religious life.
2013- Pope Francis draws 2015 attention to religious
life when he is elected in 2013. A Jesuit, he is one of only 34 religious order members to become pope. The church designates 2015 as the Year of Consecrated Life, devoted to the renewal of religious life, the celebration of the witness of members of religious orders, and an invitation to young people to consider a vocation.
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VISION SPOTLIGHT
Nourishing body and soul by Sister Sheryl Frances Chen,
O.C.S.O.
NILS TOLDNES
SISTER SHERYL Frances Chen, O.C.S.O. is chantress and Saturday cook at Tautra Mariakloster, Norway.
How the ways of monastic life show up in the kitchen.
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UT I’M NOT GOOD at flower arrangements,” I protested, when another sister had too much to do and asked me to take over her job of fixing flowers for the altar. “Think of it as making a salad,” she encouraged me, “because you arrange beautiful salads.” That was news to me, but as I accepted the new job I discovered I enjoyed mixing and matching colors and forms as much as I delighted in cooking a good dinner for the community and adding a fresh sprig of parsley on a dish as the finishing touch.
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Using all of the ingredients God created and praising Him for them is a form of worship.
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In cooking for my Cistercian monastery in Tautra Mariakloster, Norway, I aim to make food that looks appetizing and tastes delightful. Long gone are the days when a monk would strew ashes on his food as a penance. We are to enjoy all that God has created, for He himself has seen that it’s good. One of the principles of monastic meals is that we use what we have. This is a microcosm of the main thrust of our life as Cistercian nuns: We receive, in faith, everything God gives us in order to come closer to Him.
breadsticks and spinach-and-cheese rolls. Another sister created pie crust out of the dough. I even tried making empanadas with it. And whenever I come across an interesting recipe, I don’t hesitate to try it, substituting rare ingredients (monkfish) for something closer to hand (local cod). Or, because we are vegetarians most of the time, I substitute fish for meat (salmon lasagna). A few of the other principles of monastic life—worship, service, prayer, and rest—also find their way into the kitchen, too.
Work with what you have
Worship
So when we were given four cases of frozen pizza dough, they became not only potato-and-salmon pizza (see recipe) but also garlic-and-herb
To worship God is to praise God as He is, as He comes, and to accept the gift He’s giving in the present moment. For us, using all of the ingredients
NILS TOLDNES
God created and praising Him for them is a form of worship. When our neighbor gave us a whole crate of carrots, we froze, grated, and chopped them, making carrot cake, carrot bread, carrot cookies, carrot casserole, and carrot pizza. When blueberries and raspberries are in season, we sprinkle them on top of a salad as an eye-pleasing delight.
Service Creating meals is also a form of service, following the pattern of the Son of Man who came not to be served but to serve. For example, cutting up raw vegetables can be quite timeconsuming, especially when we could use frozen or canned vegetables. The goal, however, is not only to just get another meal on the table but to give pleasure to those we serve in doing so. In this way we take the BROTHER MARTIN HORWATH, O.C.S.O.
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BROTHER MARTIN HORWATH, O.C.S.O.
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The cook lets his or her hands work while the mind is freed to turn to God and receive the gift of God’s presence in that moment.
Incarnation seriously: Whatever we do to others, we do to Jesus. If Jesus were coming to dinner, would we not do everything we could to delight his senses? Thus the cook should pay attention not only to the sense of taste but to the other senses as well. And of course a meal beautifully presented on the table is an invitation to praise the Giver of all good things.
Prayer and rest God’s creative process concluded with a day of rest, and the monastic day alternates between work, prayer, reading, and rest. When I was a novice, I was tasked with baking bread for the community. This meant I had to leave church in the middle of vigils to mix 32 pounds of dough by hand. By the time I had set it to rise, my body was so worn out physically that I sank to the church floor when I returned to finish my prayers. I discovered that while my body was tired, the physical activity increased my endorphins, and my mind was wide awake for prayer. It was actually easier to focus on God with my body resting quietly in the background. I learned that Saint Benedict was really on to something when he chose the motto “ora et labora”—“work and prayer” —for his order. That is also how we take
POTATO AND SALMON PIZZA 1 ready-to-use pizza dough Olive oil 2 medium potatoes 8 oz. grated cheese 1 large onion Your choice: salmon, shrimp, olives, mushrooms, peppers, grated carrot, garlic Herbs such as oregano, thyme, rosemary, parsley, celery salt Unroll the pizza dough on a baking sheet and discard the paper backing (if you do not have a Teflon baking sheet, it’d be wise to drizzle flour on the baking sheet so the pizza doesn’t stick). Brush the dough with olive oil. Use a food processor to slice the potatoes as thinly as possible. Place them on the dough in a single layer. Mince the onion in the food processor and then microwave it with a little butter for three minutes. Scatter the onion over the potato slices. Now it’s up to your creativity: Add salmon bits, shrimp, vegetables (this is a great way to use leftovers), and herbs. I put the cheese on last and save some peppers to make the surface colorful. Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees until the cheese is golden. I’ve found it’s easiest to cut up a pizza with scissors.
the Incarnation seriously: We aren’t only souls; we have a body, and it can contribute to our life in God.
The rhythm of work Monastic work often consists of a simple task repeated rhythmically: weeding a garden; pouring soap into molds; making sets of liturgy papers; sweeping the cloister; washing windows. Work in the kitchen often fits this quiet, rhythmic work: peeling potatoes, chopping carrots, kneading dough, placing cookie dough on baking sheets, washing dishes, assembling the ingredients of a casserole or a salad. It’s an opportunity for the cook to let his or her hands work while
the mind is freed to turn to God and receive the gift of God’s presence in that moment. I encourage all cooks to open themselves up to anything God might be trying to tell you. I think you’ll find these precious moments won’t be long enough, and you’ll have to gently remind yourself to go on to the next task. The most important thing for the faith-filled cook—or any other servant in the kingdom of God—is to be nourished spiritually by the task at hand. Everything is a gift from God, and God invites us to partake of the feast of abundant life. Thank God, and welcome to the table! = Reprinted with permission from Loyola Press, loyolapress.com. VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 91
PRIESTS FATHER PADDY GILGER, S.J. gives a kiss to his goddaughter and niece, Hayden Bauer.
God rushes in by Father Paddy Gilger, S.J.
Father Paddy Gilger, S.J. is a Jesuit priest and assistant pastor at St. John’s Parish at Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, where he teaches philosophy and sociology. He is the editor of and contributor to The Jesuit Post (Orbis Books), a collection of essays by young Jesuits about faith, God, and culture.
The best thing about being a priest is to be there for moments when “hearts are suddenly wide open and the God who has always longed for such an opening rushes in.”
I
HAD SUNG SCORES of Lakota prayer songs in sweat lodges across the Pine Ridge reservation and talked about Jesus in halls packed with people. I had walked down dusty roads at sunset behind schoolchildren and nuns holding black plastic rosaries and said hundreds of Hail Marys. I had listened for hours as faith was shared, sat in dozens of desks in graduate classrooms, read thousands of pages about God. But I had never before performed the last rites—which accounts for my nerves as I stood before the door of a dying woman’s home and raised my hand to knock. When I did, the door opened quickly and her daughter’s welcome was smooth and warm. I sat in my clerical suit at the kitchen table—my green Pastoral Care of
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ERIC SUNDRUP, S.J. and Gilger (right) work together on thejesuitpost. org. Gilger was editor-in-chief, a position Sundrup now holds.
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the Sick book set next to the holy oils and my white stole before me—while she gathered her mother from the bedroom, settled her in the recliner, arranged her veined hands on her lap. “She’d like to talk to you alone,” she said and left the room. I used the few moments necessary to move a chair across the room to gather myself. Love, not answers my mind whispered as I sat down and took one of her cool hands in mine. Her skin slipped down into the valleys between her knuckles. “I’m glad you’re here,” she said, moving her head to look at me as I put on the stole. Her voice was thin and clear, more air than words, but she wanted something and knew what it was. “Me too,” I replied. She looked down and regathered her breath. I spoke again when she looked up: “Is there anything you want to say to God?” I asked. She nodded. Her chest rose and fell. We waited and I held onto her hand. “I want to say . . . ,” her voice caught. She looked at me and began again, “I want to say . . . that I’ve
Live a life filled with love, service, commitment and dedication.
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There is no way for a human being to be worthy of being on the scene when God and a human person encounter one another, but it happens all the time.
tried my hardest . . . to be a good person . . . And that I’m sorry for everything I’ve done wrong.” I nodded. “And that I’m ready.” “You’re ready?” I asked her. “Yes,” she replied, “I’m ready.” “Is God ready for you?” I asked her. “Yes,” she replied, “He’s right here. Ready for me.” The tears were coming but not yet. “Is anybody there with Him? Anybody else there to welcome you?” She looked away, nodded, and said, “My husband. He’s there ready for me.” It felt still all around us. She breathed, held my hand. And after a few breaths I asked, “How does itV14pp131-172.indd feel that God174and your husband are ready for you?”
By extending our hands and hearts in service to our African-American brothers and sisters, we have been proclaiming the Good News for over 140 years. Have you felt a calling to give your life to God’s work in the AfricanAmerican community? Join us and “Be Not Afraid.” Learn more! Email us at: vocations@josephite.com or call (202) 832-9100
www.josephite.com | 202.832.9100 | vocations@josephite.com 1200 Varnum Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20017 Enter #192 at VocationMatch.com
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We Trust...
In God, In Church, In Each Other
That’s why I think people need priests: Because people are human.
“It feels great,” she said and smiled. “It feels great.”
Serving as a means for God
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
1.800.220.0867 • www.franciscanfriarstor.com Fr. David Kaczmarek, TOR, Vocation Director • davidktor@yahoo.com Enter #295 at VocationMatch.com
THE CONSECRATED LIFE! • • • •
What is it? How is it lived out? How does it differ from other calls? How do I know if I’m called to a Consecrated Life? • What must I do to find out? For answers to these and other questions, contact:
Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn (631) 418-8522 fbbvocations@gmail.com
THE
FRANCISCAN BROTHERS OF BROOKLYN
have been answering God’s call to holiness and evangelization, through their vowed communal life, prayer, education, and apostolic work.
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Pope Francis is calling us to help carry out a New Evangelization; to rebuild our Church, with joy and hope as Francis of Assisi had done and God may be selecting you to do it as a Franciscan Brother.
YES, YOU! Why not?
These first nine months of priesthood have felt great, too. As great as the desire that people, normal people, have to feel close to God. As great as the tension their desire puts on my stretched heart and my challenged mind. As great as the privilege it has been to be with people in such vulnerable moments—moments when their hearts are suddenly wide open and the God who has always longed for such an opening rushes in. It’s easily the best thing about being a priest, that feeling of dual fulfillment when the long-awaited God at last arrives, when the longawaited opening in the human heart comes. There is no way for a human being—for me, I mean—to be worthy of being on the scene when God and a human person encounter one another, but it happens all the time. That has been best thing about being a priest, that it happens all the time. And that I am around to witness it, help it happen, and grease the wheels of the rusty heart? That’s the best thing, too. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, at number 1547, is clear that to be a priest is to be a “means” and nothing more. It says: “While the common priesthood of the faithful is exercised by the unfolding of baptismal grace—a life of faith, hope,
GILGER CELEBRATES his first Mass.
and charity, a life according to the Spirit—the ministerial priesthood is at the service of the common priesthood. It is directed at the unfolding of the baptismal grace of all Christians. The ministerial priesthood is a means by which Christ unceasingly builds up and leads his Church.” The great privilege of priesthood is to become from the roots of one’s being a means for God to get what God wants: Closer proximity to God’s chosen people. Not that God couldn’t have rushed in to be with this dying woman if I were not there. Not that she would have turned the Lord away if there were no priest present. That is not the point. The point, as evidenced in my own life at least, is that human beings often need help to do even things of which we are capable on our own. I certainly do. I need to lean on my brother Jesuits. I need the people of God, my brothers and sisters in Christ, to keep me accountable. I need my spiritual director to point out to me,
for the thousandth time, that I have succumbed to that same old sin in yet another way. Which is all just another way to say the same thing we’ve all been saying since Saint Augustine and before: We need you, God. It’s this that has been my experience as a priest: That people need help admitting, accepting, saying out loud, “I need you, God.” That’s why I think people need priests: Because people are human, which is just a shorter way of saying:
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• I need help breaking down that same brick wall that surrounds the soul—again. • I need help admitting I’m a sinner. • I need help to promise to love this person forever. • I need help dying. • I need help becoming me. It has been my great privilege to help these past nine months. It has made me happy. = Enter #365 at VocationMatch.com VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 97
PRIESTS
FATHER JOSÉ LUCERO, S.D.B. keeps up by smartphone with the many young people he ministers to.
PAULA DOYLE
The smiling priest by Paula Doyle
Paula Doyle is a staff writer for The Tidings, the weekly newspaper for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Her articles have also been published by Catholic News Service and the Catholic Legislative Network, an online project of the bishops’ California Catholic Conference.
Father José Lucero’s vocation story and ministry demonstrate his belief that “being a priest or a religious . . . is actually the beginning of an amazing life, allowing you to bring all your gifts to the table.”
L
IKE THE YOUNG PEOPLE HE SERVES, Salesian Father José Lucero, S.D.B. is often on his smart phone, sending encouraging words to his closest friends on social media sites. Nicknamed “the smiling priest,” he said God gave him an abundance of love to share—and he shares it with good humor in both the “real” world and the virtual world of cyberspace. Lucero was drawn to the priesthood as a child of 7, playacting the part for his 12 siblings while they were growing up in the small town of Torreon near Albuquerque, New Mexico. When he was older, he became a leader in the parish youth group, following in the footsteps of his older brothers and sisters. Attending public high school, the gregarious, guitar-playing teen was so-
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LUCERO AND Brother Charles Thenier, S.D.B. stand before a portrait of the founder of the Salesians, Saint John Bosco.
PAULA DOYLE
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cially active, dating girls and having fun with friends. After graduation he worked for a year as a busboy and waiter in the hotel restaurant and later was employed at a senior citizens’ home where he provided entertainment as a singing guitarist and storyteller. Life was full. He even fantasized about marrying his girlfriend and be-
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coming a father to 10 children. But the childhood tug on his heart to become a different kind of “father” pulled him into his pastor’s office, where he shared his desire to be a priest who ministers to youth. He remembers saying something like: “I want to be a priest who helps young people discover that church is not dull; it’s not boring; it can be fun; it can be interac-
tive; it can be very family-oriented.” “That’s what the Salesians do,” said the pastor to the teen, who was unfamiliar with the congregation, as the nearest Salesian community was located in Southern California. After getting in touch with the Salesian vocation director, he was intrigued by the way they worked with young people, their style of welcoming ministry. “People who work with kids have to understand the youth culture,” said Lucero. “I just saw how they were so real and joyful. Combined with the religious community aspect, it all attracted me.”
Immersion in ministry He was also drawn to the Salesian youth center “oratory” setting, which reflects an environment designed to foster a home that welcomes, a school that educates, a playground that nurtures friendship, and a church that helps young people find meaning in their lives. “I liked the
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We need to take care of ourselves in order to be able to take care of other people. We cannot give what we do not have.”
idea of the oratory model, finding young people where they’re at and helping them come to a new reality of Christ and their faith,” explained the priest. He decided to join the Salesians at age 19. “Going through formation was exciting; I was involved in ministry throughout” the 12-year process, said Lucero. He taught parish confirmation classes; he worked at a Boys and Girls Club; he did prison ministry. After taking his first temporary vows as a Salesian brother, he was sent to New Jersey to study philosophy and music. “It was my first time visiting the East Coast and I loved it—the seasons, the people, the Spanish music,” he said. He continued doing ministry, directing a parish children’s choir and teaching catechism. “It was really awesome and that’s what made part of my stay so nice.” He later taught religion and music appreciation classes and led the student choir at Don Bosco Technical Institute, a high school in Rosemead, California. After studying theology in Mexico and at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, he was ordained in 2003. His priesthood was progressing apace—until the death of his younger brother in 2006.
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Take care of yourself “After his passing, life got difficult, and I struggled a little,” Lucero said. “Then two years later, my older sister Enter #370 at VocationMatch.com VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 101
PAULA DOYLE
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WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? . Living in community according to the Rule of St. Benedict. .
Following a daily schedule that balances prayer and work. . Ministering to God’s people . Serving as a sign of hope and Good News.
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Each person has a vocation where Jesus can be found in both the joys and trials.
passed away” and he began to doubt if he could continue in his priesthood. He decided to enter grief therapy. “I went on a sabbatical for a three-month grief program and that was what saved my vocation,” said Lucero. “The therapists were very helpful because the grief process was so difficult and, being a priest involved in ministry every day, you don’t really take time for yourself.” Knowing that a crisis can derail a vocation, he told himself, “ ‘OK, I need help,’ and it was the best thing I could have done for myself.” He appreciates the daily support he gets from his fellow religious. They
communally participate in morning prayer and meditation, often gather for recreation in the afternoons, and have a social/prayer time at least three evenings a week where they share the experiences of their day. He feels strongly about the need for regular physical exercise. He bikes, swims, runs track, lifts weights, and even does Zumba dancing in his room on his day off. “Being physical is necessary. If we don’t have a physical life in terms of health and wellness, we will not survive as religious. We need to take care of ourselves in order to be able to take care of other people. We cannot give what we do not have,” Lucero said. A composer of religious music who has recorded and self-produced several albums, Lucero believes that music is enlightening to the soul. “Music is so important to wellness, especially in a Salesian setting, because part of our philosophy is Salesian joy and optimism,” said Lucero. While
LUCERO PRESIDES at a wedding Mass.
serving as an associate pastor and after becoming province vocation director for the Salesian Fathers and Brothers, he used his musical gifts and considerable social skills to build up the parish youth ministry program, which continues to thrive to this day. Adept at using social media—he has 1,500 Facebook friends and also is a regular Snapchat and Instagram user—Lucero thinks technology is essential today in ministry. He posts Facebook messages several times a day, including prayers, jokes, and inspirational sayings. His phone constantly buzzes with incoming texts or phone calls from family, friends, former students, seminarians, and prospective candidates to religious life. “Being a priest or a religious . . . is actually the beginning of an amazing life, allowing you to bring all your gifts to the table,” he said as he glanced at a recent text on his smartphone. “God has given us all a particular vocation and, well, we just do the best we can
to live it, and to be joyful and to find Jesus in the center of everything.” He remembers facing the reality that he would never have his own children while making a retreat before taking his perpetual vows at age 26. He went through a two-week mourning period. “Once the mourning was over, I was done with that,” said Lucero, who believes each person has a vocation where Jesus can be found in both the joys and trials. Lucero says he has had many moments of joy in his priesthood and has seen many miracles. Probably the biggest miracle, he recounts, was the transformation of one particular young man who was hurtling down a destructive path. “I thought this kid would be a Columbine kid, and then he turns his life around,” Lucero said. “He told me, ‘My life is what it is because of you. You are the only father figure I have ever had.’ Things like that, those are miracles.” = Enter #132 at VocationMatch.com VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 103
SISTERS “WHAT MADE you want to be a nun?” That’s what the teens and young adults I work with frequently ask when they muster up enough courage.
Why I’m a Catholic sister by Sister Su Fern Khoo,
V.D.M.F.
After being “put on hold” by God when praying about her vocation, a little bell finally went off to point the way. Sister Su Fern Khoo, V.D.M.F. is a member of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity. She is the religious education coordinator for adults and youth at St. Anthony Church in Long Beach, California. She also directs retreats and programs at the Verbum Dei Spirituality Center in Long Beach.
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HAT MADE YOU WANT to be a nun?” That’s what the teens and young adults I work with frequently ask when they muster up enough courage. They think it’s an intrusive question, but I think it’s a good one, and when they ask it takes a few minutes but I tell them this story of prayer, longing for God, frustration, and finally understanding that arrived in the midst of a bus ride.
God’s “busy signal” I remember well the day God gave me a big hint about my vocation. I recall storming angrily into the university chapel after an argument with my boyfriend. Our conflict was adding to my inner turmoil from weeks of trying to figure out what in the world God really wanted with my life. So far the quick response to anyone asking me if I wanted to be a nun was a definite: “No, I am not going to be a nun. It never even crossed my mind.” And it hadn’t—until more than two people asked me the same question in the same week.
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I was tired of sounding like a broken record every time I prayed about my vocation because it usually went something like this: “God, I know you love me, and you know I love you so much. What do you want me to do?” To which God responded—with silence. I would even go so far as saying, “Lord, just tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll do it. If you want me to be a teacher, a firefighter, a nun, whatever, just tell me and I’ll go do it.” To which God again responded with silence. Today I like to refer to that silence as a busy signal or being put on hold; it usually means that I’m going about my inner dialogue with God in the wrong way or that I’m not being sincere about the real questions at hand.
Just asking! That day in the chapel I wasn’t asking nicely anymore, and because no one else was in the chapel I exclaimed out loud, “What do you want from me? What? Is this what you want? That I live my whole life on earth without a significant other?” And to those tears of exasperation came the usual answer: stone silence. “Fine,” I thought to myself, “don’t answer me!” Annoyed and with nowhere else to go for solace, I stayed in the chapel to do homework. Shortly after a sister walked in. She sat on the other side of the tabernacle and opened her Bible. As I was getting up to leave, she suddenly said to me, “Do you mind 174 if I ask you a V14pp131-172.indd question?” “Sure,” I replied. “Have you ever considered religious life?” “Uh . . . no,” I stuttered, “I mean, I’m still a junior in college and I have another year of school and . . . .” Seeing me flustered,
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she calmly said, “Oh, yes, of course, don’t worry,” and she smiled. Now I was curious to know more, so I asked her, “Can I ask you something?” She nodded. “Why did you become a nun?” I asked. “Oh, I’m not a nun, I’m a sister,” came the response. “What’s the difference?” I asked a little surprised because I didn’t know there was a difference. “Well, nuns are usually cloistered contemplatives, and sisters are more active in the secular world, but we still make the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.” “Oh—OK,” I said, and as she continued to share her story, something went off in my head that felt like a tiny bell, but I couldn’t quite place why. When she finished speaking, she bid me farewell and left, but I stayed on in the chapel because I
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was beginning to realize what that little bell in my head meant: “You don’t have to be a nun, but you can be a sister.” I had to smile and let out a laugh. I couldn’t believe how sneaky God had been.
The bus stops here The next day I promptly ignored the impact of this event and went right back into my wrestling, questioning, and bargaining with God about my vocation. As anyone could guess, silence was God’s most appropriate answer. Who could blame God really? But in my stubbornness, I did. While God and I were at a stalemate, it was my close Catholic friends who literally saved my vocation. They were my community of faith where we felt safe to have “God
talks,” ask questions, have doubts, share our insights in prayer, and bounce ideas off one another without feeling odd or judged. It was with them that I found the companionship to keep praying, go regularly to Mass, and struggle in discernment. I realized that God communicates in a multitude of ways, and while personal prayer is essential, it is in community that you have the support and safety to keep growing in faith. Then came the final breakthrough. After months of light and dark, angst and peace, I knew my path. And it happened on a San Francisco bus. Every day the people I encountered on the bus moved me deeply. More than once I had seen people drunk, coming down from drugs, mentally ill, homeless, lonely, anx-
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While personal prayer is essential, it is in community that you have the support and safety to keep growing in faith.
ious. I used to pray a silent rosary for those whose faces touched me. With time I was starting to realize that the closer my relationship with God became, the more I grew in awareness and compassion for those around me, whether they were my fellow university students or refugees from war or people on the bus. I yearned for others to know God as I was coming to know God: as a close friend and guide. It’s like when Jesus said to the woman at the well in the gospel story, “If you only knew the gift of God, you would have been the one to ask, and he would have given you living water.” It was becoming clearer to me why evangelization—sharing the Good News—is and has always been such a necessity because the decisions we make in life depend so much on the loving relationship we can have with God. It is often because we lack a deep understanding of God—the knowledge of God’s unconditional love, kindness, truth, courage, and mercy—that we live our lives misguidedly, our ignorance making life unnecessarily painful for ourselves and others.
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I yearned for others to know God as I was coming to know God: as a close friend and guide.
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young mother with a 2-year-old son was sitting a few rows from me. The child was doing what any 2-year-old might do: standing on his seat trying to look out the window. His mother grabbed him roughly and slammed him to his seat while swearing and yelling, “Sit down! Or you’ll hurt yourself!” The child looked shocked and distraught, but he didn’t cry. He just sat there, despondent. And my heart broke.
CHANTEL BEAM
AFTER MONTHS of light and dark, angst and peace, I knew my path. And it happened on a San Francisco bus.
I saw in front of me a sad child and a hurting young woman, perhaps a single mother at the end of her rope. “No one wants to be unhappy in life,” I thought to myself, and now I was praying, talking to God in my heart: “No one would freely choose it, except we just don’t know you. Lord, they are like sheep without a shepherd, because they just don’t know the real you, as I didn’t know you.” Then, in the depths of my heart, I understood God’s message: “You are right, my love, they are like sheep without a shepherd, and won’t you help me?” Just then the bus came to my stop and I stepped off before anyone saw the tears rolling freely down my face as I replied to God in my heart, “Yes, Lord. Yes, I will help you.”
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It was the “yes.” The answer I was looking for came from my own being and affirmed who I am and who I was always meant to be: a woman whose whole life would be consecrated to God. I felt an explosion of joy and a sense of God’s playfulness that made me laugh out loud.
How will you answer? Vocation is never about what you do; it is always about who you are because it is already a part of you, already within you like a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered. In so many different ways God asks each of you the same question: “Will you help me?” It is in your friendship with God that you discover your deepest identity and path, wherever it leads. = Enter #183 at VocationMatch.com VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 109
SISTERS
Online door never closes on discerners Heidi Schlumpf has written for Catholic publications for more than 20 years. She is an associate professor of communication at Aurora University and author of While We Wait: Spiritual and Practical Advice for Those Trying to Adopt (ACTA Publications).
CAROL SCHUCK SCHEIBER
SISTER JULIE VIEIRA, I.H.M. (left) and Sister Maxine Kollasch, I.H.M of A Nun’s Life Ministry. “A Nun’s Life is built on the notion that vocation is wherever God is calling us,” says Sister Maxine.
by Heidi Schlumpf
Nothing gets the two founders of aNunsLife.org excited like helping people figure out what God might be calling them to do with their lives.
D
O YOU HAVE TO WANT to be a nun to be called to religious life? A listener posed that question to the “Ask Sister” podcast a few years ago. “Could my lack of desire for such a life be proof that this urge I’m feeling is not a calling but something I’ve made up in my mind?” the listener asked. The show’s cohosts, Sister Julie Vieira, I.H.M. and Sister Maxine Kollasch, I.H.M., loved the question. Nothing gets the two founders of aNunsLife.org excited like helping people figure out what God might be calling them to do with their lives.
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“The short answer is no, you don’t have to desire to be called to religious life to actually have the call— at least not at first,” said Kollasch. “But ultimately there is some sort of a connection you need to feel.” “It doesn’t have to be that headover-heels feeling. It might be a very quiet desire,” added Vieira. “But you do ultimately need to have that sense of ‘Yeah, I want this for myself and my life.’ ” As the two women discuss the issues this question raises, neither sister is trying to push the listener into the convent. Just because someone is interested in prayer and spirituality, they point out, doesn’t necessarily mean they’re called to religious life. “Maybe this is a call to be open to any number of directions God might be calling you,” said Kollasch. “I think it’s safe to say that God is calling you somehow to a deeper relationship with Godself,” Vieira said. “You don’t have to answer the question: ‘Should I be a nun?’ Instead we can go with what we can be sure of, which is that God wants to know you, maybe in a new or deeper way.”
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The listener’s reluctance and unease—combined with a persistent desire to figure out her life’s purpose—echo in the vocation stories of Vieira, 42, and Kollasch, 57, both members of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (I.H.M.), based in Monroe, Michigan. “I never wanted to become a sister; it wasn’t on my radar,” recalled Vieira, who grew up in Rochester, New York and attended the University of St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto before pursuEnter #001 at VocationMatch.com VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 111
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ing a master’s degree in theology from Regis College in Toronto. Throughout her young-adult years, Vieira kept revisiting the question of what to give her life to. Inspired by a documentary about the four U.S. churchwomen killed in El Salvador and by several Catholic sisters she met in college, she thought about religious life. “Still, I couldn’t even imagine that God would call me to such a thing,” she said. “I had that stereotype that I would have to be super-religious and super-devout.” Partnering with a spiritual director from the I.H.M.s connected her with her current community. Eventually religious life went from something she didn’t want to “being afraid that it was something God wasn’t calling me to, because I was falling in love with it and my congregation,” she recalls. “I was becoming a better person, more myself.” Religious life was also an unexpected turn in Kollasch’s life. “I had always considered myself a spiritual person but never imagined myself in
“WE CAN HELP nourish the idea that every single person is called by God,” says Sister Julie Vieira, I.H.M. (left).
religious life,” she said, even though she has two aunts who are Presentation and Benedictine sisters and an uncle who is a Jesuit priest. Instead she was focused on a professional path. With a bachelor’s degree from Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa and a master’s degree in advertising from Michigan State University, she was working for a health corporation doing writing, marketing, and advertising. “At some point, God just snuck up on me,” she said. “Especially when I met the I.H.M.s, something resonated so deeply within me. I knew I wanted to be part of that mission, that way of being community.” One of the first steps in her life as a religious was a master’s degree in theology from Catholic Theological Union.
Online ministry Because both Vieira and Kollasch had experience as professional authors—both have written for several
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A Nun’s Life Ministry serves not only those who are discerning a call to religious life but anyone seeking to grow in their relationship with God.
Catholic publishers—they both hoped to use those skills in their ministry. After professing final vows in 2006, they began A Nun’s Life Ministry. “We are both tech-savvy, so we started off by blogging about what it’s like to be a nun and to counter some of the stereotypes,” Vieira recalled. “We wanted a place where sisters could speak about religious life in their own words. The blog was a great place for that.” Religious women have always gone out into the world to minister to God’s people where they are, so it’s not surprising that nuns are on the Internet. Hundreds of sister-bloggers write about their particular ministries or about religious life in general (see the VISION Vocation Network’s “Blog Index” of blogs by both women and men members of communities at vocationnetwork.org). And every vocation director knows the place to communicate with young people who may be discerning a call to religious life is online and on social media. A Nun’s Life Ministry, an independent nonprofit organization, serves not only those who are discerning a call to religious life but anyone seeking to grow in relationship with God. The majority of the ministry’s online visitors are people interested in spirituality, said Kollasch. Most are women, and they
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represent more than 130 countries. A Nun’s Life still hosts a blog, but these days a main feature is the podcast, broadcast live every weekday at 5 p.m. (Eastern), accompanied by a live chat. Most podcasts feature Vieira and Kollasch reflecting on the scripture reading of the day
and sharing prayer requests, but once a week they broadcast either “Ask Sister,” responding to listener questions, or “In Good Faith,” an interview show with nationally recognized guests. They’ve also started a popular “Motherhouse Road Trip” series, involving broadcasts on loca-
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CAROL SCHUCK SCHEIBER
OUR VOCATION To follow Christ, our heavenly Bridegroom, after the example of St. Francis, with the Blessed Virgin Mary as our mother and model. OUR MISSION To serve the sick and the poor with the greatest care and love. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Sr. Rose Therese, O.S.F. vocation.info@osfhealthcare.org | 309.655.2645 www.franciscansisterspeoria.org Enter #081 at VocationMatch.com
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tion from the headquarters of various religious communities. The site is truly multimedia, with videos, discussion forums, and links to lots of social media, including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, and Vine. “We try to keep up with what has traction on social media,” said Vieira. “Our goal isn’t to get people to come to us. Our goal is to be present where people 114 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
are. If it’s a place where people are, we’re going to be there.”
Vocations for all The home page of A Nun’s Life contains all the essential elements: a welcome video, a Twitter feed, a list of upcoming events, and a mosaic of Facebook friends. But it is dominated by a serene photo of a green forest
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“We believe that everyone is called by God to a vocation that enriches the person and the world.”
and the underlying credo of Vieira and Kollasch’s ministry: “We believe that everyone is called by God to a vocation that enriches the person and the world.” “A Nun’s Life is built on the notion that vocation is wherever God is calling us,” said Kollasch. “It may be to religious life, marriage, or some other form of life. Part of our ministry online is to help nurture a community that’s supportive of vocations and has a language for vocations.” As Catholic sisters they have been immersed in a “spirituality of discernment,” said Vieira. “Our goal is to take these gems from the tradition of religious life and bring them to bear on [other] people’s lives. I
“WE WANT to help the next generation of sisters find their way home,” Kollasch says. “Religious life has been such a great gift in our lives that we want to reach out and help people for whom it might also be a great gift.”
love religious life. With all the goodness and shadow side, I love it all. And if people can find their way to whatever vocation makes them feel that way, I consider it a good day.” “We want to help the next generation of sisters find their way home,” said Kollasch. “Religious life has been such a great gift in our lives that we want to reach out and help people for whom it might also be a great gift.” The broad definition of vocation is why they encouraged the listener who was afraid her lack of desire meant she didn’t have a call to religious life to instead pursue whatever God might be calling her. “By our very presence we are engaging with people and helping them reframe questions,” said Vieira. “When they say, ‘I don’t know what God is calling me to. Can you help me?’ we can help nourish the idea that every single person is called by God. It doesn’t have to be a churchy vocation. You are unique, and God has given you something unique about your life to give to the world.” =
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RELIGIOUS TEACHERS FILIPPINI MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY
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BROTHERS AS PART of the postulancy period prior to the novitiate, Brother Patrick Martin and Brother Roberto Martinez worked for a year at the high school the other had attended. Martinez says,“The novitiate experience has clarified my understanding of myself because it has become more clear that God has called me to this life.”
Brothers in the making by Brother James Joost,
Brother James J o o s t , F. S .C . serves in congregational leadership and vocation ministry for the De La Salle Christian Brothers in Napa, California.
F.S.C.
Having stepped out of the full-time teaching for a year of clarifying their understandings of themselves, three novice De La Salle Christian Brothers are growing into their vocation and preparing to return, deepened, to the ministry of education.
W
HEN THINKING of Catholic brothers, it’s hard not to think in both the singular and plural at the same time, especially when it comes to novices. Yes, each of the three men featured in the photo story to follow had a pretty regular life as he thought about the De La Salle Christian Brothers and each joined the brothers individually, but, because they are now novices, living together in community, prayer, and ministry—as brothers—they are aware that their identity is now growing larger than any one of them could be alone.
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Celebrating the 5th Centenary of the Birth of St. Teresa of Jesus (1515-2015) Brothers united in prayer for the service of the Church . . . DISCALCED CARMELITE FRIARS WASHINGTON PROVINCE discalcedfriars.org ocdvocation@gmail.com
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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, or guiding spirit, history, constitution, and way of living the vows. This period lasts from 12 to 24 months and is called the novitiate. At the end of the novitiate the novice either leaves or takes temporary vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
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TWICE A YEAR all the De La Salle Christian Brothers in initial formation in the U.S. gather for a weekend of retreat, conversation, and fellowship (right). A unique aspect of the novitiate, in today’s high-tech, media enriched world, is the time to be still. As Brother Patrick Martin says, “Without external stimuli, you get a chance to do some inner work. You get to know yourself really well, and test your fit in this vocation.” BROTHER DAVE Deradoorian, 26 (below, left) “first met the brothers in high school . . . and saw them as a dedicated and energetic group of men living, sharing, and praying together.” Here he and Brother Patrick Martin spend some time producing music in their studio. Before entering the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Martin, 35, was a special education teacher.
“BECOME a brother if you believe that God loves you and you want to live that love and share it through ministry with those in need.” —Brother of the Sacred Heart Bob Croteau
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“JESUS EMPTIED HIMSELF to become our brother. We empty ourselves to become his.” —Brother-Servant of the Holy Spirit Sam Gunn
MARTIN AND DERADOORIAN (below) in one of the three weekly classes the novices take. For Deradoorian the novitiate “is a supportive, encouraging experience. Sometimes the brothers see strengths in us that we didn’t see in ourselves.” He finds the schedule of courses and unstructured time helpful for understanding how his role as a brother grows through “reading, the ability to learn about our founder and our history, and the ability to try new things and explore new talents . . . art, [and] music.”
“BROTHERS STAND at the edge of our cultures and call people to faith with particular concern for the forgotten and the marginalized.” —Society of Mary Brother Stephen Glodek
ONCE A WEEK Brother Roberto Martinez, 27 (left), and the other novices help out in classes at the local Lasallian high school. “My role as a brother in today’s day and age,” says Brother Dave Deradoorian, “is to simply and humbly walk with young people throughout their journey of faith.” =
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MISSIONARIES
BROTHER CHRIS SWEENEY, S.C. is part of a team of four brothers and many dedicated laypeople who have revived a Catholic school in Mozambique, a country where only eight percent of children go to high school and over half live in poverty.
Starting over from scratch Text by Carol Schuck Scheiber Photos courtesy of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart with special thanks to Brother Chris Sweeney, S.C.
Carol Schuck Scheiber is VISION’s content editor and publications editor for the National Religious Vocation Conference.
Moving from New Orleans to Mozambique was dramatic enough. But for Brother Chris Sweeney, S.C. rebuilding an abandoned school out of the ashes of civil war has made life really interesting.
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ROTHER CHRIS SWEENEY, S.C. arrived in Amatongas, Mozambique in 2011 fresh from New Orleans, Louisiana and ready to tackle a formidable job. He and three other brothers were given the assignment of reestablishing a Catholic boarding school that needed just about everything: money, desks, equipment, gardens for feeding the boys who lived there, and animals for food, among other essentials. Refounding a school is a big job anywhere, but in a place ravaged by war and beset by extreme poverty, the Amatongas school has been a particularly daunting task—but one Sweeney loves.
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For one thing he’s not on his own. He is one of a four-brother team, with the others coming from three continents: Africa, North America, and Europe. Years ago the school had been Catholic, but the church lost control of it following the Mozambique war for independence in the 1970s. With a changed political landscape by 2010—and a war-torn population hungry for education—the Catholic bishop of Amatongas invited the Sacred Heart Brothers to rebuild the school. Thus, in 2011, Sweeney and his confreres began to reconstruct a school from the ground up. With help from volunteers and donors, they built schoolrooms and dorms. They dug a well. They found funding. They hired teachers. And, tapping into a national passion, they even started a soccer team that has
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THE TEAM OF BROTHERS (above) who have poured themselves into rebuilding the Amatongas Catholic school in front of the refurbished building. THE CELEBRATIONS (below) following a secondplace soccer trophy lasted for days. Brother Angel Monge, S.C., bottom center, is both a teacher and soccer coach.
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Missionaries of the
Holy Family Family
•
Vocations
•
Missions
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
104 Cas Hills Dr., San Antonio, TX 78213 888-484-9945 • www.MSF-America.org
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achieved local fame. Among a population eager for a better life, the brothers easily found students. Although the school had been boys only, girls are now part of it. Today some 1,000 students take classes, and when the school day ends, they learn pig farming, corn cultivation, carpentry, and a number of other trades. Often they put their skills to work for the school, gaining experience that may help them find work after graduation. Sweeney sees the reopening of Enter #177 at VocationMatch.com 124 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
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MORE CHILDREN than desks is not uncommon in Mozambique. This reality is changing in Amatongas, thanks to benefactors who support the brothers’ education ministry. BROTHER CHRIS loves his morning tractor ride (above, left), which always brings children running out of their homes to greet him. BROTHER LUCAS Favreau, S.C. and Brother José Roberto, S.C., who is visiting from Brazil (photo at left), plan the school year together.
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the school as a gift in his life as a religious brother. The work is something he can sink his teeth into. The communal life with his brothers in this corner of Africa is not easy. There are electrical blackouts, insects, uncertainties, problems with students, but together in prayer and with faith it is a life he is glad to be part of. Almost every morning Brother Chris begins by riding a tracEnter #041 at VocationMatch.com 126 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
tor from the residence area to the school’s farm. “No matter how I’m feeling, often tired, sometimes frustrated, the smiles of the kids along this road bring a smile to my face and heart. I have driven down this road now hundreds of times, and each time the kids come running, sometimes dancing and singing to see the tractor roll down the path. It’s just an awesome feeling.” =
BROTHER FABIAN Jongwe, S.C. (above) plays with children during a break from his efforts to purchase corn to feed boarders at the school. BROTHER ANGEL (at left) has plenty of company as he tackles a paint job. BROTHER LUCAS (facing page, top) takes part in a Sunday Mass. Worship is a full-body experience in Amatongas, with singing, dancing, and a great deal of energy. THE BROTHERS interview orphans who apply to their school. Brother Angel and visiting Brother José Ignacio Carmona, S.C., superior general of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart (facing page, bottom photo), talk with young men whose parents have died.
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BEING CATHOLIC BEFORE JESUS EVEN preaches, heals someone, or performs a miracle, he calls people to follow him.
THE CALLING OF THE APOSTLES PETER AND ANDREW (1308-1311), DUCCIO DI BUONINSEGNA
Called to follow Christ by John W.
Martens
What’s the purpose of the church, and does it change with the times? John W. Martens is associate professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota and director of the master’s in theology program at the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity. He writes “The Word” column for America magazine.
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T THE HEART OF THE CHURCH IS VOCATION. The earliest idea of what is today called “church” starts with the Greek word ekklesia, which is only found twice in the gospels, both times in Matthew, and means those who have been “called out.” Jesus “calls out” all who follow him to share in his ministry in different ways. Before Jesus even preached, healed someone, or performed a miracle, he called people to follow him. At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, after his baptism and temptation in the wilderness, the first thing he did was to call two sets of brothers. He asks Simon and Andrew and then James and John to follow him (Mark 1:16-20). And that is the church in its simplest terms: the followers of Jesus Christ. Jesus came proclaiming the kingdom, or reign, of God, and it
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tory so that it can fulfill its mission to bring the gospel to the world. While the mission of the church—the calling and gathering of people as followers of Jesus Christ for the purpose of salvation—is the same as it was when Jesus first proclaimed the gospel and chose the apostles, soon after this early date things in the church began to change. Already in the Acts of the Apostles people were being called specifically to serve Greek-speaking Christians (Acts 6:1-6), and in the second century Ignatius, the bishop of Antioch, spoke of the positions of bishop, priest, and deacon necessary to serve the needs of the growing Christian church. “There is a growth in the understanding of the realities and the words which have been handed down,” says the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum, no. 8). Sometimes that’s because the church needs to refocus on its central mission; sometimes it’s because the culture has changed, making the means by which the church has expressed itself less relevant for the current day; and sometimes it might mean that the church is encountering a new culture and finding the best ways to proclaim the gospel in a fresh context. The church must meet and speak to people where they are, and what the church stresses will depend upon the people or culture in which it finds itself. Some examples: Enter #465 at VocationMatch.com
was essential that people responded to that call for the sake of salvation. Even more, though, Jesus chose people to share in his ministry so that the message could be brought more widely, that is, to everyone. Twelve apostles were “appointed,” called “to be with him,” and “sent out to proclaim the message” (Mark 3:13-19). Jesus sent “them out two by two,” instructing them to 130 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
proclaim “that all should repent” (Mark 6:7-13).
The same, and changing The church’s growth and change allows it to become what it is intended to be: the body of Christ that is to serve the needs of those both inside and outside the church. The church continues to develop throughout his-
• The internet is a global culture, which requires the presence of the gospel if all peoples are to encounter Jesus. How should the successors of the apostles evangelize online? • The Western world is less focused on titles and authority than it used to be. So the question today is how should the church bring its message to people less interested in the institutional church and suspi-
cious of institutions in general?
Love God in
• How does one speak to many people today who are less convinced of the need for God and other fundamental beliefs of the church?
Complete
• Pope Francis is not altering the mission of the church in his writing or preaching, but he is emphasizing different aspects of the gospel message and challenging the church to rediscover and reinvigorate itself.
Surrender —St.
Clare
Poor Clares are
Our call is to
a contemplative
intimacy with God
branch of the
and prayerful
Franciscan Order
support of all people
Followers of Jesus Requirements: An attraction to the life 18 to 45 years of age emotional and physical health
Christians are still calling people to come to the church, God’s gathered people here on earth, in order to enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ and prepare for eternal life in the reign or kingdom of God. It is a task that requires new approaches to answer the ancient and eternal call, “Follow me.” =
Monastery of St. Clare 1271 Langhorne-Newtown Road Langhorne PA 19047-1297 www.poorclarepa.org vocation@poorclarepa.org Enter #048 at VocationMatch.com
FORMER SOCCER PLAYER NEAR TO ORDINATION GOAL
M
OST SEMINARIANS don’t make national news over their choice for the priesthood, but when pro soccer player Chase Hilgenbrinck left the Major Soccer League New England Revolution to become a priest in 2008, a flurry of media reports covered the move. On the Diocese of Peoria website, Hilgenbrinck reflected on his calling: “In 2004 I moved to South America on my own [to play soccer on a Chilean team] and I quickly realized that being an immigrant in a foreign land was not easy. So I did what anyone would do and turned to what I knew: the Catholic Church. In doing so my faith deepened tremendously. “During a time of adora-
tion [of the Blessed Sacrament] I heard Him call me to pursue Chase Hilgenbrinck a vocation in the priesthood. During a two-year discernment process, I fought the idea of priesthood, all the while receiving signs and confirmations that priesthood was God’s will for my life. The call was persistent and progressively grew stronger until it consumed my daily thoughts. A day came when I no longer had excuses or barriers to put in the way. I knew that I had nothing left to do but say, ‘Yes.’ ”
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BEING CATHOLIC
SISTER SUSAN KIDD, C.N.D. (second from left), enjoying time with her family, knows that support from others is an important part of living her vows.
Can your body be sacred in the age of twerking?
by Sister Susan Kidd, C.N.D.
Despite media messages to the contrary, we feel whole and true to ourselves when we care for our bodies.
Sister Susan Kidd, C.N.D. is a Congregation of Notre Dame Sister. She has served as vocation director for English Canada, was a missionary in Cameroon, and now works at the University of Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada as a campus minister.
I
AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH to have a steady stream of university students through my office, and the day I heard from VISION about this article was no different. “Can your body be sacred in the age of twerking?” the editors asked. So I asked the students. I was not ready for their response: silence, an exchange of glances between them, and then a giggling shy look in my direction. That was not normal. There is often a buzz of chatter in my office, usually accompanied by laughter and on some days with an equal balance of tears; some conversations have both! I am a campus minister, hired by the Catholic Church to work on a secular university campus. The people through my office vary from day to day and include students, staff, and faculty. This day, this question caused the audience to pause. But it shouldn’t have.
We were created to care for creation I am here to tell you that the answer to the question is a clear and resounding “yes!” Despite the relentless media messages that leave us with the impression that there are no boundaries, protections, or sense of sanctity left when it comes to our bodies, the reality is that we feel whole and true to ourselves when we care for our bodies. That is because we are created in God’s image and likeness. We are blessed with duties and responsibilities to be good stewards of all
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Welcome home to a life of community, service and prayer
We invite you to consider life as a Marianist brother, priest or sister. Contact Bro. Tom Wendorf — twendorf@sm-usa.org or Sr. Nicole Trahan — ntrahan@gmail.com.
www.marianist.com Enter #105 at VocationMatch.com
Meet the Sisters of Mercy Sisters of Mercy balance a life of prayer and service—committing our lives to God and our resources to serve, advocate and pray for those in need around the world. Share the mission of mercy. Visit www.sistersofmercy.org to find out more about becoming a sister, associate, volunteer, companion or advocating with us on social justice issues. sistersofmercy.org/connect
facebook.com/MercySisters
YouTube.com/MercyConnect
@SistersofMercy
1.877.50.MERCY
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KIDD SPEAKS during a function at the university Chaplaincy Center, where she serves.
creation, including ourselves—our minds, hearts, and bodies. Our rich Catholic teachings on chastity and integrating the powers of life and love are meant to free us to be our best selves. Being chaste is about being in right relationship and healthy relationships. But sometimes we focus too much on relationships with others and with the environment at the expense of our relationship with ourselves and God. The Enter #162 at VocationMatch.com 134 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
“great commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38)—to love God with all our heart, souls, and minds—reminds us that focusing on our personal relationship with God above all others is not being selfish. It is being faithful.
Pressured to choose poorly I believe it is easier for me as a religious sister to live chastely than for those who have not yet made a life
choice. I have my public commitment, my congregation, prayer, community, ministry, and the other vows supporting me. Those considering religious life have many external pressures luring them toward options that are not life-giving. But that is not to say that the pressures are insurmountable. We must constantly call ourselves back to our purpose: which is to live in the joy of Christ. It’s difficult to see where twerking fits in to that plan. Yet that is not to say that using your body in expressive ways is bad. When the African students who come through my office are happy, they sing and dance with thrusting hips! They are quick to hug and touch. This reflects a healthy sense of sexuality and of self. Embracing, dancing, rhythmic and meditative movement, and exercise can model healthy living. And all are in keeping with our Catholic tradition of celebrating our flesh-and-blood humanity.
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Lessons in sanctity The sanctity of the human body is both caught and taught. We need more occasions to discuss such important topics among peers and family members. In this fast age of social media, it takes but one careless decision to change someone’s reputation for a very long time. Recently with my permission my students added SnapChat to my phone. Now I receive pictures from them—“clean fun” my mother would call it. But I can see how this technology could be used differently given other people and other choices—sexting and cyber-bullying to name but a few examples. We need to treasure the gift of human sexuality and not denigrate it or ourselves.
Our flesh-and-blood God It is through God’s great act of love
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that Jesus became human. At the Eucharist we are invited to remember the incarnation with all of our senses: We take and eat God’s body and blood. What an intimate sign of union, intimacy, and the inner unity of body and spirit. Jesus is wholly present in us. That’s sanctity of the body! We are the vessels God chose to carry on the message of Incarnation
to the ends of the earth. And yet we carry this message in clay pots (2 Corinthians 4:7). It is up to all of us—from athletes to idols, to teachers, parents, friends, and family—to promote positive body images of men and women and a healthy understanding of our sexuality and sanctity. We can start by treating our bodies and the bodies of others with due respect. = VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 135
BEING CATHOLIC A PARISH stands to serve a certain segment of the People of God.
Why are there parishes?
by Alice L. Camille
The whos, whats, and wheres of the Catholic parish. Alice L. Camille, M. Div. is the author of Listening to God’s Word (Orbis Books). For more titles, please visit alicecamille.com. This article is adapted from “Questions Catholics Ask” on the VISION Vocation Network.
T
HE NECESSITY FOR ESTABLISHED, well-defined parish boundaries was identified back at the Council of Trent (1545-1563) as a way to protect pastors and their communities from the harm that evolved from uncertain lines of authority and property. The original trouble was grounded in the feudal system: In earlier times the church was by no means separate from the state, as it is in most countries today. The notion of a parish with canonically (that is, by church law) protected rights and responsibilities serves to clarify what people “get”—and have a right to—when they join up. Most parish boundaries are geographically defined, but they can also be designated by language, rite, ethnicity, or other elements that serve the community. There’s also a military diocese that encompasses U.S. servicepeople wherever they may be, creating parishes anywhere armed forces personnel are serving. Rites in communion with Rome, like Maronites, Melkites, Ukrainians, and others, establish parishes defined less by geography than by the particular liturgy customary for those communities.
What is a parish? As a Catholic you may worship freely in any of these parishes or all of them if you wish. But there are advantages to registering with a particular parish— whether or not you live inside its technical boundaries—that are worth consid136 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
ering. A parish is defined by four basic elements. First, it stands to serve a certain segment of the People of God. Second, it’s administered by a priest specifically charged with its sacramental care. Third, a parish is governed by church law that outlines reciprocal rights and duties of pastor and parishioners. Finally, a parish is a suitable site guaranteed to contain all that’s necessary for the Catholic spiritual life: Eucha-
ristic equipment, baptismal font, confessional, sometimes a cemetery, and a place for storing sacramental records. Above all, it is a spiritual haven and source of many important memories (see sidebar article below). Those who register with a particular parish will have full access to all that’s necessary for Catholic identity. Get on the books. It makes your sacramental life easier! =
SAYING GOOD-BYE TO ST. JAMES by Sidney Nurnberger
A
VIRGINIA PICKEN
CHURCH is not only a building for ritual. It is also a second home and a sanctuary. It is a place that becomes a haven and a recognized landmark in a neighborhood. When you have to leave that place, even for a short amount of time, it can be disheartening. When something like that is taken away forever, it can be devastating. That is what happened to my family and me when demolition began on St. James Church on 29th and Wabash Avenues in Chicago. The reasons for the demolition include changes in the neighborhood and the effects of a 1972 fire, but it did not hit me that they were actually going to take down the church until I saw the massive 5,000-pound bell removed from the tower along with the other 20 bells to be put into storage—bells Archbishop Patrick Feehan had consecrated in 1895. Designed by the architect Patrick C. Keely, who also designed Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral, the church was dedicated on May 24, 1880. Since then St. James became a source of memories for hundreds of Catholics over the decades. I made
my First Communion and my First Reconciliation—two very important events in my life—at St. James. Perhaps having two architects as parents and living in Chicago, which is home to a number of historic churches, added to my deep sadness when I learned St. James would be torn down. A place of worship should be cherished because so many people have prayed there. That alone makes it a sacred place, a place of peace, a place that deserves extra respect and protection. Sidney Nurnberger, a graduate of St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago, is currently a student at Loyola University in New Orleans.
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ART OF DISCERNMENT
Wake the world with dawning joy Music and lyrics by Steven Warner
P
OPE FRANCIS called on the faithful to express their gratitude for those in consecrated life. What better way to offer praise and thanksgiving than in song? That is why the editors of VISION Vocation Guide and the National Religious Vocation Conference commissioned worldrenowned composer Steven Warner to write a song in honor of the Year of Consecrated Life. The result, “Wake the world with dawning joy,” celebrates the unique and ancient form of disciple-
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Steve Warner is the founder and director of the Notre Dame Folk Choir. He has been a member of the campus ministry staff since 1979. Under his guidance, t h e fo l k c h o i r h a s continued to develop new ritual song, for use on both Notre Dame’s campus and throughout the English-speaking world. For more than 25 years, the ensemble has toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada. In 2008, Warner was recognized as Musician of the Year by the National Association of Pastoral Musicians. Wa r n e r ’ s s a c r e d music is published through WLP Publications of Chicago. In the past three years, WLP released two recorded collections of sacred music by the folk choir. A new collection, “Tune My Heart,” will be released in fall of 2014. For the full score of “Wake the World with Dawning Joy” and a sample performance, g o to h t t p : / / w w w. VocationNetwork.org/ Year-of-ConsecratedLife
ship that is known as consecrated life and, inspired by the words of Pope Francis, urges men and women religious to continue to wake the world with their witness. We hope you will sing this special song in your parishes and religious communities and incorporate it in your worship and prayer services throughout the Year of Consecrated Life and beyond to remind each of us of Christ’s call to wake up the world and live in a different way—a way of faith, hope, love, and joy! —Patrice J. Tuohy VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 139
MEN’S COMMUNITIES A
MEN’S COMMUNITIES
Alexian Brothers (C.F.A.) Alexian Brothers is an 800 year old lay, apostolic congregation dedicated to prayer and serving our fellow man facing a variety of today’s challenges. We are committed to doing God’s work by actively providing love and compassionate care to the marginalized among us. Working in a variety of ministry settings, we reach out to serve the needs of the poor, elderly, hungry and incarcerated as well as those challenged by mental and physical illness. By living in community, we continue to live a way of life through which we provide spiritual support and work towards social justice for those we are called to serve. Director of Vocations: Br. Tom Klein,C.F.A., 3040 W. Salt Creek Lane, Arlington Heights, IL 60005; 1-847463-8904; e-mail: brotherthomas.klein@alexian. net; website: www.alexianbrothers.org. See our web ads at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 184. Code #141. Augustinian Friars (O.S.A.)—Midwest Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel and Province of St. Joseph, Canada The Midwest and Canadian Provinces of the Augustinians are composed of 100 plus brothers and priests. We currently have 14 men in initial formation. The Augustinians trace their spiritual roots to St. Augustine, a 5th century Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Augustine writes in the very beginning of his Confessions, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Augustinian life is a shared journey to God, a life of contemplation and action, prayer and service. Our ministries include but are not limited to: secondary education, parish ministry, foreign missions, care for the sick and elderly, hospital chaplaincies, counseling, shrine ministry and retreat ministry. We currently minister in Illinois, Michigan, Oklahoma and Wisconsin with missions in Peru and Japan. Vocation Director: Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., Vocation Office, 7740 S. Western Ave., 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 33045; (305) 474-0591; e-mail: vocaciones@ losagustinos.org. See ad on page 83. Code #207. Augustinian Friars (O.S.A.)—Province of St. Thomas of Villanova The Villanova Province consists of 175 plus friars living in communities in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida with missions in Japan and Peru. 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 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. We currently have 15 men in initial formation. 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) 474-0591; e-mail: vocaciones@ losagustinos.org. See ad on page 83. Code #207. 140 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
SEARCH MEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG 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 five parishes in California and Oregon. 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 83. Code #207. Augustinian Monks of the Primitive Observance(O.S.A.Prim.) “How long, how long must I continue to say: tomorrow and again tomorrow? Why not now?” (St. Augustine of Hippo, Confessions). Come today to follow us as we strive to follow Jesus by living in community. We need courageous men with open, obedient and joyful hearts. Monastic, contemplative, Eucharistic, Marian, sons of Holy Mother church. Augustinian Monks of the Primitive Observance, 2075 Mercers Fernery Rd., DeLand, FL 32720; (386) 736-4321; monks@augustinianmonks.com; website, www. augustinianmonks.com. Code #020. Augustinian Recollects (O.A.R.)—Province of Saint Augustine The Augustinian Recollect history began in 1588 in Toledo, Spain, and the original charism continues! Today we are 1,000 religious serving in 18 countries and our ministries take us to wherever the church needs us. The Province of Saint Augustine is one of eight provinces that make up the Augustinian Recollect family. The Augustinian Recollects began their ministry in the United States in 1914. From humble beginnings, our religious now minister in parishes, education, retreats, and youth ministry in California, New York, New Jersey, and Mexico. In all of our ministries and communities, we strive to imitate our father Saint Augustine in balancing contemplation with action as he exhorts his brothers to have “one soul and one heart intent upon God.” Our religious habit comprises the tunic, hood, and cincture, in the Order’s traditional style and color (black). The religious wear the habit as a sign of consecration and as a witness to poverty. For more information about our Order, please visit our website: www.augustinianrecollects.us. See ad on page 141. Code #005. Augustinians of the Assumption (A.A.) The Assumptionists are a worldwide congregation of almost 900 religious located in 30 countries. We follow the Rule of St. Augustine, founded over 150 years ago by Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon. Our very reason for being is to be found in our motto: “Thy Kingdom Come.” 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. We need to be men of faith, men of community characterized by frankness, sincerity, transparency and simplicity, and men who are in solidarity with the poor. Our apostolate focuses in education in all of its forms: university and high school education, journalism, ecumenism, pilgrimages, foreign missions and popular evangelization, to
name a few. Contact: Br. Ronald Sibugan, A.A., Emmanuel House, 512 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA 01609; 508-215-9541; e-mail: assumption. vocmin@gmail.com; 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) 7547489; e-mail: BarnabitesUSA@fatimashrine.com. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 57. Code #254. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Marmion Abbey We are Benedictine monks, priests and brothers in Christ, brought together by the Divine Call, sharing our lives and seeking God under the guidance of the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict and the inspiration of the Gospels. Our prayer, both personal and liturgical, is the most important aspect in our monastic life. The monks of Marmion Abbey have always been closely identified with education. The monks conduct an all-boys, college-prep, Catholic high school known as Marmion Academy. The monks continue to serve as administrators, teachers, chaplains, coaches, librarians, and support staff. Since 1965, Marmion Abbey has had a monastic foundation in Guatemala. Marmion’s priest-monks also provide pastoral assistance to the Catholic parishes of the local Church in Aurora. The monks of Marmion Abbey have been engaged in the work of farming, at our Abbey Farms. We invite you to enter into our school for the Lord’s Service. Fr. Marcos Rivas, O.S.B., 850 Butterfield Rd., Aurora, IL 60502; (630) 532-1428; e-mail: vocations@marmion.org; website: www.marmion.org. Code #355. 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 22 to 92 years old with 15 men in monastic and priestly formation. 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
SEARCH MEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG
MEN’S COMMUNITIES
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: vocation@mountangelabbey.org; website: www.mountangelabbey.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 97. Code #365. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Mount Saviour Monastery Mount Saviour is a community of monks, some of whom are priests, 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) 734-1688; e-mail: vocations@ msaviour.org; website: www.msaviour.org. Code #217.
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 monks dedicated to seeking God in prayer, work, and living a communal life under the Rule of St. Benedict and an abbot. Central to the monastic life are first praying the Divine Office in choir and being faithful to personal prayer, for “nothing [is to] be preferred to Christ.” Brothers share in the common duties of housekeeping, grounds maintenance, care of the sick, food service, and guest house preparation. The Abbey school on campus is a major ministry for the monks to students in grades six through twelve and their families. If one thinks of becoming a monk, 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 Bede Abbey Prayer, work, community, stability, balance. Sound good to you? They can be yours as a Benedictine monk. St. Bede Abbey in Peru, IL is home to twenty-two monks, both priests and brothers. The community was founded in 1890. The monks serve the Church universal and local in a variety of ways: a college prep, co-ed, day and boarding high school; parish and hospital ministry; hospitality. Work is tailored to the talents, abilities and interests of each monk that God may be glorified in all things. Men, ages 21-45, interested in a stable, community life of prayer and work, are invited to inquire and visit to experience first-hand what monastic life is all about. Don’t hesitate. Now is the acceptable time to contact Fr. Ronald Margherio, O.S.B., St. Bede Abbey, 24 W US Highway 6, Peru, IL 61354; (815) 250-0286; e-mail: frronald@stbede.com ; website: www.stbedeabbey.org. Code #468. 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 MabeeGerrer 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 130+ monks living, praying, and working together amid 2900 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 more. A monk of Saint John’s lives a life steeped in the rhythm of prayer, work, and community life according to the Rule of Saint Benedict. This includes both private and community prayer, lectio divina, daily Eucharist, times for work, community meals, and fellowship together. 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: highschool diploma, minimum. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 103. 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 32 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 Br. Ephrem Arcement, O.S.B.; 75376 River Road, St. Benedict, LA 70457; (985) 892-1800 ext 1301 or e-mail: brephrem@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.saintmarysabbey.org or www.osbmonks. org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 31. Code #088. VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 141
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Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Newark Abbey What are Monks doing in the City? The Benedictine Monks of Newark Abbey have been in the center of Newark, New Jersey since 1857. Living in community according to the Rule of St. Benedict. We follow a daily schedule that balances prayer and work. We serve the people of God through our ministries in Saint Benedict’s Preparatory School, Saint Mary’s School, and Saint Mary’s Parish. We offer assistance to local parishes, chaplaincies in hospitals and colleges/universities. So why don’t you 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 102. Code #182.
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MEN’S COMMUNITIES
MEN’S COMMUNITIES
Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Mary’s Monastery, Petersham, MA St. Mary’s Monastery is a contemplative Benedictine community of monks located in a forested setting in Petersham, MA. As part of the 1500-year-old tradition of Benedictine monastic life, we seek God and strive to grow in love through following the Rule of St. Benedict with its vows of obedience, stability, and conversion of life. In responding to Christ’s call and supporting one another, our small community of priests and brothers has a balance of prayer, lectio divina, and work within the monastery. Our day is centered on the liturgy, as we sing daily Mass and the full Divine Office in Gregorian Chant together with our twin community of nuns, St. Scholastica Priory. This daily liturgy and the rhythm of the liturgical seasons shape our life with God. Contact: Br. Bernard, St. Mary’s Monastery, 271 N. Main St. P.O. Box 345, Petersham, MA 01366; (978) 724-3350; e-mail: monks@stmarysmonastery.org; website: www.stmarysmonastery.org; See ad on page 48. Code #485. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Meinrad Archabbey Saint Meinrad Archabbey is a Roman Catholic monastery located in rural southern Indiana. Monks live a common life of shared work and prayer, according to the Rule of St. Benedict, and serve the Church through their prayer five times a day including daily Eucharist, and their works of education (Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology), retreat ministry and hospitality, pastoral assistance to local parishes, and the ownership and operation of Abbey Press and Abbey Caskets. Saint Meinrad is a spiritual center for many people of faith and is known for its beautiful liturgy and its service to the local and broader Church. A formal come-and-see experience, “A Monastic Observance,” is scheduled each year, December 27-Jan. 1, and personal visits can be arranged for almost any time of the year. For more information or to inquire about visiting, contact: Office of Monastery Vocations, 100 Hill Drive, St. Meinrad, IN 47577; (812) 357-6318; e-mail: vocations@ saintmeinrad.edu; website: www.saintmeinrad.org. See ad on page 137. Code #014.
SEARCH MEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG 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 College-Prep Academy, our Farm, our Vineyards, our Carpentry and Tailor shops, our Retreat Center, and our Parishes. Three differences stand out: with 40 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 ten 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 479-438-9115 or vocations@subi.org or www.benedictinemonks.org. See ad on page 93. Code #256. Brothers of Charity The Brothers of Charity is an international Congregation of Religious Brothers and Associate Members. Inspired by the charism of their founder, Servant of God, Peter Joseph Triest of Belgium, the Brothers passionately live their vocation, charism, and mission as a community of Brothers for those on the margins of society. Believing in the value of all human beings, regardless of how disfigured they may be, Brothers and Associates strive to reach them by being the agent of the Love of God in hope they may experience some small part of the joy of Resurrection. The Congregation of nearly 600 Brothers, 170 Associate Members and thousands of co-workers assist with compassion and professionalism in 33 countries on four continents. Our charitable works include ministry with mentally ill, deaf, physically and developmentally disabled, homeless, AIDS, drug and alcohol dependency, psychologically distressed, mobile health clinics, and the full spectrum of childhood education. We need you, and invite you to join our mission. Contact: Brother John FitzGerald, 7720 Doe Lane, Laverock, PA 19038; (215) 887-6361; e-mail: jfitzfc@aol.com OR Brother Joel Ponsaran, 1359 Monroe St., NE, Washington, DC 20017; (202) 636-4306; e-mail: joelponsaran@ yahoo.com; www.brothersofcharity.org. Code #342.
Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Procopius Abbey We Benedictine monks of St. Procopius Abbey, Lisle, IL, have since 1885 been seeking God through a life of prayer, obedience, and personal conversion. We live in a community guided by the monastic wisdom tradition of the Rule of St. Benedict, written nearly fifteen hundred years ago. Under an abbot chosen for his skill in interpreting this rule for our present time, we strive for holiness by means of the Divine Office, lectio divina, personal growth in the contemplative life, and labor for the good of God’s Holy Church. Our labors are especially directed toward the schools that we founded and continue to sponsor, Benet Academy and Benedictine University, and toward helping in nearby parishes. For further information, please contact Fr. James at vocations@procopius.org or 630-829-9279. Also, please visit our website, www.procopius.org. See ad on page 130. Code #465.
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, 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 38. Code #206.
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
The Brothers of the Christian Schools (F.S.C. Fratres Scholarum Christianarum) also called the De La Salle Christian Brothers. Founded by St. John Baptist de La Salle, the Patron Saint of Teachers, in 17th-century France, the Christian Brothers
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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 Canada, approximately 700 Brothers minister among 100 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) 529-0047; e-mail: rschieler@cbconf. org; website: www.brothersvocation.org. Code #100. Brothers of the Sacred Heart (S.C.) The Brothers of the Sacred Heart were founded in 1821 by Father André Coindre, a French priest who responded to the needs of marginalized youth. Today, the Brothers of the Sacred Heart shape the lives of youth with the love of Christ in 32 countries. As Brothers, we live in community and gather together daily for prayer, for Eucharist, to share experiences, and to support one another. As Brothers we contribute to the evangelization of the world particularly through the education of youth. In the U.S., we minister in schools, parishes, college campuses, and literacy centers. As Brothers we imitate Jesus who proclaimed Himself as Brother to all. If you would like to change the world by making a difference in the lives of young people, please contact Bro. Ronald Hingle, rhinglesc@ gmail.com; 504-913-0005 or Bro. Mike Migacz, mikemigacz@hotmail.com; 732-718-8559; BrothersoftheSacredHeart.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 125. Code #203.
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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) 6864127, 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 USA: (773) 475-6206, e-mail: vocation@capuchinfranciscans.org, website: www.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 21. Code #091.
PRIESTS Best part of ministry so far? Being inspired by the faith of the people I’ve met, especially Catholics in parts of Asia who are being persecuted for their faith and those in parts of East Africa who literally own nothing—yet faithfully walk for miles every day to attend Mass.
Favorite saint? Thérèse of Lisieux, the “Little Flower,” is the patroness of missions and my personal hero. I try to live by her “Little Way” of letting go of my own selfishness by surrendering to God. I think it’s necessary to do this as a seminarian, particularly one living as I am now, in a completely unfamiliar culture.
If you grow up in Detroit with a mom who’s a cop and a dad who works in a steel factory, chances are you learn something about service and resilience. Those traits come in handy in the missionary life, which is where Peter Latouf finds himself now. These days the seminarian is learning Mandarin Chinese to prepare to serve as a priest in Asia. Following an exciting stint of overseas teaching while in college, Peter acted on a lifelong interest in religious life and found his community, the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, through the VISION Vocation Network’s VocationMatch.com. “I saw in the Maryknoll priests the same willingness to serve and spirit of adventure that I had,” he says. .
Funniest experience with your community? While visiting a group of Maryknoll priests in rural Tanzania, a herd of cows got loose from a local tribe and stampeded through our camp. They shredded my tent to pieces. For about a week I slept in the back of an old pick-up truck. It wasn’t too funny at the time, but now I can look back on the experience and laugh about it!
Favorite way to pray? Taking quiet time for myself in front of the Blessed Sacrament is important, but the main way I pray is by getting out and interacting with other people. It’s very hard for me to sit still, so my favorite way to find God is to explore my surroundings, appreciate the beauty of the place I’m in, and sense God’s presence in those I meet.
People would be surprised to learn . . .
Service with a side of adventure PETER LATOUF, M.M.
I was a contestant on the TV game show Jeopardy in 2009.
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MEN’S COMMUNITIES
MEN’S COMMUNITIES
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.) We are seeking men who sense a call to live in prayerful community and who wish to minister to those at the margins. Are you inspired to place your gifts, talents, and possessions to meet the needs of God’s people, especially the young? Brothers conduct missionary work around the world; give material support to and teach migrant farm workers; minister at hospitals, with the homeless, offer services to refugees; serve in elementary and secondary schools, and colleges; are involved in Youth Ministry; provide education services for adults; and assist in parish and diocesan ministries. Are you called to serve others as an Edmund Rice Christian Brother? Br. Jim McDonald, 10001 S. Pulaski Rd., Room 111, Chicago, IL 60655-3356; phone/text: 815.272.7742; e-mail: bromaccfc@yahoo.com; website: www.edmundricebrothers.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on pages 25, 27. Code #095. C o n g re g a t i o n o f H o l y C ro s s (C.S.C.) The Congregation of Holy Cross was founded in France in 1837. Blessed Basil Moreau began a community of priests, brothers and sisters, to educate the children of LeMans, France, and to assist in the diocese as auxiliary priests. In just five years, he sent six brothers and a priest to the United States as missionaries where they began the school in northern Indiana that eventually became the University of Notre Dame. The priests and brothers serve at 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 the canonization of Brother André Bessette, who was known as “The Miracle Man of Montreal” and oversaw the building of St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal. To learn more visit our websites: www. holycrossvocations.org [Priests]; www.holycrossbrothers.org [Brothers]; www.holycrosscongregation.org. See ad on page 71. Code #097.
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SEARCH MEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (S.S.S.) Founded in 1856 by St. Peter Julian Eymard, the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament is an apostolic group of priests and brothers whose ideal is to live fully the mystery of God’s love manifested in the Eucharist. In each of their communities, the Eucharist forms the center of their lives as a communal celebration of Mass, as internalized in a prayer of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and as lived through an active mission of preaching, teaching, parish and sacramental ministries, outreach to the poor, and academic scholarship. Blessed Sacrament priests and brothers are authentic witnesses to the renewing power of the Eucharist for the Church and the world. In the USA, Blessed Sacrament Communities are located in the Archdioceses of New York, Houston, San Antonio, and Chicago; and in the Dioceses of Cleveland and St. Petersburg. Come, join our mission! Visit our website: www.blessedsacrament.com/vocation or call (440) 442-7243. Code #096.
Crosier Fathers and Brothers (O.S.C.) Crosiers long to imitate Christ through the union of mind and heart in community and through a life of liturgical prayer and ministry. Guided by the Rule of Augustine, we live together for God alone, serving the Church and the people of God. Consider becoming a Crosier if you have a deep passion to follow Christ, if you desire to live in a community of priests and brothers where you live for God alone by seeking to combine contemplative routines with a shared ministerial life, and if you feel called to join with other men who love the liturgy of the Church and who are committed to common prayer. Crosiers are an international order headquartered in Rome, with U.S. communities in Onamia, Minn., and Phoenix, Ariz. Contact Fr. Dave Donnay, osc, or Fr. Charlie Kunkel, osc, at 4423 N 24th St., Phoenix, AZ 85016; (800) 407-5875; vocations@crosier.org, or www.crosiervocations.org. Code #099.
Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SS.CC.) 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 Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Like those hearts, we are united in suffering and in joy. Saint Damien of Molokai, a Sacred Hearts 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 ministering in over 30 countries. Contact: Fr. Joseph Pasala, 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 13. Code #230.
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, a 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. Vocation Director, 1525 Carmel Rd., Hubertus, WI 53033; e-mail: ocdvocation@gmail.com; website: www.ocdfriarsvocation.org. See ad on page 117. Code #434.
Contemplatives of Saint Joseph (COSJ); Archdiocese of San Francisco, CA The COSJ, a Catholic religious order of men, was founded recently within the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The priests and brothers of the COSJ lead a life of deep contemplative prayer and serve in an Active Apostolate within the Archdiocese of San Francisco and surrounding Bay Area dioceses. We are a Public Clerical Association of the Christian Faithful as decreed by Most Reverend Salvatore Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco. The priests and brothers, immersing themselves in contemplative prayer, desire to enter into the kingdom of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. With St. Joseph, they bear about them a prayerful interior silence which aids their daily contemplative and intercessory prayer, as well as helping them to bring the Light of God’s love into the Active Apostolate. The priests and brothers spend significant part of each day in contemplative spiritual practice. For additional information contact our Superior: information@cosj.info or our Vocations Manager: vocations@cosj.info; website: www.contemplativesofstjoseph.com. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 94. Code #484.
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Divine Word Missionaries (S.V.D.) As Divine Word Missionary priests and brothers, we are men of prayer and faith, serving where the Gospel has not yet been preached, or where the local church is not yet viable. Each of us is involved in a particular, unique ministry as we spread the Word of God. There are over 6,000 of us ministering in over 70 countries worldwide. As one of the largest international missionary congregations in the Catholic Church, we believe that His Mission is our Mission. Our steady growth is a result of our response to the changing needs of the Church and the people we serve. Internationalism, education and professional skills are the foundations of our society. We offer five formation programs: Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa; an Associate Program for college graduates; Brother Formation Program; our Novitiate is in Techny, Illinois; and Divine Word Theologate in Chicago. For more information, contact: Vocation Director, Divine Word Missionaries, P.O. Box 380, Epworth, IA 52045; 800-553-3321; e-mail: svdvocations@dwci.edu; website: www.svdvocations.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 124. Code #177.
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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: fbbvocations@gmail.com; (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 96. 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 V14pp129-172.indd 172 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 www.franciscan-friars.org. Contact: Fr. Mike
FACES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE. FRIARS THAT MAKE IT HAPPEN. BE A PART OF IT.
Enter #283 at VocationMatch.com Surufka, OFM, SS. Francis and Clare Friary, 9230 W. Highland Park Avenue, Franklin, WI 53132; toll free (877) 636-3742; e-mail: frmikeofm@ gmail.com; website: www.franciscan-friars.org. Code #281. Franciscan Friars (O.F.M.)—Province of the Immaculate Conception The Franciscans of 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, 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 1-800-521-5442 or vocations@ icprovince.org. Visit our website: www.liveRadically. org or find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ FranciscanVocation. See ad on page 101. 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. As an evangelical and missionary fraternity of more than 300 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 1-800-677-7788 or vocation@hnp.org, or visit our website 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, Alaska, Texas, and Louisiana. We minister at home and in the foreign missions of Brazil, Africa, Thailand, and Vietnam. We seek to bring the Gospel into the everyday experience of all people through teaching, preaching, and a pastoral setting. We minister to people in a variety of contexts: the poor and the outcast, immigrants, disadvantaged, marginalized, in hospitals, parishes, schools, spiritual direction, etc. Our friars are ordained and non-ordained. Following the desire of St. Francis of Assisi, our friars are encouraged to use their skills and gifts to minister in the Church and to serve the human family. If you are between the ages of 21 and 40 and would like more information about us, please contact our Vocation Office at 773-753-1925, yes@ befranciscan.com or www.befranciscan.com. See our ad on page 145. 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 ser ve 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) 5421082, 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.
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The Dominican Friars (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/join-us. Eastern United States, St. Joseph Province; e-mail: vocations@dominicanfriars.org; (800) 529-1205; website: www.dominicanfriars.org. Western United States, The Most Holy Name of Jesus Province; e-mail: vocations@opwest.org; (415) 674-0468; website: www.opwest.org. Southern United States, St. Martin de Porres Province, e-mail: frjohn@dominicanvocations.com; (901) 527-8282 ext. 12; website: www.dominicanvocations.com. See ad on page 43. Code #228.
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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 four provinces in North America, which also have responsibility for jurisdictions in the UK, Ireland and Australia. 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., 501 Walnut St., Hollidaysburg, PA 166481529; 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 96. Code #295. 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 Spring and Fall. Contact Vocation Office, 40 Franciscan Way, Graymoor, Garrison, NY 10524-0300; (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 55. Code #003. 146 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
SEARCH MEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG
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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 web page www. glenmary.org. See ad on page 117. Code #103.
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Jesuits (S.J.) [Society of Jesus] We are the largest order of priests and brothers in the Catholic Church. We are global in mission but unified by the vision of our founder, the 16th century soldier-turned-mystic, Ignatius Loyola, who urged us to “Go and set the world on fire!” We are contemplatives in action: rooted in prayer and dedicated to the service of faith and the promotion of justice. We work in thousands of ministries on the frontiers of human experience and need-- as pastors, teachers, chaplains, doctors, artists, lawyers, film makers, spiritual directors, and much more. We are vowed religious; our communities are centered on prayer and Eucharist. We seek God in all things, because Christ—in the words of the Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins—“plays in ten thousand places, lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his, to the Father through the features of men’s faces.” Is God calling you to join us? Visit our website: jesuitvocations.org; mbreault@jesuits.org. See ad on page 149. Code #104. 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 AfricanAmerican community and has worked exclusively in the African-American community since 1871. The Josephite Society affords its members the mutual support of community life in an active ministry. Currently serving in the Archdioceses of Baltimore, Galveston-Houston (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). Father Kenneth Keke, S.S.J., serves as Vocation Director. Josephite Vocation Department, 1200 Varnum Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017-2796; (202) 832-9100; e-mail: vocations@josephite.com; website: www. josephite.com. See ad on page 95. Code #192.
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Marianists, Province of Meribah (S.M.) We are a religious community of brothers and priests, committed to living the Gospel together and serving Christ and His Church through the apostolate of education. Dedicating our lives to Mary, we follow her example of humble service and faithful discipleship. At the center of our lives are the two tables: the altar—the table of faith and sacrifice, and the community table— the table of fraternity and fellowship. Forming a new, Gospel-based family, 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 Stephen Balletta, S.M., Marianist Provincialate, Province of Meribah, 240 Emory Road., Mineola, NY 11501; (516) 742-5555 ext. 534; e-mail: sballetta@chaminade-hs.org; vocation blog: intothedeepblog.net; website: www. provinceofmeribah.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 60. Code #334. Marianists, Society of Mary (S.M.) An international Roman Catholic religious congregation of priests and brothers. More than 300 members serve in the Province of the United States, which includes India, Ireland, Mexico and Puerto Rico. 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 of 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. Brother Tom Wendorf, S.M., 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. See ad on page 133. 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 3,400 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 over 150 Brothers ministering in 12 high schools, two summer camps, and one retreat center for young people. The Brothers serve as teachers, administrators, campus ministers, guid-
SEARCH MEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG ance 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) 8231115; e-mail: vocations@maristbr.com; website: www.maristbr.com. See ad on page 100. 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 44. Code #107.
Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette (M.S.) We are a community of priests and brothers in North America, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Europe serving in various ministries of reconciliation. We were founded in response to Mary’s apparition at La Salette in France on September 19, 1846. Our Blessed Mother appeared to two children who were herding cows, and gave them a message to “make known to all my people.” The Missionaries of La Salette came to the United States and Canada in 1892 and first established in Hartford, CT. Today the we work to bring her message to a world that needs its comfort and challenge. Our ministries are many, such as shrines, parishes, chaplaincies, home and foreign missions, teaching, counseling, music and youth ministries. If you are between the ages of 18 - 38 and would like to learn more about us and our ministry of reconciliation please contact: La Salette Vocation Office, 404-569-0617; email: lasalettevocations@gmail.com. Visit our website at: www.lasalette.org; Facebook: “Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette Vocations”; Tweeter page: “La Salette Vocations.” Code #225.
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@MSFAmerica.org; website: www.MSF-America.org. See ad on page 123. Code #129. Missionaries of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S) For almost 200 years, the apostolic society of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood has been reaching out to those on the margins of society. Founded in 1815 by St. Gaspar del Bufalo, Precious Blood priests and brothers carry 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. Our larger community also includes lay associates and volunteers, sharing in a common mission: to renew the Church through the ministry of the Word and the saving power of Christ’s most Precious Blood. Cincinnati Province (Eastern U.S., including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and 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, and California, as well as Vietnam), (816) 781-4344; vocations@kcprovince.org; www.kcprovince.org. See ad on page 22. Code #108. 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) 927-5600; e-mail: mssccusa@aol. com; website: www.missionofsacredhearts.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 51. 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 cur-
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
Enter #289 at VocationMatch.com rently serving in prisons, retreat centers, shrines, inner-city 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 as www.omiusa. org or www.facebook.com/oblatesusa. See ad on page 122. Code #109.
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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 20-45 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; e-mail: jnovielli@daylesford.org; website: www. daylesford.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 147. Code #289. VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 147
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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 454 priests and brothers working in some 27 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, in solidarity with the poor in witnessing to the Kingdom of God. Contact: Fr. Kevin Hanlon, M.M., Vocation Ministries, P.O. Box 305, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0305; (914) 941-7590, Ext. 2416; e-mail: vocation@maryknoll.org; website: www.maryknollvocations.org. See our web ads at www.VocationNetwork.org and our digital web ads at www.DigitalVocationGuide.org. See ad on page 122. Code #199.
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BROTHERS What drew you to religious life? Seeing a group of dedicated, faithfilled, and hopeful men living together in an ancient but modern way of life.
How did your family and friends respond to you becoming a brother? My family and most of my friends do not fully understand my vocation to religious life, and I do not expect them to. I am OK with that. My vocation is a mystery, and it keeps them intrigued.
Favorite part of your current ministry? Being invited by theology teachers to speak to students about Saint Augustine’s Confessions and about my own vocation as a brother.
Prayer form you like best? Reflecting on daily sacred scripture and journaling.
What do you do for fun? I enjoy hiking. I also enjoy hanging out with my Augustinian brothers as well as with friends from other religious communities. They give me a sense of connection and belonging.
Favorite food? Texas barbecue.
Best part of living in community? Doing and sharing ministry, whether it’s shoveling the Chicago snow together or contributing to one another’s ministries in Augustinian schools or parishes.
Any words of wisdom for those considering religious life? Pay attention to the events and people that enter your life. God speaks to us through those means; this is how I came to respond to God’s call in my life.
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Friar commitment BROTHER JOE RUIZ, O.S.A Brother Joe Ruiz, O.S.A will come right out and tell you: “Religious life is not easy, and the same can be said for any vocation: married, single.” But if he sees that faithfulness exacts a cost, he is equally quick to say, “I am convinced it’s worth living in the 21st century. Our world needs healing and positive role models that reflect Christ’s love without discrimination.” Brother Joe hails from a Mexican American family of eight in Texas, where he learned the traditional folk dances of Mexico he now teaches to kids in Chicago. That’s a side ministry, though, to his main gig as campus minister to students at St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago. At the close of each busy day filled with young people, he heads home for meals and common prayers with the Augustinian friars—his brothers.
SEARCH MEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG Norbertine Fathers and Brothers (O. Praem.) [Canons Regular of Premontre]—St. Moses the Black Priory Have you thought that your life might be different, more meaningful and more directed toward God? Wondered how your own particular talents and gifts might be enhanced in service to the Church? Looking for ways to give witness to peace and justice? To reduce conflicts between and among all people? Come, see the diversity of ministries available including parish ministry, college/university teaching, campus ministry, spiritual direction, and prison ministry. Begin your journey today. Come and see! Men with some college background are invited to the Norbertine Priory of St. Moses the Black. For more information, please contact: Vocation Coordinator, 7100 Midway Road, Raymond, MS 39154; (601) 8570157 ext. 218; e-mail: norbertines-ms@hotmail. com; website: www.stmosestheblackpriory.org. See ad on page 94. Code #110.
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Oblates of St. Joseph (O.S.J.) We are a religious community of brothers and priests, founded by St. Joseph Marello to spread the Gospel through youth ministry, catechesis and parish ministry, under the inspiration of our patron St. Joseph. Vocations Directors: West Coast: Fr. Sergio Perez, OSJ, Mount St. Joseph Seminary, PO Box 547, Loomis, CA 95650; (916) 652-6336; e-mail: vocations@osjusa.org. East Coast: Fr. John Shearer, OSJ, St. Joseph Oblate Seminary, 1880 Hwy 315, Pittston, PA 18640, (570) 654-6902; e-mail: vocationseast@osjusa.org. Visit us at www.osjusa.org and www.facebook.com/OSJUSA. Code #486. Oblates of the Virgin Mary (O.M.V.) The Oblates of the Virgin Mary are a religious community of priests and brothers serving in 9
Countries. Living the charism of their Founder, the Venerable Fr. Bruno Lanteri, (1759 - 1830) they cultivate a deep personal relationship with Jesus through His Word and in the Eucharist. The Oblates are consecrated to Mary and profess a strong adherence to the Magisterium and love for the Holy Father. Also with a great love for and distribution of the Mercy of God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, 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, individual spiritual direction and the formation of spiritual directors, the diffusion of Catholic teaching through books and other means of communication, and foreign missionary activity. Preferred age: under 40. Education: At least some college 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 St. Camillus St. Camillus was a soldier of fortune, gambling addict and sinner. He saw the light and now more than 400 years later, The Order of St. Camillus has been called to “Preach the Gospel” and “Heal the Sick.” We are a worldwide Order of more than 1,100 Roman Catholic men in 30+ countries who serve the sick in traditional and diverse new ways as brothers and priests. Joyfully accepting the challenge of witnessing to the merciful love of Christ, we continue to bring hope and compassion, following in the footsteps of our founder St. Camillus de Lellis who said, “the poor and the sick are the very heart of God.” Our brothers and priests serve as physicians, nurses, chaplains, technicians, social workers, therapists, administrators, and other allied health care professionals. Visit us: www.camillians.org. Write us: vocation@camillians.org. Call us: 414-259-4595. Order of St. Camillus 10101 W. Wisconsin Ave., Wauwatosa, WI 53226. See ad on page 97. Code #093.
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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) 337-4328; e-mail: vocations@norbertines.org; website: www.norbertines.org. See ad on page 94. Code #110.
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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. Enter #104 at VocationMatch.com VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 149
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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 129. Code #239. Pallottines (S.A.C.)—Mother of God Province The charism of the Pallottines, present in over 40 countries, 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 and service, established the Union of Catholic Apostolate (UAC) with priests, brothers, sisters, and laity in 1835 in Rome, Italy. As a community of priests and brothers (SAC)—part of the UAC, we seek to revive the faith, rekindle charity and unite all in Jesus Christ through our service of parish ministry, education, retreat, and care of the sick in partnership with all the faithful. 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. 155; e-mail: vocationspall@gmail.com. See our digital web ad at www.DigitalVocationGuide.org. See ad on page 95. 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, 18-50 years old. Western Province: Fr. Christopher Gibson, C.P.; (773) 266-1942; e-mail: vocationdirector@passionist.org; website: www.passionist.org. Eastern Province: Fr. Christopher Cleary, C.P.; (860) 521-0440; email: ccleary@cpprov.org; and Fr. Lee Havey, C.P.; (561) 626-1300; email: lhavey@ cpprov.org; website: www.thepassionists.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #113. 150 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
SEARCH MEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG The Paulist Fathers (C.S.P.) The Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle (The Paulists) founded by Servant of God Isaac Hecker, is the first North American community of priests. Paulists minister through their mission of Reaching Out (Evangelization), Bringing Peace (Reconciliation), and Seeking Unity (Ecumenism and Interreligious Relations). Paulists are in 18 cities in the United States and Canada. We serve as campus ministers and parish priests. We lead parish missions, and publish through Paulist Press. We proclaim the Good News through 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. Larry Rice, C.S.P., Director of Vocations, 415 West 59th Street, New York, NY 10019-1104; (800) 235-3456 or (212) 757-4260; e-mail: vocations@paulist.org; website: www.paulist.org/vocation. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 11. Code #114. PIME Missionaries [The Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions] PIME is an International Society of Apostolic Life of priests and brothers who dedicate their lives to the mission among non-Christians in foreign countries. We strive to be creative in our missionary presence, proclaiming the Gospel and promoting dialogue among religions and cultures. Working among the poorest people in the world, we are engaged in human development, promotion of peace and justice, and pastoral care of newly founded Catholic communities. The initial formation for candidates takes place in the North American region at our House in Detroit. Our formation and training program is flexible. We are able to adapt our program to meet the needs of each individual as much as possible, according to one’s academic background and life experiences. Check us out at www.pimeusa.org. PIME Missionaries, 17330 Quincy St., Detroit, MI 48221; (313) 342-4066; fax: (313) 342-6816; e-mail: outreach@ pimeusa.org; website: www.pimeusa.org. See ad on page 121. Code #134. Priests of the Sacred Heart (S.C.J.) We are an apostolic congregation of Priests, Brothers, and Deacons 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.DigitalVocationGuide.org. See ad on page 102. Code #116.
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The Redemptorists (C.Ss.R.) [Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer] The Redemptorists are a community of apostolic men—followers of Jesus Christ the Redeemer and disciples of St. Alphonsus Liguori. As a religious congregation of priests and brothers, our mission is to proclaim the Good News
of plentiful redemption to the poor and most abandoned. Our work in parishes, retreat houses, parish missions, and foreign countries, as well as special apostolates, e.g. migrants, prisoners, and young adults, serves as pathways for Christ’s love. Like the apostles we live and work together; we combine our prayers and deliberations, our labors and sufferings, our successes and failures, and our talents and material goods in service to the Gospel. For more information, visit our website: www.redemptoristvocations.com or contact the Vocation office: Fr. Richard S. Bennett, C. Ss.R.; e-mail: vocations@ redemptorists.net; telephone: (617) 817-9425. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 47. Code #135.
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The Salesians of Don Bosco (S.D.B.) For over 150 years under the teachings of St. John Bosco, Salesian Brothers and Priests have been inspiring young people to live lives of faith. We are looking for men who want to dedicate their life to Christ, the church, and the young. As a Salesian priest or brother you will be working with young people journeying with them toward a deeper relationship with Christ. Salesians serve in various capacities of evangelization and education: youth and campus ministers, teachers, 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 130 countries. In the United States and Canada, the Salesians operate youth oriented parishes, high schools, boys and girls clubs, and retreat houses. Contact information: Canada and East of the Mississippi: Fr. James Berning, S.D.B., Salesian Vocation Office, 518-B Valley Street, Orange, NJ 07050; (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) 6742675; e-mail: info@salesianvocation.org; website: www.salesianvocation.org. See ad on page 99. 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, music and specialized ministries. 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, Venice, Wilmington and Tucson. American Salvatorians serve in the Philippines; Rome, Italy; and Tanzania, East Africa. Contact us at vocations@salvatorians.com; (414) 258-1735 ext. 304; 1735 N. Hi-Mount Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53208-1720; website: www.salvatorians. com. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Check our FACEBOOK page at www.facebook.com/ Salvatorians; and subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/SalvatoriansSDS. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 9. Code #145.
SEARCH MEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG Servants of Mary, Friars (O.S.M.) Founded in 1233, we bring the compassionate presence of Christ to the world through lives lived in community, serving the needs of others in a variety of ministries, while looking to Mary as the example of life and service. The Servite Friars, together with Servite religious sisters, cloistered nuns, Servite Seculars and other lay groups, form an international community of over 15,000 members. For more information on the Servite Friars please contact the Vocation Ministry Office 1952 W. La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92801; 855-OSM-1233 (855-676-1233); e-mail: Vocations@servitesusa.org; website: www.servite.org. See ad on page 53. Code #159.
Societe des Missions Africaines (S.M.A.) or translated Society of African Missions is an international community of 1,200 missionaries: priests, brothers and lay missionaries. We are committed to living the Gospel among our brothers and sisters in Africa and those of African descent, with a special concern for the poor and marginalized wherever we are serving. We strive to witness by our lives to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in its totality through a variety of ministries—including parish work, catechetical programs, health care, education, ministries with street children, people with disabilities, refugees, Leprosy patients, AIDS Ministries, development and relief programs. Our ministries are a response to the needs of the local Church. You are invited to make a wholehearted, unconditional offer of your life at the service of the Gospel of Jesus. Please contact: S.M.A. Vocation Coordinator, 23 Bliss Avenue, Tenafly, NJ 07670; phone: (201) 567-0450 ext. 250 or e-mail: vocations.sma@gmail.com or vocations@smafathers.org; website: www.smafathers.org. See ad on page 100. Code #136. Society of Mary (S.M.) (See Marist Fathers and Brothers.) Society of St. Paul The Society of St. Paul is a congregation of priests and brothers founded by Blessed James Alberione 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, obedi-
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 26. 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; email: joinus@spiritans.org; website: www.spiritans. org. See our web ads at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 19. Code #164.
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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 e-mailed to the Vocations Director. See our web ad at www.DigitalVocationGuide.org. Code #415.
Trappist Cistercian Monks (O.C.S.O.) Carlton, 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 the Monastic Life Retreat, a retreat set up to better experience our monastic way of life. Br. Chris Balent, 9200 NE Abbey Rd., Carlton, OR 97111; e-mail: Chris@TrappistAbbey.org; website: www.trappistabbey.org/. See our web ad at www.DigitalVocationGuide.org. Code #415. Trappist Cistercian Monks (O.C.S.O.) Conyers, GA—Holy Spirit Monastery In the Georgia Piedmont 35 of us share life in a contemplative community. Ages range from 28 to 93. We have joined our neighbors in going green by fostering stream restoration, an organic vegetable garden, and a natural burial cemetery. We value silence, solitude, manual labor, compassion, the Eucharist, personal and communal prayer, friendship and forgiveness. We honor the good in our society and yet challenge its illusions, especially the 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, leading us beyond resistance to giving ourselves away, at ever deeper levels. Contact: Br. Elias, 2625 Hwy 212 SW, Conyers, GA 30096; (678) 964-2018; e-mail: elias091499@gmail.com; www.trappist.net/vocation. See our web ad at www. DigitalVocationGuide.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) 761-8509; e-mail: fr.kevinocso@gmail.org: website: www.mepkinabbey.org. See our web ad at www.DigitalVocationGuide.org. Code #415. VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 151
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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.
ence and fidelity to the Pope. They are fortified by daily meditation, mass, liturgy of the hours and an hour of Eucharistic Adoration so that by living Christ they may give Christ to others through their apostolate. Paulines imitate St. Paul, who preached and wrote about Jesus Christ, to spread the good news of Jesus Christ in the most rapid and far reaching ways. Paulines preach Christ through books, magazines, tapes, videos, CD’s, radio, television and the Internet around the world. Contact: Society of St. Paul, Vocation Office, 2187 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10314; (718) 865-8844; e-mail: vocation@stpauls.us; website: www.vocationoffice. org. See our digital web ad at www.DigitalVocationGuide.org. Code #149.
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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 and the Mississippi River. We are a contemplative monastery in the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance. As members of the Cistercian family of monks and nuns founded in 1098 at Citeaux in France, we are wholly ordered to a life of prayer according to the Rule of St. Benedict. 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 Guest House for 22 retreatants and 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. DigitalVocationGuide.org. Code #415. 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. We support ourselves by the common work baking Monks’ Bread. 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. DigitalVocationGuide.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.DigitalVocationGuide.org. Code #415.
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SEARCH MEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG 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 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.DigitalVocationGuide.org. Code #415. 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. Living in solitude and silence the monk aspires to that interior quiet in which wisdom is born. 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 50 may apply. For more information contact Bro. Aaron, Abbey of Gethsemani, 3642 Monks Rd., Trappist KY 40051; (502) 549-4116; e-mail: vocations@monks.org; website: www.monks.org. See our web ad at www. DigitalVocationGuide.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. Christopher, 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.DigitalVocationGuide.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 212820719; (800) 525-3554 or (410) 484-2250; e-mail: vocationsosst@aol.com; website: www.trinitarians.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #122.
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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 101. Code #094.
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Xaverian Missionaries (S.X.) Serving in 20 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 those who do not know Christ 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) 429-2144; e-mail: frrocco@xaviermissionaries.org; website: www. xaviermissionaries.org; blog: www.xaverianmissionaries.blogspot.com/. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 58. Code #137.
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A Adorers of the Blood of Christ (A.S.C.) The Adorers of the Blood of Christ are courageous, confident, and committed women. 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.” (St. Maria De Mattias, Foundress) We strive to be Christ’s reconciling presence in our world by responding to the needs of individuals and society. You will find us performing the healing ministries of education, environmental work, health care, pastoral work, social justice, and spiritual development throughout the United States as well as in Bolivia, Brazil, Guatemala and Korea. Our international congregation serves in 24 countries. 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 111. Code #001.
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.augustiniannuns.com. Code #161.
B Benedictine Nuns (O.S.B.), St. Scholastica Priory, Petersham, MA—Located in the heart of the New England forest, St. Scholastica Priory is a community of contemplative Benedictine nuns. Following the Rule of St. Benedict, we seek to live in God’s presence through lives wholly dedicated to prayer. The monastery, the “school of the Lord’s service,” is organized to facilitate this search. The Eucharist and the seven Hours of the Divine Office prayed with Gregorian chant, lectio divina, work and the common life of mutual charity are the pillars of our 1,500-year-old monastic heritage. Liturgy is celebrated with our twin community of monks, St. Mary’s Monastery, and our guesthouse enables us to share our life with retreatants who seek God in their own lives. Monastic Experience weekends are offered. Women aged 19-40 are invited to contact Sr. Mary Frances Wynn, O.S.B., Vocation Director, St. Scholastica Priory, 271 N. Main St., P.O. Box 606, Petersham, MA, 01366; smfwynn@aol.com; (978) 724-3213; www.stscholasticapriory.org. See ad on page 49. Code #482. 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 59. Code #004. Benedictine Contemplative Sisters (O.S.B.), Windsor, NY—Transfiguration Monastery We are a small, contemplative Benedictine monastery, founded in 1979, whose members seek God in both community and solitude, in a setting that allows more outreach and a less
restricted enclosure than is usually possible for contemplative nuns. Our small size (currently 4) permits flexibility, creativity, abundant use of individual gifts, and the opportunity to help build a monastic foundation. We accept mature vocations. 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. To learn more about us, visit our website: www.transfigurationmonastery.org, where you will also find a blog under “Contact Us.” For vocation inquiries, contact Sr. Mary Donald Corcoran, Vocation Director, 701 New York Rte. 79, Windsor, NY 13865, (607) 655-2366; e-mail: bendon@tds.net. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 59. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Atchison, KS— Mount St. Scholastica We are a monastic community of women rooted in the Benedictine charism of seeking God through communal living and common prayer. We are 144 women who are called by our monastic profession to a balanced life of community, prayer, and ministry. Our ministry flows out of monastic living and focuses on enhancing the lives of others through prayer and educational opportunities. Hungering for justice and peace, we strive to eliminate the root causes of injustice through our works of charity and through education. Our ministries include a spirituality and a women’s center, health care and parish work, and education. We invite women, ages 21-50, who seek more information and/or to visit us, to contact: Sister Barbara Smith, OSB, 801 S. 8th St. Atchison, KS 66001-2778, 913-426-5275 (text/ cell); 913-360-6219 (work); e-mail: vocation@ mountosb.org; website: www.mountosb.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 59. 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, health care, 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) 7873287 ext. 3032; e-mail: vocations@benedictine. com; website: www.benedictine.com. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 59. Code #362. VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 153
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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, Benin, Mozambique, Taiwan, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, the Philippines, Haiti, and the United States. Sr. Virginia Herebers, Mount Sacred Heart Provincialate, 295 Benham Street, Hamden, CT 06514-2801; (203) 248-4225; e-mail: vocations@ascjus.org; Congregation website: www.ascjus.org. See ad on page 124. Code #267.
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WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Bismarck, ND—Annunciation Monastery We are a community of 49 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, the 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. Hannah Vanorny, O.S.B., 7520 University Drive, Bismarck, ND 58504-9653; (701) 4259734; e-mail: hvanorny@gmail.com website: www.annunciationmonastery.org facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/AnnunciationMonastery/233858728103?fref=nf. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 59. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Bristow, VA— St. Benedict Monastery We are 35 sisters living in monastic community. The Benedictine life offers the richness of a 1500 year tradition. Communal prayers, personal prayer time, lectio divina, work and community are the threads woven through our monastic life. We have several corporate ministries that address a variety of needs in the local church and community: education, homelessness, retreats and pastoral programs, immigration issues, counseling, adult literacy and hospitality. Our 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. Andrea Westkamp, O.S.B., Saint Benedict Monastery, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA 201361217; (703) 298-5337; e-mail: vocations@ osbva.org; website: www.osbva.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 59. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Chicago, IL—St. Scholastica Monastery We are Benedictine women called to seek God in prayer and community, serving where there is need. As Benedictines, our primary ministry is community; as women of the 21st century, we work to build that community in the church, in our city and throughout the world, ministering in such fields as education, social services, pastoral ministry, and spiritual development. Underlying all we do is a desire to live the Gospel command to love God and neighbor. Women 21-50 who wish to 154 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
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seek God in an active monastic community by living a balanced life of prayer and work are invited to contact us. Vocation Minister, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60645-1913, (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 59. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Colorado Springs, CO—Benet Hill We are a monastic community of 35 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 Sisters 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. Contact us for more information on criteria for entrance. Sr. Mary Colleen Schwarz, O.S.B.; 3190 Benet Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80921; (719) 633-0655; e-mail; smarycolleen@benethillmonastery.org; website: www. benethillmonastery.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 59. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Covington, KY—St. Walburg Monastery We are monastic sisters who seek God together in prayer, hospitality, and work. The Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours, personal prayer and study are the foundation of our spirituality. We celebrate the presence of Jesus Christ and serve him in all God’s people, the young and the old, the sick and the poor, the stranger and the guest. In the Benedictine monastic tradition, our love for the Church challenges us to meet the needs of God’s people. We serve in the areas of education, health care, social service, diocesan and parish ministries, ecology, criminal and social justice. We sponsor Villa Madonna Academy, Montessori School and a Spirituality Center. We invite you to discern a call to monastic life by joining us for community life and worship. Contact: Sr. Cathy Bauer, O.S.B., 2500 Amsterdam Road, Covington, Kentucky 41017; (859) 331-6324; text message: 859-468-6040; e-mail: vocation@ stwalburg.org; website: www.stwalburg.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 59. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Crookston, MN—Mount St. Benedict Monastery We are monastic women committed to living the Gospel and the Rule of Saint Benedict. We strive for awareness of God through prayer, service, and reverence for all creation
in a spirit of peace and joy. Our core values are community, hospitality, prayer, and just peace. We discern our works according to the needs of the times and the gifts of the sisters. At present we serve in Minnesota and Texas as educators, spiritual directors, pastoral ministers, chaplains, musicians, and artists. Some sisters work directly with the poor. We invite women, single or single-again, ages 20-50, who desire a monastic lifestyle to contact our Vocation Director, Sr. Anne DeMers, O.S.B., 620 Summit Avenue, Crookston, MN 56716-2799; (218) 281-3441; e-mail: anne.demers@ bhshealth.org; website: www.msb.net. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ads on pages 17, 59. Code #221. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Cullman, AL—Sacred Heart Monastery The Benedictine Sisters of Cullman, Alabama embody the spiritual wisdom and monastic tradition of St. Benedict through lives of prayer and ministry. We strive to deepen our relationships with God, with one another, and with all of creation through ageless monastic disciplines such as humility, silence, community living, and obedience. Inspired by the Gospel and the Rule of St. Benedict, each Sister utilizes her God-given talents in roles such as ministers in local parishes, as retreat and spiritual directors, as teachers and administrators in Catholic schools, in legal and medical professions, and in Community administration. Our community of 46 members encourages single women, ages 20-45, who sincerely seek God and a balanced life of prayer and work to learn more about the monastic way of life and our community by exploring the pages of our website or by contacting our Vocation Director: Sr. Magdalena Craig, O.S.B.; 916 Convent Rd., NE, Cullman, AL 35055; (256) 734-2199; e-mail: vocations@shmon.org; website: www.shmon.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 59. Code #280. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Duluth, MN—St. Scholastica Monastery We are Benedictine monastic women who seek God together in Community. Our lives are centered around the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours, grounded in liturgical and personal prayer, in Lectio Divina (holy reading), with time for silence and solitude, for ministry, study, and leisure. Our core monastic values of hospitality and stewardship, peace and justice, stability and attentive listening, together with the Gospel and the Rule of St. Benedict, guide our communal life and our ministries. We invite women to join us in permanent vowed membership or to experience monastic life by living with us for six months to a year or longer in our volunteer
SEARCH WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG 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 53, 59. Code #282.
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; e-mail: vocations@mtstbenedict.org; website: www.eriebenedictines.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 59. 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 159 mem-
bers, 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; (812) 367-1411, ext. 2830; e-mail: vocation@thedome.org; website: www.thedome.org/vocations. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ads on pages 37, 59. 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 46. 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. Barbara Bock, 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 at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ads on pages 59, 105. Code #341. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Lacey, WA—St. Placid Priory St. Placid Priory is a thriving community of 12 faith-filled fully professed sisters, one novice, and one postulant here on the southern shores of the Puget Sound in northwest Washington. We gather in and tend to the souls of the retreatants who attend various programs at our Spirituality Center and join us in chanting the Liturgy of the Hours throughout the day and early evening. Currently we have one sister teaching at St. Martin’s University and one sister who is a tenured professor at Portland University. Come and see how we live out the Rule in our balanced life of work and prayer, simplicity, hospitality, and service. Come and blend your gifts with ours. New Membership Director: Sr. Lucy Wynkoop; 500 College Street NE, Lacey, WA 98516; (360) 438-1771; e-mail: vocations@stplacid.org; website: www.stplacid.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 59. 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 to balance our monastic lifestyle with community and ministry. Our primary ministry is Hospitality to those in our expanding health care facility. We are also involved
in education, nursing, pastoral ministry, social concerns and domestic services. We sponsor Daybreak of Lisle. One of our forms of spiritual growth is Lectio Divina, a form of prayer and meditation which we enjoy sharing with others. Are you interested? Contact us for further details. Vocation Director: Sister Christine Kouba, O.S.B., 1910 Maple Avenue, Lisle, IL 60532-2164; (630) 9779225; e-mail: ckouba@shmlisle.org; website: www.shmlisle.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 59. 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 15 women ministering in New Jersey and in Baltimore. We are best known for our commitment to communal prayer, our hospitable presence 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 59. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Mt. Angel, OR—Queen of Angels Monastery We are women responding to the call to live community according to the Gospel and the Rule of Saint Benedict. Together we seek God in a balanced life of prayer and work, simplicity, hospitality, and service. While our vow of stability leads us to special care of the people in our local area, we are deeply conscious of sharing the universal mission of the Church. Our community ministries include a retreat and renewal center and a homeless shelter. Our 40 members serve in a variety of individual ministries, including teaching, pastoral care, health care, spiritual direction, and parish work. We encourage women who are interested in our monastic way of life to visit and explore the possibilities of Benedictine life. Vocation Director: Sr. Marietta Schindler, O.S.B., 840 South Main Street, Mt. Angel, OR 97362; (503) 845-6141; e-mail: smarietta@ juno.com; website: www.benedictine-srs.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ads on pages 59, 113. Code #202. VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 155
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Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Elizabeth, NJ—St. Walburga Monastery We are monastic women who seek God in community through Gospel values and the Rule of Benedict. We live out our monastic conversion supported by Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours, Lectio Divina, and presence to one another. In active lives balanced with contemplation, we witness to Jesus Christ through community, hospitality, and varied ministries such as education, health care, and spirituality. We welcome responses from single women who 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) 3524278, x. 274; e-mail: srmariette@aol.com; website: www.catholicforum.com/bensisnj. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ads on pages 17, 59. Code #353.
WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES
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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 24 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 and the needs of the area. 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 59. 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. Stefanie MacDonald, O.S.B., 2200 88th Avenue W, Rock Island, IL 61201; (309) 283-2300 or (800) 650-1257 e-mail: smacdonald@smmsisters.org; website and blog: www.smmsisters.org. See our web ads at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ads on pages 18, 59. Code #152. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), St. Joseph, MN—Saint Benedict’s Monastery We are a community of Benedictine Sisters seeking God in prayer and community life, serving the Church and the world through our ministries. Our prayer life is centered in daily communal and individual prayer: Liturgy of the Hours, lectio divina, personal prayer and sacramental celebrations. Our life in community commits us to one another and to living out the Gospel and Rule of St. Benedict. Our history is one of extraordinary women whose gifts and talents are encouraged and developed by the community as we engage with the world and the larger Church. The Benedictine life offers freedom to be fulfilled professionally and personally in a context of community living and prayer. At present, our community 156 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
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has nearly 250 Sisters. We invite women who are interested in exploring our way of life to participate in one of our Benedictine live-in experiences. Visit us at our website: www.sbm. osb.org. E-mail: osbvocations@csbsju.edu. Call (320) 363-7180 or write: Vocations Director, 104 Chapel Lane, St. Joseph, MN 56374-0220. See ad on page 16. Code #175. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), St. Leo, FL—Holy Name Monastery The Benedictine Sisters of Florida are 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 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 who seek God together 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. benedictinesistersoffl.org. 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 59. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Tulsa, OK— St. Joseph Monastery We are Catholic Benedictine women committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which impels us to love as he loves us, through a common life of prayer, hospitality and ministry. As Benedictines, living and praying together are the essentials of Benedictine life. Discernment (being attentive to God’s voice through scripture, relationships and the world around us) calls us forth into ministry. We are an urban monastic community located in the heart of Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are an intergenerational and multicultural community. Is God calling you to our community? For more information: sisters@ stjosephmonastery.org; St. Joseph Monastery, Vocations, 2200 S. Lewis Ave., Tulsa, OK 74114; (918) 746-4203; www.stjosephmonstery.org; facebook.com/stjosephmonastery; twitter.com/ stjosephmon; blogspot.com.stjosephmonastery. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 59. Code #004. 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 minis-
try, 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 19, 59. Code #157. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Winnipeg, Canada—St. Benedict’s Monastery We are a monastic community of nineteen women. We are 102 years young! Our mission is to seek God in community through prayer and work. We live together, praying daily at morning, midday and evening; we celebrate Eucharist several times weekly. Over our 102 years, we have responded to various calls of the Church and the world in health care, education and spiritual formation. Our present corporate ministries include administration, spiritual direction and retreat work at St. Benedict’s Retreat and Conference Centre and hospitality at St. Benedict’s Place, a residence for seniors’ independent living. As well, our sisters nurse at Russell Personal Care Home and St. Joseph’s Residence in Winnipeg and teach at Bishop Grandin High School in Calgary, Alberta. We have an Oblate community that shares our Benedictine values and that meets for prayer and ongoing study monthly. We welcome live-in volunteers and sabbatical guests at our monastery and retreat centre. Sr. Mary Coswin, 225 Masters Ave, Winnipeg, MB R4A 2A1; (204) 338-4601; e-mail: mcoswin@mymts.net; www.stbens.ca. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 59. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Yankton, SD—Sacred Heart Monastery Rooted in our rural heritage and growing in relationship with God and one another in monastic community, we, the Yankton Benedictines, live a life of prayer, work, and lectio, serving God and God’s people in our time and place. 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. Our community of 100 Sisters is “One Heart, One Soul” unified by Christ’s Sacred Heart, whose love flows out to us. If you are discerning your vocation in life, we invite you to contact our vocation coordinator Sister Phyllis Hunhoff; 1005 W. 8th St., Yankton, SD 57078; (605) 668-6092; e-mail: Phyllis.hunhoff@mtmc.edu. You can also visit us at our website: www.yanktonbenedictines.org; our Facebook page: www. facebook.com/shmvocation; or our Blog: www. yanktonbenedictines.blogspot.com. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ads on pages 44, 59. Code #143.
SEARCH WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG 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 our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 36. Code #008.
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Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm (O.Carm) Founded by Venerable Mary Angeline Teresa McCrory in New York in 1929, she 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 18 home-like residences, in seven different states within the USA, with one home in Dublin, Ireland. The Carmelite Sisters wear a distinct religious habit, and have a regular prayer schedule including: Liturgy of the Hours, daily Eucharist, Rosary, an hour of daily meditation, and a week of retreat each
year at the Motherhouse. Strengthened by community, being of one heart and mind, they continue their mission as loyal daughters of the Church rendering compassionate care to the mystical Body of Christ in the aged and infirm. Sr. Maria Therese Healy, O.Carm., St. Teresa’s Motherhouse, 600 Woods Road, Germantown, NY 12526; (518) 537-5000; fax: (518) 537-4579; e-mail: vocationdirector@ gtel.net; website: www.carmelitesisters.com. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 112. Code #153. 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, New York, the Philippines and TimorLeste. 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 70124-2541; (504) 524-2398; e-mail: vocations@sistersofmountcarmel.org; website: www.sistersofmountcarmel.org. See ad on page 39. 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; 773-5286300; e-mail: vocations@cenaclesisters.org; website: www.cenaclesisters.org. See ad on page 31. Code #188. Cistercian Nuns (O.Cist) Silence, solitude in community, ascetic practices, the cultivation of continual interior prayer, together with the monastic vows of obedience, stability and unceasing conversion, are the means by which we hope to attain to purity of heart, tranquility of mind and spiritual union with God. Our daily life is a balanced alternation between the Divine Office prayed in Latin with Gregorian Chant, lectio
divina, and manual labor. 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. See ad on page 114. Code #011. Congregation of Notre Dame (CND) Founded in 1659 in VilleMarie (Montreal) by Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys, the Congrégation de Notre-Dame (CND) has historically been involved in education. 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, 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. Contact: Sr. Peggy Doyle, 30 Highfield Rd., Wilton, CT 06897-3802; e-mail: cndsusa@cnd-m.org or call (203) 762-4300. See ad on page 135. Code #012. Congregation of Sisters of Bon Secours (C.B.S.) In 1824, 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, Ecuador, Tanzania 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; websites: www.BonSecoursVocations.org, www.LifeAsASister.org. Join us in our Chat Room discussions at: www.lifeasasister.org/talk-with-a-sister-about-religiouslife/chat-room/ or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. See our web ads at www.VocationNetwork.org. and our digital web ad at www.DigitalVocationGuide.org. See ad on page 51. Code #058. VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 157
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Carmel of Cristo Rey Living in the presence of God is the center of our cloistered Marian life. We are called to an apostolate of prayer and sacrifice for all humanity, the intentions of Holy Church, and especially for priests. Guided by the charism of Saints Teresa of Jesus and John of the Cross we seek Divine intimacy and live a hidden life of solitude and silence blended with the joy of the Holy Spirit in community. We remain bilingual (English/Spanish) in grateful recognition of our Spanish Teresian heritage and this Community’s Foundresses who fled the Mexican Cristero War and founded our new home in San Francisco (1927). Daily life: Holy Mass (Ordinary/Extraordinary), full Liturgy of the Hours, communal Rosary, and Spiritual Reading. Benediction, Eucharistic Adoration, full traditional habit, and Papal Enclosure. Required: conversational English or Spanish and commitment to become bilingual, good mental and physical health required. Age: 18-35, exceptions for Externs and Transfers considered on an individual basis. Contact: CMCR, Vocations, 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 3. Code #333.
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SISTERS Have you always wanted to be a sister?
Picture this
I pondered becoming an astronaut or a veterinarian, but I did wonder about religious life. After I graduated from college I decided to become a part of the life I had often pictured myself in.
How did you meet your community? On a pilgrimage to a Marian shrine in Chimayó, New Mexico. I signed up for the walk at the urging of my Spanish college professor. She said it would be “fun and cultural.” I had no idea that it was 100 miles or that it was a pilgrimage for vocations.
What drew you to religious life? It was initially because the relationships were very profound and genuine.
Best ministry experience? I got to spend a month with our sisters who manage the Blessed Angela Spirituality Center Among the Poor. It’s “centered” in the streets of Pomona, California, where addiction, homelessness, and human trafficking are rampant.
What’s your favorite food? I try to eat healthy, but I could probably eat pizza and pancakes every day—burritos, too.
SISTER DESIRÉ ANNE-MARIE FINDLAY, C.S.S.F If you think being a sister is only for people who are always proper, serious types, think again. Felician Franciscan Sister Desiré Anne-Marie Findlay, C.S.S.F. enjoys dancing, saving earthworms, and telling about the time she got her whole 12th-grade religion class to stage a practical joke. At the same time Sister Desiré is quick to reveal her passion for the mission and the camaraderie she has found in religious life.
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What would people be surprised to learn about you? When I was a novice, after a rain earthworms would be squirming about on the sidewalk, sometimes by the hundreds. So I started plucking them off the sidewalk and throwing them onto the grass. Later I found out that Saint Francis of Assisi used to do the same!
Any words of wisdom for those considering religious life? All I can offer is the reminder I often receive from my mentor: Stay close to Jesus.
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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: Vocation Office, P.O. Box 371, Belmont, MI 49306; Phone: (616) 361-2072; email: reusamc@consolatasisters.org; 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 are an international
community of Sisters called to serve Jesus Christ in persons who are poor and marginalized. Motivated by the love of Christ and strengthened by a deep prayer life, they live and pray in community, supporting each other in the common mission of service of those living in poverty. The ministries of the Daughters of Charity include education, healthcare, social services, pastoral ministry, advocacy for change and others. In addition to the United States, there are nearly 17,000 Daughters of Charity throughout the world in 94 countries. Faithful to the teachings of the Church, they proclaim the Gospel message through their words and actions. The mission of the Daughters of Charity calls them to be innovative and inventive, collaborative and inclusive. In whatever they do, they strive to perform their service in imitation of Jesus Christ. Website: www.daughters-of-charity. com; Facebook: Daughters of Charity Vocations U.S.; Blog: Spirit of the Daughters of Charity; YouTube: DaughtersofCharityUS; Twitter: DofCharity. See their web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 106. Code #168. Daughters of Divine Zeal (F.D.Z.) We are an international community of sisters established by St. Hannibal Marie Di Francia in 1887. We embrace the vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty, and profess a fourth vow: to pray and work for priestly and religious vocations (Rogate). Our charism is founded on the Gospel command of Jesus, “Pray the Lord of the Harvest to send workers into His Harvest. . .” (Mt. 9:37-38). Committed to prayer and ministration, the Daughters of Divine Zeal render service to schools, nursing homes, missions, parishes, and other local church needs. We invite women between 18 and 40 years old to join us. Cabrini Convent, 234 Franklin Street, Reading, PA 19602; Hannibal House Spiritual Center, 1526 Hill Road, Reading, PA 19602, Daughters of Divine Zeal, 379 E. Manning Avenue, Reedley, CA 93654; e-mail: hannibalmarylucy@yahoo.com; website: www. fdz.com.au/order. Code #236. Daughters of St. Mary of Providence The Daughters of St. Mary of Providence, founded in 1981 by Saint Louis Guanella, is a religious congregation of Pontifical Rite. The love and fidelity to the Magisterium of the Church is an outstanding quality that every Sister possesses and fosters in her understanding of who they are in the Church. The Sisters live their religious consecration with the profession of the three vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty and carry out their ministry of charity among Senior citizens, the Developmentally Disabled, Youth, CCD Students, the Nutritionally Deprived and Nursing Home Residents. The Sisters spread their “culture of
charity” and their commitment to all stages of life from conception to natural death in fourteen countries around the world: Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Romania, India, the Philippines, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Mexico, Canada and the United States. For more information: Vocation Director, 4200 North Austin Ave., Chicago, IL 60634, (773) 870-2445; e-mail: dsmpchi@sbcglobal.net; website: www.dsmpic.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 35. Code #263. 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. (Exceptions can be made.) 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: PaulineToronto@gmail.com. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #015. Daughters of the Heart of Mary (DHM) WOMEN CONSECRATED FOR MISSION. As an international congregation, we profess vows of Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience and live contemporary and often hidden religious lives without distinctive sign or title, patterned after Mary of Nazareth. In community life we share a common spirituality and prayer life nurtured through regular meetings, days of prayer and spiritual renewal, community celebrations, and province-wide gatherings. Whether residing in a small group setting with other sisters or with family or alone, we are missioned to serve in ministries broad and diverse. Although founded in 18th Century France, our 21st Century Mission is “TO SEEK TO FOSTER A WORLD ROOTED IN AND REVITALIZED BY THE WORD OF G O D . ” U.S. Vocation Director, 1365 Northampton St., Holyoke, MA 01040; (413) 534-4502; e-mail: vocations@dhmna.org; website: www.dhm.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 61. Code #150. VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 159
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Congregation of the Humility of Mary (CHM) Our journey as Sisters of the Humility of Mary began in France over 150 years ago. It is a spirit-filled history, rich with stories of pioneering women who founded schools and colleges, cared for the sick, sheltered orphans, provided spiritual guidance and befriended those most in need. Our understanding of “humility” grows out of its root word, “humus” meaning earth. We are, like Mary, “earthy women” –practical, flexible, hardworking--committed to caring for earth and all creation. As advocates for justice, we sponsor an emergency homeless shelter, transitional housing for single parent families, and Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, providing spiritual renewal in a quiet country setting. CHMs value and strive for a nourishing community life and we include lay associates in our common search for communion with one another and with the Divine. We welcome young women post-college and mature women (to age 60) to help us create the future as Magnificat Women in a 21st century global media culture. Contact: CHM Membership, 820 W. Central Park Ave., Davenport, IA 52804; 563-322-9466 or searching@chmiowa. org; Website: www.chmiowa.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 45. Code #363.
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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 131. 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 - 40’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 87. Code #018. Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Adrian, MI We Adrian Dominican Sisters are 770 vowed women. We serve in various parts of the world: California, Mid-Atlantic States, Florida, Michigan, Illinois, Canada, the Dominican Republic, and the Philippines. 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 sponsor and own the following institutions: Regina Dominican High School for Girls in Wilmette, IL, 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 meet 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 87. Code #018. 160 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
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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, and blog or contact Sr. Michaela Connolly, O.P.; e-mail: mconnolly@opblauvelt.org. See ad on page 87. 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 preschool 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 us: (973) 403-3331; e-mail us at: dominicans@caldwellop.org. See ad on page 87. 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 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! Vocation Ministry, Dominican Sisters Grand Rapids, 2025 East Fulton, Grand
Rapids, MI 49503-3895; (616) 514-3116. Visit our website: www.grdominicans.org. See ad on page 87. Code #018. 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 and Mexico. 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 87. 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) 8984083; e-mail: vocations@racinedominicans. org; website: www.racinedominicans.org. Also visit us on Facebook: facebook.com/RacineOP. See ad on page 87. 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
SEARCH WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG God’s love. We celebrate our calling as preachers and we welcome other women to join us in community and ministry. Nan Brenzel, Ed.D., 1520 Grand Avenue, San Rafael, CA 949012236; (415) 257-4939; fax: (415) 453-8367; e-mail: vocations@sanrafaelop.org; website: www.sanrafaelop.org. See ad on page 87. 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. Margaret Palliser, O.P., 175 Route 340, Sparkill, NY 10976; (845) 359-4079; email: margaret.palliser@sparkill.org; website: www.sparkill.org. See ad on page 87. 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, 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 ad on page 87. 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 16. Code #022. Dominican Sisters of Peace (O.P.) We are Dominican Sisters whose charism of preaching flows from our contemplation, study, and community. We are 600 Sisters and 500 Associates who live and minister in many states and in Honduras, Nigeria, Peru, and Vietnam. We value community life, prayer, ministry, study, simplicity of life, and itinerancy, as well as involvement in the global community. Our diverse ministries include education, health care, social work, spiritual direction, parish-based ministries, among others. We serve in colleges, secondary and elementary schools, literacy centers, ecology and spiritual outreach centers, retreat centers, parishes, prisons, and more. We work to create environments of peace by promoting non-violence, unity in diversity, reconciliation, and justice through solidarity, especially for women and children. For more information, please contact Sisters Pat Dual, June Fitzgerald or Pat Twohill at 2320 Airport Dr., Columbus, OH 43219; toll free 1-855-677-3223 or e-mail: vocations@oppeace.org; website: www. oppeace.org. See ad on page 87. Code #018.
F Faithful Companions of Jesus (F.C.J.) God calls us to follow the Son in faithfulness, to stand at the foot of the cross with Mary and the holy women, there to be one with Jesus who thirsts for the coming of the kingdom. The Eucharist is central to our mission and ministry and guides our lives together in community. Ignatian spirituality is the root of our way of life. Through discernment we seek to become contemplatives in action. Listening for God’s call in the events of our everyday lives, we offer our whole selves for whatever God is asking of us in the world today. As we are a small international Society, willing to be sent anywhere for the sake of the Gospel; we often live in multicultural, intergenerational communities. International unity is important to us. To learn more, please contact Sr. Ellen McCarthy; emccarthyfcj@gmail.com; Sr. Alicia Pérez; aliciapereza@gmail.com. Web-
Serving Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Author of Life, with joyful simplicity in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.
• Spiritual Support of priests • Contemplative/Active Missionaries • Consecrated to Our Lady of Guadalupe • Vow to Uphold Human Dignity from the Moment of Conception Until Natural Death
• Faithful daughters of the Church
PO Box 122070, Covington, KY 41012 www.fdofmary.org | fdmvoc1@gmail.com Enter #306 at VocationMatch.com
site: www.fcjsisters.org; Twitter@FCJsisters; Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/FCJYoung-Adult-Network/236227646401517; Blog: fcjsisters.wordpress.com See ad on page 25. 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, Haiti, Brazil, Poland, Italy, England, France, Kenya, Estonia, Russia, Ukraine and the Amazon. Find out more about us at www.feliciansistersna.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. VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 161
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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 450 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 Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago. Share in the vitality of Dominican life. Contact: Relationship for Mission Team, 585 County Road Z, Sinsinawa, WI 53824; e-mail: RFM@sinsinawa.org. Please visit us at: www.sinsinawa.org; www.facebook.com/ sinsinawa; www.catherinescafe.blogspot.com. See ad on page 87. Code #018.
WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES
WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES
WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES
Franciscan Daughters of Mary (F.D.M.) The Franciscan Daughters of Mary, consecrated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, are contemplative/ active missionaries dedicated to upholding the dignity of every human person from the moment of conception until natural death, as is reflected in our fourth vow. We do this through a very active prayer life from which all of our apostolates flow. Faithful daughters of the Church, we serve Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Author of Life, with joyful simplicity in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. Some of our apostolic works include; daily prayers for priests, operating a crisis pregnancy center, providing nutrition to needy friends and neighbors, running a free medical clinic for the uninsured individuals, teaching the Catholic faith to young people and being a beacon of “Hope” and a light for “Life” in our present “Culture of Death.” For more information please visit our website: www.fdofmary.org or e-mail us: fdmvoc1@gmail.com; PO Box 122070, Covington, KY 41012. See ad on page 161. Code #306. Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (F.M.M.) We are 6,600 sisters from different nations and cultures serving in 76 countries. We are present in Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, Australia, and North America. Prayer and community life are essential to our mission. Our ministries include education, health care, social services, prison ministry, pastoral ministry, parish work, soup kitchens, religious education, and working with immigrants and refugees. “Be ready to go anywhere to proclaim the Good News,” said our foundress, Blessed Mary of the Passion. Other saints and beatified members of our order include 7 martyrs and Blessed Maria Assunta Pallotta, FMM. For more information contact: Sr. Sheila Lehmkuhle, FMM, 4311 Grove Ave., Stickney, IL 60402; (847) 421-7265; e-mail: fmmvoc@aol.com; website: www.fmmusa.org. See our digital web ad at www.DigitalVocationGuide.org. Code #125. 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 162 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
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SW 170th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006-5099; (503) 649-7127; e-mail: fmsols.form@gmail. com; website: www.olpretreat.org. See ad on page 57. Code #126. Franciscan Sisters at Springfield (O.S.F.) [Hospital Sisters of St. Francis] 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 of many types. We sponsor Hospital Sisters Health System, Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach, Chiara Center and a mission in Tanzania. We have Provinces in Germany, Poland, USA, Japan, and India. Membership Invitation: Vocation Director, St. Francis Convent, 4849 LaVerna Road, Springfield, IL 62707. (217) 522-3386; e-mail: discern@hsosfusa.org; website: www.franciscansatspfld.org. See ad on page 113. 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 Christ-centered 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) 332-5260; e-mail: fsainquiry@yahoo.com; website: www. alleganyfranciscans.org. See ad on page 163. 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; website: www.chicagofranciscans.org. See ad on page 36. Code #166.
Franciscan Sisters of Dubuque, Iowa (O.S.F.) 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. We are a group of 250 sisters, 130 associates, and numerous volunteers. We serve in a variety of ministries in 14 states, Honduras, Canada, and St. Lucia. We partner with other religious congregations and civic organizations to respond to those whose needs are greatest in this country and abroad. Our strength, our hope and our joy flow from our commitment to prayer, to each other, and to the people God calls us to serve in love. To learn more about our life, visit our website www.osfdbq.org or Facebook page www.facebook.com/dubuquefranciscans; e-mail us at Heldorferv@osfdbq. org; call/text us at (952) 457-5193; or visit us in Dubuque, Iowa! See ad on page 107. Code #193. Franciscan Sisters of John the Baptist (FSJB) We are a new community, established October 2, 2006 in the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois. According to the example of John the Baptist, we dedicate ourselves to a life of limitless humility and self-renunciation. In this way we strive to decrease so Christ can increase. We want our lifestyle to be one of total trust in God. An indispensable part of our charism is to pray daily for priests and seminarians. We commit ourselves to the service of Christ through His brothers and sisters, according to the needs of the Church and society under the guidance of the local Bishop. We are open to nursing, teaching, catechesis, and more. We are a contemplative-active community faithful to the Holy Father and to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. We live a joyful and strong community life, rooted in the Eucharist and a solid prayer life and we wear a religious habit. Contact: Mother M. Vaclava Ballon, FSJB, 1209 E. Lake Ave., Peoria, IL 61616; (309) 688-3500; e-mail: fsjbpeoria@yahoo.com; website: www. sistersofjohnthebaptist.org. Code #354. 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 93 sisters serve the poor and empower others to live the gospel with hope and joy. Our ministries in 12 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
SEARCH WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG 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: srpam@fsolph. org; Sr. Pam Falter, 335 South Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, Missouri, 63122; Phone 314-9653700; Fax: 314-965-3710. See ad on page 61. Code #170.
Franciscan Sisters of Saint Elizabeth (F.S.S.E.) Following in the footsteps of our Founder Blessed Ludovico and living under the Third Order Regular Rule of Saint Francis, we commit ourselves to a Gospel life of poverty, chastity, and obedience. As a multi-cultural community, we minister to God’s people on five continents. Worldwide we daily unite ourselves as community through our common celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Divine Office, Holy Hour, and meditation. We offer our service through education, health care, parish ministry, care of the elderly, and evangelization. We joyfully embrace living in community, sharing a life of prayer while being active in our ministries. Are you called to journey with us? Call, write, or e-mail. Request information; come visit. The first step of the journey is yours to take. Let us assist you along the way. Vocation Office, Franciscan Sisters of Saint Elizabeth, 499 Park Road, Parsippany, NJ 07054; (973) 539-3797; e-mail: sr_cathylynn@yahoo.com; website: www.franciscansisters.com. See ad on page 14. 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, retreat and guest house ministry. Vocation Ministry, 41 Old Highland Turnpike, Garrison, NY 10524; (845) 230-8235; e-mail: vocation.ministry@ graymoor.org; website: www.graymoor.org. See ad on page 29. Code #211. 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. With love as the foundation of all we are, we incarnate the presence of Jesus—a sign of hope. We joyfully embrace our vowed life in community which is sustained by our personal and communal prayer and sisterly love. We respond in a prophetic way to the needs of others through our ministries of education, healing, and service. We are currently in Indiana, Illinois, California, West Virginia and Brazil. Contact the Vocation Director: 9201 W. St. Francis Road, Frankfort, IL 60423; (815) 464-3873; e-mail: fsshvocations@aol.com; website: www.fssh.net. See ad on page 40. Code #033.
G Glenmary Home Mission Sisters of America The Glenmary Sisters provide missionary services 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 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. Code #138. Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart (G.N.S.H.) As Women Religious we are engaged in ministries where we use our God-given talents and gifts to respond to the emerging concerns of our world. In the spirit of the Gospel of Jesus and our foundress, St. Marguerite d’Youville, Mother of Universal Charity, we collaborate with others to create a more compassionate world. Social justice, nonviolence and care of the earth are important values in our living, praying and working. We are present in 9 dioceses on the East Coast of the U.S. If you are a woman between the ages of 20-45 with enough love in
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your heart to serve those in need, and are ready to explore our life and mission, please contact the Vocation Director: 1750 Quarry Road, Yardley, PA 19067, 215-968-4236; Vocations@ greynun.org; www.greynun.org. See ad on page 109. Code #183.
H Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters (S.Sp.S.) As an international missionary community of about 3,200 women ministering in 49 countries, we are called to share the Good News of Jesus and witness to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the world. Called by the Spirit, we are sent to peoples of diverse cultures, religions and social/ethnic backgrounds. Wherever possible, we live in international/ intercultural communities. We participate in the mission of Jesus through education, health care, parish ministry, retreat work, spiritual direction, counseling and social services. In our ministry, we pay special attention to women and children who are pushed to the margins of society. For more information, please contact: Office for Vocation Ministry, 319 Waukegan Rd., Northfield, IL 60093; (847) 441-0126 ext. 700 or 704; e-mail: sspsovm@aol.com; website: www.ssps-usa.org; www.worldssps.org; Follow us on Facebook (Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters in the USA) and Twitter: @sspsvocation. See ad on page 123. Code #127. VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 163
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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 our sisters, affiliates and 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. Code #030.
WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES
WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES 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 MultiCare 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@comcast.net; website: www. hospitalersistersofmercy.org. See ad on page 56. Code #436.
WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES
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; email: vocation@ibvm.us. Visit our website: www.ibvm.us. Code #210.
L 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 164 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
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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 60. Code #039. Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary (L.S.J.M.) The Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary are an active-contemplative community of religious women called to meet Christ in the poor, in one another, in the created world and in the Eucharist. Embracing the spirituality of Charles de Foucauld, our mission is to Cry the Gospel with our lives. We live in community. Daily Eucharist, morning and evening prayer, adoration, service and hospitality are hallmarks of our life. Our apostolate includes a crisis center for the poor, a soup kitchen, a residential program for homeless men, a 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. Marilyn Bouchard, P.O. Box 1755, Salisbury, MD 21802; (410)543-1645; e-mail: lsjm@comcast. net; website: www.thejosephhouse.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 165. 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 in 2009). In addition to the three traditional vows, we make a fourth vow of hospitality, through which 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 us at 601 Maiden Choice Lane, Baltimore, MD 21228; e-mail: serenity@littlesistersofthepoor.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 126. Code #041.
M 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, as educators in the faith and in developing faith communities in collaboration with the laity, and in the service of women, youth, and the poor. We often work in collaboration with the Society of Mary, the men vowed religious in the Marianist Family. 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: Sr. Nicole Trahan, FMI. 1566 Crescent Blvd., Kettering, OH 45409; (937) 938-1882; ntrahan@gmail.com. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 133. Code #105. Marianites of Holy Cross (M.S.C.) United with Mary standing at the foot of the cross, we, Marianites of Holy Cross, are APOSTOLIC religious, women of PRAYER and COMPASSION. Our mission, energized by our life in COMMUNITY, is to incarnate the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. Called to be a PROPHETIC presence in an ever-changing world, we resolutely stand with those who are excluded. We number 200 sisters, and are part of the Holy Cross Family of Sisters, Brothers, Priests, and Lay Associates. We minister in the all-inclusive fields of education, health care, social work, and parish ministry in France, the United States, 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 134. Code #162. Maryknoll Sisters (M.M.) We are women religious missionaries in 25 countries in Asia, Africa, Haiti, 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, finding and helping to make 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 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: Congregational Vocation Team, Maryknoll Sisters, P.O. Box 311, Maryknoll, NY 10545; (914) 941-7575 ext. 5612; e-mail: vocation@mksisters.org. Our website: www. maryknollsisters.org/voc. See ad on page 135. Code #479.
SEARCH WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG 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 100 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 Christi Kancewick at srchristi@ mmsmission.net. We also invite you to visit our website: www.medicalmissionsisters.org. See ad on page 13. Code #042.
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. Raymond Gazo, MSC, at vocations@ mscreading.org; or visit www.mscreading.org. See ad on page 60. 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 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 5. 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
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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 108. Code #196. VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 165
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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) 885-0945; e-mail: srjoang@ gmail.com; website: www.mmmusa.org. Code #299.
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WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES 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 105. Code #201.
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P Pallottine Sisters (C.S.A.C.)— 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, youth ministry, formation programs for the laity, outreach to immigrants, and collaboration with other groups. As Pallottine Sisters community living, 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) 845492-5076; (Spanish) 845- 238-3917; e-mail: newapostle98@yahoo.com; website: www. pallottinesisters.org; Facebook: Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate. See our web ad at www. DigitalVocationGuide.org. See ad on page 167. Code #433. 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 Di166 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
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rector, P.O. Box 658, Monroe, NY 10949-0658; (845) 783-2251; e-mail: pvmi@frontiernet.net. See ad on page 59. Code #292. Passionist Nuns (C.P.), Ellisville, MO Brides of the Crucified. Giving Him everything through Religious vows. A spirit of poverty, solitude, prayer and community builds a relationship with Jesus of worshipful love. We love for those who don’t; pray for those who won’t. Thus do we serve God, the Church, the World. Loyal to the Holy Father. We pray the Liturgy of Hours, daily Holy Mass and Rosary, coming before the Blessed Sacrament at least 8 times daily keeps us attuned to the beatings of the Sacred Heart. Looking for something to fill the emptiness in life? Write: Passionist Nuns, 15700 Clayton Rd., Ellisville, MO 63011-2300; website: home.catholicweb.com/ passionistnuns. NO E-MAIL. Please provide a mailing address when you write. See our web ad at www.DigitalVocationGuide.org. Code #047. Poor Clares (O.S.C.) [Order of Saint Clare]—Jamaica Plain, MA Our order was founded in 1212 by St. Clare of Assisi with the help and guidance of St. Francis. As Poor Clares we are cloistered contemplatives who pray for the needs of the Church and the world. Celebration of the Eucharist, praying the Liturgy of the Hours as well as adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, private prayer and spiritual reading are part of our day. Our work is comprised of making liturgical vestments, shipping altar breads to parishes and providing cards for all occasions. Candidates are welcome to join us in our life of Gospel living in community. Contact: Sr. Mary Magdalen, 920 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130; e-mail: mmagdalen46@yahoo.com; tel. (617) 524-1760; www. poorclaresboston.org. See ad on page 30. 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, but joined in living the ideals with Poor Clares throughout the U.S. and the world. Join us in living a life of love of God and in loving and praying for the world. Monastery of St. Clare, 1271 Langhorne-Newtown Road, Langhorne, PA 19047-1297, e-mail: vocation@poorclarepa. org; website: www.poorclarepa.org. See ad on page 131. Code #048.
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 are an international congregation of apostolic women religious. 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. 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, together with the Associate and Fiat Spiritus communities, live the spirit of Blessed Catherine Kasper, our foundress. In the U.S.A.—Sr. Michele Dvorak, P.H.J.C., P.O. Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513; (574) 936-9936; e-mail: mdvorak@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. Poor Servants of the Mother of God The Poor Servants of the Mother of God was founded in 1872 by Mother Magdalen Taylor. Her influence and inspiration continue in all works carried out by the Sisters, associates, and staff throughout the world, helping us rise to the challenges and opportunities of today. The deeply religious desire of the Sisters to serve the aging and sick has been handed down from generation to generation and is still very much apparent at Maryfield USA. One significant way was to establish Pennybyrn at Maryfield USA, a gracious continuing care retirement community nestled in 71 naturally landscaped
SEARCH WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG acres in High Point, North Carolina. Presently, Sisters work in Ireland, England, Italy, Africa, and the United States. Ministries include: Healthcare, Education. Pastoral Ministry and the Non-profit Sector. The spirit of our Catholic heritage of caring and devotion to God can be felt in everything we do. Contact: Sr. Lucy Hennessy, 1315 Greensboro Rd., High Point, NC 27260; (336) 821-6500; e-mail: sisterlucy@ pbmccrc.com; website: www.smgsisters.org. See ad on page 111. Code #460.
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Religious of the Assumption, USA Province A diverse group of women living together in closeknit, friendly communities, we live out the vision of our foundress, Saint Marie Eugenie Milleret, by integrating contemplation and action. The Liturgy of the Hours, the Eucharist, and daily Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, coupled with personal prayer and study, give us the foundation we need to carry out our mission of “transforming society.” We commit ourselves to our charism of education in many ways, including teaching, parish work, counseling, and community development as we reach out to immigrants, to women, to children and young people, college students and other adult seekers. We have been striving to impact the world through prayer and action since 1839; today we are 1,200+ sisters in 34 countries. For more information about sharing your life with us for one year, two years, or for the rest of your life, visit www.assumptionsisters.org. Michelle Sherman, Vocation and Volunteer Ministry Director, 16 Vineyard Street, Worcester, MA 01603; e-mail: directorassumption@gmail.com; (508) 767-1356. Code #466. Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (R.S.H.M) We are an international apostolic institute founded in France in 1849 by Fr. Jean Gailhac. Our call to Religious Life is a life-long commitment to the person of Jesus, and to work for Evangelical justice in all our ministries. We
are called to be women of prayer, live in community, and incarnate the mission of Jesus through a diversity of ministries: education, social and legal services, pastoral work, health care, and retreat work. We are present in Europe, the Americas and Africa. We embody different cultures, backgrounds, languages, talents and experiences, and we hold in common our shared mission: “to know and love God and to make God known and loved” and to proclaim that Jesus came “that all may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10). Contacts: Sr. Cathy Deubel, cdeubel@rshmeap.org; Sr. Anna Maria Lionetti, amlionetti@rshmeap. org; Websites: www.rshm.org; www.rscm-gen. org. See ad on page 52. Code #273. 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, 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; (917) 349-7935; e-mail: stbernadetteconvent@gmail. com; websites: www.filippiniusa.org and www. filippinivocations.com. See ad on page 115. Code #051.
S Saint Francis Mission Sisters Our form of life as Saint Francis Mission Sisters is to observe the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis, living in obedience, in poverty and in chastity. By our ongoing conversion to Jesus Christ through contemplation, poverty, and humility, we seek to make Jesus and his love present wherever we live and minister. Our life is lived in community and we gather daily for prayer, meals and recreation. The heart of our common life is daily Eucharist. Community living impels us to embrace shared death and resurrection experiences and to offer a supportive presence to one another. Being attentive to the Spirit within us, to the signs of the times and to the gifts of each sister, we reach out in service to God’s people. You can
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contact us at: www.stfrancismissionsisters. com; sfmsvocations@yahoo.com; 8202 CR 7700, Wolfforth, TX 79382; 806-863-4904. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #477. Salesian Sisters (F.M.A.) Or Daughters of Mar y Help of Christians: THE LARGEST ORDER OF WOMEN RELIGIOUS IN THE WORLD! Known for deep devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist, a great love for Mary, and our fidelity to the Pope. Over 13,000 Sisters— present in 89 countries throughout the world— changing the world one young person at a time! “Salesian Sisters: Like Mary, for Jesus and for the Young. OUR FOCUS is YOUTH! (We really love kids, and especially the poor!) Our Sisters are teachers, school principals, youth counselors, nurses, doctors, campus ministers, coaches and mentors. Contact us: East: Sr. Colleen, FMA, www.happynun.com; www. facebook.com/Salesian.Sister; www.youtube. com/user/happynun; call or text (732) 5973988 or e-mail us: happynun@yahoo.com, 659 Belmont Ave., North Haledon, NJ 07508. West: S r . S a n d r a N e a v e s , F M A ; w w w. salesiansisterswest.org; 9758 Foster Rd, Bellflower, CA 90706; Phone: (562) 320-9948 or e-mail: ssneaves@gmail.com. See ad on page 99. Code #117. VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 167
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Redemptoristine Nuns (OSsR) New York 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. Contact: 89 Hiddenbrooke Dr., Beacon, NY 12508; (845) 831-3132; e-mail: contemplativecall@gmail.com; www.RedNuns.org. Code #336.
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WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES School Sisters of Notre Dame (S.S.N.D.) Founded in Germany by Blessed Theresa Gerhardinger, the School Sisters of Notre Dame is a vibrant, international congregation of vowed apostolic women with approximately 3,000 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 missionary service. Contact: NA Vocation Ministry Team: phone: (618) 303-9322; e-mail: sisters@ssnd.org; www.ssnd.org; www.facebook.com/ssnd.vocations; www.twitter.com/School_Sisters; www. youtube.com/sistersofnotredame. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #052. School Sisters of St. Francis (OSF)—Milwaukee, WI We are an international community of Catholic sisters who unite with others to help build a more just and peaceful world. As School Sisters of St. Francis, our mission is to live the Good News of Jesus and witness to the presence of a loving God as we enter into the lives and needs of people throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America and India. Through education, pastoral ministry, social justice, spiritual growth, health care, and the fine arts, we strive to be the Franciscan face of the Gospel to all those with whom we come into contact, especially the poor. Sustained by the spirit of Sts. Francis and Clare of Assisi, we carry out our ministries with hope, joy, commitment, and connection—to God and to each other. Please contact Rosaura Solano, 1515 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53215; (414) 385-5253; e-mail: vocations@ sssf.org; website:www.sssf.org. Code #053. 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, 168 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
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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) 257-7495; e-mail: vocareosf@yahoo.com; website: www. lemontfranciscans.org. See ad on page 108. Code #140. Ser vants of the Holy Heart of Mary (S.S.C.M.) An international religious congregation serving the needs of the church through parish ministry, health care, teaching, counseling, and human services. The sisters in the United States 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; email: vocation@sscm-usa.org; website: www. sscm-usa.org. See ad on page 30. 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 or Sr. Mary Jo Ely, 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 4. Code #187. Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (I.H.M.)—Scranton, PA We, the Scranton IHM Sisters, see ourselves as women who value gospelbased community centered in prayer and service. We are a little under 400 women and 150 plus associates who reach out in joyful, loving, hospitable and self-emptying service. Originally founded in 1845 to serve the educational and spiritual needs of immigrant peoples, we continue to serve in traditional and non-traditional educational settings. We also respond to contemporary needs by caring for those who
are poor, homeless, spiritually neglected, sick, uneducated, and abandoned through individual and collaborative outreach as well as through our sponsored and co-sponsored institutions and social justice ministries. In addition, we nurture a growing commitment to the preservation and sustainability of our earth. Contact: Sr. Mindy Welding IHM, IHM Center, 2300 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18509, e-mail: reachout@sistersofihm.org, phone: (570) 3465414; Visit: www.sistersofihm.org or Facebook: www.facebook.com/sistersofihm. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 29. Code #083. Sisters of Charity (Federation) The Sisters of Charity Federation is comprised of 12 religious congregations, representing more than 4,000 members in the United States and Canada, who recognize their particular character and spirit in the tradition of Charity founded by St. Vincent de Paul, St. Louise de Marillac and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Impelled by Christ’s love and joined together in the mission of Charity they respond to the cries of those who are poor and marginalized with lives of extravagant love. To learn more and for contact information for vocation directors of member congregations visit www. sisters-of-charity-federation.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #059. Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati (S.C.) We are an active apostolic congregation, following in the footsteps of our foundress, St. Elizabeth Seton. For contact information and to view our DVD “Extravagant Love: The Vocation of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati” visit our website 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. 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
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WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES
(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 Nazareth, KY (S.C.N.) We are an international congregation founded in 1812 in Kentucky. We and our associates are committed to work for justice in solidarity with oppressed peoples, especially those affected by poverty 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. 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 com-
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munity 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, homes for the aged, adult literacy programs, social services and advocacy for the poor and oppressed. We serve in 20 dioceses, El Salvador, Central America and Haiti. For more information about us and living BOUNDLESS CHARITY IN YOUR LIFE AND WORK please contact the Office of Vocation Promotion and Admissions, P. O. Box 476, Convent Station, NJ 07961-0476; (973) 290-5331; e-mail: vocations@scnj. org; website: www.scnj.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #059. 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., 144 DePaul Center Rd., Greensburgh, PA 15601; (724) 836-0406 ext. 622; e-mail: basmelko@scsh.com and Sr. Yong Son Kim at Seton House International, 4933 W. Patterson Ave., Chicago, IL 606413512; (773) 205-1822 ext. 206; sryoungk@ gmail.com; website: www.scsh.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #059.
Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida (SCSJA) 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 29 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. Kathy Lundwall, S.C.S.J.A., 8560 North 76th Place, Milwaukee, WI 53223; (414) 354-9233; e-mail: kathy@scsja. org; website: www.scsja.org. Code #060. Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (B.V.M.) Established in 1833, the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary continue to follow in the footsteps of our Irish foundress, Mary Frances Clarke, responding to God’s love and serving wherever the need is the greatest. 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 choice of ministry as educators, pastoral ministers, counselors, advocates for the elderly and immigrants, and in the ministry of prayer. Our commitment includes joining with others to work for justice and to care for Earth. Trust and a spirit of joy enlivens our community as God’s love frees us. This freedom calls us to honor diversity, to act against injustice, and stand humbly before God with gratitude. For information, contact: Lou Anglin, BVM and Kathy Carr, BVM; 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003; (563) 588-2351; e-mail: newmember@bvmcong. org; www.bvmcong.org; www.facebook.com/ bvmsisters. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. Code #296. VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 169
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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, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Peru and southern Sudan. 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; (816) 718-2660; e-mail: VickiL@scls. org; website: www.scls.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #059.
WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES
WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES
Sisters of Christian Charity (S.C.C.) The Sisters of Christian Charity, an international, active apostolic congregation serving in eight countries, exists to live and make visible the love of Christ in the world today. The charism of Blessed Pauline von Mallinckrodt, foundress, impels the sisters to be women of faith with “joyous youthful enthusiasm and energy” that is the fruit of intimacy with Jesus in the Eucharist. Assumption College for Sisters is a two-year liberal arts college sponsored by the Sisters of Christian Charity, dedicated to educating women called to a life of consecration to God and of service in the Roman Catholic Church. SCC Eastern Province: Sr. Bernadette McCauley; 973-5436523 x 274; e-mail: sbernadette@scceast.org; www.scceast.org. Western Delegation: Sr. Janice Boyer, 2041 Elmwood Ave., Wilmette, IL 60091; e-mail: sjanice@sccwilmette.org; www.sccwilmette.org. Assumption College for Sisters: Sister Joseph Spring, 973 543 6528 x 230; e-mail: president@acs350.org, www.acs350.org. See ad on page 169. Code #212. Sisters of Mary Reparatrix (S.M.R.) We are Sisters of Mary Reparatrix, an international congregation called to a mission of reparation and reconciliation in union with Mary, who are rooted in the love of Christ, led by the Spirit, to manifest the tender love of God for the world. Sharing our lives in prayer, service and community, the Sisters are present in 22 countries and number 753 world-wide. We are 20 Sisters in the United States. Our presence is in Michigan, New York, Florida, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania. We have two retreat houses-Riverview and Port Huron, Michigan. Our ministries include prayer, retreat work, spiritual direction, parish ministry, altar breads, music/art ministries, hospital/nursing home visitation, and computer work. We were founded by Emilie d’Oultremont, d’Hooghvorst (Mother Mary of Jesus) in 1854, who was beatified in 1997. Sr. Joan Pricoli, 17320 Grange Rd., Riverview, MI 48193; (734) 285-4510, e-mail: joanpricoli@comcast.net; websites: www.smr.org and www.maryrep.org. Code #356. S i s t e r s o f M e rc y o f t h e A m e r i c a s ( R . S . M . ) We a r e a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l community of Roman Catholic women who dedicate our lives to God through vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and service. For more than 180 years, motivated by the Gospel of Jesus and inspired by the spirit of our founder, Catherine McAuley, we respond to the continually changing needs of the times. We serve in the communities where we live as doctors, nurses, health care technicians, chaplains, ministers, lawyers, paralegals, advocates, teachers, professors, librarians, counselors, therapists, 170 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
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case managers, social workers, spiritual directors and theologians. We sponsor and serve in more than 200 organizations that work with those in need in the U.S., Central and South America, Jamaica, Guam and the Philippines. Share the mission of mercy: www.sistersofmercy.org/vocations; www.sistersofmercy.org/connect; www. facebook.com/MercySisters; www.twitter. com/SistersofMercy; newmembership@ sistersofmercy.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 134. Code #063. 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. Contact: e-mail: vocations@ sndden.org; website: www.SNDdeN.org. Code #065. Sisters of Our Lady of Sion (N.D.S.) If you are reading this ad you may have begun the most important journey of your life. You are probably asking yourself many questions. Where is the love of my life directing me? Where can I find support, guidance and light to live in the way God is calling me? We may be your answer to some of these questions. We are present in 21 countries, sharing a mission to spread the love of Scripture. Springing from the inspiration of our founder, Theodore Ratisbonne, we focus our prayer on the Word of God. Our daily lives and our ministries are centered in the hope for justice, reconciliation and peace. We educate, do social work, pastoral ministry, Jewish Christian, ecumenical and interfaith relations. We are committed to caring for the beauty and sustainability of the earth and its creatures. If you would like someone to join you in your discernment, please contact: sr.celia9@gmail.com or sosion.info@gmail. com; website: www.sistersofsion.net. Code #366. Sisters of Providence (S.P.)—Saint Maryof-the-Woods, IN Through prayer and commitment to living in community, our sisters
live 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 Providence Mother Joseph Province (SP)—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 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 Vocations Office for Mother Joseph Province 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 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
SEARCH WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG 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. Sue Pontz, SS.C.M., at St. Anthony’s Convent, 11406 Lima Drive, San Antonio, TX 78213; (570) 275-3581 ext. 331; e-mail: srsuepontz@sscm.org; website: www.sscm.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 112. Code #181.
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. Edie Crews, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, WI 54937; (920) 907-2310; e-mail: ecrews@csasisters.org; website: www.csasisters.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 29. Code #171. Sisters of St. Casimir (SSC) We seek to live a life of prayer, community, and service as we collaborate with others to make a difference in our world. We are open to the
needs of our times, continuing to live the mission of Jesus in ways that reflect the spirit and faith-filled vision of our foundress, Venerable Maria Kaupas, and the Gospel vision of a peaceful, loving and just world. Our sisters and associates reside in both the United States and Argentina, serving God and God’s people wherever they are. Please contact us: Visit www.ssc2601.com, contact Sr. Grace Ann Kalafut, SSC, 2601 W. M a rq u e t t e R d . , C h i c a g o , I L 6 0 6 2 9 , gracekal@ssc2601.com; or (773) 776-1324. See our web ad at DigitalVocationGuide.org. See ad on page 49. Code #071. Sisters of St. Francis (O.S.F.), Clinton, IA Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa are women of faith, joy, and compassion, seeking to follow in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare, called to contemplation and continuous conversion and are sent as instruments of God’s peace. We promote active nonviolence and peacemaking, seek justice for those marginalized, and care for all creation. We invite women, who are seeking to live a Franciscan way of life, to make a difference in the world by working for peace through nonviolence, to take a giant step to journey with us as we choose to live into the future. Our ministries are diverse but include L’ Arche communities, peace ministries, health care, parish ministries, and ministries to the poor and marginalized. Contact us at (563) 242-7611; e-mail: office@clintonfranciscans.com; online at www.clintonfranciscans.com; www. facebook.com/SistersOfStFrancisClintonIA; www.twitter.com/ClintonSisters; view our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/ ClintonFranciscans; or visit us in person at 843 13th Ave. N, Clinton, IA 52732. See ad on page 171. Code #475. Sisters of St. Francis (OSF), Sylvania, OH Sylvania Franciscans—Women of Peace & Seekers of Justice. There is a basic charism reflected in religious life itself, however each congregation develops its own charism creating uniqueness in how they live out their spirituality, community life and ministry. Sylvania Franciscans are vowed women following in the footsteps of Francis of Assisi, living simply as joyful servants and courageously responding to God’s call to serve the ever-changing needs of all people. Believing in the giftedness and talents of each individual, our sisters have achieved various levels of education in order to make a beautiful difference in the lives of those we serve. We continue to impact 15 dioceses, 10 states and have established a mission in Haiti. We are Sisters rooted in prayer and the Eucharist, strengthened by community life, and energized by our call to serve in joyful servanthood. Share the
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Joy! Live Franciscan! Contact Sr. Julie Myers; 419.824.3914; jmyers@sistersosf. org; www.sistersosf.org. See ad on page 56. 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 50. Code #287. VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 171
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Sisters of Social Service (S.S.S.) We Sisters of Social Service are women of many cultures who come together to fulfill the Gospel call to care for the poor and alienated. The right of all people to live in dignity is at the heart of our work and of our religious faith. Our lives are blessed by the Benedictine values that respect all people and things, cherish the familial warmth of community, make welcome the stranger, and find joy in work and renewal in prayer. We trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we continue to embark on new ventures in service to people in need. In the United States, Mexico, the Philippines and Taiwan, we challenge systems that perpetuate poverty and injustice. We work in community organizing, economic development, legislative advocacy and direct social services. Our service, programs, and facilities address the diversity of challenges facing women, children and families to meet needs and enrich lives. Contact: Sr. Marie Lindemann, 4316 Lanai Rd, Encino, CA 91436; (818) 285-3360; e-mail: vocationsss@gmail.com; website: www.sistersofsocialservice.com. Code #420.
WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES
WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES
WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES 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 invest their future with us. Sr. Adele Thibaudeau, 3221 S. Lake Drive, St. Francis, WI 53235; (414) 2947306; e-mail: vocdir@lakeosfs.org; website: www.lakeosfs.org. See our web ad at www. VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 32. 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. Mary Jo Young, O.S.F., 1433 Essington Road, Joliet, IL 60435; (815) 725-8735; fax: (815) 725-8648; e-mail: mjyoung@jolietfranciscans.org; website: www.jolietfranciscans.org. See ad on page 107. Code #252. 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 172 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
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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. Christopher Marie Wagner (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 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) 214-0184; e-mail: sistersarahelizabeth@gmail.com; website: www.westpeoriasisters.org. See our web ad at www.DigitalVocationGuide.org. See ad on page 24. Code #279. Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities (OSF) As women of vision, rooted in the Gospel and energized by the spirit of Sts. Francis and Clare, we live in right relationship with God, one another, and all creation. We are sisters to all, serving with reverence, justice and compassion. Composed of four Franciscan communities with common historical roots, we are creating a new vision for our reunited community. As a multicultural and international congregation, we strive to meet the needs of the church and the world today. Through our prayer and Franciscan life together in community, we are empowered to serve in traditional ministries, such as education, health care, social services, pastoral and spiritual care; as well as in new ministries. We offer many opportunities to blend your education and talents with the Franciscan tradition. We invite you to come grow with us. Contact us at: (315) 634-7083; e-mail: vocations@sosf. org; website: www.sosf.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 26. 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) 4474150 ext. 207 or 172; e-mail: baptistinevoc@ aol.com; website; www.baptistines.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 50. 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 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, Agrégées, 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. Pat Quinn, CSJ, (617) 746-2045; e-mail: vocation.office@csjboston.org; website: www.csjboston.org. Brentwood, NY: Sr. Mary Walsh, CSJ, (631) 273-1187 ext. 118; e-mail: vocationcsj@aol.com; website: www.
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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., Haiti 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 40. Code #227. Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis (SSJTOSF) The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis are a community of more than 300 Franciscan vowed religious women and associate members who are dedicated to gospel living. We are committed to building life-giving communities, empowering one another to live the truth of Gospel values, bonding with others in everwidening circles of compassion and peace, and speaking from our common understanding that there be no outcasts in our experience of life on this earth. The missioned presence of the congregation continues today in 14 states, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Peru and South Africa. For more information contact the Director of Vocation Ministry, P.O. Box 305, Stevens Point, WI 54481; (715) 341-8457; e-mail vocation@ ssj-tosf.org; website www.ssj-tosf.org. See our web ad at DigitalVocationGuide.org. See ad on page 32. Code #154.
Sisters of St. Rita (O.S.A.) The Sisters of St. Rita are an international active-contemplative community following the rule of St. Augustine and the example of St. Rita of Cascia, our patroness. We strive to live and love as Christ taught us, through St. Augustine’s guidance: “Daily advance, then, in this love, both by praying and by well-doing.” Rejoicing in the gifts God has given each one of us, we minister where we are needed, faithfully following our founding mission of social and spiritual family care with all of its diverse ministries. “To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek Him, the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest human achievement.” Do you, too, want to live in community, loving and seeking God through prayer and service? Then join us in this great adventure! Contact Sr. Angelica Summer, O.S.A., 4014 N. Green Bay Rd., Racine, WI 53404; (262) 639-1766; e-mail: sr.angelica@sbcglobal.net; website: www. sistersofstrita.org. See ad on page 27 Code #163. Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (S.B.S.) We are a multiracial, multicultural community of 120 members who were founded by Saint Katharine Drexel. We share the Gospel message with the poor, especially among Black and Native American peoples and challenge the deeply rooted injustice in the world today through a life of prayer, community and service. The SBS are involved in education, parish ministry, religious instruction, social and health services, spiritual ministries and other ministries. We minister in the inner cities, rural areas, and Native American reservations. We’re located in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Louisiana, New Mexico, Arizona, Alabama, Indiana, Tennessee, Florida, Virginia, Mississippi, Georgia, and Jamaica. Vocation Director, 215-244-9900 ext. 327; www.katharinedrexel.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 107. Code #076 VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 173
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brentwoodcsj.org.; Dear Neighbor Volunteer Program, (718) 455 0197, migliorep@ providencehouse.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. Dorothy Coulter, CSJ, (860) 233-5126; email: dacoulter37@gmail.com; website: www. sistersofsaintjoseph.org. Concordia, KS: Sr. Jan McCormick, CSJ, (785) 479-6795: e-mail: jmccormick@csjkansas.org; website: www.csjkansas.org; CSJ Volunteer Program: Sr. Julie Christensen, CSJ, (785) 243-4428; e-mail: volunteer@csjkansas.org. Congregation of St. Joseph: Sr. Celeste Cotter, CSJ, (708) 310-1292; e-mail: ccotter@csjoseph. org; Lois O’Malley, CSJ,(316) 689-4029; email: 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) 2448123; website: www.csjcarondelet.org. Los Angeles, CA: Sr. Ingrid Honore-Lallande, CSJ, (951) 704-8888; e-mail: ihonorelallande@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. Michelle Lesher, SSJ, e-mail: mlesher@ssjphila.org or Sr. Celest Mokrzycki, SSJ, e-mail: cmokrzycki@ssjphila.org; (215) 248-7236; website: www. ssjphila.org; SSJ Mission Corps Volunteer, Becca Little (215) 248-7235; e-mail: ssjmissioncorps@gmail.com; website: www.ssjmissioncorps.org. Rochester, NY: Sr. Donna Del Santo, SSJ, (585) 733-4422; e-mail: vocations@ssjrochester.org; website:www. ssjrochester.org; Sisters of Saint Joseph Volunteer Corps, (585) 529-5689; e-mail: volunteercorps@ssjrochester.org. Springfield, MA: Sr. Natalie Cain, SSJ, (413) 536-0853 ext. 249; e-mail: ncain@ssjspringfield.com; website: www.ssjspringfield.org. St. Augustine, FL: Sr. Kathleen Power, SSJ, (904) 610-9228; e-mail: ssjflvocations@bellsouth. net; website: www.ssjfl.org. St. Louis, MO: Sr. Linda Markway, CSJ, e-mail: lmarkway@ csjsl.org; (314) 678-0315; website: www. csjsl.org. St. Paul, MN: Sr. Jill Underdahl, CSJ, (651) 696-2873; e-mail: junderdahl@ csjstpaul.org; website: www.csjstpaul.org; St. Joseph Worker Volunteer Program (St. Paul): Bridgette Kelly (651) 690-7049; email: bkelly@csjstpaul.org; website: www. stjosephworkers.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. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 41. Code #024.
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Sisters of the Divine Savior (SDS) Sisters of the Divine Savior are members of an international group of vowed religious women and men, and lay persons known as the Salvatorians. The Salvatorian Sisters were founded in Tivoli, Italy in 1888 by John Baptist Jordan and Therese von Wüllenweber. Our apostolic ministries include efforts to stop human trafficking, social work, counseling, law, art, pastoral care, education and health care. We carry out our mission to make known the goodness and kindness of Jesus in 28 countries, including the U.S. in Alabama, Arizona, California, Tennessee and Wisconsin. Women ages 20-50 can learn more about life in community with Sisters of the Divine Savior by contacting Sister Mary Lee Grady, SDS at gradym@salvatoriansisters.org or 414-466-0810 ext. 229. www.sistersofthedivinesavior.org; www. facebook.com/sistersofthedivinesavior. See ad on page 115. Code #315. Sisters of the Good Shepherd (RGS and CGS) are driven by a vow of zeal. We are an international congregation with communities in 73 countries. Our work is of God and our mission is one of reconciliation. We strive to model our lives after the heart of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who left the flock of 99 to respond to the one sheep in special need. Our apostolic work centers on marginalized and hurting people who are affected by violence, abuse and neglect, most notably women, girls and children. We are strong social justice advocates and have a seat on the United Nations Economic and Social Council, where we have joined others around the world to end human trafficking. Our contemplative ministry focuses on prayer to bring the liberating love of Jesus, the Good Shepherd to all of God’s people. Good Shepherd Sisters help others to transform their lives. It is thrilling and rewarding work. Apostolic Vocation Director: Sr. Jean Marie Fernandez, RGS, (415) 568-2822 or 415-676-8251; email: jmfrgs@gmail.com; Contemplative Director: Sr. Elizabeth Garciano, CGS, 314-837-1719; e-mail: elgarcianocgs@yahoo.com. Website: www.sistersofthegoodshepherd.com. See ad on page 24. Code #077. 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 founded by Blessed Basil Anthony Moreau. Striving to live out Jesus’ gospel and mission in the 21st century, we minister to people in eight countries on four continents. Compassion compels us to embrace others in their 174 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
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suffering and to address unmet needs as educators, health care workers, administrators, counselors, pastoral ministers, social workers, retreat leaders, writers, attorneys and social justice advocates. Through our consecrated life we promote right relationships wherever we serve. We invite you to make a difference in your 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 39. Code #269. 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, Australia, Eastern and Western Europe, Ghana, Israel, and the Philippines. If God is knocking at your door today, come, knock on ours! For more information, contact our Vocation Director at tdonach@nazarethcsfn. org; website: www.nazarethcsfn.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 40. Code #155. Sisters of the Holy Redeemer (C.S.R.) The Sisters of the Holy Redeemer are compelled to bring the healing presence and compassion of the Redeemer to those who suffer in body, mind and spirit. We strive to be witnesses to hope and joy as we serve Jesus in the most vulnerable. Our inspiration flows from our relationship with Jesus, our Redeemer as we follow the example of Mother Alphonse Maria Eppinger who founded the congregation 160 years ago on the principal that “Love of God and love of neighbor are but one single love.” Through our sponsorship of the Holy Redeemer Health System, we provide health care, social services, and pastoral care, with a special emphasis on older adults, women and children. Contact us: American Province; Vocation Ministry Office, 521 Moredon Road, Huntington Valley, PA 19006; (215) 914-4109; e-mail: vocations@ HolyRedeemer.com; website: www.SistersHolyRedeemer.org. See ad on page 48. Code #079.
Sisters of the Humility of Mary (H.M.) As Sisters of the Humility of Mary, the heart of our commitment is a radical love and following of Jesus Christ. Mary’s humility inspires us to say “yes” to God’s call. Her fidelity to God challenges us to be a prophetic presence in today’s world. Our founders responded to the needs of the time in 1854 in France with vision, courage and generosity, eventually emigrating to the Cleveland diocese in 1864. Today, we follow in their footsteps, dedicated to peacemaking, justice, and care for Earth through a variety of ministries in education, health care, social service, and pastoral ministry. We number 159 Sisters serving in Midwestern states, and Haiti. Others join us as Associates, HM Volunteers and Partners in Ministry. For more information: www.humilityofmary.org. Membership Office, 20015 Detroit Road, Rocky River, OH 44116, (440) 356-6130; e-mail: vocation@hmministry.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 22. 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 our world 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. We live together simply; celebrate Eucharist daily; share prayer, ministry, and community. We serve in the Dioceses of Corpus Christi, Brownsville and Beaumont. You will find us in elementary and secondary schools, in hospital pastoral care, in parishes and diocesan offices; as school administrators, as teachers, librarians, DRE’s, archivists, and writers; as artists, musicians, technology coordinators, as counselors, spiritual directors, and chaplains. We live that others may come to know and love Jesus, the warm, gracious Loving Person Who walked with people and lived in community with them. Visit us at www.iwbscc.org or at www.facebook.com/iwbscc. See our ad on page 50. 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 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
SEARCH WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG 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: cfahrner@slw.org; website: www.slw.org. See ad on page 173. 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. 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 people in the United States and Bolivia. Are you interested in making a difference? 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: www. dubuquepresentations.org or 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 deep-
ly in the presence of the Risen Christ. We have given our lives to God in joy through a vowed commitment of chastity, poverty, and obedience. In our education and health care ministries, we strive to imitate the example of Jesus’ love, compassion, and concern for others. We believe that God continues to call women to live as Sisters of the Resurrection and we invite you to prayerfully consider whether this could be true for you. New York Province: Sr. Teresa Grace, C.R., 35 Boltwood Avenue, Castleton, NY 12033; (518) 732-2226; e-mail: vocation@resurrectionsisters.org; website: 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 177. Code #215. 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 Edwina Abara, SSHJ, Sacred Heart Villa, 5269 Lewiston Rd., Lewiston, NY 14092; (716) 284-8273; email: sshj_vocation@yahoo.com; website: www.shvilla.org. Code #165. Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi (S.S.M.) We are an international, multicultural congregation. We share in the mission of Jesus to bring fuller life to others by revealing God’s love for all, especially the poor. With Mary, the Sorrowful Mother, we strive to be a compassionate presence to those who suffer. Our main ministries include healthcare, education, youth ministry and related fields within those areas. We serve the Lord in ten countries: the USA, Austria, Italy, Germany, Tanzania, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad
and Tobago, St. Lucia, and Grenada. If you feel called to consecrate your life to the Lord by following St. Francis of Assisi and sharing your compassion with others, we invite you to contact us through our vocation website, www.becomingasister.org and filling out the self-quiz published on that site. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 38. 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 114. 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: benedicite@fairpoint.net; website: www.transfigurationhermitage.org. Code #367. VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 175
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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 witnesses to Christ’s redemptive, 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@cppsadmin.org. See our web ad at DigitalVocationGuide.org. See ad on page 26. Code #318.
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WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES
WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES
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 the challenges of the world 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, (773) 405-9884; e-mail: jeankielty@yahoo.com or Sr. Anna Maria Baldauf, (312) 806-1884; e-mail: annamaria.baldauf@yahoo.com. For Spanish contact Sr. Dominga Zapata, (773) 343-8832; e-mail: mingaz37@att.net. Visit our website at www.helpers.org. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #223. 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 our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. See ad on page 33. 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 176 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
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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, 3365 Monastery Drive, Crozet, VA 22932. We look forward to welcoming you! See our web ad at www.DigitalVocationGuide.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.DigitalVocationGuide.org. Code #415. Trappistine Cistercian Nuns (O.C.S.O.), Sonoita, AZ—Santa Rita Abbey The mountains surround us, as the monastic observance surrounds and fosters our contemplative longing to behold the face of God, and so minister to his needy people. We live out the call to 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, 14200 Fish Canyon Rd, Sonoita, AZ 85637-6545; e-mail: mesamesquite@gmail.com; website: www.santaritaabbey.org. See our web ad at www.DigitalVocationGuide.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.VocatonNetwork. org and www.DigitalVocationGuide.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; email: s.katie@msmabbey.org; website: www. msmabbey.org. See our web ad at www. DigitalVocationGuide.org. Code #415.
U Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland (O.S.U.) We are religious women who are called to live Gospel values. We were founded by St. Angela Merici, whose vision led her to serve the Church and to be an instrument of change in her world. We value contemplation in our commitment to personal and communal prayer. We stand for justice in our commitment to those oppressed and exploited, especially women and children; while strongly
SEARCH WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG choosing to make efforts in effecting systemic change. We value compassion in helping to relieve suffering and provide hope. Today, imitating St. Angela, we minister in our sponsored institutions as well as other educational institutions. We serve as directors of religious education, spiritual directors, pastoral ministers. We serve in healthcare facilities and retirement homes; as social service providers in collaborative outreach programs; as well as serving in the ministry of prayer. We minister primarily in the Greater Cleveland area. For information, contact Sister Ann Letitia, 2600 Lander Road, Pepper Pike, OH 44124. (440) 449-1200 ext. 138; email: aletitia@ursulinesisters.org; website: www. ursulinesisters.org. Code #311.
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) 825-9773; www. usaosu.org; backlitwithjoy.wordpress.com. Code #218. Ursulines of Jesus (U.J.) “Moved by the Spirit of the Incarnate Word we are sent out following Jesus….proclaiming that God is love.” Attentive to the seeds of new life we live close to everyone, with a special preference for the poor. As members of an International Congregation, we are called, as Mary was, to listen to the Word of God, to discover in our following of Jesus the joy and fruitfulness of love given freely for all, announcing with our lives that a just and loving world is possible. Living as true and loving sisters is the prime expression of our common mission—a mission lived at the heart of the world in parishes, through education, health care, prison ministry, journeying with the marginalized. Does this message resonate in your heart? If so visit our web site: www.incarnationweb.org or contact Sr. Mary Clare Stack, mctstack@ gmail.com; 1-780 863-1597. See ad on page 18. Code #481.
V Visitation Sisters of Minneapolis (VHM) Learn more about the Visitation Sisters of Minneapolis through their Visitation Engagement offerings, the six offerings available to those who, like the Visitation Sisters, want to Live Jesus in an urban setting! Retreats: The Sisters welcome women for private retreats within the Monastery. •Following the Spirit Series: resources and reflection on discernment for all of life’s decisions. •Visitation Internship Program: young adults have 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 and provide ministry. •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. 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”)! Code #086.
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W Wheaton Franciscans The Wheaton Franciscans are the United States province of an international congregation, the Franciscan Sisters, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. We are a community of vowed women (Sisters) and covenant (associate) women and men, whose mission is to live the Gospel following the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi, and our foundress Mother M. Clara Pfaender. Through loving presence and service we foster personal and community growth as we respond to the needs of the church and the times. As Wheaton Franciscans we are committed to living Gospel values as co-creators in the Christ mystery. We believe that through an open and grateful heart we are blessed and become a presence of blessing. There are various ways of deepening a relationship with our Community. Contact Sr. Melanie Paradis; mparadis@ wheatonfranciscan.org or Jeanne Connolly; jconnolly@wheatonfranciscan.org; 26W171 Roosevelt Rd., Wheaton, IL 60187-0667; (630) 909-6600. We invite you to learn more about us on our website at www.wheatonfranciscan.org. Code #087. VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 177
WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES
Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph (O.S.U.) We are Ursuline Sisters proclaiming Jesus through education and Christian formation, 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) 229-4104; e-mail: vocations. msj@maplemount.org; 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356. Visit us at www.ursulinesmsj.org. See our web ad at www.DigitalVocationGuide.org. Code #222.
WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES
OTHER COMMUNITIES ASSOCIATE COMMUNITIES 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 in the Spiritual Family of Catherine Kasper for the purpose of mutual spiritual enrichment, development of community and promotion of service. Our commitment is based on the common call of the Holy Spirit to live the charism of Blessed Catherine Kasper, foundress of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Congregation. The Associates, Fiat Spiritus Community and Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ form the Spiritual Family of Catherine Kasper. Website: www. poorhandmaids.org/associates. See our web ad at www.VocationNetwork.org. Code #049.
OTHER COMMUNITIES
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.
RESOURCES Global Sisters Report is an online reporting project that tells the stories of and gives greater voice to Catholic sisters around the world. Through its network of journalists around the world as well as blogs and columns from sisters themselves, Global Sisters Report chronicles the contributions of sisters as a force for human development. Visit the website at GlobalSistersReport.org and our Facebook page at Facebook.com/SistersReport. Do you know of an interesting Catholic sister, community or project we should write about? Please contact us at sisters@NCRonline.org. See ad on page 52. Code #476.
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 178 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
SEARCH OTHER COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG 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 of life through prayer, Days of Recollection and a yearly retreat. 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 the world. Candidates must be women who have never married, be between the ages of 21-40 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. Secular Institute of Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ (SIM) Consecrated single women who profess poverty, chastity and obedience while living life in the world. Our spirituality is Franciscan and through its ideals the Missionaries seek growth and maturity by identifying with Jesus’ life and mission by striving faithfully to live the Gospel in the world in the spirit of the Beatitudes. A close bond is created among the members through monthly days of recollection, annual retreats, publications, correspondence, phone contact, e-mail and the web site members section. Requirements are: women desiring to commit to a celibate life, a prayer life seeking to grow in the love of Christ, a desire to promote Gospel values in today’s society, a self-supporting occupation, and the freedom to live our way of life. Historical Information: The Institute was founded in 1919 in Assisi, Italy, by Agostino Gemelli, OFM, and Armida Barelli. Approved in 1948 as a Secular Institute of Pontifical Rite. Established in the United States in 1953 by Fr. Stephen Hartdegen, OFM, and Barbara Ottinger. For more information contact: Charleen
Dahlin, (508) 386-1417; e-mail: cdahlin@aol. com; web site: www.simkc.org. See our ad on page 109. Code #337. United States Conference of Secular Institutes (USCSI) The United States Conference of Secular Institutes is an association of all the Secular Institutes in the United States. Its mission is to provide education, resources, and support for member institutes, and to assist inquirers in finding the Secular Institute that is right for them. USCSI is committed to making known, understood, and appreciated the call to consecrated secularity in the Catholic Church. Total consecration to God through the evangelical counsels of poverty, celibate chastity, and obedience is the hallmark of all Secular Institutes. Institutes are for single women or for single men, and some are for diocesan priests. It is the newest and fastest-growing vocation in the Church today. For more information see 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.
SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS Catholic Volunteer Network Catholic Volunteer Network fosters and promotes full-time domestic and international faithbased volunteer service opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds and skills. As the leading membership organization of Christian volunteer and mission programs, Catholic Volunteer Network supports and enhances the work of member organizations through volunteer recruitment, training and resources, networking opportunities and advocacy. Established in 1963, the Catholic Volunteer Network membership consists of over 200 domestic and international volunteer and lay mission programs. Each year more than 20,000 volunteers and lay missioners serve in these programs throughout the U.S. and in 112 other countries. Catholic Volunteer Network publishes and distributes RESPONSE, the most comprehensive handbook of lay mission volunteer opportunities. RESPONSE is distributed free of charge to persons interested in faith-based service and those who promote such service. Catholic Volunteer Network also administers the AmeriCorps Education Awards program for our member programs. Find us online at www.CatholicVolunteerNetwork.org. See our web ad at www.DigitalVocationGuide.org. See our ad on page 37. Code #483.
UK/IRISH COMMUNITIES Find UK and Irish Communities online through our community search or in our digital edition of Vision: www.digitalvocationguide.org.
INDEX
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Men’s
334
Marianists, Province of Meribah, p. 60
300
Servants of the Paraclete, p. 151
091
Capuchin Franciscan Friars, p. 21
105
Marianists, Society of Mary, p. 133
136
Society of African Missions, p. 100
307
Carmelite Friars, St. Elias Province, p. 144
298
Marist Brothers, p. 100
107
107
Marists Fathers and Brothers, p. 44
Society of Mary (See Marists Fathers and Brothers), p. 44
199
Maryknoll Congregation and Society, p. 122
149
Society of St. Paul, p. 151
120
Somascan Fathers and Brothers, p. 26
207
Augustinian Friars, p. 83
020
Augustinian Monks of the Primitive Observance, p. 140
095
Congregation of Christian Brothers, pp. 25, 27
005
Augustinian Recollects, p. 141
097
Congregation of Holy Cross, p. 71
Augustinians of the Assumption, p.140
096
Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, p. 144
Barnabite Fathers and Brothers, p. 57
355
Benedictine Monks, Marmion Abbey, p. 140
365 217
204
230
Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 13
484
Benedictine Monks, Mount Angel Abbey, p. 97
Contemplatives of Saint Joseph, p. 94
099
Benedictine Monks, Mount Saviour Monastery, p. 141
Crosier Fathers and Brothers, p. 144
434
Benedictine Monks, Newark Abbey, p. 102
Discalced Carmelite Friars, p. 117
177
Benedictine Monks, Saint Anselm’s Abbey, p. 141
Divine Word Missionaries, p. 124
228
The Dominican Friars, p. 43
468
Benedictine Monks, Saint Bede Abbey, p. 141
102
Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, p. 96
349
Benedictine Monks, Saint Gregory’s Abbey, p. 141
478
Franciscan Friars, p. 2
370
Franciscan Friars-Province of the Immaculate Conception, p. 101
132
Benedictine Monks, Saint John’s Abbey, p. 103
408
Benedictine Monks, Saint Joseph Abbey, p. 141
088
Benedictine Monks, Saint Mary’s Abbey, p. 31
485
Benedictine Monks, Saint Mary’s Monastery, Petersham, MA, p. 48
014
Benedictine Monks, Saint Meinrad Archabbey, p. 137
313
283 233
225
Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, p. 147
164
Spiritans, p. 19
129
Missionaries of the Holy Family, p. 123
415
108
Missionaries of the Precious Blood, p. 22
Trappist Cistercian Monks, pp. 151, 152
122
Trinitarians, p. 152
094
Viatorians, p. 101
137
Xaverian Missionaries, p. 58
133
Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 51
109
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, p. 122
289
Norbertine Fathers and Brothers, Daylesford Abbey, p. 147
110
Norbertine Fathers and Brothers, p. 94
267
Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 124
486
Oblates of St. Joseph, p. 149
203
111
Oblates of the Virgin Mary, p. 149
Brothers of the Sacred Heart, p. 125
440
Consolata Missionary Sisters, p. 159
168
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, p. 106
177
Divine Word Missionaries, p. 124
093
Order of St. Camillus, p. 97
216
Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, p. 149
239
Franciscan Friars-Province of the Sacred Heart, p. 145
Pallottines, Immaculate Conception Province, p. 129
437
125
Franciscan Friars-St. John the Baptist Province, p. 145
Pallottines, Mother of God Province, p. 95
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, p. 162
113
Passionists, p. 150
138
Glenmary Home Mission Sisters of America, p. 163
103
Glenmary Home Missioners, p. 117
127
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, p. 123
041
Little Sisters of the Poor, p. 126
199
Maryknoll Congregation and Society, p. 122
479
Maryknoll Sisters, p.135
042
Medical Mission Sisters, p. 13
Franciscan Friars-Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, p. 145
098
Franciscan Friars, Conventual, p. 146
114
The Paulist Fathers, p. 11
295
Franciscan Friars, T.O.R., Immaculate Conception Province, p. 96
134
PIME Missionaries, p. 121
116
Priests of the Sacred Heart, p. 102
135
The Redemptorists, p. 47
117
Salesians of Don Bosco, p. 99
145
Salvatorians (Society of the Divine Savior), p. 9
159
Servants of Mary, Friars, p. 53
465
Benedictine Monks, Saint Procopius Abbey, p. 130
256
Benedictine Monks, Subiaco Abbey, p. 93
003
342
Brothers of Charity, p. 142
103
206
Brothers of Christian Instruction, p. 38
100
Brothers of the Christian Schools, p. 142
Missionaries
Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, p. 55 Glenmary Home Missioners, p. 117
104
Jesuits, p. 149
192
Josephite Priests and Brothers, p. 95
VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 179
INDEX
182
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Brothers of the Sacred Heart, p. 125
Alexian Brothers, p. 184
254
C
203
141
328
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Missionaries
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Women’s
008
Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, p. 36
Adorers of the Blood of Christ, p. 111
333
Carmel of Cristo Rey, p. 3
153
Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, p. 112
013
Carmelites, Congregation of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, p. 39
188
Cenacle Sisters, p. 31
011
037
Franciscan Sisters at Springfield (Hospital Sisters of St. Francis), p. 113
189
Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, p. 163
166
Franciscan Sisters of Chicago, p. 36
193
Franciscan Sisters of Dubuque, IA, p. 107
Cistercian Nuns, p. 114
354
012
Congregation of Notre Dame, p. 135
Franciscan Sisters of John the Baptist, p. 162
170
058
Congregation of Sisters of Bon Secours, p. 51
Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, p. 61
030
363
Congregation of the Humility of Mary, p. 45
Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, p. 163
056
Consolata Missionary Sisters, p. 159
Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth, p. 14
211
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, p. 106
Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement, p. 29
033
Daughters of Divine Zeal, p. 159
Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, p. 40
138
Daughters of St. Mary of Providence, p. 35
Glenmary Home Mission Sisters of America, p. 163
183
Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, p. 109
127
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, p. 123
436
Hospitaler Sisters of Mercy, p. 56
210
Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, p. 164
039
Little Company of Mary Sisters, p. 60
361
Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary, p. 165
041
Little Sisters of the Poor, p. 126
105
Marianist Sisters, p. 133
162
Marianites of Holy Cross, p. 134
479
Maryknoll Sisters, p. 135
042
Medical Mission Sisters, p. 13
(continued) 001 299
225
Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, p. 147
129
Missionaries of the Holy Family, p. 123
108
Missionaries of the Precious Blood, p. 22
133
INDEX
Medical Missionaries of Mary, p. 165
Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 51
109
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, p. 122
186
Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, p. 165
044
Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 5
289
Norbertine Fathers and Brothers, Daylesford Abbey, p. 147
201
Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, p. 105
113
Passionists, p. 150
292
Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, p. 59
114
The Paulist Fathers, p. 11
134
PIME Missionaries, p. 121
135
Redemptorists, p. 47
466
Religious of the Assumption, p. 167
300
136
222
137
267
161 482
004
221
282
353
069
341
202
152
175
Servants of the Paraclete, p. 151 Society of African Missions, p. 100 Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph, p. 177 Xaverian Missionaries, p. 58
180 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
157
143
Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 124 Augustinian Nuns, p. 153 Benedictine Nuns, St. Scholastica Priory, Petersham, MA, p. 49 Benedictine Sisters/A.B.F.C., p. 59 Benedictine Sisters, Crookston, MN, Mount St. Benedict Monastery, pp. 17, 59 Benedictine Sisters, Duluth, MN, St. Scholastica Monastery, pp. 53, 59 Benedictine Sisters, Elizabeth, NJ, St. Walburga Monastery, pp. 17, 59 Benedictine Sisters, Ferdinand, IN, Monastery Immaculate Conception, pp. 37, 59 Benedictine Sisters, Fort Smith, AR, St. Scholastica Monastery, pp. 59, 105 Benedictine Sisters, Mt. Angel, OR, Queen of Angels Monastery, pp. 59, 113 Benedictine Sisters, Rock Island, IL, St. Mary Monastery, pp. 18, 59 Benedictine Sisters, St. Joseph, MN, St. Benedict’s Monastery, p. 16 Benedictine Sisters, Watertown, SD, Mother of God Monastery, pp. 19, 59 Benedictine Sisters, Yankton, SD, Sacred Heart Monastery, pp. 44, 59
440
168
236
263
015
Daughters of St. Paul, p. 159
150
Daughters of the Heart of Mary, p. 61
275
Daughters of Wisdom, p. 131
018
Dominican Sisters, p. 87
022
Dominican Sisters of Divine Providence, p. 16
439
Faithful Companions of Jesus, p. 25
025
Felician Franciscan Sisters, p. 15
306
Franciscan Daughters of Mary, p. 161
125
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, p. 162
126
Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows, p. 57
INDEX
SEARCH COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG
Women’s
140
School Sisters of St. Francis of Christ the King, p. 108
279
Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception, p. 24
172
Society of the Holy Child Jesus, p. 33
055
Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary, p. 30
294
Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, p. 26
415
Trappistine Cistercian Nuns, p. 176
187
Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immaculata, PA, p. 4
075
Sisters of St. John the Baptist, p. 50
311
Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland, p. 176
024
Sisters of St. Joseph (Federation) p. 41
222
Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, PA, p. 29
Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph, p. 177
227
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, p. 40
218
Ursuline Sisters, Roman Union, p. 177
154
Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis, p. 32
481
Ursulines of Jesus, p. 18
086
Visitation Sisters of Minneapolis, p. 177
087
Wheaton Franciscans, p. 177
(continued) Medical Missionaries of Mary, p. 165
186
Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, p. 165
305
Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 60
083
044
Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 5
059
Sisters of Charity (Federation) pp. 168, 169
340
Oblate Sisters of Providence, p. 165
060
Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida, p. 169
163
Sisters of St. Rita, p. 27
196
Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 108
296
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, p. 169
076
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, p. 107
201
Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, p. 105
212
Sisters of Christian Charity, p. 169
315
Sisters of the Divine Savior, p. 115
433
Pallottine Sisters, Immaculate Conception Province, p. 167
356
Sisters of Mary Reparatrix, p. 170
077
Sisters of the Good Shepherd, p. 24
063
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, p. 134
269
Sisters of the Holy Cross, p. 39
155
Passionist Nuns, Ellisville, MO, p. 166
065
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, p. 170
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, p. 40
079
Poor Clares, Jamaica Plain, MA, p. 30
366
Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, p. 170
Sisters of the Holy Redeemer, p. 48
329
Poor Clares, Langhorne, PA, p. 131
068
Sisters of the Humility of Mary, p. 22
274
444
Poor Clares, Wappingers Falls, NY, p. 166
067
Sisters of Providence, Seattle and Spokane, WA, p. 14
Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, Corpus Christi,TX, p. 50
049
Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, p. 166
181
Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius, p. 112
460
Poor Servants of the Mother of God, p. 111
420
Sisters of Social Service, p. 171
336
Redemptoristine Nuns, p. 167
171
Sisters of St. Agnes, p. 29
466
Religious of the Assumption, p. 167
292
047
438
048
273
051
Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, p. 59
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, p. 52 Religious Teachers Filippini, p. 115
173
Sisters of the Living Word, p. 173
318
Sisters of the Precious Blood, p. 26
327
Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque, IA, p. 175
071
Sisters of St. Casimir, p. 49
475
Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, IA, p. 171
215
085
Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania, OH, p. 56
Sisters of the Resurrection, p. 177
165
Sisters of St. Francis, Tiffin, OH, p. 50
Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 175
034
Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, p. 32
Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, p. 38
081
Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, p. 107
Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, p. 114
367
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, p. 172
Sisters of Transfiguration Hermitage, p. 175
223
Society of Helpers, p. 176
287
477
Saint Francis Mission Sisters, p. 167
117
Salesian Sisters, p. 99
052
School Sisters of Notre Dame, p. 168
252
School Sisters of St. Francis, Milwaukee, WI, p. 168
139
053
Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN, p. 170
072
Associate communities 049
Associate Community of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, p. 178
New communities of consecrated life 049
Fiat Spiritus Community, p. 178
Resources 476
Global Sisters Report, p. 52
Secular institutes 347
Caritas Christi Secular Institute, p. 178
360
Don Bosco Volunteers, p. 178
337
Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ, p. 109
147
United States Conference of Secular Institutes, p. 178
Service organizations 483
Catholic Volunteer Network, p. 37
VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 181
INDEX
299
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
SEARCH AND POST EVENTS ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG
T
HE BEST WAY TO KNOW whether religious life is right for you is to meet men and women in vowed life. There are hundreds of ways to do that: attend a lecture where a sister, brother, priest is speaking, spend time with a community on a discernment weekend or volunteer activity, or make a retreat hosted by a religious order. To find upcoming local or national events, make a habit of checking the VISION Calendar at VocationNetwork.org/opportunities. Below is a sampling of what you will find:
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
DISCERNMENT
Year of Consecrated Life Event Dates Opening Prayer Vigil: November 29 Opening Mass with Pope Francis: November 30, First Sunday of Advent Closing Prayer Vigil: February 1, 2016 Closing Mass with Pope Francis: February 2, 2016, World Day of Consecrated Life Location Rome Description A year-long celebration of the unique lives and witness of those in consecrated life, which includes renewal for men and women in consecrated life, thanksgiving among the faithful for the service of religious sisters, brothers, priests, nuns, and others in consecrated life, and invitation to young Catholics to consider a religious vocation. Breaking Bread Together Meals - Blessed Sacrament Priests and Brothers, Cleveland Sponsors Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament Event Dates Ongoing Location Blessed Sacrament Community St. Paschal Baylon, 5384 Wilson Mills Rd., Cleveland, OH, 44143, US Description The Breaking Bread Together meals are a chance for the busy person to enjoy a community meal and meet Blessed Sacrament priests and brothers in our Cleveland community. These meals feature no pressure to commit for a weekend or longer—just a casual meal with the Blessed Sacrament Priests and Brothers. Vocation Exploration Event Sponsors Archdiocesan Office of Vocations, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Event Dates First Thursday of every month. Location University of St. Thomas Crooker Hall, 3800 Montrose, Houston, TX, 77006-4626, US Description Join priests, sisters, brothers, seminarians, and other young adults for an evening of great food, rich prayer, inspirational music, and compelling words as you grow in your courageous conviction to serve Christ and the Church.
Personally Directed Spiritual Exercises Sponsors Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi Event Dates Please contact us to schedule Location 60 Austin Ave., Greenville, RI, 02828, US Description Come for a period of personal prayer! Get to know our community and celebrate daily Mass with us. Ideal for young women aged 16-30. Monastic Residence Program - Benedictine Sisters, Elizabeth, NJ Sponsors Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Elizabeth, NJ Event Dates Open Location St. Walburga Monastery, 851 N. Broad St., Elizabeth, NJ, 07208, US Description The Monastic Residence Program offers an opportunity for Catholic women to experience the prayer, work, and leisure of a monastic community. Residency is from 1 month to a year.
SERVICE Lay Mission in Latin America and Africa Sponsors Comboni Lay Missionaries Location 1615 E. 31st St., LaGrange Park, IL, 60526-1377, US Description We are a Catholic community of lay people who live out our faith and ideals by sharing our talents, living in community, learning from one another, and joining the struggle for a more just and compassionate world. We are currently looking for lay Catholics who are interested in answering a call to make a deeper commitment to overseas service. We have ministry opportunities available in health care, agriculture, education, and parish/youth ministry. Our website has a lot of information on us, so please check it out, and contact us to start the discernment process. Service and Spirituality and Community at the U.S.Mexico Border Sponsors Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Event Dates Open Location Casa de Caridad, 260 Sombra Verde, Anthony, NM, 88021, US
FOR MORE EVENTS AND THE LATEST POSTS, GO TO VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG/OPPORTUNITIES 182 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
SEARCH AND POST EVENTS ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG
Description Single Catholic women, 20-35 years old, live and work in local community with the Sisters of Charity and other volunteers at Casa de Caridad near La Union, New Mexico. Serve at Proyecto Santo Nino, a day program for children with special needs and their families in Anapra, a poor colonia of Cd. Juarez, and/or Clinica Guadalupana, a family practice clinic serving remote desert communities of El Paso. Urban Plunge Experiences Sponsors Damascus House Event Dates Dates to be decided by groups Location Damascus House, 608 Isham St., New York, NY, 10034, US Description An opportunity for groups from colleges, parishes, and others to work with the poorest of the poor in inner city New York. Damascus House in upper Manhattan has facilities for groups who want to do service projects in the inner city of New York. We can provide contacts for soup kitchens, the Catholic Worker, welfare hotels, clinics ...
EDUCATIONAL TAIZE Prayer for Peace Sponsors Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill (S.C.) Event Dates 8 p.m - 9 p.m. on the First TUESDAY of every month Location Doran Hall, 441 Mt. Thor Rd., Greensburg, PA, 15601, United States Description One hour of prayer from 8-9 p.m. in the style of TAIZE with sung mantras, scripture, silent prayer, and prayers of intercession for peace and for those who are suffering.
RETREATS Praise and Worship at the Rose Garden Home Mission Sponsors Franciscan Daughters of Mary Event Dates Wednesday nights at 7:00 Location 2040 Madison Ave., Covington, KY, 41012, US Description Praise and worship Discernment Retreat for Young Adults Sponsors Brothers of the Christian Schools Event Dates Every second Friday of the month Location Brothers of the Christian Schools House of Studies, Philadelphia, PA, US Description The Brothers of the Christian Schools House of Studies in Philadelphia welcomes young men and women (ages 22-35) who are discerning a call to Church service for a weekend retreat. The program is open to persons considering lives as Brothers, Deacons, Missioners, Monks, Nuns, Priests, Sisters, or Volunteers. It includes quiet time for personal prayer and reflection, individual support from one or several Brothers of the Christian Schools, communal prayer and socializing, and visits to spots of apostolic interest ...
ONLINE EVENTS Online Redemptorist Discernment Retreat Sponsors Redemptorists, Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (C.Ss.R.) Event Dates Ongoing participation Location 426 St. Germain Ave., Toronto, ON, M5M 1W7, Canada Description Our website has a listing of actual Vocation Come and See Retreats across Canada, as well as a virtual discernment retreat that you can participate in from the comfort of your own computer. IHM Online Discernment Retreat for Women Sponsors Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, MI Location 610 West Elm Ave., Monroe, MI, 48162, US Description This online retreat will give women who are exploring religious life both practical discernment guidelines and prayer reflections to help them get beneath the surface of their lives where the truth of their vocation is found. Connections Directory of Volunteer Opportunities Sponsors St. Vincent Pallotti Center Event Dates Ongoing short-term and long-term opportunities Location St. Vincent Pallotti Center, 415 Michigan Ave., NE, Washington, DC, 20017, US Description The Connections Directory lists over 100 Catholic-based programs that offer service opportunities throughout the U.S. and in over 50 countries worldwide. Opportunities for full-time volunteer service exist in almost every possible realm including: health, mental health, education, social services, ministry, literacy, construction, agriculture, advocacy, community organizing, and many more. Opportunities are available in over 40 U.S. states as well as over 50 countries worldwide. Period of service. Long term: Most programs offer 1-2-year placements. Short term: Placements range from 1 week to 6 months. God’s Delightful Voice Sponsors Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Cottonwood, ID--Monastery of St. Gertrude Event Dates Ongoing Location 465 Keuterville Rd., Cottonwood, ID, 83522-5183, US Description A Benedictine Spirituality On-Line Retreat
FOR MORE EVENTS AND THE LATEST POSTS, GO TO VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG/OPPORTUNITIES VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 183
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Youth in Prison Sponsors Comunidad San Dimas - Detention Ministry Location 1200 Florida St., San Francisco, CA, 94110, US Description Volunteer as a Christian Mentor, Come and share with Hispanic youth involved in gangs and drugs at the San Francisco, San Leandro, and San Rafael, California Juvenile Justice Centers. Listen to them and share the word of God. Visit youth incarcerated boys and girls ages 12-18.
Rebuild My Church Discernment Retreat – Capuchin Franciscans Sponsors Capuchin Franciscan Friars (O.F.M. Cap.) Event Dates February 6-8, 2015 Location Denver, CO, US Description Our weekend vocation retreats take their name from an encounter St. Francis of Assisi once had with the Lord. While kneeling before the San Damiano Crucifix, the saint heard the voice of Jesus say, “Francis . . . rebuild My church which, as you see, is in ruins . . . .” Join the friars for a time of prayer, fraternity, reflections on the Capuchin Franciscan spirituality and charism, as well as visits to our ministries among the poor in our local community.
COMMUNITIES BASED IN THE UK
COMMUNITIES BASED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
WOMEN’S COMMUNITIES A Association of British Carmels Carmelite nuns belong to the Order of Discalced Carmelites. In Britain, over 200 sisters live in eighteen Carmelite monasteries, throughout England, Scotland and Wales. We follow the inspiration of St. Teresa of Avila, our Spiritual Mother, who believed that the most fruitful contribution she and her daughters could make for the good of the Church and the world was to develop a profound personal relationship with Jesus, in prayer, silence and sacrifice, offered for the salvation of all. This ideal is lived out in community life modelled on the friendship between Jesus and His disciples. The Eucharist is at the center of each day. Work, both household and remunerative, is sanctified by the full recitation of the Divine Office, two hours of silent prayer, and spiritual reading, as well as periods of recreation together. This calling both demands and supports the total gift of self to our loving God. http://www.carmelnuns.org. uk; philipcarmelnh@gmx.co.uk. 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; thomas@ahn. org.uk. Member of Compass. Code #374.
B Bernardine Cistercians, England We are a monastic and international Order of women living according to the Rule of St Benedict. We respond to the calls of the Church through our monastic life with our work of hospitality and education. These are part of our charism and make us sharers in the creative and redemptive work of Christ. This search for God in faith is the life-force of our whole day which is divided between prayer and work, lived out in a community united in love. Through lectio divina, personal prayer, the celebration of the Divine Office and the daily Eucharist, we nourish our life of prayer. Our monastic life calls for a certain withdrawal from the world, silence and asceticism which purifies the heart. We respond to the call of God who first loved us, by seeking him as followers of Christ through our vows of obedience, stability and conversion of life, which include consecrated chastity and the renunciation of all personal property. We welcome women who feel called to a monastic vocation to come and see. http://www.bernardine.org. srmariavocations@yahoo.co.uk. Member of Compass. Code #453. 184 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
SEARCH THESE COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG
C 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; sistermarynh@gmail.com. Member of Compass. Code #393.
• live with passion; • act with integrity; • pray with desire. http://www.cjengland.org/; g.simmonds@heythrop. ac.uk. Member of Compass. Code #377.
D Daughters of Charity, UK We belong to an international Roman Catholic congregation of women founded by Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac. We are given to God in community for the service of people in need who are carrying the hardships and poverties of our times. Our “cloister is the streets of the city” and our Vincentian spirit is one of humility, simplicity, and charity. Love embraces social justice and we commit ourselves to work for social transformation to change the unjust structures that cause poverty. Community is an essential support for our way of life and our primary place of belonging. We live together in community the better to fulfill our mission of service. It is a setting in which joy and affection nurture our human and spiritual growth as well as our apostolic creativity. http://www. daughtersofcharity.org.uk/. srtheresatighe@gmail. com. Member of Compass. Code #454.
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 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 center 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; katestogdon@btinternet.com. Member of Compass. Code #376.
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/; paulinefma@googlemail.com. Member of Compass. Code #381.
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 centers or chaplaincies, through education, spiritual direction, social action for justice and hospitality we try to:
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 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
Note: These listings do not appear in the current print edition
SEARCH THESE COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG working for peace and justice. http://www.daughtersofthecross.org.uk; paainsworth@fcfriends.com. Member of Compass. Code #383.
Daughters of Wisdom, Great Britain and Ireland The Daughters of Wisdom Great Britain and Ireland are part of a worldwide family of women who endeavour to live the shared vision of Saint Louis Marie de Montfort and Blessed Marie Louise Trichet and reflect the Wisdom of Christ by showing immense love to wounded humanity. Though the Province traces its history back to 1891, the current work of the Daughters of Wisdom reflects creative and holistic approaches to the challenges of the 21st century. Projects include: a centre for people with intellectual disability; a conference venue and spirituality centre; a residential nursing home for the elderly and frail; and projects for the ‘out of home.’ Daughters of Wisdom can also be found working in missions and parish ministries and with voluntary organizations. If you are interested in living this Wisdom spirituality and desire to live your life for God alone, please contact our vocation discernment team at jquinn@wisdomhouseromsey.co.uk. http://www. daughtersofwisdom.org.uk/. Member of Compass. Code #490. 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 wres-
tling 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; ursula. horanop@googlemail.com. Member of Compass. Code #392.
F 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@gmail.com; http://www.fcjsisters.org/. Member of Compass. Code #426. Franciscan Missionaries of Mary A specific missionary spirituality has been characteristic of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary since the beginning. This is an integrated way of living as Gospel witness and proclamation. It is centered in the Eucharist and follows the way of St. Francis of Assisi. At the heart of this spirituality is the image of Mary, Mother of Jesus, who gave herself totally to the plan of God for the life of the world. The FMM live and share together in community, where they seek to live a real communion with each other. Ecumenical collaboration and dialogue with all persons sincerely seeking truth and justice characterize their way of mission throughout the world. For that reason, the internationality among the FMM is a path and sign of communion in a world which is fragmented. This meeting of cultures lived in community is already the good news. http://www.fmmii.org; hmfennell@ hotmail.com. Member of Compass. Code #474. 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 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/; jacinta222000@ yahoo.com. Member of Compass. Code #385.
Note: These listings do not appear in the current print edition
G Grace and Compassion Benedictines, UK The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Grace and Compassion was founded in 1954 and in 1978 became part of the Benedictine family. The Rule of St. Benedict is centered on Christ and aims at a balanced life of serenity and wholeness. The main work of the congregation is hospitality, particularly in the care of the old, the sick, and the poor. We take as one of our vows that of “stability,” by which we promise to persevere in our monastic family. Everything is held in common. We obey the lawful commands of our superiors. We look for women who are sincerely seeking God, who have a love for the liturgy, who are generous, caring, with sound common sense, and in reasonable health. A sense of humor is an asset. http://www.graceandcompassionbenedictines. org.uk/. carmel@graceandcompassion.co.uk or pgkathy@btconnect.com. Member of Compass. Code #452.
H Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, UK As handmaids we bear the name that Mary gave to the angel at the Annunciation. We are an international religious congregation of about 1,500 sisters. Our Spirituality is that of our foundress, Saint Raphaela Mary: solid Christian values of love of God and care for others. This care for others is vital to our mission in the church—reparation and reconciliation. In all we are and all we do, we are aware of the need for reconciliation in this broken but wonderful world today. As Handmaids with a worldwide vision we are involved in: education; spirituality; parish work; caring for refugees and the marginalized, women, youth; and running clinics. We adapt and respond to needs, especially the needs of the weakest and the most defenseless in our society. http://www.acilondon. org.uk. srsak78@gmail.com. Member of Compass. Code #451.
I 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; kittyijs@ gmail.com. Member of Compass. Code #386.
L 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 VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 185
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Daughters of the Holy Spirit We are an international, Roman Catholic congregation founded in Brittany, in 1706, for the relief of the poor, the sick, and the education of children. Rooted in the Love of the Trinity and our readiness to be led by the Spirit, we find that source which enables us to serve our brothers and sisters. Our involvement in mission is often expressed through simple human gestures, apparently without significance. (Rule of Life) We are a ‘Spiritual Family’ of vowed Sisters living in community; Consecrated Seculars--vowed single women living alone or with family or friends; and Associates--lay people, married or single, male or female. We share the same charism, spirituality and missionary thrust, striving to live Matthew 25, ‘I was hungry...thirsty...’ We live our baptismal consecration in the Spirit of Pentecost. ‘For us there is no mission without adoration, without calling upon the Spirit to renew the face of the earth.’ (Rule of Life). http:// www.fillesstesprit.org; patapurchase@hotmail.com. Member of Compass. Code #487.
COMMUNITIES BASED IN THE UK
COMMUNITIES BASED IN THE UK
COMMUNITIES BASED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
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/; anitamac90@btinternet.com. Member of Compass. Code #390. Little Sisters of the Poor, UK In 235 homes for the aged in 31 countries, the Little Sisters repeat the founding gesture of Jeanne Jugan: that of receiving the aged in need, caring for them until death, loving them, and serving them in an evangelical atmosphere mindful of authentic respect for life. Each Little Sister draws from her life of prayer the desire to live the spirit of the Beatitudes in humility, simplicity, and confidence in God. The joyous service of the elderly, sealed by a fourth vow of hospitality, is accomplished together in united, international communities. Why not explore the way in which you can live in the light of the gospel message through prayer and service to the elderly? http://www.littlesistersofthepoor.ie. mp.lond@lsplondon.co.uk. Member of Compass. Code #450.
O 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 InterFaith 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.
P 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, 186 | VISION 2015 | VocationNetwork.org
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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. http://www.poorservants.com; margaret.oshea@psmgs.org.uk. 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. http:// www.presentationsisters.co.uk/; ryan130@cbcew.org. uk. Member of Compass. Code #429.
R Religious of the Assumption, UK Founded by St Marie Eugenie Milleret, contemplative prayer is the source and strength of our community life and our mission. Each day we gather together for the Liturgy of the Hours, to celebrate the Eucharist, and for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. We are educators by vocation, seeking to make Jesus Christ and his Church known and loved. Convinced that each of us has a mission on earth, through our diverse educational ministries we help each person discover the contribution they are called to make to the building up of God’s Kingdom and the transformation of society. Founded in 1839 we are an international Congregation, present in 34 countries. www.assumptionreligious.org/; vocations@assumptionreligious. org. Member of Compass. Code #397.
S 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 marginalized 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 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. Saint Cecilia’s Abbey, UK Founded in 1882 and dedicated to the Peace of the Heart of Jesus, St. Cecilia’s Abbey belongs to the Benedictine Order and in particular to the Solesmian family of Dom Guéranger. The nuns live a traditional monastic life of prayer, work, and study in accordance with the ancient Rule of St. Benedict. At the heart of their life is the praise of God, expressed through the solemn celebration of the sacred liturgy. This hidden life of prayer is a gift of God: Love flourishes in silence, and hidden actions have a particular efficacy. If we have come apart from the world, it is in order to share in sanctifying the world, in union with the Lord who alone sanctifies. We are to be convinced of the apostolic fruitfulness of our willed hiddenness and our prayers said in secret. http://www. stceciliasabbey.org.uk/. abbey@stceciliasabbey.org.uk. Member of Compass. Code #449. 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. http://www.sistershospitallers.org/; provincial@hsc-uk.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; grettamccormick@yahoo.com. Member of Compass. Code #403. Sisters of Christian Instruction (St. Gildas) The apostolic zeal of Gabriel Deshayes and the openness 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
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SEARCH THESE COMMUNITIES ONLINE AT VOCATIONNETWORK.ORG 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 centers or on housing estates. Activities and professions are varied: Education, social work, care of the sick and elderly, pastoral work, in all its forms. annosullivan@ fsmail.net. Member of Compass. Code #431.
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. marotannmarieth@gmail.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 center 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. http://www.holycrossengland.org.uk/; margaret.holycross@dsl.pipex. com. Member of Compass. Code #421. 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 Consecrated 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.crowley1@btinternet.com. Member of Compass. Code #372. 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
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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. http://www.shcj.org/; astewart@shcj.org. Member of Compass. Code #422.
U 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. Ursuline Sisters, Roman Union, UK We are Ursuline sisters living in the UK. We belong to a world wide network: the Roman Union of the Order of St. Ursula. We were founded in 1535 in Brescia, Italy, by St. Angela Merici. Angela placed her new Company under the patronage of St. Ursula, a virgin martyr, popular in the Middle Ages. This was an appropriate choice as it reflects both Angela’s focus on Jesus, her “one and only treasure” and her concern for the development and fulfillment of women. This same spirit has continued to inspire Ursulines for nearly 480 years. We come from differing backgrounds and bring a variety of experiences to our communities. All of us share a desire to bring Christ to the world. We have chosen to do this by living a life consecrated to God in community, where prayer and work go hand in hand. http://www.ursulines.co.uk. zela@ btinternet.com. Member of Compass. Code #458.
W 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 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. http://www.warecarmel.com; warecarmel@ btinternet.com. Member of Compass. Code #425 VocationNetwork.org | VISION 2015 | 187
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Sisters of Nazareth, UK As religious women our first desire is to seek God, becoming one with him, taking on his mind and his way of life. We then live out our consecration through the various ministries (services) that enable us to present the love of Christ to all. For more than 150 years, inspired by our foundress Victoire Larmenier, we have been supporting and caring for those in need, from the beginning of life, through our ministries of childcare and education, to the later years, through residential care services and independent living and other ministries in keeping with our spirit. We strive to live our core values of love, compassion, patience, respect, justice, and hospitality. These values are the heart of our professional expertise, making each Nazareth House a place of peace. http://sistersofnazareth.com/. FCKELL@tiscali.co.uk. Member of Compass. Code #448.
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COMMUNITIES BASED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
B Benedictine Monks, Worth Abbey, UK Benedictine monastic life was instituted in the Church in the sixth century; to this day, monks follow the Holy Rule as our response to Christ’s call. Monks listen to Christ through Church teaching, through the Scriptures, and through the Abbot and Community. Our response is the obedience of community living, the stability of community prayer and the conversion of mutual service. At Worth Abbey, 20 monks sing daily Mass and the full Divine Office of the Church in the Abbey church, and, as witnesses to the eternal truths of God, practice lectio divina of scripture and private mental prayer. We follow the monastic tradition of earning our own living through educational and pastoral works, offering hospitality to guests and, by our communal way of life, stand out against worldliness and social disharmony. Worth Abbey is a monastery of the English Benedictine Congregation, and a member of the worldwide Benedictine Confederation. Contact: Fr. Mark Barrett; jmbarrett@ worth.org.uk; http://www.worthabbey. net. Member of Compass. Code #469. Brothers of Christian Instruction (F.I.C.) [De la Mennais Brothers] The Brothers of Christian Instruction, also known as the De la Mennais Brothers, is a teaching order founded by Fr. Jean-Marie de la Mennais with Fr. Gabriel Deshayes in 1819 to teach the poor children of Brittany in Western France who had not had the chance to go to school nor to learn about their faith due to the social upheaval caused by the French Revolution in 1789. Father Lamennais gave the new congregation the motto, “Dieu Seul” (D.S.), which means “For God Alone.” The Brothers are now in 24 countries around the world, including Chile, Japan, Uganda, Tahiti, Senegal, Italy, the U.S.A., and Argentina. Wherever they are their aim remains
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that of their founder: to educate the young and to “make Jesus Christ better known and better loved.” Contact: Br. James Hayes, FIC; email: bro_james@ me.com; website: www.brojames. blogspot.co.uk. Member of Compass. Code #470.
hospitals, prisons, and schools, among others. Contact: Br. Zbigniew Fryska, OFMCap; email: cap.vocations@btinternet.com; website: www.capgb.org/ vocation. Member of Compass. Code #472.
B ro t h e r s o f t h e S a c re d H e a r t , UK 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. http://brothersofthesacredheart.org/. dansty2@ gmail.com. Member of Compass. Code #457.
Hospitaller Order of St. John of God (O.H.) Worldwide over 1,230 Brothers live and work within 25 provinces across five continents. The Province of Saint John of God comprises Great Britain, Ireland, New Jersey, and Malawi where the Brothers fulfill a variety of roles in governance, leadership, and pastoral and hands-on support. Most importantly they are the guardians and promoters of the story of Saint John of God, his life, and his charism, keeping alive his mission in 53 countries today. The Brothers profess the three vows of religious life which are traditional within the church: poverty, chastity, and obedience. To these they add a fourth vow of hospitality. By this fourth vow they give their lives over to the service of the poor and broken in society, just as Saint John of God had done before them. Contact: Br. Ronan Lennon, OH; email: ronan.lennon2@ gmail.com; website: http://www.saintjohnofgod.org/vocations.php. Member of Compass. Code #471.
C Capuchin Franciscan Friars of Great Britain (O.F.M. Cap.) In a time when reform was needed within both the church and the Franciscan family, Matteo Bassi, a friar, sought a life away from possessions, position, and wealthy benefactors to spend a life as a hermit, with the externals of coarse habit, long hood (capuce: hence “Capuchin”), and bare feet. He and his companions were established in 1543. Today there are 10,500 Capuchin friars throughout the world. The local Capuchin community normally consists of four to six friars living together, dependent on each other for prayer, meals, and recreation together and to fulfill the various duties of each place: study, pastoral work, office work, retreats and missions, vocational work, the sacrament of reconciliation, lecturing, care for people who come to the friary, and chaplaincy work for
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M Missionaries of Charity Brothers The Missionaries of Charity Brothers try to follow Christ’s example and teaching by living the four vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and service to the poorest of the poor, all according to the charism of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. We describe our way of life as having four essentials. By prayer and contemplation we deepen our relationship with Jesus. By our work with the poor we serve him in a simple, personal way, according to the needs of the place. Jesus is the living center and soul of our intense community life. And we try to observe a simple lifestyle, as he did, in solidarity with the world’s poor. Our Lord calls us to embrace these radical,
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gospel values in order to grow, individually and together, toward union with God, in service of our suffering brothers and sisters caught in material or spiritual poverty. http://www.mcbrothers.org; freremichelmc@yahoo. co.uk.Member of Compass. Code #488.
O Order of Friars Minor, UK The center of our life is to live as Saint Francis of Assisi did, bringing the message of the gospel to those who most need help. We are sustained in this by our life of community, our prayer, and celebration of the Eucharist. We bring who we are to the service of God’s people. No experience, skill, or talent is wasted when it is given over to God. We are called to serve the poor, the marginalized, the outcasts. We are helped in our ministry with the strength and support we receive through sharing our life together as brothers. We are committed to living with people, working with them, and showing them Christ in the gospel. http://www.friaruk.org/. vocations@ friar.org. Member of Compass. Code #455.
R Redemptorists (CSsR), UK As an international Catholic Religious Congregation, our presence is felt in every corner of the world, working and
ministering in 79 countries. Motivated by St. Alphonsus, our founder, bishop and Doctor of the Church, in whatever way we can, we try to bring Jesus our Redeemer into the very heart of daily life. Whether in working with those searching for a deeper understanding of faith, or celebrating the liturgy each day in our parishes, preaching parish missions, leading retreats or encountering people in the inner city, we offer people a new and exciting glimpse of a loving Father who calls us by name. In community we pray, live, work and play. We have a passion for the Gospel and we have a passion for people. We seek to bring thee two passions together. Contact Fr. Richard Reid, CSsR at vocations@redemptorists.co.uk. Website: http://www.redemptorists. co.uk. Member of Compass. Code #489.
S 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/; martinpsdb@ googlemail.com. Member of Compass. Code #400.
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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; jimmosm@ gmail.com. Member of Compass. Code #401. 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 evangelization. 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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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. http:// www.misacor.org/; alan.neville@yahoo. com. Member of Compass. Code #427.
COMMUNITIES BASED IN THE UK
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