I think that your decision to wait and see for now is a good one. This is the time for you to experience the life of a parish, be in relationship with other Catholics and just deepen in your faith life and spirituality. If God is calling you, your sense of call with remain. In my experience, God always gets us where we are meant to be.
I understand some of your feelings. I find I have been up and down a great deal over the last month as well. What I found helped my negative feelings the most was talking about them with my priest and reading about what other people feel here. I’m not an expert, but it seems to me negative feelings don’t last forever. Find out what the driving force is behind your feelings and talking about them is a great way to get to the root cause. You should have seen my post I left a week ago. I was in a bad place when I left it, but leaving the message itself was helpful. Hope that was helpful.
Hi Lina,
Welcome as you begin what may be a process to a vocation.(This is also a fantastic website as it has a survey for those in whatever stage of discernment. They also begin sending information on various communities. They do send some information outside of the parameters in other words you may mention Franciscan Spiriuality and you may rec some response from say Dominicans. This is actually by design as many people who visit their website are unsure of the exact spirituality they may be called to. )I would strongly recommend the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal and the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration! I’ve met the CFR Sisters, and they are INCREDIBLE!
Have you thought about the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word? They are semi-contemplative and do retreats at their Casa Maria. They were formed from the Nashville Dominicans and are Dominican and Franciscan rooted.Hi, everyone!
I’m a college student beginning discernment. I am a recent ‘revert’ (I had received the Sacraments as a child, but my family never practiced the faith growing up). I recently told my priest that I thought I should consider religious life, and he told me he thinks I have a possible vocation to contemplative life. This priest is now acting as my spiritual director.
I’m having a little trouble finding communities. There is such a big difference between purely contemplative communities and active-contemplative! I want something in between!
I love the Nashville Dominicans, the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, and many other active-contemplative communities, but their daily schedules just look a little too packed full for me. I thought about how I would feel living that life, and though I think I would be happy, I think I would feel rushed and would be thirsting for more quiet time to sit with Christ.
On the other hand, the purely contemplative communities don’t seem like the right fit, either! I am looking online at some cloistered communities, but I’m not sure… I don’t feel comfortable with a full cloister, and I think I need more contact with people in my life. I love the schedule in the contemplative, cloistered communities, in which only about 4 hours are dedicated to work, but I wish the work consisted of something other than sewing, baking, art, etc.!
My perfect community would have a schedule like those cloistered, contemplative communities, but our “work” would consist of teaching classes, spiritual direction, or retreats–something focused on sharing the faith with people and helping people on their spiritual journeys! Of course, my “perfect” community is the one to which God leads me!
Before you suggest it, I do like the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, but I don’t think that’s my charism.
I’m meeting with my SD next week, so hopefully he will have some thoughts!
Holding you in my thoughts and prayers
I am waiting to hear from the Little Sisters of The Poor regarding late vocations.I was really seriously discerning a vocation with them at one point earlier on. I love how devoted they are to caring for the aged and poor. I already have my CNA training, and I want to go back to get training as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN), and eventually work up to being a Registered Nurse. I am planning on emailing the Vocation Director I was in contact with for a while (Sr. Constance, I believe).Holding you in my thoughts and prayers
I have placed my vocation in Gods hands, I know he will lead me to where he wants me to be. I will hold you in my prayers and thoughtsI was really seriously discerning a vocation with them at one point earlier on. I love how devoted they are to caring for the aged and poor. I already have my CNA training, and I want to go back to get training as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN/LVN), and eventually work up to being a Registered Nurse. I am planning on emailing the Vocation Director I was in contact with for a while (Sr. Constance, I believe).
I’ll keep you in my prayers! If God wants you there, He’ll find a way.
*I will keep you in my prayers Carmelite Girl. Wow it seems you have one thing happen on your journey after another. I actually looked at the Holy Spirit Sisters on my first discernment almost 30 years ago… they seemed a lovely community… just not what I was drawn too at the time. You will continue to be in my prayers.
Carmelite, I know you from Phatmass. You have an interest in nursing.
Thank you for posting the suggestions, however, I feel called to wear the habit and veil.
Please keep me in your prayers. I know!
I thought I had it all figured out, but then God threw me for a loop. I intend to take my discernment slowly, day by day, and make sure that I know all about the community before applying. I think it would be best if I looked at this like dating my future spouse. I wouldn’t marry someone after only meeting them one time. 
Hi,Hi, everyone!
I’m a college student beginning discernment. I am a recent ‘revert’ (I had received the Sacraments as a child, but my family never practiced the faith growing up). I recently told my priest that I thought I should consider religious life, and he told me he thinks I have a possible vocation to contemplative life. This priest is now acting as my spiritual director.
I’m having a little trouble finding communities. There is such a big difference between purely contemplative communities and active-contemplative! I want something in between!
I love the Nashville Dominicans, the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, and many other active-contemplative communities, but their daily schedules just look a little too packed full for me. I thought about how I would feel living that life, and though I think I would be happy, I think I would feel rushed and would be thirsting for more quiet time to sit with Christ.
On the other hand, the purely contemplative communities don’t seem like the right fit, either! I am looking online at some cloistered communities, but I’m not sure… I don’t feel comfortable with a full cloister, and I think I need more contact with people in my life. I love the schedule in the contemplative, cloistered communities, in which only about 4 hours are dedicated to work, but I wish the work consisted of something other than sewing, baking, art, etc.!
My perfect community would have a schedule like those cloistered, contemplative communities, but our “work” would consist of teaching classes, spiritual direction, or retreats–something focused on sharing the faith with people and helping people on their spiritual journeys! Of course, my “perfect” community is the one to which God leads me!
Before you suggest it, I do like the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, but I don’t think that’s my charism.
I’m meeting with my SD next week, so hopefully he will have some thoughts!
I’ve thought a little about the Benedictines. To be honest, I’m a little intimidated by them, but my spiritual director says that something that intimidates me may be just what I’m meant for. He’s a tough one.
Seasame,
A plug for the Benedictines,who combine very well the best of active and contemplative religious lifestyles. Balance is their keyword. Many of the non-cloistered ones do mainly retreat work at their monasteries, which combines well with meditation, divine office and lectio, prayerful reading, a hallmark of Benedictine life. This includes both habited and non-habited groups. The latter tend to be older and attract older candidates, but are very prayerful, Benedicine and do mainly retreat work.Hi, everyone!
I’m a college student beginning discernment. I am a recent ‘revert’ (I had received the Sacraments as a child, but my family never practiced the faith growing up). I recently told my priest that I thought I should consider religious life, and he told me he thinks I have a possible vocation to contemplative life. This priest is now acting as my spiritual director.
I’m having a little trouble finding communities. There is such a big difference between purely contemplative communities and active-contemplative! I want something in between!
I love the Nashville Dominicans, the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, and many other active-contemplative communities, but their daily schedules just look a little too packed full for me. I thought about how I would feel living that life, and though I think I would be happy, I think I would feel rushed and would be thirsting for more quiet time to sit with Christ.
On the other hand, the purely contemplative communities don’t seem like the right fit, either! I am looking online at some cloistered communities, but I’m not sure… I don’t feel comfortable with a full cloister, and I think I need more contact with people in my life. I love the schedule in the contemplative, cloistered communities, in which only about 4 hours are dedicated to work, but I wish the work consisted of something other than sewing, baking, art, etc.!
My perfect community would have a schedule like those cloistered, contemplative communities, but our “work” would consist of teaching classes, spiritual direction, or retreats–something focused on sharing the faith with people and helping people on their spiritual journeys! Of course, my “perfect” community is the one to which God leads me!
Before you suggest it, I do like the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, but I don’t think that’s my charism.
I’m meeting with my SD next week, so hopefully he will have some thoughts!