DISCERNMENT RESOURCES
| Ever wondered if God might be calling you to join a religious community? Not sure how to decide about it? Well, there are no easy answers, and it takes a lot of prayer and discernment. What's discernment? It’s a good idea to find a spiritual director who can help you sort it all out, or contact one of our province vocation offices and talk it over. In the meantime, here are a few things to think and pray about. Ask yourself: Why am I thinking about religious community? What images do I have in my mind about it? How do I picture myself living as a sister? What kind of work do I see myself doing? Click here to read about some sisters and their ministries. What kind of community am I looking for? Types of religious communities How is my health? How do I deal with stress and disappointment? With change? With new situations? Do I have a lot of friends, or a few? Do I meet people easily? How is my prayer life? Am I involved in a parish or small faith community? Am I interested in becoming closer to God and in serving God’s people? Do I have balance in my life? How much do I work? How do I spend my free time? What is my understanding about my sexuality? Can I be celibate? How do I handle money? Can I live within a budget? How do I make decisions? SPEND SOME TIME MEDITATING ON THESE QUESTIONS. PRAY WITH THEM. TALK THEM OVER WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR. Sometimes people experience a call to religious life that feels like a kind of pressure, or even hounding from God. Other times it grows slowly, indirectly, out of a comment or an invitation to consider religious life. It can manifest itself as a sense of joy in certain situations. All of these are valid signs of a call, but all of them must be explored and tested within the context of the community of believers. It is never enough that you alone believe you have a vocation. Get with some other people and talk it over! Join our chat on Monday evenings. We may be able to help you listen to God's call. Click here to find the CSSJ vocation office nearest you. |
