Becoming A Sister

Considering Religious Life?
Gathering information about different communities and matching it to the yearning in your heart can be an ominous task. You must know what it is that you are seeking in religious life so that what is inside of you can resonate with our way of life. Be aware that God’s holiness can be expressed in many ways and that there is not just ONE way to be a consecrated religious presence in today’s world. Look inward and acknowledge the God-given gifts that are within you and explore where they may be used in the service of God’s people.

What qualifications are needed?

What kind of Catholic spirituality must I have in order to
begin discernment to be a Sister?
Some folks think there are “types” of women that are more likely to be Sisters. Others believe they have to be perfect to become a Sister. Remember that the men and women with whom Jesus hung out weren’t perfect by any means. However, their relationship with Jesus kept them changing and becoming more like him. It was in their relationships with others that Christ was made visible in the lives they served.

If you’re even thinking about becoming a Sister, you might want to look inside yourself and see if you have a relationship with Jesus that is growing and developing.

• Are the sacraments, the Eucharist and the Scriptures a part of your life?
• How do you bring Jesus into the lives of others in your relationships and your service to others?
• How open are you to learning and are you willing to enter the mystery of “vocation” without a pre-determined outcome?
• Self-righteousness, having all the answers, judging others on their compliance with Church laws are not qualities that show openness to the Holy Spirit and don’t reflect the inclusive love that Jesus practiced.

How do I go about choosing?
The process is called discernment—a decision made in faith in which you enter into an attitude of holy indifference so that you are open to what God is inviting you. You do this by:

• prayer
• participation in the sacraments especially the Eucharist
• relationship with a spiritual director
• conversations with those whose heart you trust
• visits to religious congregations.
• Click here for Vocation site links

What must I do once I’ve decided on a community?
You and the Vocation Minister will get to know each other better and you will either be invited to join or you will ask to join. You will be given application forms to fill out and have some assessments done. Throughout that time we will get to know each other better and you will be invited to communal gatherings as well as individual local communities for meals and prayers.

Words I Need to Know
I don't know the meaning of some of those words I keep reading. What do those words mean? Here are some commonly used terms:

Charism:
a gift of the Holy Spirit granted to a person or to a group of persons for the common good of the Church

Community:
another name for the Sisters belonging to a specific group of women religious

Congregation:
a more formal name for a religious community

Constitution:
a written document that establishes the rules and principles that govern our common life and which has been approved by the Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes in Rome

Discernment:
a decision made in faith between many goods (good choices)

Formation:
the steps in which discernment takes place in becoming a member of a religious congregation

Institute:
a term given by Canon Law for a religious congregation

Local community:
the many ways that consecrated women gather to share common life

Mission: A community’s mission statement defines the core purpose of its existence –it shares in and expresses the way Christ was and served in the world and church