Young Adult Vocation Thread

[ForeverHis8827]

Peace be with you all!

My journey is too much to write, so I will keep this short.

I have no doubt that I am called to become a Discalced Carmelite Nun. Now I am waiting, patiently, for the Lord to let me know where He wants me. I have not visited any communities yet, but have done a lot of research. If the Lord is willing, I will be visiting a Monastery this Spring that I feel very drawn to. I planned sometime after April, possibly May, with Mother. It might have to be later than planned. If it’s the Lord’s will that I visit then I will get there. Though I have never visited this community, or any, I have a feeling that this could be the one. I am most excited to get there if He lets me to see if it will be my home.

Everyday I take the Lord’s most gentle and loving hand and let Him guide me to where He wants to take me. I won’t resist. I will go where He wants. Always what He will.

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

Peace be with you all!

My journey is too much to write, so I will keep this short.

I have no doubt that I am called to become a Discalced Carmelite Nun. Now I am waiting, patiently, for the Lord to let me know where He wants me. I have not visited any communities yet, but have done a lot of research. If the Lord is willing, I will be visiting a Monastery this Spring that I feel very drawn to. I planned sometime after April, possibly May, with Mother. It might have to be later than planned. If it’s the Lord’s will that I visit then I will get there. Though I have never visited this community, or any, I have a feeling that this could be the one. I am most excited to get there if He lets me to see if it will be my home.

Everyday I take the Lord’s most gentle and loving hand and let Him guide me to where He wants to take me. I won’t resist. I will go where He wants. Always what He will.

Don’t fear getting there, if it’s God’s will. I was concerned that I wouldn’t get to Milwaukee this past weekend (before I bought my ticket, that is), and I brought it to Adoration and Mass with me. I also prayed about it at home in private. About a week later, I was granted unemployment pay!!! I didn’t even ask for it, either, it was just an extension that they mailed out! Praised be Jesus Christ!

"The Lord watches over all who love Him…"–Psalm 145:20

You will be in my prayers!

 

[Jart]

Hey guys

I’m 19. I went to Seminary for 6 weeks fall of '08 then came back home. I had a strong desire to be a priest and I felt very called to it before I went. After coming back home it… kind of dissapeared. I kind of avoid it as well… I don’t know what to think about it.

But now I am a youth minister at my parish. I’m enjoying it so far.

Who knows?

 

[Bebekoualy]

Hey guys

I’m 19. I went to Seminary for 6 weeks fall of '08 then came back home. I had a strong desire to be a priest and I felt very called to it before I went. After coming back home it… kind of dissapeared. I kind of avoid it as well… I don’t know what to think about it.

But now I am a youth minister at my parish. I’m enjoying it so far.

Who knows?

Oh dear… Maybe it wasn’t your call, was it? You’re as old as I am.
Isn’t it too young to enter a Seminary? (in Europe it would be so)

Maybe you need much time to think about your Vocational Call. Or it’s a passage. Sometimes the desire is here, and sometimes it leaves… depends… Maybe on constancy…

 

[Doc2be]

Hey guys

I’m 19. I went to Seminary for 6 weeks fall of '08 then came back home. I had a strong desire to be a priest and I felt very called to it before I went. After coming back home it… kind of dissapeared. I kind of avoid it as well… I don’t know what to think about it.

But now I am a youth minister at my parish. I’m enjoying it so far.

Who knows?

I would say that what happened, happened for a reason. Maybe God only needed you in the seminary for the fall of '08. Maybe that changed some things in your life or maybe something in another seminarians life.

A call to the seminary is as valid as a call to the priesthood. Not everyone who goes to the seminary is destined for priesthood, but I am sure you have heard this all before.

I wouldn’t discard the priesthood, but I wouldn’t worry too much about the lack of a calling at this moment. We must remember that we work on God’s time and not our own.

I am sure you make a great youth pastor! God bless and may you find where He wants you to be.

 

[hxcCatholic413]

Hey guys

I’m 19. I went to Seminary for 6 weeks fall of '08 then came back home. I had a strong desire to be a priest and I felt very called to it before I went. After coming back home it… kind of dissapeared. I kind of avoid it as well… I don’t know what to think about it.

But now I am a youth minister at my parish. I’m enjoying it so far.

Who knows?

keep praying, an answer is bound to come. I’m 18 years old and have my heart set on going into a college seminary this fall, even though my parent’s oppose it.

God Bless

 

[iamMyBeloveds]

I just wanted to send some encouragement out there to anyone who is struggling with their vocation in any way, especially those whose family may not support them fully.
Know that you have a friend in Christ, and He is always there for you, keeping you firm and strong in your resolve.

Persevere!

God bless you all.

 

[justagirl]

Hi everyone!

I’m a college student and think I may have a call to religious life. I’m really new to all of this, which I just posted about in my thread “I’m new and need some help!”

I haven’t read this whole thread, but I’ll be praying for all of you!

 

[ladybuggirl84]

Wish me luck!

I am leaving tomorrow for New Jersey to visit the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. I’ll be there for a week. I am VERY excited.

Please pray for my discernment and the ability to listen to what God has to say to me.

God Bless and I’ll talk to you in a week!

Kristina

 

[vites]

May the Lord make His Will clear to all of you, and to myself.

I am beginning the process of discernment. I have felt the call to serve God since early in high school, and am now 25. I have talked to my priest, and he sent me to the Vocations Office. Now, I feel, the Lord is testing my resolve, as I have, after three weeks or more, just this week contacted somebody at the diocesan office—and not from the Vocations Office. Hopefully somebody will contact me soon. Or perhaps, this is God’s way of making me wait until after I have met with the Franciscans at this weekend’s retreat?

Before I ramble too much on, I will close by saying, it has been incredibly helpful reading through this thread and hearing your stories and struggles, and that I hope I can help someone somehow, as well.

 

[Doc2be]

May the Lord make His Will clear to all of you, and to myself.

I am beginning the process of discernment. I have felt the call to serve God since early in high school, and am now 25. I have talked to my priest, and he sent me to the Vocations Office. Now, I feel, the Lord is testing my resolve, as I have, after three weeks or more, just this week contacted somebody at the diocesan office—and not from the Vocations Office. Hopefully somebody will contact me soon. Or perhaps, this is God’s way of making me wait until after I have met with the Franciscans at this weekend’s retreat?

Before I ramble too much on, I will close by saying, it has been incredibly helpful reading through this thread and hearing your stories and struggles, and that I hope I can help someone somehow, as well.

Hello Vites,

I hope that God blesses you in your period of discernment.

Know that you have helped me just knowing that there is yet another courageous soul taking the plunge into a call to a truly holy life! Another brother along the journey to God! I truly hope you find where God is leading you! God bless.

By the way, I didn’t post it on this thread but my application to my diocese is in and my psyche review is done and over. Now it is just a few interviews and I am about 95% sure that I will be at St. John Vianney’s in Denver CO next year.

I get more and more excited as the days get closer. Thank you all for your prayers and know that I am sending them back your way!

May you all find comfort and solace in the loving arms of Our Mother Mary.

 

[Crimsonflyboy]

Hey y’all,

I have a spiritual director now and he has been a huge help. Before I felt scared and not sure what I was going to do. Since I have been talking to him for a while now I feel sure of what I am going to do. I will be applying to seminary soon and we shall see how it goes. Everyone here at been a big help as well, thanks much.

Charles

 

[Doc2be]

Hey y’all,

I have a spiritual director now and he has been a huge help. Before I felt scared and not sure what I was going to do. Since I have been talking to him for a while now I feel sure of what I am going to do. I will be applying to seminary soon and we shall see how it goes. Everyone here at been a big help as well, thanks much.

Charles

That is great news! God Bless you and your spiritual director! I am so happy for you and happy that you have found a guide for your long walk down the road of discernment! I wish you best of luck with your application and place your trust in God’s love and mercy.

God bless you Charles!

 

[Crimsonflyboy]

That is great news! God Bless you and your spiritual director! I am so happy for you and happy that you have found a guide for your long walk down the road of discernment! I wish you best of luck with your application and place your trust in God’s love and mercy.

God bless you Charles!

Your very nice and I appreciate the kind words. Having a spiritual director means all the difference in the world. I couldn’t do this without him.

God bless you Doc2be.

 

[sethulekshmi]

hi all…
Very pleased to be here…
i am basically hindu girl.i did my schooling in a convent.i believe in jesus christ.now am residing in germany and am not married… well… my question is can i get converted to a roman catholic??coz am aspiring to become a nun.wats the procedure for that?? first i need to know whether its possible. iam not getting a proper answer from anyone.kindly help me out friends…
Thanks in advance.
lakshmi

 

[Doc2be]

hi all…
Very pleased to be here…
i am basically hindu girl.i did my schooling in a convent.i believe in jesus christ.now am residing in germany and am not married… well… my question is can i get converted to a roman catholic??coz am aspiring to become a nun.wats the procedure for that?? first i need to know whether its possible. iam not getting a proper answer from anyone.kindly help me out friends…
Thanks in advance.
lakshmi

Hello,

It is so good to hear that Christ has entered your heart and you are truly seeking to accept him further. Here is a good article from “This Rock” which speaks about the logistics of getting baptized and confirmed and fully accepted into the Catholic Church, here

A good thing to do is to contact a local parish office and tell them that you would like to become a Catholic. They can help you out.

It is always possible to “Come Home” as many people say. Christ, and His Church, always welcome those who seek Him.

God bless you and if you have any more questions let us know.

Doc2be

 

[sethulekshmi]

Hello,

It is so good to hear that Christ has entered your heart and you are truly seeking to accept him further. Here is a good article from “This Rock” which speaks about the logistics of getting baptized and confirmed and fully accepted into the Catholic Church, here

A good thing to do is to contact a local parish office and tell them that you would like to become a Catholic. They can help you out.

It is always possible to “Come Home” as many people say. Christ, and His Church, always welcome those who seek Him.

God bless you and if you have any more questions let us know.

Doc2be

thank you very much for your prompt reply…
so you say its possible for me to become a roman catholic… am soo happy to hear this answer…
peace be with you…

 

[ladybuggirl84]

So I’m back! I visited the Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception during my spring break this last week. They are located in Cherry Hill New Jersey. This was the first time I had flown on a plane by myself and also a blind leap to be spending a week at my first real experience with the Religious life.

What was the building and area like?

When we reached the convent I was amazing at the amount of land they owned. They had a mini forest around their convent! The grounds were beautiful and is home to at least 18 deer. They have gotten used to the movements of the sisters. Praying as the sun comes up and the birds wake up is such an amazing experience!

On the main floor is the chapel, offices, dining room, and kitchen. The dining room has long tables that seat all the sisters at once. This room also has a TV and a little stereo system. The offices look like offices and they have a copy room where they store their paper work. The chapel is AMAZING! It is a long narrow room with stain glass windows going down each wall. Front and center is a beautiful life sized Christ on a cross. At his feet is a circular tabernacle. Mary and Joseph statues are on either side of Jesus. Above the cross is a triangle (representing God the Father) and a beautiful statue of a dove decending on Christ. I am totally in love with this chapel!

What were the people like?

I have never met more giving people in my life. From the moment I entered they were asking me what I needed and anticipating my needs. They fed me up very well, offering me a banana or string cheese any time they saw me! (and I thought I’d starve)

I didn’t know that English was the second language of every sister in the convent! It was weird at first, but I got used to their accents and even helped them with their English as the days went on. One sister took me under her wing. Sister Joanna took me for walks and let me follow along with her during prayer. She felt akward trying to tell me her life story in English, but I could understand it perfectly. I was amazed at how quickly I could understand what they were trying to say.

Every day they reached out to me more and more. One thing I was amazed at is that they never pressured me or asked me if this seemed like the place for me. As I grew to know them better they shared their life stories with me and offered me little bits of their lives.

What was the schedule of each day?

The bell would chime at 5:15 and morning prayer was at 5:35. After this would be a half hour of silent meditation, followed by mass. After mass we would pray the Chaplet of Love (recieved by one of the Blessed Sisters) and then have breakfast. Sometimes this was silent with someone reading, other times it was full of talking and laughing. After breakfast the sisters would go off to their jobs. Some taught at the convent’s preschool, went to nursing classes, worked in a nearby city at a nursing home, or taught in one of the few remaining catholic schools in the area. Lunch was served for about an hour and a half and sisters would come and go depending on their lunch breaks. Evening prayers were at 4:30 and after a little time with Jesus we would have dinner. The younger sisters would clean up after dinner while the other one would pray, nap, talk with eachother, or finish working or planning for the next day. Bed was around 9pm.

What was morning prayer like?

It was so beautiful! I do not have too much expeience with litergy of the hours, but the prayers are amazingly beautiful and hearing it spoken with a polish accent just adds so much. I sat with Sister Joanna who shared her books with me. There is so much history and suffering in their polish heritage that their prayers and petitions seem to be so much deeper. I found it funny that each sister has a special spot in the chapel. This is where they sit all the time.

How were the meals?

I’ve never eaten so well! I don’t know how to cook myself, so any homecooked meal is amazing, but there were so many choices of rich flavor filled foods! I am a picky eater and I found plenty to each during every meal I had. They always have fresh fruit on the table. Eating is a very important thing and much laughter and energy comes from it.

What were some of your discussions?

The sisters, each in turn, spent time getting to know me. I loved that instead of putting me on the spot, they would share their life story and open up to me first. These people have been through so much, my problems seem so simple compared to consetration camps and shooting and communism. They are truly blessed and holy people.

The younger sisters talked with me about what it was like for them to enter and some of the struggles they went through. They missed their families, they felt like they were the only young ones. they had to get used to a slower and simpler life, etc. It was greatly helpful in answering my questions about entering a convent.

Did you have a lot of time to spend praying?

When I arrived I didn’t have much to do because the weekends are less structured. I arrived around noon on Saturday, and by Sunday afternoon I felt like it had been a whole week! I missed my family greatly and wanted to go home. It wasn’t until Monday that I let myself relax and sit before Jesus. There is much time to pray during the day (less for those who teach or work in the nursing home, but I loved every minute of prayer I had. I finally was forced to sit down and catch up with God.

What was your most moving moment?

I started to get sad when it got close to time to leave. During breakfast on the day I left they sang me a blessing in polish. It was so beautiful that it made me cry. I only had a few days to get to know the sisters, but I love them so much already. It was hard hugging and saying goodbye. One of the sisters who talked to me about her mission in Africa came up and pushed a little box into my hand. On the plane I looked at it and it was a beautiful blue rosary. They are only alowed to bring one rosary with them and she might have recieved another as a gift, but I have a funny feeling this was one of two rosaries she owned. This touched me more than anything else. All of these sisters gave me things, which I know where their own treasured possessions. Never will I forget this selfless act!

Did you like or dislike the experience and why?

This was one of the best experiences of my life. I have been deeply changed by this experience and had discovered that the religious life is something I am called to. The deep polish heritage, which is so important to the Sisters, is something that is not so important to me. This would be the one thing that would draw me away from this order. I love the life and the people, but I am not polish enough (I think)

 

[Bebekoualy]

ladybuggirl84, your long post both fills me with bliss and with soreness. Of course, I find your message sweet, and I read it from A-Z. The experience you had is delightful, is really beautiful and it’s God’s hand that made you feel so joyful.

I feel wistful because I’ve got the impression not to be entitled to go to convents and discern as though I was doing it prematurely or pretending to be called to Religious Life…

I sent a letter to a British convent for this summer. It was a couple of weeks ago, and even more… I’m still waiting, and anguish has resurfaced… :bible1::frighten: I envy all these people discerning. Last year I started in England, and I want to go on, but I have a knot in the stomack… :imsorry:

 

[CarmeliteGirl25]

It’s been a while since I posted on this thread. I have begun a new direction in my discernment, beginning in May this year when I discovered that my vocation was not with the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus in Milwaukee, as I originally expected. I went through the application process and then did a live-in with the Sisters that was originally supposed to last 6 weeks so I could work in their group home as an employee and earn the money I needed to pay off my debts. I was there all of 3 days when it became painfully clear that God had not called me here to be a Sister. I experienced a deeper longing in my heart to give it all to Him in cloistered, contemplative life instead of the active life of a Carmelite DCJ. The leaving did not come without a great deal of pain in my heart, not only because I felt like I was disappointing the Sisters, but because I knew my discernment was not over with and I didn’t know where I was called next. I left on the 3rd day to return home, and my discernment formally ended with the Sisters.

There have been days where I wonder if I did the right thing, but when I have peace in my heart, I know that my journey is on the right track in contemplative life. I love and respect all the Sisters very much for I learned that I don’t have what it takes to be a house mother in the group home. They do their work with such love, and I wish I had that, but God has not blessed me with that gift. However, I love to pray and I feel the most happy in contemplative prayer. I decided to write about 6 Carmelite monasteries in the US and request information about their community and formation. One of those monasteries was the Carmelite Monastery of the Little Flower of Jesus in Buffalo, NY. I never felt this way about any monastery before–I had both peace and love for their foundation–and I decided to pursue discernment with them.

I wrote my first letter to Mother Miriam of Jesus, OCD, in August 2009 and I asked her if I could discern with her monastery. I didn’t hear back from her for about 2 weeks, so I decided to call the monastery and leave a message asking to speak to her. I finally did talk to her on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (9/14/09) and we spoke for about an hour all about my discernment and why I felt called to enter their monastery in particular. Mother asked if it was possible for me to make a personal visit, and I unfortunately have to wait (not much longer, I hope, since I have a job interview and other prospects lined up), because I am unemployed.

Discerning with a monastery is much different than discerning with an active community, in my humble opinion. In active life, you are able to spend time with the Sisters in their common area. Since the monastery I am discerning with is much more strict in their rule, I am unable to do a discernment retreat or a live-in, so I have to really rely on the Holy Spirit and ask for help from my spiritual director, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I am planning to go to the monastery sometime in January 2010 (if not sooner), and decide whether or not to apply for entrance. If I do apply, I’m going to ask for entrance on the ceremony of the Feast of the patron saint of the monastery in Buffalo–St. Therese of Lisieux. This little saint has been instrumental in my discernment–particularly to the Carmelites–and has given me much to hope for in the way of my vocation. I would be honored to be a gift to her in thanksgiving for all her prayers. So, I would probably enter on October 1st, 2010. What is so beautiful about this date is that I was planning to enter the DCJs on this same date and year! That was before I found a job to pay off my debts in their group home. I think it was God’s will that enter in 2010 all along.

God bless!