Vocations

	I have called you by name, you are mine.  Is 43:1
		Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord;
			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