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Vocations
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I have called
you by name, you are mine. Is 43:1 |
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Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; |
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let it be done to me according to your word" Luke 1:38 |
Our vocation is our response to live out our Baptismal
call to know, love and serve God.
In our Catholic tradition there are five
vocations: Marriage, Religious Life, Priesthood, Single life and the
Deaconate.
Many of us will change our vocational response during our lifetime. For
example, a woman living the single life might enter into the vocation
of marriage or religious life at some point in her life if she hears God's
call to response to her Baptismal call in that vocation.
So why would I want to be a
nun?
Adrian Cunningham, (below r)
with Sister Michelle during her Companion Commitment ceremony, will become a
Resident Candidate Sunday, August 15, 2010. Adrian,
from Kewanna,
IN chose to become a Companion with us during her non- resident Candidacy discernment journey
to help deepen her understanding of Franciscan spirituality
and her
relationship with our community. Adrian met us through the
Vision Vocation
survey and has been journeying with us for two years.
Adrian has ministry
experience as a Medical Assistant and a Teacher
Assistant. She is also
a Certified Veterinary Assistant and a dog
groomer. She plans to
continue her education and ministry in the
health field.
Our vocation is very different from careers or
professions in life. Our
vocation is our way of life. It is
who we are rather than what we do,
which
is our career or profession. You could have the vocation of
religious life,
or any of the vocations, and have the profession of a doctor, business
person, social worker, artist, etc. So a person could change their
vocational response to their Baptismal call as well as their professional
careers throughout one's lifetime.
The call to religious life enables a woman, as a
nun/sister, to deepen her relationship with God, self and others
through a life of prayer, community living and service.
How do I know if I am called to be a nun?
This is the question I hear most frequently as I journey with women who are
prayerfully and sincerely listening to God in their lives. There is no
ready-made, standard answer to this question because each person's call is
unique and special. One of the most helpful actions is to share with a
vocation mentor, spiritual director, or someone who is able to listen and
pray with you as you listen to God's call. I would be most happy and
appreciative to listen and share with you so to be supportive and helpful to
you in whatever way I could best do that with you. Please feel free
to contact me at
frances@stfrancis.org or call me at 719-955-7015.
There are some signs that are helpful in determining if you are called to be
a nun/sister. One is that deep within your being, in your heart, you
have this persistent, ongoing restlessness, searching, or yearning to 'do
more' or 'be more'... that there has to be more to life than this!
There are some other signs that I share with you that
might be helpful also.
click here
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