I found this little list of terms helpful when I was discerning whether or not God was calling me to become a religious sister. When one is asking God, "How do you wish me to serve?" it helps to know what forms of service our loving Lord places before us. I hope this helps! Unfortunately, I do not know the source of this list.

Vocation. Through the sacrament of Baptism, each person receives "a call" or vocation. All are called to holiness and to serve. This call can be lived out in a variety of ways--as married or single person, or priest, or sister

Laity and clergy. Within the Church there are two groups of people: Those who have received the sacrament of Holy Orders and are called clerics, and all others, who are called lay people. Sisters and brothers are lay people.

Religious. Since all the baptized share a common relationship with God, all are called to be "religious" or holy in the broad sense of the word. Some men and women, however, choose to live a particular life-style called religious life. These people join a community of people that follow a specific tradition of spirituality patterend after the life and teaching of the founder of that community. Many religious profess vows of celibacy, poverty, and obedience.

Sister. A sister is a woman who is a member of a particular religious community, lives the vows and is involved in serving others.

Brother. A brother is a male member of a religious community. He, too, professes vows and is involved in a variety of ministeries, though he does not administer sacraments as an ordained minister.

Priest. A diocesan priest lives and ministers in a particular geographic area called a diocese, which is governed by a bishop. He does not belong to a religious community or order. He lives celibately and promises obedience to the bishop. Through ordained ministry, a priest proclaims God's word and celebrates the sacraments.

A religious priest (such as a Dominican, Franciscan, Jesuit, or Redemptorist) is one who is a member of a religious community in the same way that brothers and sisters belong to a particular religious community. Unlike the brother and sister, he can administer sacraments as an ordained minister. He is not, as such, a minister of a particular diocese but can be involved in a variety of ministries in many different places.

Novice. The word "novice" means "new." This is the first stage for someone who is joining a religious community. Novitiate is the name given to the process as well as the place where novices live.

Seminarian. A seminarian is someone who is training to be a priest. The seminary is a place where seminarians live and study.

I found this little list of terms helpful when I was discerning whether or not God was calling me to become a religious sister. When one is asking God, "How do you wish me to serve?" it helps to know what forms of service our loving Lord places before us. I hope this helps! Unfortunately, I do not know the source of this list, but God only knows it did me A LOT of good!

Vocation. Through the sacrament of Baptism, each person receives "a call" or vocation. All are called to holiness and to serve. This call can be lived out in a variety of ways--as married or single person, or priest, or sister

Laity and clergy. Within the Church there are two groups of people: Those who have received the sacrament of Holy Orders and are called clerics, and all others, who are called lay people. Sisters and brothers are lay people.

Religious. Since all the baptized share a common relationship with God, all are called to be "religious" or holy in the broad sense of the word. Some men and women, however, choose to live a particular life-style called religious life. These people join a community of people that follow a specific tradition of spirituality patterend after the life and teaching of the founder of that community. Many religious profess vows of celibacy, poverty, and obedience.

Sister. A sister is a woman who is a member of a particular religious community, lives the vows and is involved in serving others.

Brother. A brother is a male member of a religious community. He, too, professes vows and is involved in a variety of ministeries, though he does not administer sacraments as an ordained minister.

Priest. A diocesan priest lives and ministers in a particular geographic area called a diocese, which is governed by a bishop. He does not belong to a religious community or order. he lives celibately and promises obedience to the bishop. Through ordained ministry, a priest proclaims God's word and celebrates the sacraments.

A religious priest (such as a Dominican, Franciscan, Jesuit, or Redemptorist) is one who is a member of a religious community in the same way that brothers and sisters belong to a particular religious community. Unlike the brother and sister, he can administer sacraments as an ordained minister. He is not, as such, a minister of a particular diocese but can be involved in a variety of ministries in many different places.

Novice. The word "novice" means "new." This is the first stage for someone who is joining a religious community. Novitiate is the name given to the process as well as the place where novices live.

Seminarian. A seminarian is someone who is training to be a priest. The seminary is a place where seminarians live and study.

One heart, one mind: Community’s Gift

Saint Paul wrote: “though we are many parts, we are one body in Christ.” Scripture is amazing because our intellect can read and understand the words that we read, but until the words penetrate our very hearts where the Infinite dwells, they remain nothing but words.

Yesterday, I attended a funeral for the brother of one of the Sisters I live with. From the moment my local community heard of his death earlier this week our hearts were immediately wrenched with pain and each of us shared in that Cross of sorrow that our Sister carried as a result of loosing her brother. It was quite unexpected and we were all thrown back by God’s seemingly sudden decision to call him home.

Between the viewing, the funeral mass, the burial, and the social afterwards our Sisters were present in mind, heart, and soul for our Sister and her family. However, this was not what necessarily struck me as the Divine. The Divine presence was not in our being there, but the dwelling of the Spirit that each of us shared with each other as we walked with and partook in the personal Passion of our fellow Sister. No longer was her cross carried as a hidden “we” between herself and Christ, but as a mystical and united “We” between her and the whole Body of Christ.

It is difficult to describe the movement of the Spirit that I can feel so poignantly moving among each of us in this community right now. St. Thomas Aquinas writes, “We can only speak of God’s life (through the experiences of our own lives) because our language breaks down before the splendor of the Infinite.”

Through the cross, I experienced all and any barriers among us dissipate. Our united focus on the cross became both our source of strength and comfort. It is here at the foot of the cross that I realize, that the gift of community is clearly not a singular and individual sign of our humanity, but it is clearly a sign of all of us being drawn closer to God together by means of our humanity: broken, blessed, and perfected by the Divine. Here we become one. Here we truly become the many members of the one Body of Christ!

Never underestimate the light that your life sends forth into the world

During this Advent season, I couldn't help but reflect on John's message in his gospel: Jn1:1-18. I have a saying on my Bible from our late Holy Father, John Paul II. He states:

You must be strong, dear brothers and sisters, with the strength that comes from faith....accept once again your spiritual heritage....with faith, hope and love....Never despair, never grow weary, never become discouraged; never spurn that love....expressed by the cross, without which human life has no roots and no meaning. I ask this of you!

This Christmas went by like a flash and I find myself yearning for a little more rest and relaxation in the Lord! The main apostolate of our sisters is to teach...I NEVER thought I would teach! And here I am embarking on a life responding to Our Lord and striving for the goal of apostolic holiness. I have no doubt in my mind that God is calling me to a more intimate relationship with Him [though sometimes I question the means with which he leads me there! =) ]. But my underlying trust is in the pull in my heart that He wishes me to be close to Him. Kind of like the inner voice of one's conscience. Don't try to explain it...its just there! An Infinate and loving Mystery!

So, never despair and never doubt the light that your life and your witness sends forth into this world.

Peace to all and Merry Christmas. God bless you!

The Joy of the Sisters

The religious Sisters in my convent and I just finished celebrating Thanksgiving. I love this day because all of the Sisters in my convent gather together and there is much laughter mixed with the aromas of good home cooking!

This is exactly what I was attracted to with the Sisters in this congregation. When I was discerning religious life, I had certain "musts" in my mind. As a teenager, I did not know about spirituality let alone the depth of the evangelical councils of chastity, poverty, and obedience that I earned to submit to in order to live a life dedicated to God! Rather, I saw religious life as a total gift and I sought a congregation that lived that gift of self radically! So I searched for a group of Sisters who wore a religious habit and that "did the same thing."

As God led me through my search, I began to search deeper. Instead of looking so much exterior (although those aspects still mean a lot to me) I also began to see also the interior value. Prayer! Yes, a congregation that prayed together and were united in mind and spirit...not conformity where the self would be stifled...but uniformity. One-ness of heart; a heart for Christ!

My search was not long, though I was disheartened when I did not have a good experience with another congregation that I was looking at. I was directed, then, to the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I attended a "Sister's Night" where a lot of Sisters and young women gathered together for an evening of prayer and play (yes, Sisters play a mean game of basketball, volleyball, and softball!) I was thrilled and my heart released a sigh of relief the moment I saw my first IHM Sister. Something inside of me said, "Yes, Lord...this is it."

As the evening went on, I remember walking on "the bricks" outside and looking up at the cross above their chapel and thinking excitedly, "This is it! This is home."

The joy of the Sisters amazed me and it still does today! We work hard, we laugh hard, and we pray hard. We are all so different. But God only knows...we strive to be one! Isn't that where grace meets us? In the midst of the human, the incarnation, there Jesus is in the flesh! So here we are. Peace! We are so blessed!

Hope

Who says religious life is dying? I sure don't and I know the Sisters in my congregation do not either! My name is Sister Jacqulyn and I just made my temporary vows in the congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary located in Immaculata, PA. I entered only a year after college and I continue to see the fire and thirst that burns in young people's hearts who seek God in their lives. Maybe these posts can continue to fan that fire and keep the hope burning that God continues to work among us and within each of us. Through the example of our lives and our daily witness may we bring hope to others in the Church today. The Spirit is alive and active. Let us "go out into the deep" and welcome Him into our hearts and lives!