Do I have a call to religious life? | Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand

“I think I may be called to religious life, but I don’t know what to do about it…”

If these words are yours, here are some simple steps you can take to begin your discernment process.

Gather Information

Write, call, or e-mail religious communities to get information. You may want to explore different types of communities, such as monastic, cloistered, apostolic, and secular institutes. When a woman first contacts our community, we call this the Inquiry Stage of discernment.

Pray

Prayer is at the heart of discerning your call. We believe that prayer is so essential that we partner each interested woman with one of our Sisters, who prays for her at least weekly and writes to her occasionally. We call this the Prayer Partner Program.

More About Prayer

Listen to yourself; talk to others

Take some time to reflect on your own personal history and individual gifts. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your reasons for considering religious life? In this time of discernment, it can be helpful to talk to a friend or adviser or meet with a spiritual director on a regular basis. You’ll be better able to sort out doubts, questions, and concerns you may have about religious life. You are welcome to e-mail Sister Teresa or Sister Traci or call them at 800-738-9999.

Make a visit

Once you’ve gathered information about a number of communities, pick several that attract you. A visit will give you a felt sense of the community that’s not always possible to acquire from a phone call or printed material. For instance, you’ll have a clearer understanding of the Daily Schedule and the Ministries of community members.

Begin to make a choice

During this time of discernment you may want to read about the discernment process or the charism of a particular community. Check out our Suggested Vocation Reading List. After you visit, begin to look for confirmation of your choice of community. Are you filled with a sense of joy and peace? Do you find that you can be at home and be yourself in this community, and yet be challenged to grow?

Relax

Remember, you’re not deciding to make final vows, you’re simply taking the next step in choosing a particular community. People are often very fearful in these early stages of discernment. Address your fears head on and don’t let them paralyze you. It’s natural to feel some anxiety during this period of decision-making. Be sure to get plenty of sleep and exercise and eat nutritiously.

Continue the decision-making process

Discernment is a two-way process. Find out the requirements for entering a particular community. Learn about the community’s charism and history. Spend time with the community so you can get to know each other and better make a decision together.

Vocations Inquiry Form

Name*
First Last
Email*
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Age*
Check those which pertain:
- This is my first contact with the sisters
- I am just beginning the discernment process
- I think I have a religious vocation but need more information
- I am interested in visiting
How did you find our community?*
Message*

What do you mean?

Discernment is a way of knowing that is based on feelings, insights, and other perspectives. It is more than just making a list of pros and cons. True discernment involves prayer and an attitude of openness, which leads to an understanding of what God is asking of us.

Monastic communities seek God through prayer and work. The daily schedule is arranged around communal praying of the Liturgy of the Hours. Active ministry flows out of this life of prayer and community. Some monastic communities are cloistered; our community is not.

Active ministry is a primary focus for members of apostolic communities. They are called to find, be with, and serve God in all their activities.

The primary focus of contemplative communities is prayer, both private and communal. These communities may perform ministries outside the monastery or convent, but ministry is not the primary focus. Ministries are chosen based on whether or not they fit with the community’s life of prayer.

Members of cloistered communities usually remain within their monasteries and have limited contact with the outside world. They maintain a balance of prayer, manual labor, and spiritual study. Generally they do not perform ministries outside the cloister.