2010 VISION Vocation Guide by VISIONVocationGuide

A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL RELIGIOUS VOCATION CONFERENCE

2010 CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS VOCATION DISCERNMENT GUIDE

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The church needs you! Come bearing your gifts

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CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS VOCATION DISCERNMENT GUIDE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL RELIGIOUS VOCATION CONFERENCE Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C. PUBLISHER TrueQuest Communications, L.L.C. Patrice J. Tuohy (pjtuohy@truequest.biz) Daniel Grippo (dgrippo@truequest.biz) EDITORIAL EXECUTIVE EDITOR Patrice J. Tuohy MANAGING EDITOR/PRODUCTION

Anne Marie O’Kelley (amokelley@truequest.biz)

MANAGING EDITOR/EDITORIAL Joel Schorn (jschorn@truequest.biz) CONTENT EDITOR Carol Schuck Scheiber (contenteditor@VocationGuide.org) ART DIRECTION

T & J Studios

ADVERTISING PRODUCTION MANAGER Dianne Potter (dpotter@truequest.biz) SALES Patrice J. Tuohy 800-942-2811

Dianne Potter

CUSTOMER SERVICE mail@VocationGuide.org

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ONLINE SERVICES Long Web Development VISION is the annual publication of the National Religious Vocation Conference, 5401 South Cornell Avenue, Ste. 207 Chicago, Illinois 60615; nrvc@nrvc.net; www.nrvc.net © 2009, National Religious Vocation Conference Published by TrueQuest Communications, 53 West Jackson Blvd., Suite 520, Chicago, IL 60604-3433, PHONE: 312-356-9900; FAX: 312-356-9903; E-MAIL: mail@truequest.biz; www.truequest.biz Printed in the United States. ISBN 1083-0804. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission from TrueQuest Communications. Manuscripts are welcome. For writer’s guidelines and other editorial inquiries, contact Carol Schuck Scheiber at contenteditor@VocationGuide.org Request additional copies online at VocationGuide.org; e-mail mail@VocationGuide.org; or call 800-942-2811. For information on advertising, please call Dianne Potter at 800-942-2811. VISION reserves the right to reject any advertising. All ads must be in line with the guide’s mission to promote Catholic religious vocations. The NRVC does not specifically endorse any advertisements.

VocationGuide.org VISION 2010

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Contents

VISION 2010 CATHOLIC Religious Vocation Discernment Guide

Sixteen questions about church vocations 58

Priests Feeding Jesus’ friends Thomas Rozwadowski

What being a priest means to me

Father Laurence Freeman, O.S.B.

With heart wide open

136

Father Joseph Pasala, S.S.C.C.

Serving

as the finger of

God

Sisters

Religious Sightings 6

Teacher first, sister always Dear Discerner: Notes on love and promises Patrick Gilger, S.J.

Prayer & discernment In God we trust Sister Charlene Diorka, S.S.J.

Brother Dismas Warner, O.C.S.O. 18

in joyful

South Africa: Living hope 102

Thriving among the generations Carol Schuck Scheiber

Serving as the finger of God text by patrice J. Tuohy & carol schuck scheiber

Religious life

The brothers will be my prayer

Mission

Leslie Scanlon

Photos by AndrÉ chung

In God

we trust

The mysterious gift of celibacy FAther Donald Cozzens

Sacred places: Where beauty and grace meet Joel Schorn

Monks build community one living stone upon another Brother Francis Wagner, O.S.B.

Don’t miss these exceptional features at VocationGuide.org Vocation Match Service Narrow your vocation search by filling out an online profile and finding the vocation/community that might best suit you.

Opportunity Postings • Q & A • Blogs • Spanish/French resources Cover design and photo T & J Studios. Special thanks to Father James Hurlbert and St. Alphonsus Church in Chicago for permission to feature their church facade on our cover.

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Publishers’ Note Gifts welcomed

missionaries mission to south Africa: Living in joyful hope BOB ARmBRusTeR

102

Being Catholic Holiness is for everybody fATHeR WILLIAm J. O’mALLey, s.J.

Sacred

placeS:

grace meet

Where 46

beauty and

Consider Paul, our brother fATHeR DOnALD senIOR, C.P.

Happiness took me in an unexpected direction

How to make every mass count

sIsTeR Ann e. fIORe, V.H.m.

Amy fLORIAn

Listening for god

152

Brothers BROTHeR nICH L. PeRez, C.s.C.

BROTHeR ARnALDO sAnCHez,

dear diScerner: noteS

fATHeR LARRy JAnOWskI, O.f.m.

134

men’S communitieS Search 135

Brother A. takes your questions

142

126

Just take it

Being a brother is like surfing

O.s.m.

116

The art of discernment

sIsTeR THeResA my-HAO nguyen, I.W.B.s.

108

Women’S communitieS Search 145 advertiSer index 169

on love and promiSeS

y favorite high-school teacher—a De La Salle Christian Brother—showed up at my office doorstep. i hadn’t seen him in 20 years and had only reconnected with him via email two weeks prior to the unexpected visit. “Well, hello! Nice office. are you busy? i’m dying of thirst. Can you take a break?” the barrage of comments and questions came at the same lightening speed he used to deliver his lessons in english and biblical literature—lessons i can recall nearly verbatim. this super-charged religious brother came to his vocation bearing gifts—a keen intellect, a sharp wit, a wildly creative mind—and he has generously shared those gifts with the church for the past 30-plus years. you, too, have gifts and talents, which viSioN invites you to consider sharing through a Catholic religious vocation. as you read the life stories of the priests, brothers, and sisters featured in this issue, you can’t help but notice a common thread: People in religious life are happy. their lives are rich and textured and filled with incredible opportunities for growth in wisdom, grace, and compassion. thank you for turning to a reliable guide as you discern your life’s calling. our mix of print and online articles, indexes, and services, such as Vocation Match and opportunity Search are specifically designed to help you discover how you can best share your gifts in service to the church. —Patrice J. Tuohy

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religious sightings JUMP IN VOCATION INQUIRIES

N FORMER MILWAUKEE ARCHBISHOP Timothy Dolan, who was installed as archbishop of New York City in April of 2008, said that increasing vocations was his “first mandate.” Asked his strategy, Dolan replied, “Happiness attracts.”

EARLY 70 PERCENT of Catholic religious communities saw a jump in vocation inquiries in 2008, according to a survey conducted by VocationMatch.com. Sixty-nine percent of the communities responding to the website’s third annual “Survey on Trends in Religious Vocations” reported increased inquiries into religious life. Discerners—those interested in religious life—were primarily under 40 years old and said they were looking at religious life because of a desire for deeper spirituality. Most were quite serious about exploring religious life, and nearly 20 percent planned to enter religious formation within the year. In addition to their desire for a deeper spirituality and a life of faithfulness to the church, discerners said they were most drawn to a particular religious community by its prayer life and community living. A significant 35 percent ranked justice and peace outreach as essential. Celibacy, a life of service, and living simply were all perceived as more challenging to the 2009 discerners than the previous year’s. Prayer and spiritual direction continued to rank as the most essential element in making a decision about religious life, and the discipline of prayer remained the greatest perceived challenge in living as a religious priest, sister, or brother. Ninety percent of discerners said their inquiries into religious life were made easier because of access to information about

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religious life on the Internet. Not surprisingly, those discerning a call to religious life still considered personal contact with someone in religious life as the most essential resource for gathering information about vocations (53 percent). However, “Come and See” weekends and working with a counselor or spiritual director ranked high as well. A religious community’s website ranked next, and 58 percent rated vocationrelated websites as either very important or essential to their information-gathering The complete survey results are posted online at www.vocation-network.org/ articles/show/186.

Connect online with other discerners

U 6

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BECCA GAY

NSURE if religious life is for you? Now you can meet others who are praying, laughing, and talking about the ins and outs of joining a religious community. Log on to anunslife.org/vocation-forum. The forum is easy to join, participants are not obligated to use their real names, and the discussions are friendly and honest. Sister Julie Vieira, I.H.M. has been writing the acclaimed blog, A nun’s life, for several years. The blog has evolved into a website, and in 2008 the site launched its discussion forum. It’s billed as “a place to explore how God is calling you and to connect with others who are discerning God’s call.” It has treated topics ranging from “are your parents supportive?” to “living into your vocation.”

SISTER JULIE Vieira, I.H.M.

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religious sightings Dominicans bring new kind of hope to urban community

Racine Dominican sister Ann Pratt serves a customer at the HOPES Center.

o matter which of its three doorways you enter, a visit to downtown Racine, Wisconsin’s HOPES Center is meant to encourage healing, wholeness, peace, justice, and spiritual well-being. The center is a multipurpose facility where the public is invited to come in and have their morning coffee and bakery items, shop for globally produced fair trade products, and access counseling and mentoring services. Visitors can also learn about issues ranging from poverty to ecology as well as explore their spirituality. Created out of the vision of five Racine Dominicans, the center is designed to be a “vibrant hub where a diverse and inclusive community will collaborate to shape the future.”

pEACE tAKES TEAM EFFORT

people who were enemies to each other, aint Francis of Assisi encourages who couldn’t understand each other.” us to pray that we might understand Schroeder’s activities with CPT include rather than be understood, says Sister monitoring the treatment of Paulette Schroeder, O.S.F. As a Palestinians at military checkFranciscan sister she’s putpoints and roadblocks, walking ting those words into practice the streets to protect Palestinthrough her work with Chrisian residents from harassment tian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), by Israeli settlers, and standing an ecumenical organization with those who have been dethat promotes nonviolence in tained. CPT members also lead crisis situations and militarized nonviolence training and join areas of the world. Palestinians and Israeli peace “Basically our hope is to activists in protests against Isprevent violence, or de-escalate rael’s construction of a security it, [and] advocate for the ones who are being oppressed,” says “There was always a drive wall that cuts through Palestinwithin me to reconcile people Schroeder, who has made a who were enemies,” says Sister ian territory. Paulette Schroeder, O.S.F. “We are all sons and three-year commitment to CPT daughters of God—one loved as after being part of a CPT-led much as the next,” Schroeder says. “All the delegation to the West Bank and later servviolence and injustice in the world alienates, ing as a CPT reservist. CPT members go creates rage, revenge, and suicide bombers. to areas at the invitation of local peace and . . . We must envision a world without human rights groups. weapons . . . and then work from there.” Peacemaking fits well with the work of her community, the Sisters of St. Francis of Based on stories by Laurie Stevens Bertke and Tiffin, Ohio. “Even when I was teaching, Sister Carol Pothast of The Catholic Chroniwhen I was working in pastoral work in the cle, the newspaper of the Catholic Diocese parishes,” says Schroeder, “I felt like there of Toledo. was always a drive within me to reconcile VISION 2010

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“As a priest you have to be more of a listener—compassionate and understanding. That’s the hard part. . . . When you go into the priesthood, don’t look to be served; you’re there to work with people, to serve them. ” –Father Patrick Buckley, a New York diocesan priest featured on nypriest.com

YEAR OF THE PRIEST “Precisely to encourage priests in this striving for spiritual perfection on which, above all, the effectiveness of their ministry depends, I have decided to establish a special “Year for Priests” that will begin on 19 June 2009 and last until 19 June 2010.” –Pope Benedict XVI

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religious sightings Religious life at the movies

he 2008 movie Doubt, starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams and written and directed by Pulitzer prize-winning author John Patrick Shanley, received five Academy Award nominations. Shanley, who received his elementary education from the Sisters of Charity of New York at St. Anthony School in the Bronx, dedicated his play “to the many orders of Catholic nuns who devoted their lives to serving others in hospitals, schools, and retirement homes. Though they have been much maligned and ridiculed, who among us has been so generous?” Set in 1964, the movie, based on Shanley’s play, explores enduring themes such as truth, trust, and judgment as it follows the story of a sister, who, as a

“We were trying to do something to really connect monastics with students this year.” –Sister Molly Weyrens, a Benedictine sister of St. Joseph, Minnesota, who along with other energetic Benedictine sisters and priests participated in the “Dancing with the Monastics” competition with members of the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University Ballroom Dance Club [Must see video of the event posted on youtube.] Share your sightings

If you spot a member of a religious community in the news, please e-mail the details to us at mail@vocationguide.org.

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school principal, becomes suspicious of the link between a priest and a boy in her Catholic school. The 2009 documentary The Calling, directed by David A. Ranghelli, follows a young Hispanic man on the brink of joining a newer religious community and an older-vocation sister who belongs to the same community (the community is mixed, with women and men residing separately but ministering together). While portraying their questions, joys, and struggles to understand their callings and to live them with integrity, the film also closely explores the impact of their choices on their families. For additional updates on religious in the news, follow VISION Vocation guide’s SpiritCitings and CultureCitings blogs online.

Beauty salon ministry

e’re blessing a beauty salon—the first Holy Cross beauty salon. It sounds a little crazy, but it’s really not,” said Brother Francis Boylan, C.S.C., the executive director of Holy Cross Children’s Services, a statewide antipoverty organization in Michigan. “We started Holy Cross Children’s Services to help the kids that others don’t serve. But to help poor kids in Michigan, you need to provide services that will help their mom get a job. So we’ve set up these incubator businesses where we provide the proper wardrobe for job interviews, 24-hour dialysis centers—so parents on dialysis can get to work—dental clinics, health clinics, and, yes, Christina’s Beauty Salon, where our moms can get their hair and makeup done to go on an interview. ”I’ve been at this for 45 years now. We help about 2,000 people a day,” said Boylan. “What sustains me? It probably goes back to no matter where I go, some kid says, ‘Thank you.’ One of the most gratifying aspects of

Christina’s Beauty Salon, located in the Holy Cross Brothers’ Samaritan Center in Detroit, helps unemployed women obtain a professional look before going to job interviews. Pictured here are Brother Francis Boylan, C.S.C. with a beautician and customers at the salon. this work is actually being with people who are marginalized. There are all these stereotypes out there, but we have the privilege of meeting the person.” —www.holycrossbrothers.org

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prayer & discernment OFteN wheN I am walking I find pennies. I think they are constant reminders of God’s presence in our lives. they challenge me to recall in whom I place my trust: “In God we trust!”

In God we trust A veteran vocation director reflects on the process of finding the life choice that will allow you to be most at home with yourself.

SiSter Charlene Diorka, S.S.J.

eCeNTly I was traveling on a puddle-jumper from Seattle, Washington to Portland, Oregon. My assigned seat was between a 5-year-old boy and a young woman in her 20s. As often happens when traveling, we started a conversation. It began, however, when the little boy leaned over, winked at me, and asked my name. The

Sister Charlene Diorka, S.S.J. is a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia and associate director of the National Religious Vocation Conference in Chicago.

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twentysomething beside me commented, “I think he’s trying to pick you up!” Then she introduced herself as Kelly. It wasn’t long before she asked me what I did. Having spent six years in vocation ministry, I cut to the chase and said, “I’m a Catholic nun!” “No way! Cool!” she said, “I never met a real nun. My mom will be so happy!” She asked how long I had been a nun and whether this trip was part of my work. She wanted to know when I got “the call” and how I knew. She asked if I were happy and if I had any regrets. Then she asked me for my business card so she could officially

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they struggle to live with meaning and significance. They want to know “how to know if you are called.”

An invitation to come and see

513.881.7411

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substantiate that she had met a real, live nun. My experience with Kelly is neither uncommon nor unusual. Whether teaching in elementary school or high school, helping young adults with discernment as a vocation director, or ministering to other

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vocation directors as the associate director of the National Religious Vocation Conference, I have met people, especially young adults, who are interested and inquiring about religious life. They desire to understand the mystery of God’s call; they long to follow their own heart; and

Reflecting on my own call has helped me in tending to others as they discover theirs. Each vocation is a unique mystery. It is our story. We commonly expect God’s call to be dramatic, clear, and unquestionable. More times than not, it breaks into life when we least expect it and life is moving along nicely. I remember minding my own business teaching junior high school, planning for a future with someone I thought I was in love with, and being satisfied with an active social life. But there was this recurring sense of wanting more and desiring to be satisfied on a deeper level. Ultimately I did not want to settle for what others expected of me in life. I felt drawn to pursue an alternative possibility: religious life. My call to religious life, like that of many others, did not come in isolation. It arose as one among several good opportunities from which I could choose. I was not grasping at this choice as a last chance because there was nothing else to do. God provided a rich array of invitations and allowed me to see that they were all good. I looked for which choice would allow me to be most at home in myself, to be generous in service to others, and to live the dream that God was dreaming for me. When I started to embrace God’s call I began to discover what my gifts were—what I was good at, what gave me energy and joy and provided me

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Living in the presence of God is the center of our life

. Dedicated to with what I needed to be interiorly at home. Of all the things I could do, I wanted to choose what would let me give myself away in service to God and God’s people. Frederick Buechner, a writer and Presbyterian minister, defines “call” as “the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.” Ultimately, my call to religious life made a way for God’s dream to be lived out in me and for me to be joyful. The thought that I could

. New/Traditional Masses . Divine Office . Gregorian Chant . Lectio Divina . Eucharistic Adoration . Community Rosary . Novena Devotions

Contemplative Prayer, Sacrifice, and Penance Strict Cloister/ Papal Enclosure Loyal to Magesterium Life of Silence, Solitude, Community Traditional Carmel with Full Habit English/Spanish spoken

. . . . .

Vocation Contact 721 Parker Avenue San Francisco, CA 94118-4227 415-387-2640 vocations@cmcrnuns.org

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Young adults long to follow their own heart; and they struggle to live with meaning and significance. love deeply, work professionally, and minister to God’s people was exciting. It spoke to me of the fullness of God’s word with all its promise and potential. Coming to recognize these aspects of call has helped me to listen more deeply with others for how God is moving them. I suggest that those who are discerning a call meet with someone like a vocation director, who can accompany them on the journey. That provides a way of reflecting on all of life’s experiences and helps them to listen for God’s dream and their deep joy.

A call is about God’s time Call involves waiting and tending to a process. After experiencing an initial call to come and see, I realized that God was faithful to me

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in the invitation to religious life. I needed to allow myself to surrender to God. Like anything that intends to grow, I needed nurturing, support, and attentiveness so that I could cultivate eyes to really see and ears to really hear God. I realized that tending to the discernment process

meant more than completing all the necessary tasks or doing all the appropriate things. In the process I waited on God’s time. My impatience sometimes made the waiting seem purposeless when really it was an opportunity to be especially mindful and attentive.

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Jesus’ parable of the barren fig tree is a favorite of mine. Like the orchard owner, I had little time for what appeared to be a barren, useless tree. There was no fruit, and to anyone unfamiliar with the process of waiting for things to germinate and grow, it might seem reasonable to cut it down prematurely. My temptation was to shortchange the fertile waiting process because it seemed barren. A profoundly personal experience early in my religious life taught me the inestimable value of waiting and the potential for recognizing

More times than not, God’s call breaks into life when we least expect it and life is moving along nicely. It occurs in the midst of our everyday, ordinary circumstances. Be in touch. Contact Sister Kathleen Heer connect@slw.org or Kathleen_slw@yahoo.com 847-577-5972

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Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart What can one woman do to change the world? • Form community • Know herself • Love God • Serve the poor Grey Nuns

of the

Sacred Heart

CREATING A COMPASSIONATE WORLD

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• Seek peace and work for justice • Share in a 300 year old mission of universal compassion Grey Nuns Motherhouse • 1750 Quarry Road • Yardley, PA 19067 PH: 215-968-4236 • www.greynun.org Sr. Joan Daly: jdaly@greynun.org

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God’s presence even in what appears barren. On a fall day in 1994 my mother was walking home from church when she was struck and killed by a drunk driver. The grieving process was an unforgettable lesson in waiting. Initially, it was chaotic, disorienting, empty, and unproductive. It was nothing like what I expected the grieving of a loved one to be. I believed that an experience of death should yield resurrection and new life. Needless to say, I was impatient with the bereavement process. Like the orchard owner in the parable, I wanted to cut down the steps. I was tending to it faithfully, yet still found

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no fruit. And the pain was wrenching. Why should the waiting and grieving exhaust my life? Slowly and gradually, in God’s time, I began to see and hear signs of God’s presence with me, gently leading me. Because I fully entered the dark and barren experience of grieving, I met God who was waiting to prod me along, taking the most abrupt and tragic sorrow of my life and using it to cultivate my heart. What seemed like barren waiting was bearing rich fruit. On one of my annual retreats during that time, God gave me the gift of freedom, the grace to let go of this burden and know that Jesus the Mantle of Light was enfolding, healing, and holding my mother no matter how she died. At the same time I was being invited to rest in her care. Like a child in her arms, I experienced her tenderness in a new way. I came to know God in this intimate way as well. As God promises, not even death could separate us. This experience has become a tremendous gift to me as I have accompanied others in sharing their stories and the details of their lives. It has attuned my heart to listen deeply and actively to wait with them in the distillation process that purifies God’s call. God’s time and God’s way are often not like ours.

A call is a journey of trust, and God is always with us Often when I am walking I find pennies. My friends laugh as I stoop to pick them up, but I think they are constant reminders of God’s presence in our lives. They challenge me to recall in whom I place my trust: “In

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The Somascan Fathers “Serving Needy Youth in the World”

For five centuries the Somascans have carried out throughout the world St. Jerome Emiliani’s legacy: “Work, devotion and charity are the foundation of our activity.”

CHARISMS: • Spiritual and material care of orphans, abandoned youth and poor • Human and Christian education of youth • Pastoral ministry

Come Join Serve

LIFESTYLE: • Community, Prayer, Action Fr. Italo Dell’Oro, CRS 4419 N. Main • Houston, TX 77009 somascans@yahoo.com • www.somascans.org St. Jerome Emiliani, Universal Patron of Orphans and Abandoned Youth Enter #120 at VocationMatch.com

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hat does love look like? It has the hands to help oth-

God we trust!” I certainly believe that, but it is quite a challenge to live. God invites us to step out in faith. For those discerning a call, it is no different. We are not given to see the end—only the horizon that lies before us. With a long line of prede-

We are not given to see the end—only the horizon that lies before us. With a long line of predecessors, Jesus calls us to follow. cessors, Jesus calls us to follow. In reflecting over my 25 years of religious life, I am reminded of my own call to religious life and that the loving God who created me and provided for me this far will not abandon me now. That is the ministry that vocation directors, spiritual directors, and mentors offer others who are discerning their call. We accompany them with the grace and wisdom that we have come to know; we are spiritual companions. We give life to the scriptural stories of Abraham, Moses, Ruth, and Mary, each of whom responded “yes” to God’s invitation in an act of profound trust. Together we come to know Emmanuel—God with us.

ers. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It

has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like. — Saint Augustine of Hippo [For more inspirational quotes and commentary follow us at twitter.com/VisionVocation.]

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A gift graciously given and full of grace Tracing the loving activity of God in my life, I realize the privilege of be-

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ing a coworker with God in vocation ministry. This privilege has exposed me to the joy and gratitude of those who recognized God’s invitation to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. It has opened me to the sacred stories of many. It has united me with women and men seeking a wholeness they thought impossible but who came to realize that all things are possible with God. And it has undoubtedly shaped and formed the religious sister I am today. Vocation ministry has been a challenge, to be sure, but a formative and life-giving one. I believe that religious life is alive and well, that God is still calling people. Our witness every day, in big and small ways, is a testimony to this life. = Reprinted from America, January 5, 2009 with permission of America Press, Inc., © 2009. All rights reserved. For subscription information, call 1800-627-9533 or visit www.americamagazine.org.

Complete a short online profile to find which religious communities are compatible with you. It's free. It's quick. It's easy. VocationMatch.com

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Sister Alice Abate, O. Carm. 420 Robert E. Lee Boulevard New Orleans, LA 70124-2596 504-302-9795 carmelitesrs@bellsouth.net Enter #013 at VocationMatch.com

6/8/2009 10:33:53 AM

prayer & discernment

The brothers will be my prayer

Jim Huff

Brother Dismas Warner, o.c.s.o. accompanies liturgical prayers on guitar.

Thirty-three Ecuadorian nuns and a monk of Mepkin Abbey taught Cistercian Brother Dismas Warner that finding a God he cannot see involves trusting the visible, all-too-human community.

Brother Dismas Warner, O.C.S.O.

n September of 2004 our Brother Laurence made the mistake of parking the backhoe he was operating on an incline and climbing out of it. No one saw it tip over onto him, pinning him to the ground. But that was how Brother Joseph found him. Laurence had to be airlifted to

Brother Dismas Warner, O.C.S.O. entered Mepkin Abbey in January of 2005. When not playing guitar, he assists on the monastery’s fledgling mushroom farm.

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the hospital. His blood pressure was too low for the doctors to give him anesthesia, so they just asked the emergency room nurses to hold him down while they opened his wounds and cleaned them. Laurence was in the hospital for months. He was not expected to live, so when he came home, wheelchair-bound but breathing, all of the brothers went in to see him. Father Francis, who, as abbot, was the spiritual guide and superior of the community, was last in line. Upon seeing his spiritual father, Laurence began weeping. “Father Francis,” he said, “I can’t pray.”

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The abbot replied, “Laurence, from now on, don’t worry about prayer. The brothers will be your prayer.” And, as I would soon find out: “The sisters will be your prayer.” I heard this story a week before traveling to Esmeraldas, Ecuador.

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God showed me the Savior is only relevant in my life to the degree that I allow myself to be in over my head, to admit it, and to call out to him. The Trappistine Nuns of Our Lady of Hope were poised to elect a new superior, and Father Stanislaus, recently elected Mepkin’s new abbot, had to go down to help the process along. I was preparing to profess simple vows and needed retreat time, so Stanislaus asked if I’d like to accompany him. Deciding that I remembered enough of my high school Spanish to function conversationally, I agreed to it with hesitant enthusiasm. At Our Lady of Hope, though there were a few embarrassing mistranslations, I understood most of what the sisters said. I met with the novices and managed to tell my vocation story in Spanish and understand theirs. It was satisfying and absolutely exhausting. I love the psalms, but to my mind, fumbling my way through singing them in Spanish didn’t

qualify as prayer. After three frustrating days, while sitting in my room, a question arose with such force that I spoke it aloud: “How do you expect me to discern a call to Trappist life this week if I can’t fully participate in the liturgy?” A thought came that calmed my anxiety, one I’ve since recognized as God’s answer: “The sisters will be your prayer.” Had the Lord’s response been audible, he would simply have whispered abandonment over and over again. God knew what kind of retreat I needed before I did: I had to rely on a group of women I didn’t know; I had to speak a language I’m not fluent in; and I had to trust that, as far as the Father was concerned, the sisters’ prayers sufficed for us both. True to form, God showed me the Savior is only relevant in my life to the degree that I allow myself to be in over my head, to admit it, and to call out to him.

Distractions set in It is difficult for me to allow the brothers, particularly my superior, to encroach on my highly developed and utterly useless agendas. For the past three years, at the request of the abbot, I have been accompanying the various liturgical prayers on guitar. Practically speaking, the fact that the brothers need it elevates his request to a demand of holy obedience. I am, in the first place, a poet; it was the psalms the monks chant seven times daily that drew me to the monastery. Their poetic value speaks to me, and if the one singing them has an open mind and an open

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heart, it’s not only his prayer to God, it’s also something God is saying to him. It’s the voice of Christ himself. The rush of that kind of communication, the desire for it, gets a monk out of bed and into church starting at 3:20 a.m. But because that’s precisely when the distractions set in. For me the liturgical setting in which we pray the psalms requires more energy than it gives. To add to that, leading the Divine Office musically obliges me to concern myself with more than the words on the page. I gauge which side of choir is weaker, and I sing with them. Every once in a while a chord will come along that I don’t use much, and I have only a short time to remember how to play it. I’ll go through whole prayer services like that, always mentally two steps ahead of myself. Those details require so much of my attention that often I can’t remember which psalms we just prayed. In one sense that is all very normal: Struggle and distraction are part of the human condition. On the other hand, God is speaking. If I were to take someone out for a romantic dinner and give her the kind of attention I give to God, I wouldn’t blame her for never calling me again. Certainly God’s patience is less fickle than ours, but that makes me want to change, not relax, my efforts. The earliest monks taught that inattention could often come from an obstacle to prayer they called acedia. Acedia is a disease of extremes: It causes overwork and laziness. The early Desert Fathers taught that it is manipulated by the devil, who is

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trying to get us caught up in vainglory and pride. He wants us to do our own thing rather than pursue the community’s good. When acting out of such poor motivation makes us miserable, we end up lashing out at the brothers, wounding the order and peace that Christ has established in the monastery. Then the devil suggests we simply quit the monastic life altogether. Nobody shows up with a red cape and horns; the devil works through the normal processes of the mind. To decide to leave the monastery is often a very logical conclusion. Many good monks have followed this suggestion. But leaving the monastery is seldom a healthy move.

Getting in tune My job requires me, some Sunday mornings, to go over the Mass music with the four men who sing the harmonies. That can be nerve-racking. For one thing, the last piano lesson I had was in third grade, and I’ve had only a few lessons on guitar, so I am hardly qualified to do it. To add to that, I’m not comfortable having a position of authority over men who’ve been in the monastery since before my father was born. But I suppose Moses would have preferred to be sent to Las Vegas and Jonah would rather have ridden his ten-speed into the Tigris River than preach repentance in Nineveh. So I work with our singers. Mepkin’s Mass starts at 7:30 a.m. During a pre-Mass practice one Sunday, as hard as we tried, we were unable to sing the responsorial

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psalm correctly. By 7:12 I decided I could make better headway if I simply sang the song myself, and I dismissed the choir. I’ve long suffered from performance anxiety, and by this point I was working through the familiar choreography of absolute panic. By 7:17 I had figured out what had gone wrong on the refrain,

It was the psalms the monks chant seven times daily that drew me to the monastery. It’s the voice of Christ himself. The desire for that kind of communication gets a monk out of bed at 3:20 a.m. and because Brother Joseph was the one singer I could find fast, I asked him to learn it. It was evident that the refrain would go well after a couple of times through. I asked if we could sing it once more, just to firm it up, even though I still had to learn the verses. I didn’t know what I was in for. At 7:25 Brother Joseph, who is rarely at ease soloing, launched from the refrain into a flawless singing of the verse. He’d had that part down all along; we’d just never gotten that far. He sang it just as well at Mass. For me, to see Brother Joseph step so clearly out of his comfort zone was to see Jesus Christ. I didn’t

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Mother Scholastica Kerst OSB, foundress of St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth, Minnesota,

know how the music would go that day, and it went beautifully. And it wasn’t because I’d given myself to the task, or because I’d prayed with intense purity. It was because Brother Joseph had been generous. Let the reader understand: 33 Ecuadorian nuns and an old man of Mepkin taught me that finding a God I cannot see involves trusting the visible, all-too-human community. God has made the psalms he wants me to pray come out of the brothers’ mouths. He’s trying to teach me to listen. Life at Mepkin can be a heavy enterprise, but I recognize God’s presence there, too. He holds me down, Christ cleans my wounds. The prophet Isaiah says: “So it will be when the Lord begins to heal his people and cure the wounds he gave them.” Amen, let it be! The brothers will be my prayer. =

took horse-and-buggy more than a century ago to search for a large tract of land on which to build a monastery.

  has become a monastic community of Benedictine women whose lives are centered around the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours.

Our Monastery is located on a wooded hill overlooking Lake Superior. We share our beautiful 186-acre campus with a health care complex and The College of St. Scholastica. Through prayer and through our ministries in education, health care, pastoral work, outreach to the poor, spiritual renewal, and the arts, we are committed to helping create a more just and compassionate world. Following the dream of the ﬁrst Benedictine Sisters of Duluth, we welcome the challenges and opportunities of the future. We invite women to join us as our dream continues! For information about becoming a member of our monastic Community, for a copy of our ﬁlm, Sing a New Song, to arrange a visit (travel scholarships are available), or for information about our volunteer residential Benedictine Associate Program, contact: Sister Mary Catherine Shambour OSB, at mcshambour@duluthosb.org or (218) 723-6646.

Visit us at: www.duluthbenedictines.org

his is the great value of silence. It

is the pathway to all we truly want. —Father M. Basil Pennington, O.C.S.O.

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T H E

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prayer & discernment MY OWN experience of falling in love with the Society of Jesus is what nudged me past the fear of committing myself to an unknown future.

Dear Discerner: Notes on love and promises For you who are considering religious life, trust in God and in your experience of falling in love with the good future that God holds before you.

Patrick Gilger, S.J.

ear friends: My name is Patrick. I’m a Jesuit, 28 years old. And after seven years I’m finally on the downward slope of that seemingly endless Jesuit preparation. I write to you from my home on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota—a home to which Patrick Gilger, S.J. teaches classes such as philosophy or interreligious dialogue at Red Cloud Indian School and coordinates the Red Cloud Volunteer Program, www.redcloudschool. org/volunteers/volunteers.htm.

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I’ve just returned from the wedding of a close friend.

Promises, promises I watched a friend of mine yesterday, standing in her white dress and holding her soon-to-be-husband’s right hand in hers, and thought to myself: However did she get here? How in God’s name did she dig up from within herself the outrageous courage to promise to “love you and honor you all the days of my life”? I sat in my black suit and white collar and felt again what we’ve all felt:

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FIND OUT WHO WE ARE AND YOU JUST MIGHT DISCOVER WHO YOU ARE. Ever consider making God’s work your life’s work? Consider the Sisters of Mercy. We’re the largest order of religious women in the U.S. Our mission is to make the world a better place, especially for women and children. You’re as likely to find our sisters on Capitol Hill and at the UN as in underserved inner cities and hurricane-ravaged Louisiana. You’ll even find us working on such critical issues as immigration reform, homelessness, housing, healthcare and education. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, we’d love to chat with you.

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reminded me what had nudged her beyond the hesitation of that old nervous attraction: She had fallen in love. And not only fallen in love with this man who was about to become her husband but with whom she was able to be when she was with this man. And yes, even this joyful moment took courage, but she hadn’t sweated to dig up the courage only for this moment. No, she had trusted that falling in love was falling into the arms of the God who is God of the future, the God who takes and who gives good gifts. It was her slight smile that shed a small light on

Hadn’t I fallen in love, into the arms of a good God who gives good gifts and who had given me as good a gift? my own heart. Hadn’t I fallen in love, into the arms of a good God who gives good gifts and who had given me as good a gift? Wasn’t that why I was sitting there dressed as I was? Hadn’t God swept me off my feet? Yes, many times.

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the fear, the old nervous attraction, of commitment. I glanced down at my two hands clasped in my lap and felt the ring on my own finger, and oft-repeated phrases of my own vows came bubbling up from within me: “Almighty and eternal God . . . yet I have been strengthened by your infinite compassion . . . perpetual

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poverty, chastity, and obedience . . . as you have given me the desire to make this offering . . . give me the grace to fulfill it . . . I promise to enter this same Society to spend my life in it forever.” Forever. Lifting my eyes, I watched this friend of mine again. It was the fire in her slight smile that

First nudge toward love The first time, the time that nudged me into this Jesuit life, happened during my junior year of college. I was visiting a group of young Jesuits at Loyola University in Chicago when I really fell. But it isn’t so much those guys that I remember; it’s the buzz in my heart I had those few days. The sense of purpose that

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SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING

EXPLOR E A JOUR NEY WITH THE FR A NCISCA NS TOR Following Christ in the footsteps of Saint Francis, we are a Fr aternity of men who freely vow ourselves to living in Communion as brothers

PATRICK GILGER, S.J. “listens to Common, the Fleet Foxes, and Bob Dylan. He spends altogether too much time analyzing his fantasy baseball team, and his cheers are embarrassingly loud at high school basketball games.”

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climbed and climbed toward the heavens. The realization that all good lives demand a depth of sacrifice I could only glimpse. The sudden and deep desire to give myself completely. The stirring possibility of being able to live in relentless pursuit of a good God. And all of this coming out of a couple of conversations, a game of Frisbee on the lawn, and some prayer. Simple stuff, what these life-changing moments are built of—simple stuff and trust. And, yeah, the feeling is a similar one—not the same, but similar—to the one I remember having when I’ve fallen in love with people (something I hope has or will happen to all of you who are considering this religious life). It’s the same sense

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Mission Statement

“ The Lord Gave Me Brothers” St. Francis of Assisi

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of being stunned by joy and possibility, the same sense of hope and gratitude. And it requires the same painful depth of sacrifice and the same death of the self as well. But it’s different, too. For me there was a broadness of love I felt, something like being all of a sudden open to almost anyone and almost

anywhere. Rather than a sense of being beautifully tugged into another’s heart, it was like being cracked open for a weekend and making my heart with its strong wounds and strong love as available as a mountain stream in the spring. It may be different for you, my friends. Probably I would say that the commonalities

6/8/2009 10:37:02 AM

What do you desire?

. A deep prayer life? . A life dedicated to others for God? . Joy in doing your thing . . . HIS way?

will be the joy of it, the openness and buzzing fiery hope and the trust it will require of you.

Bliss meets challenge I went back to school after the visit. I began my application to join the Jesuits with excitement. I remember As Dominicans we emphasize the pondering of divine truths. To witness to God’s primacy, to our ow of poerty and to express our identity as a community, we wear a contemporary religious habit. In the Dominican Traditon, we communicate the truth through the apostalate of teaching. Because we are totally committed to the Lord, we identify fully with the mind, the teaching and the dicipline of the Church He established.

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friends telling me that I was glowing, smiling all the time, or something similar. Whatever it was they said, they knew. They knew that my heart had been blown open and that now the question was whether I would be able to do what the slight smile on the face of my recently wedded friend proved her able to do: trust in

[From Vocation-Network’s SpiritCitings blog at vocation-network.org]

OMEBOY INDUSTRIES, a nonprofit job-training program started by

a Jesuit priest for ex-convicts in East Los Angeles, offers hope and a helping hand to former prisoners as they try to rehabilitate their lives and find jobs in a down economy. For years Homeboy Industries put former felons to work at a bakery and cafe it runs in East Los Angeles. Last summer, Father Greg

Father Greg Boyle, S.J.

Boyle, S.J., who started Homeboy two decades ago, was approached by a

public vocational school that offers

supporter about the idea of prepar-

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ing them for the green economy.

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said Boyle. Homeboy Industries now

waiting list.

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on parole to install solar panels so

of doing something for these guys,”

they can improve their skill set and

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who designed it. “My best student

economy.

ever was a Homeboy referral” in a

Homeboy has joined forces with the East Los Angeles Skills Center, a

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The center created an intensive

construction course “who needed a second chance.”

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the God who gives such love. I’ll just say that it wasn’t a smooth road for me. I fell for the Society of Jesus during my junior year of college and for a woman my senior year. I felt broken and confused in the face of giving up “house

For me there was a broadness of love I felt, something like being all of a sudden open to almost anyone and almost anywhere. or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children,” as Jesus said in the gospels. So what got me in? Listen: These are mysterious times. And I’m still not sure what it

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was that turned me toward religious community. Stubbornness on my part? Maybe. Some real trust in a God who gives good gifts? Maybe. Begging the Lord for courage? Maybe that, too.

Courage needed I have a friend—a Jesuit brother and a very talented man—who during his own discernment process approached an old priest who knew him well and asked him to pray that the Lord might give him clarity and

Our trust—or my fragile, buzzing trust at least—is in the God who has given me the strange desire to offer my whole self.

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let him know whether he should “upon Christ throw all away,” as the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote. The old priest looked him in the eyes, paused a moment, and said, “No.” My friend was baffled, stunned. Why wouldn’t this man do him this favor, he asked aloud. The old priest looked him once more in the eyes and replied: “Many people ask for clarity when they should be asking for courage.” I agree. But it’s not only raw courage for the sake of being courageous. The courage we ask for is the courage to trust in the experience we’ve had of falling in love with the Lord of our lives. My own experience of falling in love with the Society of Jesus is what I think nudged me past the fear, the old nervous attraction,

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of committing myself to an unknown future.

Trust: Fragile and forever My friends, I write this letter to you as a friend to a friend, a sibling to a sibling in Christ. It is in the same spirit that I want to say to you that I need—that we all need—to trust in our experiences of falling in love with the good future that our good God holds before us And not only that, we must support one another in cultivating that trust. We need to help each other take up the shovels that will dig from within us the courage to love God and honor God all the days of our lives, especially during these fractious and confusing times. Here, for you who are considering this life of a Catholic religious and for

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myself as I continue to be formed in it, the trust we have is not in ourselves and our ability to say “forever.” Our trust—is in the God who has given use the strange desire to offer our whole self, and who will, I believe, give us the grace to fulfill such a commitment. 

Complete a short online profile to find which religious communities are compatible with you. It's free. It's quick. It's easy. VocationMatch.com

Wondering what God’s will truly is for your life? Journey with the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities and discover more about God, yourself, others and all creation. With exciting ministry opportunities in Hawaii, Kenya and Peru, we invite you to bring your yearning for God’s will, together with your career and join us in serving people who are most in need.

www.sosf.org

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religious life Sisters in their 20s and 30s enjoy the beach at Ellenton, Florida during a national gathering for young sisters sponsored by the Giving Voice organization.

Thriving among the generations Younger members of religious communities talk about living out their call in multigenerational settings.

Carol Schuck Scheiber

hey like each other” is how Sister Maria Cimperman, O.S.U., 44, sees the two extremes of the age continuum in her religious communities, where she and many other younger members of communities in the U.S. find themselves outnumbered by their elders (though a few U.S. communities are predominantly young). Cimperman belongs to Carol Schuck Scheiber is content editor for VISION.

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the Ursuline Sisters in Cleveland, Ohio and teaches at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. Most young religious articulate love for their elders and a desire to learn from their wisdom. Many older religious have great affection for the newbies. Cimperman gives this example from an Ursuline region she’s familiar with: “A candidate, in her 20s, spent time over Christmas break with sisters in the infirmary and created an online video which held greetings from many of the infirmary sisters and which then was sent all

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over the province, reaching the U.S., Africa, Rome, and other locations where the sisters minister. This video generated energy and responses from all over the world!” Like religious life itself, the emerging generation gap within religious communities takes many forms: It isn’t always seen as a negative, and it’s sometimes unconventional. Young and hopeful members continue to join communities out of a genuine sense of call. Here is a quick picture of the generational realities in religious life today: • Because an extraordinarily large number of people entered religious communities in the 1950s and 60s, that large and now aged population has pushed the median age of members to above 70. • At the same time, vocation ministers report heightened interest in religious life. According to an online survey conducted by VISION, nearly 70 percent of Catholic religious communities saw a jump in vocation inquiries in 2008. Discerners—those interested in religious life—were primarily under 40 years old, and nearly 20 percent planned to enter religious formation in the next 12 months. • A common pattern in communities is a large number of people age 70 and over, a sprinkling in their 50s and 60s, a few in their 40s, and (here’s where things vary substantially) anywhere from zero to dozens in their 20s and 30s, all in various stages of vows and formation. The new entrants frequently form a mini-United Nations, representing every country in which the congregation is present, particularly

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countries with booming vocations, such as Vietnam and Nigeria. • Communities are “merging like crazy,” said Sister Mary Charlotte Chandler, R.S.C.J., who served as director of the Center for the Study of Religious Life in Chicago until its closure in 2009. More than 150 have merged since 1999. To bolster their numbers, combine resources, and preserve their commitment to their work, separate geographical entities of the same congregations are combining. And sometimes similar communities are combining.

Communities come and go Since the dawn of religious life some Sister Erin Zubel, O.S.U. (foreground) and other young sisters relax together during a national gathering of Giving Voice, a network of sisters under age 50. 34

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2,000 years ago, there have been several cycles of expansion and decline—with communities forming to meet a pressing need within church and society and then dying out because of changing needs, internal laxity, or both. Chandler takes the long view, which is shared by many: “The form of religious life will shift, and we’re probably in the middle of a shift now.” She foresees an emphasis on contemplation combined with service, on public witness, and on communal living and mission. Younger religious also have a sense of their moment in religious life’s history. “We entered knowing

Younger religious have a sense of their moment in religious life’s history. that there are small numbers now. I have empathy for the older men who have been through a lot,” said Brian Zumbrum, O.S.F.S., 23, referring to the changes that took place in the 1960s and 70s following the Second Vatican Council. “I have a realistic view that in 40 or 50 years our community fading out of existence is a possibility,” said Zumbrum, who is a novice in Washington, D.C. preparing for life with the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. “That came up in my discernment process. I believe I’ve been called to be here. If I’m the last one called here, that’s OK.” Still, Zumbrum is anything but gloomy. When he discusses his life, he has the

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sound of a man giddy in love—and he’s fallen hard for his community. That strong sense of calling is a trademark of young adults in religious life today. They didn’t just wake up one day and decide the convent or seminary seemed like a good idea. Most of them struggled, were challenged by friend and foe, and kept hearing God calling them to their particular community.

Old and new approaches These “kids” or “babies” (as many of their elders called them) know they are where they belong. They are in the right place, but the right place can carry with it some tensions.

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The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis ...striving to follow Christ in the loving simplicity of our holy father St. Francis

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Sister Leslie Keener, C.D.P. and Sister Katy LaFond, O.S.F. stroll the beach during a gathering of sisters in their 20s and 30s.

Different generations have distinct life experiences, energy levels, prayer forms, technology habits, and attitudes toward religious garb. Sometimes those differences complement one another, and other times the classic generation gap with all its frustrations can arise. “There is a lot of wisdom that the older guys do bring with them,” said a 30-year-old seminarian who asked not to be named. “At the same time it’s important for the older ones to listen to the younger ones because maybe that’s where the church is moving.” This seminarian calls for mutual respect in the distinctions between younger men in his community who are attracted to Eucharistic adoration and the older ones who see it as sign of weak theology that limits God’s presence. He also welcomes openness

within the community and discussion in regard to the emphasis among the young on external signs, particularly religious garb. “Older people have internalized their identity,” he noted. “They have less need to be in [clerical garb].” Often Catholic symbols mean one thing to the young (for whom religious habits are a public witness, showing love for the church) and another to the old (for whom habits separate religious from laity). Young and old agree that it helps to keep talking across the generations. Negotiating the different energy levels of older and younger generations requires a similar attitude of respect, and it also has led young religious outside their own communities to meet their need to relate to peers. Senior members often don’t have the energy to stay up late at night the

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way many young adults do. “It is important for me to stay connected with some of my college friends. We try to get together for a movie or hang out at a friend’s house,” said Sister Erin Zubel, O.S.U. of the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland, who also enjoys gardening.

God has called them. Life is a risk whether you commit to religious life or another way of life. Trust God. She and several of the women interviewed for this article also attend Giving Voice gatherings—intercommunity gatherings of sisters under age 50 (see www.giving-voice. org)—and stay in touch with friends found there. Because the culture of religious life is more open than it used to be, and because there are so few young people, the elders in many communities encourage their younger members to connect with peers from all walks of life. Of course there may be less of a gap to negotiate in any given community, depending on the personalities Sister Erin Zubel, O.S.U. involved. Harmony in a living or ministry situation often seems to come down

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Joan Felling, OSB, is a chaplain and one of our organists. Beth Wegscheid, OSB, is in formation, recently returned from a mission on White Earth Reservation. She sings in the Schola, works in the Liturgy Office, and is a talented jewelry maker. Sisters Joan and Beth are in the same living group, where they share meals, prayer, and the joys and challenges of religious life. Visit our sacred spaces and our homes, meet our Sisters, and discover if this is where God is calling you. Contact Mary Catherine Holicky, OSB, at 320 -363 -7180 or mholicky@csbsju.edu for more information. Or learn more on the Web at www.sbm.osb.org. Enter #175 at VocationMatch.com

Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis We make God more deeply known and loved. Join us.

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to attitudes, openness, and personalities. Sister Jennifer Marie Zimmerman, S.N.D., 29, of the Sisters of Notre Dame in Toledo, Ohio said, “I was aware of the age difference, sure, but never stopped to think about it when I first entered. The sisters I knew best before entering the com-

munity were in their 40s and 50s, with a very ‘young’ spirit.”

How to keep the vision alive Cimperman puts forth a challenge to communities that are learning to live with a large population of elders at

6/8/2009 10:41:47 AM

cared for? How will the community pay for their care? These questions could haunt young religious if they allow them to. Do any of the young members ever lie in bed wondering whether their community will exist in a few decades? “If I want to make myself Enter #008 at VocationMatch.com

“I would tell VISION readers to take the risk of trying this life. There’s no better time to take a leap than when you’re young.”

Sister Mary St. Kasai Corripio, S.N.D.deN. speaks with Sister Miriam Montero Bereche, S.N.D.deN., a sister from Peru, during a gathering of Giving Voice, www.giving-voice.org.

If striking a balance is importhe same time that they greet newtant, then communities will need to comers: Tend to retirement and old conduct a lot of conversaage but be sure to keep tions about their future. the mission alive and keep Not all communities it big. “It’s got to be epic,” are. Some religious are she said. “The gospel is hesitant to talk about age epic, so it’s got to be big.” issues. Other community “Truthfully, the focus leaders are encouraging needs to be both places. discussion, asking: Will The group has to look at fithe community survive? nances and . . . it’s also great Is it embracing a mission that we’re still mission-oriworthy of a person’s life? ented and concerned with Sister Jennifer Marie How will the elders be service,” said Zimmerman. Zimmerman, S.N.D.

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crazy, I do,” joked Zimmerman. But she and other young religious kept returning to the same theme when questioned about the future. God has called them. Life is a risk whether you commit to religious life or another way of life. Trust God. “I would tell VISION readers to take the risk of trying this life,” said Zumbrum. “There’s no better time to take a leap than when you’re young.” =

’ve been hiding from God, and I’m appalled

to find how easy it is. —Mignon McLaughlin [For more inspirational quotes and commentary follow us at twitter.com/ VisionVocation.]

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the

[From VISION’s CultureCitings blog

Trinitarians

800 years of service and fidelity

at vocation-network.org]

he church exists today because of the contentiousness of Paul and the impetuousness of Peter. It exists today because of the gentleness of John and the passionate love of the Magdalen. It exists because of the diplomacy of Timothy and the generous hospitality of Lydia. It exists because of the capable leadership of Phoebe and the eloquent wisdom of Stephen. As the early church had them and their contributing gifts and charisms, today it has us. Saint Catherine of Siena wrote in her Dialogues that God said to her: ‘I could well have made human beings in such a way that they had everything, but I preferred to give gifts to different people, so that they would all need each other.‘”

The Trinitarians, or Brothers of the Most Holy Trinity, were founded in 1198 by St. John de Matha and St. Felix of Valois. Our ministries range from teaching and working in Catholic schools and parishes to responding to the needs of refugees from Sudan. For more information contact: Vocation Office P.O. Box 5719 Baltimore, MD 21282

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—Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., from “Empowered by the Holy Spirit, let’s work together to build our future” in the 2009 Winter issue of HORIZON, a professional journal for Vocation Ministers.

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religious life CelIbaTeS sense that in celibacy lies the key to their spiritual freedom, and that fidelity to this mysterious, perplexing gift is all-important.

The mysterious gift of celibacy True celibates remind us of what matters most in life: the mysterious ways of grace—that different paths may be equally valid choices in living out one’s faithfulness to the gospel.

Father DonalD Cozzens

or some individuals, celibacy is their truth—the right way for them to live out their lives. They appear to possess the charism, or gift, of celibacy—a graced call from God to pledge themselves to celibate living for the good of others and for the building up of the reign of God. Without putting down marriage and with regard for the

Father Donald Cozzens teaches and is a writer-in-residence in the religious studies department of John Carroll University near Cleveland, Ohio.

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goodness and wholesomeness of human sexuality, they sense a mysterious pull of grace toward singleness that seems to fit with their inner life and spiritual journey. It is mysterious because it often makes no sense even to themselves, let alone to their family and friends. It is a pull—like being drawn by a magnet— because it is not necessarily, at least in the beginning of their discernment, their choice. Celibates sense, moreover, that herein lies the key to their spiritual freedom, and that fidelity to this mysterious, perplexing gift is all-important. Intuitively, they sense that their gift of

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The Redemptorists

CONGREGATION OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER

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of healthy celibates well into their senior years. While these qualities are present to healthy, altruistic individuals of every age and walk of life, and they are the markers of authentic charismatic celibacy. Let me tell you of an elderly woman who embodied many of these characteristics. While teaching at Ursuline College in Cleveland during the 1980s, I had the good fortune to meet an Ursuline nun by the name of Kilian Hufgard. She graciously agreed to tutor me in the history and theory of art and architecture from the perspective of Saint Bernard of

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celibacy is linked to the mission of building up the kingdom of God. Charisms, by their nature, are not given for the fulfillment of the individual alone but for the welfare and betterment of others—for the sake of the gospel. The charism of celibacy does not mean that they never long for the companionship of marriage, for children, for the warmth of family life. Charismatic celibates have come to believe that the mystery of grace has called them to lead lives of celibate chastity for the sake of the reign of God. This belief goes hand in hand with doubt. But the belief holds.

Celibates put others at ease While there is indeed a mystique to celibacy, there are characteristics commonly found in the lives

Charismatic celibates have come to believe that the mystery of grace has called them to lead lives of celibate chastity for the sake of the reign of God. Clairvaux, the great inspiration of her life. Almost a generation older than I, Sister Kilian spoke quietly— but with undeniable passion—about things well-made, about the transcendent quality of that which is good, about the dynamics and mystery of human creativity. She was, I believe, the most fascinating woman I have ever met. There was no doubt in my mind that she possessed not only the heart and soul of an artist and scholar but also the gift of celibacy. I believe what defined her life as a vowed religious and celibate is characteristic of charismatic celibates in general. Sister Kilian demonstrated a freedom of soul, an at-homeness, an at-easeness, that put others at ease

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in her company. She was a woman at peace with herself. Like healthy, integrated celibates, she welcomed others without judgment, and those who came into the circle of her presence were touched by the ease and peace she radiated. Keenly aware of the fundamental goodness of creation and things well made, Sister Kilian radiated a consistent spirit of reverence. She was alert to the divine spark present in all manifestations of reality, especially in the most humble of creatures. Most charismatic celibates display a similar reverence in their human interactions and in their approach to nature and the created world. Charismatic celibates exhibit a spirit of gratitude. They sense the hidden drama of grace unfolding in both the ordinary moments of life as well as the more critical, life-shaping events that mark our lives. With French novelist Georges Bernanos’ country priest, they understand that “all is grace.” Building upon this insight, they see blessing upon blessing. Because celibacy itself is perceived as a blessing, they are seldom tempted to self-pity. When their solitude gives way to unmitigated loneliness, when they long for the companionship of their dearest, distant friends, when their celibacy makes no sense whatsoever, they trust that their darkness of soul will pass. With believers everywhere, with married, single, and separated, they see that indeed “all is grace.”

Celibates make the best lovers Sister Kilian greeted her visitors with unconditional hospitality. In her presence one felt truly welcomed—

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sincerely, warmly welcomed. A visit with her, no matter how brief, left me with the feeling that I had just been blessed. In her final years, writer and activist Dorothy Day left her visitors with the same sense of blessing. Paul Elie, in his acclaimed The Life You Save May Be Your Own,

captured this arresting presence: “Now she was a holy person, who inspired others to come to see her, to be in her presence, to enjoy the favor it bestowed, and to recall the encounter precisely.” Without the leveling potential inherent in marriage, celibates may easily become

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self-absorbed and more or less taken with their special status. Whenever this is the case, their ability to extend hospitality is diminished. Healthy, charismatic celibates, like Hufgard and Day, resist this tendency. Their own centeredness, the result of their unwavering integrity and radical commitment, make them masters of graced hospitality. Finally, if we look closely, many of the celibates we may know turn out to be some of the most passionate people we know. They are far from the asexual, otherworldly, slightly weird individuals portrayed in film and television. Their passion, uncluttered by the simplicity of their lives and filtered through the strain of contemplative awareness, unmasks a thirst for life in its fullness. They have come to know the truest, deepest longings of their hearts. And so freed from the created, false thirsts of superficial culture, their great frustration is with all that is unreal. When I have been in their presence, I imagine a bumper sticker that reads: “Celibates make the best lovers.”

othing would be done at all if one

waited until one could do it so well that no one could find fault with it. —Cardinal John Henry Newman [For more inspirational quotes and commentary follow us at twitter.com/ VisionVocation.]

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Certainly these characteristics are found wherever individuals, regardless of their celibate or married status, endeavor to live lives of integrity and genuine concern for others. They remain, I believe, signs that a publicly committed celibate man or woman may indeed be the recipient of what the church deems the charism of celibacy.

Celibates ring true Healthy, life-giving celibates like Hufgard and Day, beyond their noteworthy and exceptional ac-

Charismatic celibates exhibit a spirit of gratitude. They sense the hidden drama of grace unfolding in both the ordinary moments of life as well as the more critical, life-shaping events that mark our lives. complishments, are perceived as thoroughly real. Though no longer among the living, they ring true. Most believers, I suspect, know of celibate men and women who have touched their lives in meaningful ways, sometimes in profound ways. Wherever and whenever we encounter such individuals, the value and blessing of celibacy is vindicated and strengthened. True celibates remind us of what really matters, of what matters most in life. They remind us of the mysterious ways of grace—that different paths may be equally valid choices in living out one’s fidelity to the gospel;

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that what appears to be unhealthy self-abnegation in the eyes of many might indeed be one’s liberating truth. Healthy, charismatic celibates will be some of the most spiritually liberated people we will ever meet. For these believers, celibacy is indeed freeing. =

This article is from pages 21-29 of Freeing Celibacy by Father Donald Cozzens © 2006 Liturgical Press; reprinted with permission. To purchase a copy of Freeing Celibacy, please contact Liturgical Press at (800) 858-5450 or check your local bookstore.

6/8/2009 10:42:50 AM

religious life In 2003 the Augustinian Friars of the Province of St. Thomas of Villanova began a two-year major renovation of St. Thomas Monastery, located on the campus of Villanova University in Philadelphia. Part of the renovation was to construct a new chapel, a space that would invite, embrace, and witness to a life of prayer and reflection.

Sacred places: Where beauty and grace meet A look at the spaces religious communities have renovated and adapted for modern worship and prayer.

compiled by Joel Schorn

rayer and worship are at the center of the lives of religious communities and at the heart of their many forms of ministry, shared life, and service.

Joel Schorn is managing editor of VISION.

Mindful of the importance of their worship spaces, most communities, like the few featured on these pages, put great effort in restoring, renovating, or building anew their chapels, churches, and shrines. The results are truly sacred spaces that both inspire and connect their worship and liturgical celebration to the work of the world.” =

The Archabbey Church of Our Lady of Einsiedeln of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in southern Indiana (at right), a Benedictine community of men, was completed in 1907 and underwent a major renovation in 1996-1997. In 1998 it was named the first place winner in the Eugene Potente, Sr. Liturgical Design Competition. The renovation was extensive, with the installation of a marble floor, a new altar, the relocation of the organ, and new furnishings that included the return of the monks’ choir stalls, which had been removed from the church in the 1960s. 46

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Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel (top), built in 1961, is the main chapel of the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania, Ohio, and also serves as the chapel for Lourdes College. It is designed externally in the style of the Franciscan missions of California. Inside the great window in the sanctuary depicts the mystery of the Incarnate Word and Mary, Queen of Peace. More than 10,300 hand-stenciled ceiling tiles, designed by Sister Michaeline Lesiak and a host of campus art students and sisters, depict the praise of God in the Psalms. Queen of Peace Chapel was renovated in 1986 in accordance with the National Council of Catholic Bishops’ document Environment and Art in Catholic Worship. Four mosaic panels (at right), framed in stylized olive leaves worked in brass alloy, grace the walls of the nave of the Church of Our Lady of Loretto in Notre Dame, Indiana. Artist Paul Jacques Grillo designed the panels using glass tesserae in square and triangular shapes, and seven Italian companies produced the tesserae in the 18 hues of the artist’s palette. The panels depict the Tree of Jesse; the Mother of Sorrows, patroness of the Sisters of the Holy Cross; Our Lady, Queen of Heaven; and the rosary. This work was part of the sisters’ efforts in the early 1990s to collaborate with architects and liturgists to design a worship space that would enable all assembled to experience the liturgical renewal the Second Vatican Council called for.

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Sisters of the Holy Cross

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Monastery Immaculate Conception Church in Ferdinand, Indiana (top) underwent extensive restoration from 2001 to 2005. The interior is a blend of the church’s traditional beauty, enhanced by restoration, with a contemporary prayer area that serves as the eucharistic chapel. In 2007 it was one of four building projects recognized for excellence in architectural design by the Kentucky Society of Architects, a chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The sisters’ vision document for the restoration stated: “We . . . want the space to reflect a renewed sense of church for our time as well as our own identity as a Benedictine monastic community. We want to restore the fabric of the church building while preserving its beauty and adapting its space for our monastic prayer today. . . . An essential element of the Benedictine’s life is prayer both communal and individual.” For years the men’s Cistercian monastic community of the Abbey of Our Lady of New Melleray (at left) near Peosta, Iowa had considered the possibility of renovating a two-story wing of their 1858 monastery. With the decision in 1973 to remodel this wing for the permanent location of the abbey church, the second floors were removed, thereby allowing use of the full height of the structure for the church. Douglas fir was used as the decking in the roof, which rises 49 feet to its peak. Red quarry-tile was chosen for the flooring throughout, and the choir stalls, doors, tabernacle house, and furnishings are constructed of solid red oak. The altar is black opalescent granite, quarried in northern Minnesota, and weighs five and a half tons. The church was consecrated on July 16, 1976—the 127th anniversary of the community’s founding. The new design received awards from the AIA Honor Awards Jury and AIA Minnesota.

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religious life in memory of our brothers: The cemetery blazes with light during All Saints Day, when members of the community of St. Meinrad Archabbey remember those who have gone before them.

Monks build community one living stone upon another Funeral rituals at a monastery signal to the world that God’s grace abounds. When a monk dies, time and humanity come along for the ride.

Brother Francis Wagner, O.S.B.

hen I came to Saint Meinrad Archabbey in the summer of 2006 to begin life as a Benedictine monk at age 41, I had already helped bury a parent, four grandparents, a cousin about my age, and a good friend. Old age claimed some. Others died much too young, it seemed. Addiction. A traffic accident. Cancer.

Brother Francis Wagner, O.S.B. is a junior monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey in St. Meinrad, Indiana. A former newspaper editor and reporter in Ohio, he works for Abbey Press, studies in the School of Theology, and serves as a conference presenter for the Benedictine Oblate program. He is the author of several pastoral care publications and articles.

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These deaths slowly confronted me with my own life—who I had been, who I was, and who I was to become in God’s eyes. In dying these very special people had taught me something about living in faith, hoping in God’s mercy, and loving in fidelity. How odd, I thought: Does death actually give life meaning? Words from scripture that for years had found no invitation in my heart began dancing to its beat: • “Those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25). • “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24).

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r o F g in h c r a e S u o Y e Ar A Meaningful & Fruitful Life? reieties Thu Comm n

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If you are ready to commit yourself to a life of community and service, we welcome your inquiry. We welcome those who want to dedicate themselves to serving Christ by living a life where their talents will draw others to the Lord. Let us walk with you as you discern God’s will.

new mexico

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maesanthnyg1@aol.com www.norbertinecommunity.org

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920.337.4333

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Santa Maria de la Vid Priory 5825 Coors Blvd. SW Albuquerque, NM 87121-6700

St. Norbert Abbey 1016 North Broadway De Pere, WI 54115

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What do you have to lose?

Come and experience a community of Benedictine monks, founded on an excellent liturgical tradition, who are seeking God and serving the Catholic Church.

Everything. www.saintmeinrad.edu

Office of Monastery Vocations 100 Hill Drive St. Meinrad, IN 47577 (812) 357-6611 vocations@saintmeinrad.edu www.saintmeinrad.edu

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• “The one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22).

I realized that death is not the end of the story but the never-ending beginning. “This will change my life,” I thought. And it did. Still, life is full of difficulty, physical and emotional struggles, troubled relationships, work, oppression, contradiction, failure, fear, and sin. The deceased I mentioned above had varying degrees of faith, it seemed, but none of them died perfect. “So, how were their lives well-lived? How is mine?” My journey into religious life is another story, but it is intimately bound with these questions. My ongoing conversion has centered on how what is human becomes divine: “You mean I’m not perfect, and neither are my brothers? You mean we

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never will be, and don’t have to be? How does that work?”

We witness hope As human beings we love to judge one another and ourselves. It’s what we do best. We who see dimly forget that God judges because he alone sees all. While striving to follow Christ, at some point we must accept that reality in faith, place our hope in God’s boundless mercy, and allow this trust to be the font of our love for him and one another. Christ came to save, not condemn. That is the point to our prayer, work, and community life in the monastery. It is expressed daily in numerous ordinary ways, and it is demonstrated most vividly at a community member’s funeral. In life and death we become witnesses to hope

in God’s mercy, which transforms what is human into what is divine. I wish everyone had a chance to experience our monastic funerals here; they are unlike anything I had known before coming to the monastery. Rich in hopeful symbolism and solemn beauty, they reflect not merely the individual lives of the deceased but moreover our common life consecrated by, to, and for our merciful God. “Keep death daily before your eyes,” instructs the Rule of St. Benedict, which guides our common life. “And never lose hope in God’s mercy.” That is sound advice for all religious and for all Christians. Having an eye on our end provides the wisdom to live each day in light of the Resurrection. And hope means that while we will fall short, God’s grace is limitless.

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Our funeral rituals at Saint Meinrad remind us, and signal to the world, that God’s grace abounds. When a monk dies, time and humanity come along for the ride. The abbey church bells that order our lives—announcing each hour and rousing us from sleep or work to prayer five times a day—toll once for each year the deceased was professed. At the same large wooden doors of the monastery that open to receive the novice at the beginning of his monastic journey, the community gathers to receive his body and

As human beings we love to judge one another and ourselves. We who see dimly forget that God judges because he alone sees all. accompany it into the church. While the community chants the Office of the Dead and later celebrates the funeral liturgy, the simple wooden casket rests between the two sets of choir stalls. It is literally before our eyes and in the same spot where our voices blend each day to become one in glorifying God. The evening before the funeral, the body rests in the church near the relics of the saints for public viewing. Members of the monastic community and relatives and friends of the monk quietly gather to pray and offer hospitality to one another. The remembrances and homilies his brothers deliver during the funeral celebrations are breathtakingly honest, humorous, and heartwarming without being sentimental. Strengths and weaknesses are men-

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The memberS of St. meinrad Archabbey file into the cemetery to bid a final farewell to one of their brothers.

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prostrate on the floor of the church with the community praying over him. Now, just before the community escorts its departed brother to the cemetery, the monks join in singing the Suscipe prayer. This verse from Psalm 119 is also what every monk sings at final profession of vows:

In life and death we become witnesses to hope in God’s mercy, which transforms what is human into what is divine.

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tioned, achievements and failures, virtues and quirks. It is all done with deep respect for the complexity of the human character and the simplicity of Christ’s command to love one another. What emerges is a genuine portrait of fraternal charity and what it means to be committed to living our vows each day in community. Displayed on the casket during the public viewing is the monk’s vow chart, signed during final profession when he promised stability to our community, obedience, and fidelity to the monastic way of life. The connection with the daily commitment to our vows in the journey toward everlasting life is made clear throughout. The funeral pall is the same one that covers the monk during final profession as he lays

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“Uphold me, O Lord, according to your promise, and I shall live. And do not confound me in my expectation.” Now at last the community to which he committed his prayer, work, and life leads him to the cemetery, while the church bells toll again. As the coffin enters the archabbey cemetery, the bells cease, and the monastic choir begins chanting “In Paradisum,” a song frequently sung at funerals: “May angels lead you into Paradise; may the martyrs receive you at your coming and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem. May a choir of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, who once was poor, may you have eternal rest.”

Keep death before your eyes As the Rite of Burial continues, the “living stones” of years past who built and praised God in our church remind us that we are part of the same living tradition. Simple sandstone markers surround us, monuments of hope sown in a field

Reflections on life and death in a monastic community Gathered by Brother Francis Wagner, O.S.B.

“The sound of the shovelful of dirt hitting the casket is the harsh beauty of death—an end that cannot be ignored, but a fate that is not forever. It is the sound of hope meeting inevitability, and the echo plants the memory in our hearts because beauty—even harsh beauty—trumps oblivion every time.” —Archabbot Justin DuVall, O.S.B.

“How the monk deals with death shapes his whole life. Some monks by their position and talent do stand out, but even they are only parts of the whole, and it is the whole that prays and stays and teaches and reaches out to the world around us.” —Father Simeon Daly, O.S.B.

“One of the things I love about our funeral rituals is that rather than interrupt or suspend the monastic [daily routine], our rituals are added and woven into our regular day. In other words, death and the rituals around it are woven into our daily living in such a way as to remind us that death is the ultimate goal of our living.” —Father Brendan Moss, O.S.B.

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of peace. An image of the crucified Christ watches over all as the abbot lifts a shovelful of dirt and drops it onto the lid of the lowered coffin. The dull clunk of earth hitting wood echoes in the heart: “Keep death daily before your eyes . . . .” It is the sound of all that is mundane, difficult, painful, confusing, frightening, disappointing, and imperfect in our lives. And yet it is also our “sure and certain hope of the resurrection.” However virtuous or flawed the monk may have been, he was faithful. His life and death is a sign that total self-gift and self-sacrifice for the love of God is what makes a life welllived. It is commitment that counts, not perfection. With the conviction that God alone causes our growth while the

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kingdom of God slowly unfolds and blossoms, the monks and guests file by the open grave: God’s field—and sprinkle the casket with holy water. Then we do what most people do after a funeral—we eat! Seated together, monks and guests fill their plates, exchange stories, and share their presence.

hasten toward our heavenly home. We do this not to be perfect but so the world never loses hope in the promise of God’s mercy, which gives all life meaning. Perfectly. =

Back to work Later, as the bells continue to announce the passing of each hour, we go back to our prayer, work, and lives together in the monastic community. The deceased brother is not forgotten. Stories are told and retold. Monks are good storytellers. Behind every laugh, however, is the echo of that dirt hitting the casket, reminding us how to order our lives as we

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religious life

Sixteen questions about church vocations . . . And honest answers to your questions about priests, sisters, brothers, vows, sexuality, community life, and more.

1. What do priests, sisters, and brothers do all day? Just like most adults, we spend a portion of each day working. We call our work ministry because the model and motivation for what we do is Jesus, who asked that we follow his example of service to God’s people. But we don’t just work! In order to live in a healthy, balanced way we try to keep a mix of prayer, ministry, and play in our lives. These three things—prayer, ministry, and play—help us stay healthy so that we can be more effective ministers and happy people. In the area of work or ministry, many priests, brothers, and sisters have

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one main job, such as teaching, parish ministry, social work, or hospital work—all of which have somewhat regular hours and predictable demands. Our daily schedule can look different than the typical adult’s. Often we have evening meetings, and those of us who are priests or parish ministers usually work on Saturdays and Sundays and take some time off during the week. The unpredictable demands also lend richness to our lives. These often center around meeting the needs of people, whether children in schools, families preparing to celebrate the sacraments, or the sick, elderly, angry, hurt, hungry, or imprisoned. We try to share our lives with others and to reveal Christ in all we do.

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World-wide need. Limitless possibilities. From urban parishes to global missions, Salvatorians are in neighborhoods, on street corners and in rural villages in the U.S. and across the globe. Unlimited in their outreach, Salvatorian priests and brothers work side by side with Salvatorian sisters, lay Salvatorians and lay leaders to proclaim Christ’s love to the world. Find out where a Salvatorian journey may take you… Contact Fr. Scott Jones, SDS (scott@salvatorians.com) or 414.258.1735, ext. 104.

SALVATORIANS Apostles for our times.

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Those of us who are members of contemplative communities (communities dedicated to prayer) fill our days with a combination of work, prayer, and recreation. The difference is that we might dedicate more of our time to prayer than other brothers, sisters, or priests. Sometimes we will grow our own food and do income-producing work, like baking and selling the hosts used for Mass or making cheese or candy. Our prayer usually consists of Mass, silent prayer (called contemplation), reading, and praying the psalmbased Liturgy of the Hours (an ancient practice of praying psalms together at regular hours throughout the day).

2. How important is prayer in your life? Because we’ve chosen a way of life that says that God is most important, prayer is central to our lives. Think of it as a deep level of communication with God, similar to the kind of communication that happens between any two people who love each other. Our relationship with God grows and deepens with prayer. Because prayer is important, many priests, sisters, and brothers spend about two hours a day praying. Part of that time we pray with others at Mass. We also pray other formal prayers like the Liturgy of the Hours or the rosary, or spend time with others less formally reading and reflecting on readings from the Bible. Part of the time we also pray alone, perhaps reading or just being quiet with God. One of the positive effects

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of prayer, whatever shape it takes, is to keep us aware of God’s activity in the people, events, and circumstances of daily life.

3. Is prayer always easy for you? Not always! Even those of us in contemplative life—whose ministry is prayer—go through “dry spells” when our prayer time seems dull or uneventful. As we grow in our experience of prayer we learn how to adjust to these changes. We often depend on the support of our communities or the help of a spiritual director (someone like a coach) to help us keep praying during difficult times. Those of us who are parish priests have our parish communities and our fellow priests to lead us toward prayer even when we’d rather not be bothered. We try to be faithful even when we don’t feel like it.

4. What’s the difference between a diocesan priest and a religious priest? A diocesan priest ordinarily serves the church within a geographic area called a diocese. He ordinarily serves the people as a parish priest, but he may also be involved in many other forms of ministry like teaching, hospital ministry, campus ministry, or prison ministry. A religious priest is a member of a religious congregation whose ministry goes beyond the geographic limits of any diocese. A religious priest seeks to live a life of poverty, celibacy, and obedience within a community

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J

ACT of men. The community shares a common vision and spirituality and often emphasizes a particular type of ministry.

5. What’s the difference between a brother and a priest?

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A brother is a layman who commits himself to Christ by the vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience. He usually lives in a religious community and works in a ministry that suits his talents and gifts. A brother might be a teacher, electrician, cook, lawyer, technician, parish minister, or artist. He tries to live his faith by being a “brother” to others. A priest is ordained for a distinctive role as a minister of the sacraments. He celebrates the Eucharist and witnesses marriages, baptizes babies and adults, and brings God’s healing presence to people through the sacraments of penance (confession) and anointing of the sick. He is involved in a variety of other works as well—most often parish-related— but sacramental life is his special ministry.

6. How are religious orders different from one another? Each religious order or congregation has a charism—a gift given for the service of the church—that helps them focus on the mission members hope to accomplish in community. That mission could be prayer in a cloistered convent (a home that community members rarely leave), or it could be an active ministry aimed at working with people.

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Many congregations are likeminded or have similar ministries, but each is distinct in one respect or another. Many groups of religious men and women were founded at a time when travel and communication were limited. Some congregations were founded for similar purposes and at the same time but in different places by people who didn’t know each other. New communities continue to be formed today in response to God calling men and women to particular forms of spirituality, community, and mission.

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Generally it takes four years of college, followed by five to six more years of seminary study. A seminary is a college or university run by the Catholic Church for educating and preparing men to be priests.

8. How do you join a religious community? The process of joining a religious community actually takes some time and involves several stages. While these vary from community to community in name, length of time, and format, the basic stages include: Contact: A person of high-school age or older who is interested in religious life but is still searching to answer the question “What does God want of me?” can join a program of contact with a religious community. The formation program is usually very flexible. The person may meet

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T

LOVE monthly with a priest, brother, or sister and share in experiences of prayer and community life. Others may take part in a “come and see” program to visit a community and experience its way of life. (For a current listing of discernment opportunities, log on to www.vocation-network.org and click on “Opportunities.”) Candidate: This period enables the candidate to observe and participate in religious life from the inside. He or she must indicate interest and have the community agree to accept him or her as a person in the process of joining. The candidate lives within the community while continuing his or her education or work experience. This period enables the candidate to observe and participate in religious life. It also allows the community to see whether the candidate shows promise in living the community’s life. A person may be a candidate for one or two years. Novice: The novitiate is the next stage of formation. This is a special one-to-two-year period that marks a more official entrance into a community. Novices spend time in study and prayer to learn more about themselves, the community, and their relationship with Jesus. At the end of the novitiate, novices prepare for temporary promises, or vows. Vows: Promises of poverty, celibacy, and obedience may be taken for one, two, or three years, depending upon the decision of the individual. These promises are renewable for up to nine years. As soon as three years af-

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ter making temporary vows, a person can make a promise to live the vows for life. A man studying for religious priesthood must also undergo seminary training. During this time he studies theology, scripture, church teachings, and the skills he will need to be a priest.

9. What vows do priests, brothers, and sisters make? Brothers, sisters, and priests in religious communities make three vows, and some congregations make other vows as well. The three most common vows are: Poverty—We share our goods in

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Sister s of

St. A g s ne

O pe

ng to a

vocations@csasisters.org 920.907.2310 www.csasisters.org

! e op Futu H re Full of

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common, live a simple life, and realize that we depend on God. Celibacy—We choose to love and serve God and all God’s people, rather than to love one person exclusively in marriage. We offer our celibacy as a witness and testimony to God’s love. Obedience—We live in community and try to listen and follow the will of God by taking part in community life, goals, hopes, and work.

10. What vows do diocesan priests make? Diocesan priests make promises of celibacy and obedience to their bishop. They do not make a vow of poverty, but they do try to live sim-

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SERVE ply so they can be of service to God’s people.

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11. Can priests, brothers, and sisters date? No, they can’t because dating is meant to lead to marriage, and as celibates we plan not to marry. However, we very much want and need friendships, and we have friends of both sexes.

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12. Are you ever attracted to others in a romantic way? Of course! We still experience normal human needs, feelings, and desires. As celibate people we choose to channel these feelings—our sexual energies—into other healthy directions. We work at remaining faithful to our vow of celibacy through prayer, closeness to Jesus, good friendships, and healthy physical exercise.

13. What if you fall in love? It does happen. The basic responsibility in such a situation is to preserve the original, existing commitment we’ve made—which is to live as a sister, brother, or priest. We try to develop the relationship within the limits and responsibilities of our commitment to celibacy. Obviously, falling in love can be a very difficult situation for a sister, priest, or brother. Yet we know that all Christians eventually face pain and difficulty in their lives. It isn’t always easy to be a faithful spouse or a single person of integrity either. Dealing with such a challenge can

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make us stronger than ever in our vocations.

14. Do you have to be a virgin to be a brother, sister, or priest? This is a common question we hear

from young people! Past sexual activity does not in itself prevent someone from becoming a brother, sister, or priest. A person’s past life is not the main concern. If it were, men and women who were once married could not become priests, brothers, or sisters (and they do). The question is whether a person is

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willing and able to now live and love as a celibate in the service of others. Some of the great saints—Saint Augustine and Saint Francis of Assisi for example—made other choices before turning to religious life.

in prayer

in action

in community

in ministries

THE AWESOME POWER OF

We invite you to live out His awesome power with us.

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Usually dioceses and religious congregations require applicants to resolve any personal debts or liabilities before entering a formation program. Many, however, will make exceptions for student loans and will have specific policies regarding a plan for fair and just payment. If someone has a history of excessive spending and accumulated personal debts, especially credit-card related, the person is usually asked to consider seriously his or her ability to live a life of simplicity inherent to a religious vocation.

16. Why do some of you wear religious clothes while others don’t?

Carmelite Vocations Office Phone: 202-526-1221 x 109 frsam@carmelites.net www.carmelites.net

15. Can I still be a priest, sister, or brother if I have personal debts?

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Those who wear habits or clerical collars do so for various reasons. One is that religious dress is a sign that may be instantly recognized as a symbol of faith in God and commitment to Christianity. Another frequent rationale is that religious clothing is simple dress and therefore a way to live out the vow of poverty. A sister, brother, or priest who wears religious garb may

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WALK own a few changes of clothing and be free of the expense of a more contemporary wardrobe. Some communities wear street clothes, preferring to make their lifestyle, rather than their clothing, their main outward sign of faith. They feel religious dress may create a barrier between them and other people. Furthermore, those who have discontinued wearing habits often say the original reason for them was to wear the dress of the common people, and street clothes are now the common people’s dress. =

H WITH

GOD

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“Sixteen questions about church vocations” is reprinted with the permission of the National Coalition for Church Vocations and the National Religious Vocation Conference, 5401 S. Cornell Ave., #205, Chicago, Illinois 60615. ©2002. All rights reserved. Call 800671-NCCV for reprint permission.

f all human activities, man’s

listening to God is the supreme act of his reasoning and will. —pope Paul VI [For more inspirational quotes and commentary follow us at twitter.com/ VisionVocation.]

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priests

GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE

“IT’S VERY EASY to dismiss poor people. No one wants them around,” says Father Guy Blair, S.C.J. “People are scared it can be part of their lives. Just look at the economy now and the way people are losing their jobs.”

Feeding Jesus’ friends Even in the face of opposition Sacred Heart Father Guy Blair and other homeless advocates did not shy away from their mission: calling people to do what they were supposed to do for the poorest of the poor.

THOMAS ROZWADOWSKI

TARTING A FIGHT and finishing one are two entirely different things. Father Guy Blair, S.C.J. learned that lesson the hard way when his ministry took an unexpected turn a few years ago during a debate over an “image problem” caused by his homeless shelter in Green Bay, Wisconsin. A staunch homeless advocate, Blair opened the adjoining school and gym at his parish, St. John the EvanThomas Rozwadowski is a reporter for the Green Bay Press Gazette.

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gelist, to displaced locals during Wisconsin’s brutal winters. He then became a lightning rod for controversy when a vocal segment of the community and city council made this part of his life’s work a target.

Entering Jesus’ circle While Blair never intended to become the face of homeless advocacy in Green Bay, he learned that his passion could turn him into a fearless leader. If someone had to look out for the ignored among us, he figured, it might as well be him. “I had no plans for opening a shelter, or being involved in a controversy

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Father Guy BlaIr, S.C.J. talks with some of his fellow Priests of the Sacred heart during a community meeting.

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of any sort,” Blair said. “But it was a need, and I thought, how can we be a church and claim to be preaching the good news and not in some way reach out to these people? The very people who Jesus socialized with, ate with, wanted part of his life, the marginalized people of his time? “I think that it’s very easy to dismiss poor people. No one wants them in their neighborhood. No one wants them around. People are scared it can be part of their lives. Just look at the economy now and the way people are losing their jobs. It’s an ever-present reality people don’t want to be confronted with.” Blair frequently found himself sitting across from the homeless at dinner, listening to their stories, no uncomfortable detail left unspilled. “It moved me to realize that often the best gift that I can give to another person is just to listen to them.” Blair said. “I cannot save anyone. And you might think, well, as a priest, I should have had that revelation a long time ago. But sometimes I’ve acted in a manner where I’ve tried to

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save or convert people without realizing that’s the Lord’s business. “So just listening to stories of people who no one else wants to listen to—because no one wants to sit down and hear what a homeless person has to say or where they come from. But telling their stories, that can be healing for them. In some ways, it was healing for me, too.”

Simple beginnings The unique evolution of Blair’s ministry shows just how revelatory God’s work can be. Growing up in the small town of Stafford Springs, Connecticut, Blair said the church of the 1950s and 60s was his boyhood community’s lone social outlet. Without shopping malls or movie theaters filling the gap, Blair spent a large part of his youth at church gatherings or volunteering as an altar server while learning about the “mystical body of Christ.” In an ironic twist, he distinctly remembers it being suggested in eighth grade that he’d make a great priest—a recommendation he took seriously until he and a friend visited a high school seminary. Blair was so turned off by the “prisonlike” atmosphere inside he figured that chapter of his life had been officially closed. His motivations, however, changed in high school when he visited the Priests of the Sacred Heart and saw how their devotion to service could bring about personal fulfillment. Never expecting to leave the comfort of a small town for a large metropolitan area, he nonetheless joined the Sacred Heart

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Missionaries among the poor and abandoned. . .

or a reading from the scriptures, or prayers, or music at any of the liturgies she attended.” Because his friend could communicate orally, Blair still didn’t realize what it meant to fully be without speech until he took an evening class for sign language at a Chicago community college. Working with the deaf became his primary focus while taking up residence in San Antonio, Texas—until, as God has often allowed with Blair, another door opened.

Providing food and shelter

Is G od calling you? Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity

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college program in Chicago. After taking final vows and studying at the Catholic Theological Union, he embarked on his first calling within his priestly vocation: working with the deaf community. “I had met a deaf person as a child and was deeply inspired by

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this woman, who asked me if I could explain to her the Resurrection,” Blair said. “At that time, I was only about 12, and I said to her, ‘You’ve been a Catholic your whole life. How could you not know the meaning of that word?’ And she told me she was deaf, and had never heard a sermon

With a San Antonio homeless community well in the thousands, Blair became an expert sandwich-maker while feeding those who would arrive at the rectory door of San Francesco di Paola Catholic Church looking for a daily meal. He eventually spearheaded a program whereby parishioners would make sandwiches for up to 200 people each day. That led to a food pantry and other volunteer initiatives aimed at providing short-term relief for those wandering the streets. His homeless ministry in Green Bay had a rather innocuous start when his religious community sent him to St. John’s, the oldest continuous parish in Wisconsin, roughly four years ago. The Brown County Housing and Homeless Coalition invited Blair to a meeting, and when the discussion centered on the lack of a church-sponsored shelter in the city, a light bulb went off in Blair’s head. Remembering the impact his church had made in San Antonio, Blair offered the empty school and

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gym at St. John’s as a homeless haven, perhaps naively so. “It was opened for people who were not acceptable at other homeless shelters,” he said. “So these are people with severe emotional problems, alcohol and substance abuse issues, people who had adopted being homeless as a lifestyle. “Look, we don’t operate like a bed and breakfast. We don’t just give them dinner, a place to sleep, and have them leave in the morning. We do the laundry for people with cloth-

“He called . . . people back to a relationship with God. . . . he was calling the city. . . . the diocese, the church to do what it was supposed to do: to feed the hungry and give shelter to the homeless.” ing, offer toiletries, help them find apartments, jobs and Social Security benefits, disability benefits. We help veterans get in touch with the benefits they are legally entitled to as well. Sometimes we help people find other family members. Case management is a strong component in the shelter outreach program. And it’s a heck of a lot of work.”

Not in their backyard Now in its fourth season operating

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from November to April of each year, the shelter had its rough spots while getting volunteers and community members to pitch in. But it largely operated without much interference until the summer of 2007. Concerned about reports of police problems at the shelter, members of the Green Bay City Council became dissatisfied with the state of St. John’s, putting Blair in the eye of a public firestorm that, in his estimation, was more about the shelter not “fitting into the plan of a glittering downtown with condominiums and a riverwalk.” City leaders refused to issue a conditional use permit to allow St. John’s to open for another winter, and when Blair began preparing to defy them, officials intimated that they might fine St. John’s up to $600 per day for violating city zoning rules. After the debate began to play out publicly, intervention from the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay and former Milwaukee (now New York City) Archbishop Timothy Dolan allowed an olive branch to be extended. The shelter could remain open and Blair would remain involved in day-to-day operations. In essence, the city pushed, but Blair pushed harder. And while there are still “rumblings and grumblings” about St. John’s, with the diocese assuming responsibility for the shelter the issue is no longer the political hotbed of controversy it once was. “He certainly didn’t enjoy that, but he knew it came with the territory,” said Tony Pichler, who has worked with Blair on the Board of

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“Take in the most abandoned of all, have him sit at table with you and make him one of your own, because this is Jesus Christ.” Blessed Louis Guanella Founder

www.servantsofcharity.org

“Guanellian Priests & Brothers” Proclaiming the Gospel of Life in service of charity, we share

✟ a life in community ✟ daily worship and common prayer ✟ service to the poor and disadvantaged ✟ fidelity to the Pope & the Magisterium

Our mission is a celebration of life as we serve

✟ people with developmental disabilities ✟ troubled youth and the elderly in need ✟ parishes through pastoral ministry ✟ migrants and refugees through outreach

Consider joining our mission in answering Pope Benedict XVI’s call “to live no longer for ourselves but for God, and with God for others.” (Deus Caritas Est no. 33) Father Dennis M. Weber, SdC 1799 S. Sproul Rd. Springfield, PA 19064 (610) 543-3380 e-mail: fr.dweber@chs-adphila.org

Father David Stawasz, SdC St. Louis Center 16195 U.S. 12 Chelsea, MI 48118 (734) 475-8430 frdave@stlouiscenter.org

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Trustees at St. John’s while serving as the diocese’s director for Lay Ministry Formation. “I don’t want to get too dramatic about it, but he’s very much like a prophet from the Old Testament. He called us back, called people back to a relationship with God, to do what they were called to do. In a sense, he was calling the city to do what it was supposed to do for the poorest of the poor. He was calling the diocese, the church to do what it was supposed to do: to feed the hungry

“Now I understand that working with people, and particularly people who are needy, truly feeds the spirit.” and give shelter to the homeless.” With more than 500 volunteers at the shelter, Pichler said it’s evident that Blair’s passion for the cause has touched community members in a profound way.

Anyone can lose dreams A soft-spoken man who nonetheless minces no words, Blair’s concern for the homeless has a family connection, too. Unbeknownst to him at the time, his own parents were homeless for a short period in the 1980s. Blair prefers not to go into details but says that circumstances forced his parents to be on the move and live out of their car because there were no outreach programs

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or shelters at that time. Blair often thinks back on the matter and realizes that a helping hand must always be extended. “Anyone can lose dreams and lose hope because of circumstances beyond their control,” he explains. As he looks ahead to his ministerial path today, he describes it as coming out of a 59-year “stupor.” Even as the church changes around him and times get tougher on onepriest parishes like his, he appreciates how age has helped open his eyes to what he calls God’s “true work.” “Now I understand that working with people, and particularly people who are needy, truly feeds the spirit.” Plenty of deaf Catholics and countless homeless people on the cold streets of Green Bay would say Blair’s insight is their good fortune. =

hree things are necessary for the salva-

tion of man: to know what he ought to believe;

Fr. Stanley Deresienski, SSE, Vocation Director Society of Saint Edmund 270 Winooski Park Colchester, Vermont 05439-0270 sderesienski@smcvt.edu http://www.sse.org 802 / 654-3400

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to desire; and to know what he ought to do. —Saint thomaS

aquinaS [For more inspirational quotes and commentary follow us at twitter.com/ VisionVocation.]

Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd Ordinary men

striving to follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by ministering to society’s most abandoned and disadvantaged. 815.472.3131

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priests

What being a priest means to me Father Laurence Freeman, O.S.B. focuses his priestly ministry on sharing Christian meditation practices with people throughout the world.

If you are going to do something as radical as following a religious vocation, says Father Laurence Freeman, it would be wise to allow the process of conversion a chance to begin.

Father Laurence Freeman, O.S.B.

y own vocation, once it emerged, was always to the monastic life centered in the practice of contemplation. It was a tremendous grace for me to have been in-

Father Laurence Freeman, O.S.B. belongs to the Benedictine community of Monte Oliveto, Italy. Born and raised in England, he now lives there again as director of the World Community for Christian Meditation. In addition he is founder and director of the John Main Center for Meditation and Interfaith Dialogue at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

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fluenced and guided by one of the great spiritual figures of the 20th century, the Benedictine monk Father John Main, O.S.B. I first met him when I was still at school and had no idea or attraction of doing anything in life except becoming a famous, successful writer and, hopefully, a rich one. At university I studied literature. Planning to do postgraduate studies later, I decided to get off the academic train for a year or two and have a taste of the real world. I taught, traveled, made an entry into journalism, and even, just to do something against my own grain, VISION 2010

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There is a Way.

Let Him find you.

Dedicated to Mercy, consecrated to Mary, faithful to the Magisterium, working toward a rebirth of spirituality in today’s world. PR I E S T S & B R OT H E R S

OBLATES OF THE VIRGIN MARY

1105 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02215

617-869-2429

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went into merchant banking despite being useless at math. I cannot be held responsible for the current meltdown of the capitalist system because I could only endure the banking world for a year. Nevertheless it taught me very clearly what I did not want to pursue and awakened me to the reality of my spiritual search. It is amazing how this search can exist in young people without their adequately recognizing it. Sometimes it seems

We are a priestly people

n interfaith perspective on priesthood can help discerners find their true vocation. The Christian priesthood is not a caste or sect as in other religions—not a shaman (as in indigenous religions) nor a Brahmin (as in Hinduism) nor a Levite (as in ancient Judaism). Christian priests come from among the people they serve and not from a separate caste or sect. The understanding that the people of God share in the priesthood of Christ is sometimes underemphasized in the Roman Catholic Church, in which ministerial priesthood is reserved for celibate men. Other ways of being a Christian priest are found in the great traditions of Eastern Orthodoxy (married priests) and Anglicanism (ordained women). Roman Catholic discerners might gain a more in-depth understanding of their own tradition—and their place within it—by studying others. —Father Laurence Freeman, O.S.B.

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too scary to face. Sometimes we just don’t know what it is.

Try something radical That’s why I would advise anyone seeking their vocation to take a year off and do something out of the ordinary, preferably out of character. Talking with counselors and vocation directors is helpful—up to a point. But the real teacher is “Christ within you,” as Saint Paul says. And nothing puts you better into touch with that interiority than stepping out of the predictable. After all, if you are going to do something as radical as following a religious vocation, it would be wise to test how radical you really want to be and allow the process of conversion a chance to begin. During this time in my own life, Father Main started a lay community at his monastery in England to teach and practice Christian meditation. I felt attracted to experience that for six months and hoped it would help me get my spiritual discipline into better shape, learn to meditate, and then set off well-prepared to conquer the world. It was a hard but wonderful time of growth in self-knowledge, which I came to realize is the real meaning of humility. Any vocation has to humble us. We see its beauty and greatness in the context of our own pride and weakness. This humbling, through prayer and, ideally, life with others, is especially important for those discerning a call to priesthood or religious life, which are great vocations but also dangerous ones. Why dangerous? Pride, elitism, loneliness, power—for every great vocation there is the danger of hijacking by the ego.

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Wait in joyful hope with us.

Father Laurence Freeman and the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibet, take part in a dialogue during an initiative hosted by the World Community for Christian Meditation.

At the end of the six months I realized I was in a double bind. I had lost my worldly ambition (though not, unfortunately, my other faults), but also I did not want to become a monk, at least not yet. John Main walked along the path of my confusion with me but never exerted

Talking with counselors and vocation directors is helpful—up to a point. But the real teacher is “Christ within you,” as Saint Paul says. any pressure that would make the discernment less liberating. When, as young (or older) people, we struggle with our life decisions, we should realize what a rare time of grace it is to be in this

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in-between state. In fact it is the ideal state to be in for contemplative prayer because we are detached and as yet undistracted by the details and egotraps of our work. It is rare we see this at the time, but a good counselor will save us from being impatient and making a premature decision simply because we feel insecure or unconventional. A choice made because we are frightened or want to look good in the eyes of others is rarely a vocation.

A leap into the dark— then peace I went off on a pilgrimage and, a little romantically, walked up the steep hill of Montecassino, site of Saint Benedict’s first monastery. Romanticism usually suffers disillusion and I was shocked to see how like Disneyworld the monastery was—it had been artificially recreated after being bombed to nothing in 1945. Strange-

Benedictine Monks of Subiaco Abbey brfrancis@subi.org . www.subi.org Enter #256 at VocationMatch.com

By our example, our work, our service to others . . . for the honor and glory of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

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ly, that disappointment helped me to be more real, and I took the decision to enter the novitiate. It seemed as if it were a leap in the dark, but once I had made it, an unexpected

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Christ is the one priest and calls all his followers to share in his priesthood in wondrously diverse ways of service. and abiding peace visited me as did an ability to trust the subtler movements of the Spirit that I had not known before. What about the priesthood? As a monk, priesthood for me is in a sense a secondary or complementary vocation, while at the same time the gift of celebrating the Eucharist has a more and more profound identity at the center of my identity. Perhaps it is better to say that as part of the church I feel I am a monk who also received the unexpected bonus of ordained priesthood, which opens up more dimensions of the mystery of my vocation in Christ. Early in my monastic training I was led to go with John Main to

start a new kind of monastic community, based in the practice and for the teaching of meditation. We were invited by an archbishop and had the support of our monastic brethren, but it was a radical new beginning and a great simplification of my life. As the community was small and the demands on it increased, priesthood became for me essentially a way of serving the needs of my community and its visitors. That meant above all celebrating Mass for the community and our visitors.

The need for contemplation Mine was a different approach to priesthood than for someone drawn to a vocation to the diocesan vocation priesthood. But the essential dynamic of Christian priesthood is always one of ministry, above all Eucharistic ministry, to the people of God who themselves share in the priesthood of Christ. I was very moved talking to a recently ordained Catholic priest. He spoke of how his vocation had been awakened as a young boy when his father took him to a soup kitchen. From that moment he felt called to serve the poor, and priesthood ap-

What’s the difference between a monk and a priest? Monk: A member of a monastic religious community, that is, a community whose life is centered on prayer, including regularly praying the Divine Office: a prescribed set of psalms, readings, and prayers. Priest: An ordained minister who presides at Mass and administers

the other sacraments. Priests can be diocesan, primarily ministering in parishes and accountable to a bishop, or they can be members of religious communities, including monastic communities, and accountable to the elected community superior. Religious-community priests minister in a variety of settings.

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Please give Vocation Director Bro. Michael E. Suazo, C.S.Sp. a call at 713.522.2882 or 832.656.4669 Vocation Oﬃce: Congregation of the Holy Spirit-USA-West, 1700 W. Alabama St., Houston, TX 77098-2808 vocations@duq.edu or suazocssp@aol.com www.spiritans.org

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peared as the way he felt he could do that best. My own calling has led me to share the importance of contemplation with people throughout the world. I recently led a contemplative retreat for diocesan priests. We all came to believe that a practice of contemplative prayer is a necessity for any priest, especially one trying to live a celibate life. The depth of intimacy of daily meditation helps transform sexual and emotional loneliness into a sense of universal connectedness in Christ, which is the meaning of solitude. It is not easy to start such a regular contemplative practice after ordination—though many do. Far wiser, however, is to begin to pray at the level of the heart as soon as your discernment process begins and to lay the foundations strongly during VISION 2010

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the years of formation. In my experience nothing teaches better that Christ is the one priest and calls all his followers to share in his priesthood in wondrously diverse ways of service. =

he Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried. —G. K. Chesterton [For more inspirational quotes and commentary follow us at twitter.com/ VisionVocation.]

www.stvincentmonks.com www.svamonks.org

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6/12/2009 1:11:45 PM

sisters

Daphany Ragland

Sister Lee Ann gives a hug to Carol Harrison, who has benefitted from the Center for Women in Transition in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Teacher first, sister always For Sister Lee Ann McNally, R.S.M., ministering to prisoners started as a new adventure, but it was also an extension of the work she is sure God had in mind for her right from the start.

Leslie Scanlon

APhany Ragland met Sister Lee Ann McNally when Ragland—who was then in the Pulaski County Jail in Little Rock, Arkansas and on her way to prison—took a class called “Reinventing Your Life” that McNally taught. “I was known as a habitual criminal and they said I wasn’t fit to live in society,” Ragland said. But McNally told her, “You have so much good in

Leslie Scanlon is a writer in Louisville, Kentucky.

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you”—something Ragland had never heard before. “More than anything, she was patient, just listening. And to think that a nun would take the time with me, that was very impressive to me. When my family wouldn’t take the time to listen to me, she would.” Ragland now works for McNally at the Center for Women in Transition, a nonprofit agency McNally helped to found as an outgrowth of her work teaching in jails and prisons, to help women being released from incarceration make the transition back to living in the outside world. For McNally, teaching prisoners was

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Seeking god TogeTher in community, prayer ministry.

For more monastic wisdom, visit the communities of Benedictine Sisters listed at www.abfconline.org/sisters. Enter #004 at VocationMatch.com

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6/8/2009 10:53:56 AM

a new adventure after many years of teaching in schools but also an extension of the work she is sure God had in mind for her right from the start.

Respond to God’s call. Live as a Franciscan Sister.

Satisfy your heart’s desire. We follow the Gospel of Jesus in the spirit of Saints Francis and Clare. We are committed to peace-making, promoting dignity for all, building community and healing our wounded universe.

Are you discerning your life’s vocation? Contact: Sister Grace Skwira vocations@fslf.org • (320)632-0652 • www.fslf.org

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Take your pick When McNally decided to join the Sisters of Mercy in the 1960s, “We were given a choice,” she said. “You can be a teacher, you can be a nurse—take your pick. I chose the teacher.” Those who chose teaching could major in history or English in college. She earned a degree in both history and English from Maryville University in St. Louis and says frankly: “I am an excellent teacher” of anything but math or science. “I

“I do the work that I’m doing better because I’m a Sister of Mercy.” just knew from the beginning that being a teacher was what I was called to be.” McNally is confident but not arrogant, plain-spoken but also kind. She’s determined to make a difference in the lives of prisoners who may not have anyone else to help them find their way. Her friend and colleague Sgt. Robin Ballard of the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility said McNally “is like a friend and a parent. A friend tries to guide you and help you and give you suggestions. But when you don’t do right, the parent comes out and

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says, ‘This is wrong, you’re not going to get by with this.’ She’s got that nurturing part, and then she’s got the proverbial nun.” “I’m in their faces when I need to be,” McNally said, “and they know that.”

On the right path McNally, now 63, grew up in Gulfport, Mississippi, the oldest of nine children in an Irish Catholic family, and a straight-A student. “I was taught by the Sisters of Mercy all 12 years in school, and I had excellent, excellent teachers,” McNally said. But as a senior in high school she decided, “No way was I going to go to the convent. So I went to college for a year. I was there for one month before I knew that was not the right thing. So I finished the year, and then I entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1965. I was 19 years old. I have never really had a vocation crisis in all these years. It is amazing, which is another sign to me that I’m doing what I am supposed to be doing.” For much of her career McNally taught in schools in Louisiana and later in Arkansas, mixing that work with other assignments, leading retreats and prayer services, and working in campus ministry. She earned two master’s degrees—one in secondary education from Loyola University in New Orleans and a second in pastoral studies from Loyola University in Chicago. In 1990 she moved to Little Rock, working for a decade in adult faith development at Our Lady of the Holy Souls parish and teaching

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at Mount St. Mary Academy, a girls’ school. She asked for permission to live by herself—something she wanted to try because she’d never lived anywhere but in a convent or with “nine kids and a mom and dad and one bathroom.” Now she has a cat and some peace and quiet when she’s not working—important, McNally said, for an introvert who spends so much time helping other people sort out their lives. She loves to read and hunker down on the weekends watching football on TV, but she’s also connected with the community at Mount St. Mary Academy through prayer and discussion groups, a vital connection, she said, because “that’s where my spirituality gets fed.” Asked what she would say to someone considering a religious vocation, McNally responded: “I’d be

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6/8/2009 10:54:40 AM

Tara Little, arkansas catholic, www.arkansas-catholic.org

Called to generate compassion and hope in our community of life

Sister Lee Ann balances tough with tender while teaching a class at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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like Jesus and I’d say, ‘Come and see.’ Just come and see. There’s more here than what you see on the outside, and community really is a significant part of it. I do the work that I’m doing better because I’m a Sister of Mercy.”

Teach us to forgive For the past six years the focus of that work, somewhat to her surprise, has been in jails. After having moved to Little Rock, McNally founded a spirituality center for women, and after a few years “I wanted to take our spirituality program to the women in jail who could not come to us.” When she approached the jail officials, they said she couldn’t offer the spirituality program but they did

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need someone to teach a “Life Skills” class. McNally agreed, although from the beginning of her work there in 2002 she put her own twist on it. When the women arrived she told them, “This is what jail says you

In Little Rock the “word on the street is that she’s all of our mamas. If you want somebody you can really count on and trust, call Sister Lee Ann.” need: how to write a check, how to balance a checkbook, how to apply for a job. You tell me what you need.” Immediately one woman said,

‘Teach us how to forgive ourselves for what we’ve done.’ And another said, ‘Teach us how to communicate with our children so they don’t end up like we did.’ ” McNally thought to herself, “Gosh, I’m into something I’m not really prepared for here. But God put me here, so I must be able to do something for these women.” She now teaches classes in the Pulaski County jail on anger management, relapse prevention, and life skills. She works as a chaplain’s assistant—sort of a spiritual advisor— in women’s units in the Arkansas prisons and recently has been placed on the visitation list for two men, one serving a life sentence without parole (who has no other visitors) and the other serving a term of 40 years. Working with prisoners, “one of the very first things that I learned is that my concept of convicted felons was not necessarily correct,” McNally

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said. She estimates that nearly all get into trouble initially because “they’ve got some kind of addiction that is severe. And of that 99 percent, 96 percent are also victims of violence and abuse. Very often the women will say . . . almost down the line that they started drugs and alcohol to cover up what was going on in their homes growing up. “So what I see are good people who never had anyone respect them as individuals. Respect to me is very big. I teach that, I act that way in class, I insist that the women treat each other with respect.”

2010

Everyone’s mama Most of these women are moms who feel guilty and ashamed because they’re locked up and someone else is taking care of their children. When they come to her classes “they come because they want their lives to be different,” McNally said. “They just don’t know how to make that happen. They’re not bad people. They are people who have made really poor choices based on the poor choices made for them when they were young.” “That’s where her faith side comes in,” Sgt. Ballard said of McNally—the idea that God does see the worth in these women. “Where most would write these prisoners off,” Ballard said, “she always looks at it that that person can be saved.” Ragland, now 44, had been in and out of jail by the time she met McNally. She gave birth to a son at 14 and watched him lose his life to gang violence. Her image of nuns,

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based on her experience in a Catholic grade school, was that “they never showed any emotions or laughed. It was like a ‘God is going to get you’ type of attitude. It was ‘either do this or go to hell.’ ” But McNally taught her that “I’m way more than the lies I’ve been told all my life. And when I’m ready to grow and change, then change is possible. It’s all about what’s going on inside of me and how important it was to pull up my own self-esteem. . . . I literally feel as if a black cloth has been lifted from my life. And by being with a nun, I feel I have found favor with God.” In Little Rock the “word on the street is that she’s all of our mamas,” Ragland said. “If you want somebody you can really count on and trust, call Sister Lee Ann.” =

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sisters Sister Brenda Cherry, O.S.P. rocks Azariah YarbroughHutchins to sleep. Sister Brenda is director of the Mt. Providence Child Development Center.

Serving as the finger of God The Oblate Sisters of Providence want the world to feel the touch of God’s love, and they’re working on it one child at a time. Photos André Chung

Text by Patrice Tuohy and Carol Schuck Scheiber

he Oblate Sisters of Providence don’t let things like poverty or racism distract them. As the first order of sisters of African decent successfully established in the Catholic Church, the community has faced abuse and intolerance from all quarters since its inception in 1829 and has struggled to gather the financial support it needs to conduct its main ministry: the education of children of color. Despite their many challenges during the past 180 years, the Oblate Sisters of Providence have endured and thrived. They devote themselves to educating André Chung has been a photojournalist for more than 20 years and is a founding member of Iris PhotoCollective. He is on the web at www.achungphoto.com. Patrice Tuohy and Carol Schuck Scheiber are VISION editors..

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poor children in the U.S. and Costa Rica, and have a special ministry to the victims of poverty, racism, and injustice. Their foundress, Elizabeth Lange, an immigrant of Haitian decent, was passionate that Haitian refugee children hear the word of God and receive an education. With the help of several other women, Lange began teaching children in her home. She was eventually encouraged to found a religious community by Sulpician Father James Joubert and the Archbishop of Baltimore, James Whitfield, who said of the women’s ministry:“In this work is the finger of God.” Today the Oblate Sisters, 100-strong, continue to run St. Francis Academy in Baltimore, the school first started by their founder. They draw strength from the courage and faith of the women who have gone before them, from their community life, and from the unwavering conviction that God provides. = VISION 2010

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Sister M. Virginie Fish, O.S.P. and Sister Aracelly Salazar, O.S.P. (top, left) share a joke. Communal bonds play an important role in sustaining the sisters in ministry to the poor. Sister Lucia Quesada (left) helps a student add color to her masterpiece at the Mt. Providence Child Development Center.

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6/8/2009 10:55:27 AM

sisters

StEVE SPArtAnA

SISter ANNe elizabeth Fiore, V.H.M. coaches her school’s softball team.

Happiness took me in an unexpected direction Despite urgings from her friends to serve God in other ways, this former city kid knew that the monastery is where she’d find her joy.

SiSter Anne e. Fiore, V.H.M.

he WAITress came to take our order, but we motioned her away. We were crying too hard to talk. Although we had broken up months before, we had never really ended our relationship. On this the eve of our final parting—he heading to graduate school

BiLLiE JoHnSon McSEVEnEy

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Sister Anne E. Fiore, V.H.M. is a Sister of the Visitation of Holy Mary at Georgetown Visitation Monastery. She teaches Latin, coaches softball, and moderates club dodge ball at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School. When she’s not grading Latin papers, correcting batting stances, or chasing stray dodge balls, Sister Anne can be found at home in the monastery, where she serves on the vocation team and edits the community blog: http://livejesus. blogspot.com.

in another city and I to my last stop before entering the monastery—we began to reminisce about our journey together. We were both surprised at how difficult it was to believe that this would be our last date. We laughed through our tears; we eventually ordered our food and ate through our tears; and we walked home through our tears. Amid the healing and the closure that our meeting provided, one of the most poignant memories was his final remark when we said good-bye: “What makes me sad is that your happiness and my happiness take us in separate directions.” And at that I realized that my Baptist ex-boyfriend had a much clearer understanding of vocation than many of my Catholic friends. God wants us to be VISION 2010

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6/8/2009 10:55:37 AM

The

Daughters of St. Mary of Providence In Your Providence is Our Hope

Our Mission: We are the Daughters of St. Mary of Providence (DSMP). Sometimes we are called the Guanellian Sisters after our founder, Blessed Louis Guanella. We are a Religious Congregation of Pontifical Rite, living under the auspices of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI and the direction of the Church. This love and fidelity to the Magisterium of the Church is an outstanding quality that every Sister fosters through a total commitment to God of a life in service of the Church.

Chastity

Poverty

Obedience

What are you looking for?

John 1:38

. . . your face O Lord I seek

Psalms 27:8

For more information write or call Daughters of St. Mary of Providence 4200 N. Austin Ave. Chicago, IL 60634 Phone: 773-545-8300 e-mail: dsmpchi@sbcglobal.net

www.dsmpic.org

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“God’s poorest persons bear the face of God.” Blessed louis Guanella Enter #263 at VocationMatch.com

6/8/2009 11:07:49 AM

Billie Johnson McSeveney

Sister Ann Elizabeth teaches a Latin class during a visit to the tomb of one of her community’s founders.

happy. The secret to that happiness lies in saying “yes” to all that the Lord presents to us along the way. When I told one of my Catholic friends that I would be entering the monastery in a few months, she grabbed my arm in panic and said, “You don’t have to do that! There are many other ways to serve the church.” She proceeded to list them for me; she seemed to think I would welcome an escape from my monastic vocation. Her well-intentioned suggestions revealed a common misconception about religious life: that it is a life of privation and loneliness. Hardly. The Lord does not call us to religious life to deprive us of joy; he calls us to religious life to fill us with himself and his joy so that we may share our happiness with others.

Before I knew it Sometimes we can be slow to respond to the Lord’s invitation to find this happiness. I know I was. Several

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months after I had started coming to morning and evening prayer at the monastery, I’d still slip into the last row just before prayer began and dart out as soon as it was over. Clearly I was running from something; I just didn’t know it was my vocation. One day shortly after daylight savings time had ended, a sister approached my seat with a ladder and asked if I could move for a moment while she adjusted the clock above my chair. I offered to save her the trouble of climbing the ladder and she welcomed the help. As I was adjusting the clock, another sister came along and inquired about what we were doing. The sister who was holding the ladder explained cheerfully how I had offered to help, and the inquiring sister, with a twinkle in her eye, turned to leave. As she departed, she remarked under her breath, “My, my, how quickly one becomes part of the family around here.” The clock flew out of my hand

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and tumbled down toward the floor. Lucky for me, it was sturdy. And equally lucky, my resistance to the Lord’s invitation wasn’t nearly so indestructible. Although it was several years before I asked permission to enter the monastery, the welltimed exchange about being part of the family served as a welcome reminder amid my discernment of the Lord’s invitation to find joy in religious life. I’ve learned that I can be filled with this infectious joy only if I am empty enough to receive it. “Empty” in this case is not the same way a soda can is empty, which implies a sense of uselessness. Not at all. The emptiness the Lord requires of me is an expectant space in my heart. I

God wants us to be happy. The secret to that happiness lies in saying “yes” to all that the Lord presents to us along the way. await all that he has in store—like a child holding an empty ice cream cone, waiting for dessert. I realized quickly that I could not come to religious life “full” of ideas about exactly how I will use my gifts, talents, education, and so on. These expectations must be checked at the door—curbside check-in that costs more than only a tip! We must trust that the Lord, who calls us to this or that particular community, will use us in ways that will lead us to happiness. God’s ways, however, are not always our ways. We must trust that the Lord, through the community, will call

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forth from us the gifts that are needed at the time when they are needed.

How my garden grows Toward the end of my novitiate the novice mistress asked me if I would take care of the vegetable garden. Being a city kid whose idea of “picking vegetables” meant examining the heads of lettuce in the supermarket for the one least likely to begin rotting before we finished eating it, I was a little nervous about this new responsibility. I spent the winter reading books from the library about gardening. I drew a map of the vegetable garden; I examined the seed packets that landed on my desk; and I wondered how in the world this venture could result in anything short of a disaster. As spring approached I rolled up my sleeves and

began to dig, weed, hoe, and haul dirt around. I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I trusted that the Lord would not abandon me in this new assignment. Two weeks later I received a phone call from our school’s computer science teacher. Laughing, she asked me, “What’s a city girl like you doing out in the garden?” I wasn’t being the least bit dishonest when I replied, “I really have no idea what I’m doing.” An avid gardener herself, she wondered if we might have room for some of her extra veggies and she even offered to help in our garden if we could find room for her homeless leeks. (Thinking back, I realize that her classroom overlooked the garden; I assume she was calling to rescue this city mouse from the waist-high weeds.) When I hung up the phone on

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There is many a spiritual metaphor to be found in a garden. And I have a feeling that if I had asked for a different job instead of the garden—a job that might have been better suited to my work experience—it probably wouldn’t have evolved in quite the same way. Much to the surprise of my urban family, a summer day spent in the garden is now a happy prospect for this city kid.

little sisters of the poor

Jeanne Jugan Following joy hospitality in the

to the aged

Sr. Constance Carolyn Little Sisters of the Poor 601 Maiden Choice Lane Baltimore, MD 21228 Tel: 410.744.9367 serenity@littlesistersofthepoor.org www.littlesistersofthepoor.org

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Steve Spartana

my new garden-helper (read: rescuer, teacher, coach), I thought to myself, “Gee, God does take care of knuckleheads like me if we say ‘yes’ even if we don’t feel confident that we can do what is being asked of us.”

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In the years that have passed since that first summer, the garden has been a great source of joy to me. I have come to delight in planting seeds, waiting for them to sprout, tending to the seedlings, and watching last year’s plants become next year’s compost.

Sister Anne Elizabeth fills in momentarily to warm up a pitcher. She coaches the softball team at the school where she teaches.

Learn to adjust the balance For me, an important part of religious life is recognizing the daily occasions where I’m invited to say “yes” to what the Lord asks. In our particular monastery we are challenged to balance our monastic duties of prayer and work with our responsibilities in our school. Several years ago I came into the monastery chapel to pray. That afternoon I only had a small window of time between classes, and I was very conscious of needing not to be disturbed because I might not have enough time after class to finish my meditation. A few minutes later I was distracted by a noise behind me in the part of the chapel closest to the school. It sounded like a person breathing heavily, and it grew louder. For a moment I considered going elsewhere to pray, but something tugged at me not to leave. Finally, I rose to investigate the noise. It wasn’t noise at all; it was a crying student who had slipped into the chapel and parked herself in a back row near the door. I approached the sobbing senior and invited her to come sit in the Blessed Sacrament chapel while I fetched some tissues for her. It was only a five-minute diversion but it was probably the most important thing I did all day. It was a moment when the Lord called me to VISION 2010

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say “yes” to his will even when I had other plans. I wanted a peaceful half hour in the chapel; the Lord wanted one of his little ones to find some comfort. Although I was tempted to leave the chapel in search of what I

Much to the surprise of my urban family, a summer day spent in the garden is now a happy prospect for this city kid. wanted, the Lord’s grace allowed me to remain and say “yes” to his will. Amid the difficulties and surprises that life brings, the Lord calls us, above all, to be joyful. For this we were created. The Lord wants us to be happy. He has formed us, each one of us, to serve his glory in some specific place—a place where he knows that we will be happy. Sometimes this “happiness” takes us places our friends and family do not understand. Sometimes it takes us places where we did not expect to go. But if we follow the Lord, this happiness will always lead us to the place where he awaits us. =

New Membership Office Sister Rose Mary Forck 210-828-2224 4503 Broadway, San Antonio, Texas 78209-6297

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Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Hermanas Misioneras del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Women called to be the Heart of God in the world… replacing suffering and indifference with generosity and compassion.

Complete a short online profile to find which religious communities are compatible with you. It's free. It's quick. It's easy. VocationMatch.com

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brothers

JeSSe ArgueLLo

BrOthEr Nich Perez, C.S.C. (center) jams with students roman Sanchez and Alyssa Bernal of holy Cross of San Antonio, the school where he teaches, in a concert called Acoustic Night he pioneered at the school.

Being a brother is like surfing A former beach bum explains his vocation in terms of catching the perfect wave.

brother Nich L. Perez, c.S.c.

roTHer? You’re a religious brother? What the heck is that?” Most of the time these questions hang in the air when I meet other people for the first time. The students in the high school where I teach, my classmates in grad school, and strangers beside

Brother Nich L. Perez, C.S.C. is a Brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross. Brother Nich (pronounced Nick) is a media specialist and a high school teacher at Holy Cross of San Antonio. He also makes videos for his school’s development programs and for his community’s vocation office.

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me in planes have all wondered what a religious brother is. And most of the time I start off with an analogy to answer their queries: Being a brother is like surfing. Having grown up near the beach and having experienced the effervescence of waves and a surfboard, I usually recount how a surfer patiently waits all day for the perfect wave to catch. The few seconds at the top of that wave are intense moments that can make you feel that God has called you and blown that moving body of water especially for you. In that eons-long second, God whispers within the depths of your heart how much he loves you, and you revel in the

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SOLVANG, CA 1-805-688-4815

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freedom of that surf reverberating throughout your body and soul. And when you fall off your board and splash into the water, you continue to swim against the tide to retrieve your floating board, to wait for that wave to come back, and then to start over again. Being a brother is pretty much like that. Every day is an adventure. It is a daily commitment to wait and embrace that wave of God’s love, and to follow wherever the wave of God

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The transition from my old life to a much simpler lifestyle was a great surrender and a tremendous source of spiritual liberation. leads you. We brothers do not know fully where we are going, but we are certain in the hope that we will reach our destination in the arms of God.

Never a dull moment To give you a more complete picture of me, imagine a beach bum in a religious habit, playing a reggae tune with his guitar, or wondering what the next sequence for his shooting script is. As unorthodox as it sounds, it proves the point that religious life is never boring. Like any other way of life, a brother’s life is full of surprises and challenges. It’s a meaningful life that includes plenty of fun because of the abundant opportunities to serve, grow, and build stronger relationships. I have been with the Brothers

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of Holy Cross for almost five years now and have been a full member for two years. The preparation for religious life—or “formation” as it is called—was a bit tough and arduous, somewhat like boot camp in certain respects, but the truth and meaning that can be found along the way make it worth the journey. The transition from my old life, which was spent mostly in the fast world of advertising before I joined the brothers, to a much simpler lifestyle was a great surrender and a tremendous source of spiritual liberation.

The balance of relationships As in any other vocation, being a brother is about maintaining a balance in relationships. Brotherhood is about balancing my relationship with God and with others, including my community, my family, and the people I work with in my ministry. As the youngest Holy Cross brother in the United States, this balance is critical for me. For instance, if a person were to focus only on one friend and neglect the others, he or she would wind up without any friends at all. Something similar is true for me: If I get my relationships out of balance, I could wind up losing the purpose of my life.

Relationship with God My relationship with God is of prime importance because without prayer, and the love and faith for Jesus on the cross, there is no point in deciding to become a brother. God is the ultimate reason why religious vocations exist. When I ask my students, “What is your greatest aspiration in

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life?” most of the time their answers include: “. . . to be happy.” And most of the time the search for happiness is redirected to the search for God in our lives. A few years before I decided to be a brother, my mother, Zenaida, who was my first teacher of faith, asked me a simple question—this in spite my lucrative job and fast-paced life. “Nicholai, are you happy?” My mother knew that something was lacking in my life that I never quite understood. I was so eager to face the world by myself. It was a hard question to answer at that time, knowing for a fact that I would lie to her about it because I could not find direction in my life. I was embarrassed with the irony of my reality, and I didn’t want her to worry. After a few years of searching for God in many places, then finding the Brothers of Holy Cross in Austin, Texas, it seemed to me that such a categorical question has a simple answer when you start to know where your heart belongs. Now when I face my mother, or anyone who asks the same question, it is easy for me to look them straight in the eye and smile with confidence. The answer is: “Yes.” Indeed, brotherhood is a journey to discovering peace and happiness in the bond with God that we try to nurture every day together in community. This is the same bond of faith that carries us all through life, especially in times of hardship and pain. And I find this bond of faith and brotherhood particularly meaningful as I write these words today. I am able to share my strength with my mother who currently struggles with cancer, and I can offer God’s

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Franciscan Friars,TOR Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – Loretto, PA

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hope to the rest of my family. That is a concrete example of the spiritual foundation that the Brothers of Holy Cross have built within me.

Relationships with others For brothers community is a big thing. In living together, praying together, and ministering together, we grow as brothers, trusting each other and helping each other to fulfill our mission, which is, in the words of Holy Cross founder Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., to make God known, loved, and served. And what’s cool about being in community is that we bring with us our gifts and share them with each other and with those we serve. For instance, two of my passions are making films and making music.

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On which side of the fence rests your future? Let us walk with you as you discern your path. We are the

Priests of the Sacred Heart

Nourished by the Eucharist, we live, pray and minister together, sharing the love of the Sacred Heart. Our ministries are diverse and spread across five continents and 38 countries. Let us walk with you in your discernment. Contact us at: www.scjvocation.org 1-800-609-5559 Enter #116 at VocationMatch.com

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I use these talents in my ministries when I strum the guitar for concerts and liturgies, when I teach my students, and when I write and direct plays or videos. The brothers never fail to tap the potential of each member so that we can be harbingers of hope wherever and whenever we are sent. And perhaps as a media specialist I am able to use my talents and skills in technology to fulfill our mission in one way or another, especially in this era of iPods and the internet. For me, living with the brothers has given me a chance to experience the beauty of cultural diversity.

Brotherhood is about balancing my relationship with God and with others, including my community, my family, and the people I work with in my ministry. I live with six other brothers from around the world. Because we take turns cooking for our community, every day is a happy gastronomic adventure. So it could be Mexican for Monday, Filipino or Asian food on Tuesday, or a European dish on Wednesday—which proves my point again that there is never a boring day as a brother. Along the path to religious life I have met some inspiring and interesting characters in the community. These are the brothers who have spent their lives in service, traveling around the world with an ardent zeal for helping others and sharing

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Are You Called to be Brother to the World? their faith. They have taught me a lot of things, vestiges of wisdom that cannot be found in books or on the internet. I have had the most amazing conversations with these men, who never seem to run out of energy, stories, ideas, and blazing charisma. Still and all, being a religious brother is not an easy life, but it is a life worth living and a vocation that is worth giving a try. It is as exhilarating as surfing, but you have to choose and dare yourself to take on the wave of life no matter how big or small. So I invite you: Take the plunge! =

[From VISION’s SpiritCitings blog at vocation-network.org] When Mercy Sister Joan Margret Schwager, R.S.M. isn’t teaching in a classroom in Whitefish, Montana, you may find her on slopes instructing 5- to 8-year-olds in the basics of skiing. A friend who works a ski resort asked Schwager if she would be interested in teaching skiing. Now she coordinates instruction for about 40 young beginners each season. “It’s fun,” says Schwager, “and an opportunity for evangelization, too, during the great chats one has riding up and down the ski lifts!”

Edmund Rice Christian Brothers

¿Es Ud. Llamado a Ser Hermano para el Mundo? Los Hermanos Cristianos de Edmund Rice www.erbrothers.org Br. James McDonald, C.F.C. 773.429.4496 bromaccfc@yahoo.com http://sites.google.com/site/hermanoscristianos Hermano Gennaro Sullo, C.F.C. 718.293.3993 ext 124 jgsullo@allhallows.org Enter #095 at VocationMatch.com

Schwager is a member of the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Regional Community of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and is part of the New Membership team..

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missionaries ONE PLACE missionary Father Dermot Roache, S.M.A. finds God is in the South African love of music.

Mission to South Africa: Living in joyful hope Despite the many difficult tasks of being a missionary—not to mention the elephants and rhinos—Father Dermot Roache sees hope. “We are a people of the Resurrection! Hope is part of our being.”

Bob Armbruster

personable Irish American from Brooklyn, Father Dermot Roache sometimes enjoys a hearty laugh in his South African parish. Take the time he was baptizing 15 children. A boy 4 years old absolutely loved the pouring of the water on his head. As

Bob Armbruster, a retired journalist, earned a master’s degree in theology with a specialty in church history at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. He has a particular interest in American Catholic history and teaches part time in the satellite programs of Jersey City-based Saint Peter’s College.

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soon as the last child was baptized, the 4-year-old ran from his mother like a bullet, stopped at the baptismal font, and said, “Some more please!” Thank God Roache has moments of laughter, because a man who joins the Society of African Missions is not in for a soft job or an easy life. And members of the community—popularly known as the SMA Fathers (Societas Missionum ad Afros in Latin) must be prepared for surprises. When he was ordained on December 29, 2007 at his community’s provincial headquarters in Tenafly, New Jersey, the 37-year-old priest expected an assignment to Kenya, where he had prepared for the priesthood. But within

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Sr. Janet Hockman, M.M. P.O. Box 311 Maryknoll, NY 10545 email: vocation@mksisters.org http://maryknollsisters.org (914) 941-7575 ext. 5676

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Father Dermot, who is in demand as a speaker and preacher, proclaims the gospel during Mass.

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Pontifical Institute

Missionaries for Foreign Missions

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a short time plans had changed, and he was assigned to South Africa. How did he come to be a missionary priest in the first place? He is from a devout Catholic family and had been active in his parish as a CCD teacher. While on a pilgrimage to the Marian shrine at Medjugorje in Bosnia in the 1990s, he felt called

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to be a priest. He has a strong devotion to Mary and feels she is watching out for him and teaching him to draw more closely to Jesus. He knew of the SMAs because he has an uncle, Father Patrick Kelly, in the community. “It is often difficult for a spouse to describe in words what attracts him or her to the other,”

says Roache. “That is love. It is the same for me. I cannot describe in words what attracts me to the SMA, yet I am at home with the SMA. What you see is what you get when you meet us, and I find that beautiful.” That Roache became a missionary priest seems fitting to Sister Anne Bernadette, his supervisor when he taught CCD. “He’s very good with youngsters,” she recalls, adding that he never gave up on a difficult pupil but always saw something positive in the child.

60 miles of parish That persistence serves Roache well in his new ministry. He has found South Africa to be a beautiful place but one with lots of problems. He works in the Diocese of Rustenburg and its village of 2,000 people, Sesobe. Rustenburg, he explains, is the platinum capital of the world and is a rapidly growing area surrounded by vast open territory. LivVISION 2010

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ing 15 minutes from a national game park, Roache’s neighbors include elephants, zebra, hippos, rhinos, giraffes, and lots of monkeys. His parish, Our Lady Star of the Sea, where he serves with Irish SMA Father Freddie Warner, has a radius

“It is often difficult for a spouse to describe in words what attracts him or her to the other. That is love. It is the same for me. I cannot describe in words what attracts me to the SMA, yet I am at home with the SMA.” of well over 60 miles (a size not uncommon in the missionary field) and 14 outstations, or parishes in the making. Each has the potential of becoming self-sufficient and independent if adequate personnel are available. Each outstation’s growth depends on the effort, zeal, and cooperation of the people. Roache gets around to the outstations in a pickup truck or motorbike. He finds the motorbike more fun. The roads in the villages are made of dirt. Some are good, but others are in desperate condition. Other public services are in bad condition, too. Education is poor, especially in the villages, so people make a living any way they can. “Work is more or less an equal opportunity thing,” he says. “Both men and women work in the mines deep underground. There are women postal, police, fire, and ambulance workers. But jobs are becoming scarce and are

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Learn more about our mission to the poor in 70 countries We welcome eligible men between the ages of 18 and 37

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demanding more qualified people. Without proper education, how does one become qualified?”

Being part of the community Personal security is a big concern in South Africa. “We all live under threat on a daily basis,” he says. “I

have been the victim of theft three times already, once at gunpoint. No one is an exception here. So it is stressful. You just never know.” Missionary priests are expected to become part of the lives of the people they serve, entering into their customs and understanding their ways. Roache and Warner work with lay

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Come be OUR brother

brothersofthesacredheart.org

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THE STRIKING SOUTH AFRICAN countryside is the backdrop for an outdoor Stations of the Cross. The Stations resonate for South Africans, who daily struggle with the enormous death toll of AIDS.

volunteers to provide basic training in catechism. “Without community effort there is no church!” Roache says. A huge challenge for him is ministry to South Africans with AIDS. This devastating disease has profoundly torn the fabric of South Africa and neighboring countries. With roughly a third of the population HIVpositive, AIDS is cutting down adults in the prime of their lives, orphaning more than a million children, and making funerals unbearably common. “On average I anoint five to ten dying people a week and preside at a funeral every Saturday,” notes Roache. “Saturdays are the funeral days.” Batswana funerals begin at 6 a.m., because it is a tradition to send off their beloved at sunrise. “It is their understanding of the Resurrection. So depending on the distance, I can be en route to a church

or cemetery before 5 a.m.” Whether at a funeral or a Sunday Mass, Roache takes preaching seriously. “I must be responsible in how I break open the Word of God for the people and be very conscious of what is actually being presented. “That responsibility is humbling. The realization that you are an instrument of God keeps you grounded. I have found myself more and more sitting before the Blessed Sacrament mulling over scripture in preparation for a homily or workshop. It is then and only then that Jesus gives me what is needed. If I do not spend time with Jesus in the Eucharist, then everything, including preaching, remains meaningless.”

Putting it in God’s hands While Roache is in increasing de-

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mand to teach and give seminars and presentations in two dioceses, he does not think he will ever know the results of his preaching. “True, some people come to me and comment and thank me for my words, but it is the fruit of the reception of the homily that will be proof. That can only come through the grace of God. As a missionary I am called to sow seeds. That sometimes seems thankless and mundane. I may never

“As a missionary I am called to sow seeds. I may never see the actual growth, but I am certain that the Holy Spirit is doing his part on my behalf. The rest is up to God.” see the actual growth, but I am certain that the Holy Spirit is doing his part on my behalf. The rest is up to God.” One place he finds God abundantly is the South African love of song. “So much of the Mass is sung. Many places surprisingly do not use instruments. They just burst into song and swaying dance with the deepest passion. My goodness, you can feel their emotions when they sing.” The songs, with their haunting pitch and heavy bass, remind him of African American spirituals. Only a small number of Catholics attend weekly Mass. But they flock in much greater numbers to be healed by Jesus in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and in eucharistic healing services. “I am amazed

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Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception

at the people’s desire to receive the laying on of hands and their patience in waiting in long lines for confession. The tears that flow are an outward sign of the liberation they receive.”

This is what I long to do with all my heart. _ ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

Hope is who we are Mission work, though, means building up a faith community where one does not already exist. Setbacks and rejections are part and parcel of the life. “There are frequent temptations of loneliness and distractions from the heart of the matter, and it can overwhelm you if you let it, but I have the rosary as my weapon and source of peace,” says Roache. “It never leaves my hand and really strengthens me on the mission.” He has very much taken to heart the words of the SMA founder, Bishop Melchior De Marion Brésillac: “If you are seeking comforts and accolades, you are in the wrong place, but if you seek Jesus, Jesus the poor man, Jesus the humiliated, Jesus the crucified, then come.” The SMAs in the region get together every four to six weeks for a break and mutual support. “You may ask if there is hope,”

Living the Gospel

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says Roache. “At the moment, one might seem to think that with the thankless, mundane, isolated kind of work, that all hope is lost, but no, never say that. We are a people of the Resurrection! Hope is part of our being. As we say in the Mass, ‘We live in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.’ ” =

ope is not something to be found outside of us. It lies in the spiritual life we cultivate within. The whole

purpose of wrestling with God is to be transformed into the self we were meant to become, to step out of the confines of our false securities and allow our creating God to go on creating—in us.

—Sister Joan Chittister, O.S.B.

[For more inspirational quotes and commentary follow us at twitter.com/VisionVocation.]

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being Catholic JESUS DID not stop being God, but though he remained fully divine, he faced life’s challenges just like the rest of us.

Holiness is for everybody If God is content that an individual is trying his or her best (for the moment) to fulfill God’s hopes, that person qualifies as a saint.

he high school seniors I teach would cringe at beFather William J. ing called holy. The very word O’Malley, secretes poisons like “uninteresting,” S.J. “sexless,” “goody-goody,” “unsophisticated”—hardly the path to popularity. Nor does the idea appeal much to older people either. They feel unworthy of a term justified only by a by

Father William J. O’Malley, S.J. is a teacher of English and religious studies at Fordham Preparatory School in the Bronx, N.Y.

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visible halo. Our ideas of holiness are so stringent that even aspiring to it seems presumptuous. Jesus faced that, too: “ ‘What is this wisdom that has been given him? Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?’ ” (Matthew 13:55). Even slight contact with the less-than-sacred sullies any suggestion of sanctity: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!” (Luke 15:3). But here is the key: Jesus loves imperfect people. On that score, all of us qualify. We can, therefore, consider holiness without the distancing, antiseptic “requirements” that make the subject, and

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Benedictine Presence A Vision of Peace

St. Joseph Monastery 2200 S. Lewis Ave. Tulsa, OK 74114 918-742-4989 vocations@ stjosephmonastery.org

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The hIGh SchOOl SeNIOrS I teach would cringe at being called holy.

pursuit of the reality, inaccessible to ordinary mortals.

Incarnation is key A constitutive element of Christianity is the Incarnation. Uniquely, the Christian God became completely enmeshed in the material world: “The Word became flesh” (John 1:14). Jesus did not think himself denied by what his coreligionists judged unclean—neglecting ritual washing or consorting with people considered corruptive (prostitutes, 110

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lepers, Samaritans). It is also a basic Christian assertion that except for sin, God became in Christ fully human. That means Jesus underwent bodily demands some would consider too degrading for God. It would also follow that because, of all species, only humans suffer doubt, Jesus had to face the insecurity of commitment to choices without certitude. If not, the temptations in the desert could not have been truly seductive, with no possibility of choosing wrongly. Further, the agony in the garden, where he

sweated blood in terror, would have been impossible with full access to a divine intelligence that suffers no uncertainty. Without experiencing authentic uncertainty, Jesus could not have shared that most difficult burden of being human. There is at least an explanation, though it might not convince all. Saint Paul writes that at the Incarnation the son “emptied himself” (Philippians 2:7). He did not stop being God, but though he remained fully divine, he surrendered all divine perquisites, like omniscience and omnipotence, in order to face life’s challenges just like the rest of us.

Jesus’ invitation to all Jesus’ invitation to the kingdom—to a personal relationship with God here and now—was in no way restricted to the special few. In the parable, when the original guests declined, the host ordered: “Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in” (Luke 14:23). The invitation was not restricted to the already righteous: “It is not the healthy who need a physician but those who are sick” (Matthew 9:12). Nor was it confined to the chosen people: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19), nor VISION 2010

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limited to the ordained 12 apostles. Jesus loved the rich man who lived the Commandments but could not leave everything (Mark 10:21). Paul —and finally Peter—flung open the doors indiscriminately: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free man, neither male nor female; you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). If all that is true, one has ample justification to examine holiness with less stringent requirements than

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Jesus loves imperfect people. On that score, all of us qualify. conventional wisdom might call for. To be judged holy—or at least trying to achieve some semblance of it— one need not be flawless, destitute, or virginal. True, to declare publicly that someone is a saint, the church must scrutinize that life meticulously. But one need not be a World Series Most Valuable Player. Saint Irenaeus said in Against Heresies: “The glory of God is humanity, fully alive.” What separates humans from other animals is the potential to learn and to love. Other animals know facts; a stag pursued by hunters knows that danger is behind him, but so far as we know he does not ask why: “What did I do to those guys?” We have at least the capacity (if we use it) to understand. Other animals can give their lives for their young. But we can give our lives (often without dying) for people we do not even like at the moment. Ask any parent or teacher. Can we entertain the possibility that our God-given purpose is to prepare a fully realized recipient for the gift VISION 2010

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of holiness? Nor is that role limited to purging defects, as so many were taught, but more important to amplify those potentials of knowing and loving. “Let your light shine before people in such a way they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

The qualities of a saint As the Book of Job shows clearly, the architect of the universe has no need to check his plans with anyone beforehand, not even any official religious body. If God is content that an individual is trying his or her best (for the moment) to fulfill God’s hopes in raising humans above animals, that person qualifies as a saint, even if the Vatican has not gotten around to ratifying God’s

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judgment. That person does not need the external, ritual bestowal of baptism or any other symbolic sign of acceptance. A moment’s reflection should make God’s unchallengeable assessment obvious, because no intelligent creature would accept a God less kind than he or she is. We all know unchurched people who are the salt of the earth, as Jesus hoped his disciples would be (Matthew 5:13). You can call them when you are stalled on the freeway at 2 a.m. They will tell you when you are too pushy or flirtatious or tipsy, and not hesitate because you might stop liking them. It is difficult to imagine them excluded from a kingdom that welcomes Mary Magdalene and the good thief. Nevertheless, it is easier for ordinarily self-doubting people if some outside authority validates

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their inner sense that they are trying their best. Baptism and confirmation are incalculably precious assurances of inclusion in a second family that will welcome us back, no matter what. Reconciliation gives a concrete pledge that we can never make ourselves so unworthy that we negate what Jesus did for us.

Inadequacies no barrier If God so generously offers the merits of Christ to make up for our inadequacies and indiscriminately invites

Holy is really a synonym for successful, fulfilled, well-rounded. Each of those words describes what God intended fully evolved human beings to be. us to holiness, God does not expect anything close to undiluted purity of motive or action when asking us to lead holy lives. This is borne out on page after page in scripture, despite our penchant for sanitizing saints regardless of what they did. Abraham, our “father in faith,” pandered his wife into another man’s harem. Jacob scammed his brother’s birthright. Even the unassailable Moses stammered for some time trying to weasel out of God’s call. David, the ancestor of the Messiah, was a conniving adulterer and murderer. Unthinking piety turns the apostles into bowdlerized saints instead of a passel of

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Keystone Kops, often bumping into one another in pursuit of personal advancement. Reflect on the down-to-earth holy people you know—usually not the fastidiously devout, the cautious observers of the tiniest rules, the judgmental. Think of the millions of men and women who refused to surrender their souls in Nazi camps; those who bear with dignity the slow impoverishment of disease; the patient teacher who taught you to write. There is an almost palpable serenity about such people. They seem unafraid and open, indiscriminately caring, inwardly coherent and focused. Their holiness is their wholeness, their altogetherness. The source of that equanimity seems to be a special relationship with the ultimate being and, reciprocally, a freedom from the Enter #153 at VocationMatch.com

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Does your heart cry out to

serve the poor?

Do you long for a life in community, sharing daily prayer and Eucharist? Does devotion to our Mother of Sorrows move you? Not every woman is called to this life. To eexplore whether you are, “Come and See” the Sisters of Providence. We can help you clarify your life choices. . .

Sisters of Providence Vocation Office vocations@providence.org Seattle: (206) 923-4028 Spokane: (509) 474-2323

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In theweTruth have begun. Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of the Springs of Bridgeport 21 Schuyler Avenue Stamford, CT 06902

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self-concerned values of this world. That genuine connection with a transcendent energy source makes them divinely restless, unwilling to ignore or yield to elements of human behavior that conflict with the obvious intentions of a provident God: exploitation, ignorance, neglect of

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the marginalized, and corruption anywhere.

Conversion needed Accepting holiness requires, at the very least, conversion in the sense of transformation, coming to a halt to

ask, “Is this the truth? Is this where I want to go?” fiercely refusing to be bamboozled by mesmerizing media that promise instant gratification but deliver ashes; rejecting the investment of your heart and hopes in anything that cannot defy death; uprooting one’s soul—one’s self—from the trivial and transitory and engrafting it into the eternal. It is not a static achievement but a continued evolution of soul that in authentic holiness becomes contagious. Saint Paul suggests ordinary holiness should be easily evident: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and selfcontrol” (Galatians 5:22). If we trim inflated notions of heroic holiness that lead us to negate God’s prodigal invitation, we might

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fulfill the hope that motivated the incarnation, death, and resurrection of the Son of God: “That you may have life, and have it more abundantly.” Holy is really a synonym for successful, fulfilled, well-rounded. Each of those words describes what God intended fully evolved human beings to be. Each of us must discover the directions in which we will find fulfillment. This is—or ought to be—the goal of a lifelong education: not merely to make a living but to find out what living is for. With that understanding, it becomes more obvious that holiness, the full evolution of humanity, is not inaccessible to ordinary people, but it is also not commonplace. It takes a lot of effort. “Holy” need not be confined to achievement. Just striving is enough. =

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Reprinted in condensed form from America, July 30-August 6, 2007, with permission of America Press, Inc., © 2007. All rights reserved. For subscription information, call 1-800-627-9533 or visit americamagazine.org.

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being Catholic

Consider Paul, our brother

FrOm the Very first moment of his encounter with the risen Christ and the beauty of the gospel message, Saint Paul felt called by God to proclaim this Good News.

An apostle and the first great Christian missionary, Saint Paul experienced both conversion and struggle and got some help along the way before finding his vocation.

Father DonalD Senior, C.P.

erhaPs more than any other figure in the early church, Paul embodied profound conversion and transformation for the sake of the Father Donald Senior, C.P. is a Passionist priest, president of Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, professor of New Testament studies. A member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, he is general editor of the Catholic Study Bible (Oxford University Press) and author of the four-volume The Passion of Jesus in the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John (Michael Glazier/Liturgical Press).

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gospel, both on a personal level and within the religious tradition to which he was passionately committed. Did the young Paul, immersed in love of his Jewish piety and schooled in the classic literature of Greece, ever imagine some dreamy afternoon in Tarsus that he would travel nearly 10,000 miles—most of it on foot and a lot of it on the sea that he feared—for the sake of a crucified Galilean whom he would come to believe was the embodiment of the divine presence on earth and the revelation of God’s love for the world?

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Could he ever have imagined that his life story would take him to the imperial city of Rome, as the Acts of the Apostles tells us—not as a curious citizen but bound in a prison ship and held in house arrest in the great city where, nevertheless, he would preach the gospel of Jesus Christ with assurance and without hindrance?

Paul experiences conversion

Fr. Joe Matteucig, sx 101 Summer St. Holliston, MA 01746 Phone: 508-429-2144 Email: pino.ma@gmail.com

The New Testament gives us two pictures of a crucial turning point in Paul’s life where his vocation from God would burst into flame. One is found in the dramatic conversion stories of the Acts of the Apostles. Paul, whose zeal drove him to persecute the followers of Jesus, who had watched with approval the stoning of Saint Stephen, who had kept guard over the cloaks of the very men who threw the deadly stones—that zealous Paul would be knocked to the ground by the power of Christ’s redeeming presence. Blinded by the light of God’s forgiving love, Paul, paradoxically, would begin to see the truth for the first time. In Luke’s account of the unfolding history of the early community, Paul the tormentor and persecutor of the Christians would now become the “chosen vessel”— the one who would bring the gospel of Jesus from Judea to Antioch and westward to Greece and ultimately to Rome. Paul’s conversion is, in a certain sense, forced from the outside. Incredible experiences beyond his control turn his religious world

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upside-down and transform his life forever. Only with the help of other Christians was Paul able to make sense of the experiences that had crowded so forcefully into his life that he could no longer see his way.

Like Paul, we need people to help us shed our blindness and see our life and the people around us from the perspective of our Christian faith. The man who had been so sure in his convictions now is blind and unsure. His traveling companions on the way to Damascus take him by the hand and lead him to a wise person and a disciple of Jesus, Ananias. Ananias is very nervous about Paul because of his reputation (a background check was undoubtedly needed!) yet comes at the bidding of the Spirit and lays hands on Paul and heals him and helps him understand that indeed God had chosen him to be the instrument that would bring the gospel of life to the Gentiles.

Paul is called This striking story in Acts about Paul’s conversion and call takes a very different form in Paul’s own words in the Letter to the Galatians. Reflecting many years later on this life-changing conversion, Paul in his own words presents a different, if complementary portrayal.

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There is little mention of dramatic events on the road to Damascus. Looking back, Paul now sees that God had been calling him to this extraordinary transformation from all time. In Galatians, where he reflects on his vocation, Paul cites the great prophetic words of Isaiah 49 and Jer-

emiah 1: “Now the Word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations’ ” (Jeremiah 1:4-5). Thus Paul steps into a beautiful and profound biblical tradition—that

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franciscans of the holy land Holy Land Franciscans have a vocation unlike any other in the world: to care for Christianity’s holiest sites for the benefit of all the faithful, and to serve the Christian community in the land of Our Savior.

are you called to join us? Contact Fr. Jacob-Matthew at vocation@myfranciscan.com, or 202-526-6800

of the call. That tradition includes Moses at the burning bush, hesitant and tongue-tied; Amos, the herder of sheep and dresser of sycamores, never thinking of himself as called to anything religious; Isaiah struck mute by a sense of his own sinfulness, having his lips purified by a burning coal in a temple vision. There is Hosea, crushed by the failure of his marriage, drawing from his own suffering an insight into God’s enduring love for him and his people; Jeremiah hesitant and fearful, too young for this sort of thing, called by a God who would never abandon him; Mary of Nazareth, still a young woman challenged to a calling beyond imagination. All of us, I think, can reflect on these different but authentic dimensions of our life. On one level we are driven by factors outside of us: world events, the economy, the changing face of the church, the movements of culture and history, the encouragement of friends and mentors. And we surely need wise and caring people to help us sort through such experiences and to make sense of them. Like Paul, we need people to help us shed our blindness and see our life and the people around us from the perspective of our Christian faith.

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The Sisters of the Precious Blood have been passionately responding in these ways for 175 years! Come, join us!

Driven to proclaim the gospel We can learn something else from our brother Paul. Paul channeled all of his life force into the fulfillment of his God-given mission. This is one of the intriguing mysteries of Paul’s life. From the very first moment of his encounter with the risen

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Christ and the beauty of the gospel message, Paul felt called by God to proclaim this Good News not only to his fellow Jews but to the Gentile world. Even though Paul testifies that he was called to be a missionary to the Gentiles from the first moment he encountered the Risen Christ, still no doubt it took time and the assistance of others for Paul to further develop his initial vocation. By his own testimony he spent considerable time in prayer and solitude in Syria, near Damascus, and then went for a brief time to Jerusalem to confer with Peter and James. Afterward he went to Cilicia (his home region in southern Asia Minor) and eventually to Antioch, which would be his first true missionary base. Paul was drafted by Barnabas and brought to Antioch to join him in the new adventure of proclaiming the gospel to the Mediterranean world that lay beyond the perimeters of Israel.

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Paul’s intense commitment Paul was not an original or charter member of Jesus’ disciples; he was not even a Matthias, chosen late but still one of those who had walked with Jesus from the beginning, as Luke puts it in the early chapters of the Acts of the Apostles. Paul never forgot his second generation status or, even worse, his wrong-headed persecution of the Christian movement. He would forever remain in his own estimation as one “born out of due time.” But it is equally clear that the sustaining fire of Paul’s

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Contact: Adrienne Kaufmann, O.S.B. • 110 28th Avenue SE #214, Watertown, SD 57201

vocations@dailypost.com • 605.886.4159

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passion came from the intensity of his commitment to Christ and the Good News of God. At one point in his life Paul makes to his community the startling confession: “Christ lives in me.”

Paul’s ideas—his preaching, his writing, his theology, his teaching— were welded to his own passionate discipleship. He derived his vision from the living soul of the church and his own passionate commit-

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ment to it. He was the recipient and responsible guardian of tradition: “I hand on to you what I first received.”

Suffering apostle and man of hope Allow me to cite one final characteristic of Paul. I am convinced from reading Paul’s letters that he was a man who suffered greatly from his ministry though it was the consuming passion of his life. The passage at the beginning of Romans 9 is one of the most poignant, incredible autobiographical passages ever: “I am speaking the truth in Christ, I am not lying; my conscience bears witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For

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I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kin by race. They are Israelites and to them belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh is the Christ. God, who is over all, be blessed for ever. Amen.” Willing “to be cut off from Christ for the sake of his kinspeople”—can we imagine the anguish that wrung that offer from his heart? At the same time Paul managed to hold tightly to his hope. I love the passage in Romans 8 where Paul the cosmic doctor seems to ease onto the examination table the body of humanity, this groaning mass of Enter #069 at VocationMatch.com

Paul was a champion for the freedom of God’s great, worldembracing Spirit. creation. As he reviews the drama of salvation, Paul puts his ear to the heaving chest of the world and decides that the moans and groans he hears coming from the children of God, and even from creation itself, are not death pangs but birth pains— the moans and groans of the Spirit leading all of the created world to God. Paul never let go of his foundational experience of faith: The love of the crucified Christ for him was the pledge of God’s unbreakable covenant, of God’s unceasing redemptive

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ries of both have formed our church’s spirit. Peter’s ministry was one of reconciliation and unity. Working from the vantage point of the Jewish Christian community of Jerusalem, Peter exercised his mission in keeping the pieces of the burgeoning community together. Paul, on the other hand, injected into that church a restive spirit of mission and a passion for bold ideas, the apostle of dramatic change and God’s new possibilities. He was a champion for the freedom of God’s great, worldembracing Spirit. It is truly an incredible time, an auspicious time, for anyone who seeks to live a profound Christian life in our culture—but how much more so for those who aspire to be ministers of the gospel in the pattern of the Crucified Christ, from whose selfless death came abundant life for the world. = Enter #329 at VocationMatch.com

DigitalVocationGuide.org Our digital vocation guide provides a vivid replica of the print edition and offers an experience very much like reading a paper and ink magazine with the added benefits of live links and quick searches. Perfect for linking and electronic pass-along so you’re never without your connection to VISION, the premier Catholic religious vocation discernment guide.

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love for the world: “Can anything separate us from the love of God? “Nothing,” he says in the most soaring passage of his letters, “nothing, neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:38-39).

Paul’s enduring legacy In the church of Rome we know that two apostles are to be remembered. Both Paul and Peter ministered to that church; both died there in testimony to their faith; and the memo-

This article was adapted from an address Father Donald Senior, O.P. gave at the 2008 Convocation of the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) in Louisville, Kentucky.

he very essence of leadership is that you have to have vision. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet. . —Father Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C. [For more inspirational quotes and commentary follow us at twitter.com/ VisionVocation.]

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[From Vocation-Network’s SpiritCitings blog at vocation-network.org]

ANCY MURRAY is a sister in many ways, first to her

community of Dominican sisters—the Dominicans Sisters of

Adrian, Michigan—to all those she has served over the years, and finally to her brother, actor Bill Murray, with whom she shares a vocation of acting. Murray brings to life another Dominican, the great

Nancy Murray, O.P. as Catherine of Siena, O.P.

14th-century saint and doctor of the church Catherine of

visiting prisoners condemned

Siena. Dressed in a Dominican

to death. Eventually Catherine

habit and using only a few

went even farther out into the

props and a put-on Italian

world, traveling and playing a

accent, Murray takes her one-

major role in trying to reunite

woman show, Catherine of

the papal schism in the 1300s,

Siena: A Woman for Our Times,

which saw two men claiming

to audiences of all ages in par-

to be pope.

ishes, schools, youth groups, even refugees in Darfur.

Murray commented on Catherine’s activism by say-

Murray’s life of service

ing, “Our Catholic Church, for

parallels that of Catherine’s in

example, has not had a stellar

a number of ways. Murray has

record,” she told reporter Jean-

taught, worked with the poor,

nette Cooperman in a Na-

cared for those dying of cancer

tional Catholic Reporter article.

and AIDS, and visited prisoners.

“So when you look at some-

After a life of intense personal

body from the 14th century

prayer closeted in a room in

confronting it—a woman, who

her parents’ home, Catherine

was 27 at the time—you can

moved out into public life, car-

imagine how countercultural

ing for the sick and dying and

she was.”

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being Catholic

Bill Wittman

As you look around the assembly at Mass, you know you are not alone, that we are all members of the one Body with one source and one goal.

How to make every Mass count When we gather at Mass, we join others who are also trying to live the gospel as faithful disciples. But there can be some obstacles blocking the Eucharist’s power. Here are some simple suggestions to improve your Mass experience.

Amy Florian

magine attending a birthday party. You arrive to find everyone on couches, pondering their own thoughts and grudgingly moving aside to let others sit. When the birthday person enters, people look up, some smile, and some say a greeting. Yet most remain dis-

Amy Florian is a liturgy and bereavement consultant living in Illinois. She has published numerous articles and two books and is nationally known as a speaker, retreat director, and teacher.

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connected. Some share stories, although others don’t seem very interested in listening. When “Happy Birthday” begins, only a few (usually those with the best voices) sing wholeheartedly. When gifts are opened, people watch for a while but easily get distracted. Everyone does make sure they get cake, and when the party is finally over most attendees bolt for the door.

What is the Mass? Not much of a celebration, right? Yet all

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There’s strong. Then there’s Army strong. Do your part to spiritually strengthen our troops and their Families by joining the U.S. Army Chaplaincy. Serve at the frontline of the Soldiers’ lives, developing close-knit relationships rarely found in any other ministry. Will you consider the call? Find out more at info.goarmy.com/chaplain/b569 or call 1-888-238-8287. ©2008. Paid for by the United States Army. All rights reserved.

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too often something similar happens with Mass. The ideal, however, is that the Mass is connected to our lives, and we bring to it the whole of our lives—our doubts, struggles, and suffering as well as our beliefs, hopes, and joys. The Mass is meant to be a celebration that profoundly connects us to the One who can make us whole. At Mass we welcome people who might not normally be our friends because the bond of baptism erases divisions. The rich sit by the poor, those with disabilities sit by the ablebodied, the single sit by the married, the jobless sit by the employed, and teens sit by the elderly. Together we listen to the stories that form our identity, our challenges, and our faith. We join together to offer ourselves and our gifts to God, that all

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may be consecrated as the body and blood of Christ. We worship, giving praise and thanks to God for all that we have, and we ask God’s protection, guidance, and wisdom for ourselves and our world. We relive the words of Jesus at the Last Supper and wonder in awe as our simple gifts of bread and wine are transformed by God’s grace into the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ. Then, though we could never hope to be worthy, we come together to the table of the Lord to receive our incarnate God. In doing so, we become what we receive and are formed ever more into the Body of Christ on earth. Finally, we are sent out to do in the world what we have just done in the liturgy. If we truly understand the Mass, we understand everything that is

important about being a disciple of Christ. This sacrament is a gift, meant to be celebrated, savored, and lived. Unfortunately, though, there can be some obstacles blocking us from this grasp of the Eucharist’s power.

The repetition factor Because the Mass is repeated so often it is easy for people to lapse into overfamiliarity or even indifference. After all, we basically know the procedure right down to the final “Amen.” Yet what if that were not the case? What if the Mass changed every time? It would be like going to dinner in a restaurant but never knowing in what order the courses would be served, or attending a football game without knowing how

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Answering the Call Our purpose has always been evangelization within the African American community. Is yours?

For more than 130 years, we Josephites have been dedicated to evangelization in the African American communities. Our call is to serve our African American brothers and sisters through the proclamation of the Gospel and our personal witness. Have you ever felt a calling to give your life to do God’s work in the African American community? We are looking for dedicated men to join us.

josephites the

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many quarters would be played or what rules would be followed. A consistent form is important for par-

The Mass is connected to our lives and we bring to it the whole of our lives—our doubts, struggles, and suffering as well as our beliefs, hopes, and joys. ticipation and for understanding. Within that framework, though, there are an infinite number of variables. Every time you go to a restaurant or a football game, the experience is different. So is the Mass. On Sundays we repeat the same readings

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Living Our Faith through Ministries of Service… Sharing Our Lives through Community…Following a Call to Serve God

Has Your Searching Led You Here? With The Courage of Joseph, The Faithfulness of Mary, and The Compassion of Jesus, Sisters of the Holy Family are Committed to Promoting Justice and Ecological Sustainability through The Earth Charter and The Millennium Development Goals.

"…to seek out and advocate for the poor and needy, especially families, for the Kingdom of God…"

Reflections posted on our website monthly: holyfamilysisters.org P.O. Box 3248 • Fremont, CA 94539 • 510-624-4511 • vocations@holyfamilysisters.org Enter #036 at VocationMatch.com

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Little Company of Mary Sisters Sr. Loretta Ruvo, RSHM Sr. Virginia Garza, RSHM Sr. Miriam Tiburcio, RSHM New York Mexico Los Angeles loretta@rshmeap.org intercorazon@prodigy,net.mx vocations@rshm.org 914.631.8872 52.751.348.0149 323.887.8821. Ext. 215

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Little Company of Mary Sisters

Presence...

only once every three years. There are different prayers at each liturgy— even the Eucharistic Prayer has four standard options, three more for children, and two for reconciliation, plus others for feasts and seasons. The general intercessions are new each week; there are options for the penitential rite, and the music is not the same from week to week. Perhaps more important, though, the Mass is different each time because we are different. The circumstances and events of our lives during that particular week affect our openness to the Spirit, our needs and desires, and our point of contact with God’s grace, and that effect is intensified over time. Imagine, for instance, the experience of liturgy for a 7-year-old First Eucharist candidate, a teenager struggling to find his or her identity, a young married couple with their first child, a middle-aged man reflecting on his life’s accomplishments and regrets, and an elderly woman facing terminal illness. No matter how often we celebrate Mass, we are different people each time. That is the beauty of good ritual. It maintains its power through time, even as the people who celebrate it change.

Overcoming obstacles

...before God; for others. 708.229.5095 www.lcmglobal.org  vocations@lcmh.org

Sometimes people disengage from Mass because liturgy isn’t done well in their parish. That is because our priests and other ministers are first and foremost human beings. The priest may not pray the prayers with much sincerity. His homily may not be inspiring or thought-provoking. The cantor may be slightly off-key or hard to hear clearly. The lector may

Sisters...Associates...Mary Potter’s Volunteers

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not proclaim the scripture readings effectively. You can be tempted to sit in the pew and criticize, concentrating on these imperfect ministers. When you do, though, God’s action in you is blocked. It is like the electricity constantly flowing through wires in the walls all around us. We aren’t even aware of its power unless we plug in. When a minister is unprepared, instead of bemoaning the ineffective outlet, find another way to plug in. Pray that God will open you to the grace that is there for you. In addition, remember that there is no “audience” at Mass. Some indi-

Some individuals fill more visible positions, yet every person in every pew has a role in singing, speaking, moving, and actively listening.

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viduals fill more visible positions, yet every person in every pew has a role in singing, speaking, moving, and actively listening. All too often we come to Mass in a passive frame of mind, expecting to have something done to or for us. But just as poorly prepared ministers can damage the celebration, members of the assembly who aren’t well prepared and don’t actively participate can render the Mass boring and seemingly motionless.

The power of community Many people insist they can skip

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S GOD  U Visit us on the web at: www.sscm-usa.org Enter #055 at VocationMatch.com

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Mass and not miss anything. They say they connect with God by praying in nature or going for a walk. In one sense they are absolutely right. All creation is filled with the power of God, and we encounter God in varied ways. But is that enough? What happens when crisis or tragedy strikes? In my experience the first thing people do when they receive bad news is grab their phone or computer and reach out to other people. If I am diagnosed with terminal cancer and arrive at Mass in desperate need of the community but you aren’t there, I don’t get a chance to receive your support and presence. Then when you are in need, what if I decide to go pray somewhere else instead of being there for you? We are members of a body, and if one part suffers, we all suffer with it. We are created for community, and especially in tough times the faith community prays for us and sustains us in ways that no one else can. Nor is it simply personal. These days the news reports are filled with war and violence, scandal and broken trust, disasters and disease. How are we to live justly in the midst of so much injustice? How can we preach forgiveness and reconciliation in a world where vengeance and power are promoted as the way to solve problems? We can only do it together. Programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous work because they are group efforts in which people support and encourage one another. When we gather at Mass we join with others who are also trying to live the gospel as faithful disciples. As you look around the assembly,

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you know you are not alone, that you are a member of the one Body with one source and one goal. We need the Mass as a model of how we are to live the rest of our lives. We should not “go to” Mass solely out of obligation; ideally we celebrate Mass to respond to the One who creates, calls, and saves us, and to receive the grace and nourishment we need to become who we are created to be. So how can you participate better and improve your Mass experience? • Learn about liturgy. Read books. Take a class. Understand what we’re doing and why. • Read the scripture passages for the day beforehand. The daily and Sunday readings can be found at www.usccb.org/ nab. Notice themes, connections, and especially challenges for your life. Ponder what the homily would be if you were preaching. • Be welcoming, smiling at people and maybe introducing yourself to someone you don’t know. Look at others during Mass, conscious that we are praying together as the Body of Christ. • Sing with gusto, even if you don’t have a stellar voice. Pay attention to the words you are singing, so you can consciously pray them. • Respond and pray with feeling. When you say “Amen” or “Thanks be to God” or “Lord

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Missionaries of the Holy Family We invite you to a life fully dedicated to the apostolates of the family, vocations and wherever God directs us.

Servants of God Builders of Family

Charism The Congregation of the Missionaries of the Holy Family was founded in 1895 at Grave, Holland by Fr. Jean Berthier. He dedicated the community to the Holy Family which is Òthe perfect model of every religious community and of every Christian family.Ó We seek out and foster vocations, particularly among mature adults and the poor. Our community strives to live as a family while bringing the Gospel message to areas of need. Apostolates Throughout the world we promote and serve the needs of Church, family, local community and our Congregation. In the North American Province we are involved in many types of pastoral service. As priests and brothers we work in parishes, schools, hospitals and homes for the aged. Our work reflects the concern and respect we have for family life.

MSF Vocation Office 104 Cas Hills Drive San Antonio, TX 78213 1-888-4 Thy Will 1-888-484-9945 www.MSF-America.org

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have mercy,” mean it. • Actively listen through the entire celebration to scripture and the prayers, taking them in and allowing them to affect you. • Pray that God will use this

celebration to open your heart, teach you, and fill you with grace so you may be a better disciple of Christ. Follow these simple steps and we might all feel like we’re at a party this Sunday. 

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the art of discernment

Father Larry Janowski, O.F.M.

Just take it on Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” They love it, my students—memorize the words, but miss the point about that less-traveled road, claim Frost a hero for endorsing the holy my way, though he called this poem “a tricky one, very tricky,” less about not following the crowd, or even which path, and more about just making up your mind. If he could, the poet would nod to Yogi Berra: If you come to a fork in the road, take it. In the end, there will always be those two paths: the one you choose, and the other one. Pick one—one that loves you back, and if you still seek some Yankee wisdom, try that other poem, the one about not standing and waiting too long, about miles and miles to go, about promises to keep.

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org MeN’S RelIGIOuS cOMMuNItIeS dIRectORy A

Alexian Brothers (C.F.A.) “The love of Christ compels us” to dedicate our lives to care for sick, poor, dying, and marginalized people in our society in collaboration with others. Daily Eucharist, communal prayer and private prayer support us in our way of life. The foundation in the religious life of prayer and life in community sustains us in Christ’s healing mission. “Whatever you do for one of these least brothers of mine, you do for me.” (Mt 25:40) We provide health care services in a hospital network. We provide health care and housing services for older adults in a variety of settings: adult day care, P.A.C.E., assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and retirement communities. We provide transitional housing for people with AIDS. We have medical missions in the Philippines and Hungary. Director of Vocations: Br. Dan McCormick, C.F.A., 3040 W. Salt Creek Lane, Arlington Heights, IL 60005; 1-800-556-0332; e-mail: dmccormick@alexianbrothers.net; website: http://www.alexianbrothers. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 2. Code #141.

Augustinian Friars (O.S.A.)—Province of St. Joseph, Canada Augustinians in Canada minister to pilgrims and retreatants at the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace near Toronto. We also serve in four parishes in the Toronto and Vancouver archdioceses. Our province has traditionally fostered theological study and pastoral service in a setting of common life, liturgical celebration, and fraternal support. Vocation Director: Fr. Francis Galvan, O.S.A., Augustinian Monastery, P.O. Box 550, King City, Ontario, Canada; (905) 833-5368; e-mail: galvanfg@gmail.com. See ad on page 64. Code #207. Augustinian Friars (O.S.A.)—Province of St. Thomas of Villanova The Villanova Province consists of over 200 friars living in communities in Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Florida, with missions in Japan, Peru, and South Africa. With two institutions of higher learning, three high schools, a retreat house, and a number of parishes along the East Coast, we friars are found in various types of ministries and settings, working with the People of God and striving to be united in mind and heart intent upon God, as St. Augustine challenges us. Vocation Director: Fr. Kevin DePrinzio, O.S.A., St. Thomas Monastery, 800 Lancaster Ave., Villanova University, Villanova, PA 19085; (610) 519-7548; e-mail: vocations@augustinian.org; website: http://www.augustinian.org. Latino inquirers please contact: Fr. Luis Madera, O.S.A., Casa Agustin, 16401 N.W. 37th Ave., Miami Gardens, FL 33054; email: vocaciones@losagustinos.org. See ad on page 64. Code #207. Augustinian Friars (O.S.A.)—Wester n Province The Augustinians in the West are a small fraternity who work with and minister to both Anglo and Hispanic. No human being is a stranger to an Augustinian. We minister to youth at St. Augustine High in San Diego and Villanova Prep School in Ojai. We minister in seven parishes in Oregon and California. We serve the poor in Tijuana, Mexico, where we conduct an orphanage. We enjoy pioneering efforts and in the past two decades have established a high school in California’s Central Valley, a retreat center in Oregon, and low income housing for families in south San Diego. Vocation Director: Fr. Tom Whelan, O.S.A., 108 Cole St., San Francisco, CA 94117-1116; (415) 387-3626; e-mail: osacole@pacbell.net. See ad on page 64. Code #207. Augustinians of the Assumption (A.A.)—The Assumptionists are an international Augustinian congregation in the spirit of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Since our foundation over 150 years ago, we have lived in “apostolic community,” balancing a common life where we strive to be brothers of one mind and one heart intent upon God and an active engagement in the world where we try, in the footsteps of our founder, Fr. Emmanuel d’Alzon (see Wikipedia article), to address the modern ills of indifference, ignorance of the faith, and unbelief. We

VISION 2009

Barnabite Fathers and Brothers (C.R.S.P.) [Clerics Regular of St. Paul] The Barnabite Fathers, the Clerics Regular of St. Paul, inspired to follow the spirit of St. Paul by their founder, St. Anthony M. Zaccaria, profess solemnly the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and live in communities that, from our beginnings in 1530, have been characterized by an intense life of interior renewal, centered on Christ Crucified and on the Eucharist, by a remarkable communal spirit, and dedication to spiritual renewal whose true purpose is the genuine honor of Christ, genuine availability to one’s neighbor and profound humility. We serve in the United States, Canada, Asia, Europe, and South America in a variety of ministries including Spiritual Centers, parishes, Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, NY, education, and the missions. For information see our website: http://www. catholic-church.org/barnabites or contact Rev. Peter M. Calabrese, C.R.S.P., P.O. Box 167, Youngstown, NY 14174-0167; (716) 754-7489; e-mail: BarnabitesUSA@fatimashrine.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 65. Code #254. Basilian Monks (O.S.B.M.)—Exarchic Greek Abbey of St. Mary of Grottaferrata We constitute one Catholic Order of Byzantine-Greek Rite, established in 1004, fifty years before the separation between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. Our ascetic life is based on the integral observance of the Holy Gospel according to the spirituality of the Holy Greek Fathers, transmitted to us especially by our Holy Founders Nilus and Bartholomew. Our days are organized around the Liturgy, personal prayer, and work: spiritual direction, maintenance of our monastic library open to the public, publication of periodicals and books, restoration of ancient books, teaching at our Monastery high school, monastic museum, and cultivating the earth. We are committed to service for the unity of Christians, particularly between Catholics and Orthodox, and we contribute to the dialogue with daily efforts in conversion, penance, asceticism and prayer. Our lives are animated by the desire to live and accomplish the prayer of Jesus to the Father “so that they may all be one.” God calls you. The Church needs you. Come join us! Fr. Antonio Costanza, O.S.B.M., Corso del Popolo, 128, I-00046 Grottaferrata (Rome) Italy; 0039.06.9459309; fax: 0039.06.9456734; e-mail: segreteria@ abbaziagreca.it; website: http://www.abbaziagreca.it/en. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #308. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Conception Abbey The simple existence of the monks of Conception Abbey is defined in the order’s motto: Ora et Labora (“Pray and Work”). Conception monks gather six times a day for common prayer. Individual prayer, or Lectio Divina, is also an essential part of daily life. As members of the faculty of Conception Seminary College, the monks provide formation for young men pursuing a priestly vocation. The monks welcome guests to the abbey and offer a wide array of retreats, tours, and youth programs. They provide pastoral care in hospitals, convents, and parishes in four states, and spread the Gospel of the written word through their Printery House. The monks tend the abbey grounds and care for farmland and orchards. They are carpenters, historians, writers, scholars, teachers, musicians, and artisans. Fr. Benedict Neenan, O.S.B., P.O. Box 501, Conception, MO 64433; (660) 944-2857; fax: (660) 944-2800; e-mail: monks@conception.edu; website: http://www.conceptionabbey.org. Code #247. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Mount Saviour Monastery Mount Saviour is a small contemplative community of men seeking God together through an ever more complete availability to God. That “in all things God may be glorified” we strive to witness to God’s presence in the world by living a simple, genuine and full monastic life through a harmonious balance of prayer, study, work, hospitality and leisure. We support ourselves by work within the enclosure of the monastery. Our location is rural and picturesque and provides a peaceful environment that encourages us to listen for the voice of God. To men who believe seeking God to be primary in their lives—come join our family. For more information, to arrange a visit, or for a copy of our documentary “The Everyday” contact: Vocation Director, Mount Saviour Monastery, 231 Monastery Rd., Pine City, NY 14871; (607) 734-1688; e-mail: vocations@ msaviour.org; website: http://www.msaviour.org. Code #217.

The Xaverian Brothers, a community in mission, falling in love with the service of God and inviting others to join in mission with them. For further information contact: Bro. Jim Connolly, CFX Vocation/Volunteer Minister Xaverian Brothers Generalate 4409 Frederick Avenue Baltimore, MD 21229 Email: jconnolly@xaverianbrothers.org Website: www.xaverianbrothers.org

enter #198 at VocationMatch.com Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Newark Abbey What are Monks doing in the City? The Benedictine Monks of Newark Abbey have been in the center of Newark, New Jersey since 1857. Living in community according to the Rule of St. Benedict. We follow a daily schedule that balances prayer and work. We serve the people of God through our ministries in Saint Benedict’s Preparatory School, Saint Mary’s School, and Saint Mary’s Parish. We offer assistance to local parishes, chaplaincies in hospitals and colleges/universities. So why don’t you come live the Rule of St. Benedict with us! Men ages 21-35 may contact the Vocation Director, Br. Patrick Winbush, O.S.B., Newark Abbey, 528 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd., Newark, NJ 07102; (973) 792-5772; e-mail: vocations@sbp.org; website: http://www. newarkabbey.org. See ad on page 139. Code #182.

MeN’S cOMMuNItIeS

Augustinian Friars (O.S.A.)—Midwest Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel The Augustinians are called to deepen their interior life through prayer and respond in service to the needs of the church. Our service to the church is nurtured by a commitment to individual and communal prayer and a dedication to build community among our members, as well as within our apostolates. Like Augustine, we believe God is at the very core of the human heart, and we strive to be “one mind, one heart” in God. The Midwest Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel has 100 priests and brothers involved in a variety of work. Our apostolates include (and are not limited to) work in parishes, high schools, universities, hospitals, retreats, and foreign missions. Vocation Office, 7740 S. Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60620; (773) 776-3044; e-mail: vocations@ midwestaugustinians.org. See ad on page 64. Code #207.

are a world-wide congregation of 1,000 religious located in 30 countries. We have acquired experience in, and a reputation for, education in all its forms, journalism, ecumenism, pilgrimages, and popular evangelization, to name a few. Contact: Fr. John L. Franck, A.A., Assumption College, 512 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA 01609; (508) 767-7517; e-mail: jlfranck@aol.com; website: http://www.assumption.us. Code #328.

Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Anselm’s Abbey Set in its peaceful 40 acres in northeast Washington, DC, St. Anselm’s is a community of men dedicated to seeking God in prayer, work, and living a communal life under the Rule of St. Benedict and an abbot. Central to the common life are praying the Divine Office in choir and personal prayer, so “that nothing be preferred to Christ”; and manual and scholarly work, so “that in all things God may be glorified.” The monks share their life with others by teaching in the Abbey school—on site with 250 male students in grades six through twelve—and at the nearby Catholic University; in offering hospitality, spiritual direction, and giving retreats; in chaplaincies and parish assistance. St. Benedict insists in his Rule that newcomers be warned of the hardships monastic life entails, and that the beginning is bound to be difficult. But he promises that fidelity to the discipline of the monastic life will lead to “hearts overflowing with the inexpressible delight of love.” Contact: Vocation Director, St. Anselm’s Abbey, 4501 S. Dakota Ave., NE, Washington, DC 20017; (202) 269-2335; e-mail: vocations@stanselms.org; website: http://vocations.stanselms.org. Code #204. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Gregory’s Abbey St. Gregory’s Abbey, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, is a community of 28 priests and brothers, living and working and praying together according to the Rule of St. Benedict. Our French founders established the Catholic Church in what eventually became

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priests

With heart wide open Father joseph pasala, s.s.c.c.

Prayer, community, and helping those in need just snowballed for Joseph Pasala, seminarian.

COMMUNITY: Congregation of the Sacred Heart MOST FUN I’VE HAD SINCE JOINING MY COMMUNITY: Playing in snow for the first time while ministering in a Congregation of the Sacred Heart’s parish in Massachusetts. I just became like a small boy, making snowballs and a snowman, running like crazy! BEST THING SO FAR ABOUT LIFE AS A SEMINARIAN: Keeping God at the center of my life. Also, discovering myself and becoming more human. FAVORITE FOODS: Chicken biryani, spicy foods, and big hamburgers. COMMUNITY LIFE IS AT ITS BEST WHEN: We pray, take part in adoration, have meals together, go on outings, share our lives. Photo by Jack Iddon, www.jack-iddon.com.

MY FAVORITE WAY TO CONNECT WITH GOD: Helping poor people, praying in community, showing compassion for orphans or disabled people.

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org Oklahoma. Over the years we have responded to be of service to the still mission Church of Oklahoma and continue to serve as a spiritual resource in the state. Today our main apostolates are St. Gregory’s University, a liberal arts college striving to educate our students in the Catholic tradition, and the MabeeGerrer Museum of Art. Monks help to carry out the activities of the monastery, from retreats and management and formation to groundskeeping and health care for our own members. Community members also serve in parishes and in programs for the handicapped. Contact: Fr. Charles Buckley, O.S.B., St. Gregory’s Abbey, 1900 W. MacArthur St., Shawnee, OK 74804; (405) 878-5462; e-mail: vocations@stgregorys.edu; website: http://www.monksok.org. Code #349.

Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Louis Abbey The monks of Saint Louis Abbey continue the English Benedictine Congregation’s centuries-long tradition of blending monastic prayer with apostolic work. This tradition came to Saint Louis, MO in 1955, when the first three English monks founded a monastery and soon thereafter a school for very talented young men. This year the community of about thirty includes some of those founders, some additional English monks, and many Americans of various ages. As for the prayer life, the monks offer God praise daily through the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, five communal offices (including Latin Vespers for solemnities), private lectio divina, and private meditation. As for the work, about 15 monks work in the abbey’s 400-student high school, two monks run its 1000-family parish, and one monk serves as the Rector for a small but growing Latin oratory. All of these apostolates occur on the abbey’s 150-acre suburban campus. The monks are required to wear their habits most of the time. Vocation Director, 500 S. Mason, Creve Couer, MO 63141; (314) 434-3690 ext. 362; e-mail: brcassian@priory.org; website: http://www.stlouisabbey.org. Code #332. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Mary’s Abbey Maybe your place in God’s plan is our place, Saint Mary’s Abbey at Delbarton. Located in the hills of Morris County, NJ, our community of 45 monks seeks God by personal and communal prayer, and a variety of ministries. We are teachers and administrators at a preparatory school for boys and preachers and counselors at our retreat center. We serve as chaplains at local colleges and pastors in area parishes. We invite men (ages 20-40, college graduate or equivalent in life experience) to share our vision. Click on our website for up-to-date vocation and discernment retreat information. Vocation Director, 230 Mendham Road, Morristown, New Jersey 07960-4899; (973) 538-3231, ext. 2111; e-mail: vocations@delbarton.org; website: http://www.osbmonks.org. See ad on page 11. Code #088. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Meinrad Archabbey Saint Meinrad Archabbey is a Roman Catholic monastery located in rural southern Indiana, where the 1,500-year Benedictine tradition continues on American soil. Monks live a common life of shared work and prayer, according to the Rule of St. Benedict. They live lives set apart, seeking God in word and sacrament; and lives for others, serving the Church through prayer and mission. As their founding apostolate, the monks operate a seminary for the formation of priests, permanent deacons and lay ministers, and offer pastoral assistance to local parishes. Other works include a retreat center, an oblate program, Abbey Press and Abbey Caskets. Saint Meinrad is a spiritual center for many people of faith. It is a place where prayer shapes life and nurtures outreach. Perhaps you would like to become a part of us and what we do! A formal comeand-see experience, “A Monastic Observance,” is scheduled

VISION 2009

Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint Vincent Archabbey From a Benedictine monastery in Bavaria came the founder of the first Benedictine monastery in the United States. The name of this German monk was Boniface Wimmer. In the year 1846, Wimmer and a humble group of followers settled among the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in southwestern Pennsylvania. This was the beginning of Saint Vincent Archabbey. Today we are a community of nearly 170 monks living, praying, and working together under the Rule of Saint Benedict. Our community’s education apostolate includes a college, seminary, and high school. Our parochial ministry involves parishes in the following dioceses: Archdiocese of Baltimore, in Maryland; the Pennsylvania Dioceses of Altoona-Johnstown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh; the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia; and the Diocese of Savannah, Georgia. Members of our community also serve as chaplains to the local hospitals and prison. Saint Vincent also has foreign missions (priories) in Taipei, Taiwan and Vinhedo, Brazil. For information contact: Fr. Fred Byrne, O.S.B., Saint Vincent Archabbey, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650-2690; (724) 532-6655; e-mail: vocations@ stvincent.edu; websites http://www.stvincentmonks.com or http://www.svamonks.org. See ad on page 81. Code #243. Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Subiaco Abbey, responding to a divine call to monastic life in Subiaco, Arkansas. Brothers and priests of this abbey form a community of committed men who never let a day go by without celebrating Mass and Liturgy of the Hours together. From their prayer life, everything else revolves and evolves. The abbey sponsors an academic academy for young men pursuing secondary education on the abbey’s 1,200 acre campus. Some monks serve as teachers and mentors. Others live out the Benedictine motto “pray and work” in parish ministry or as chaplains, conducting retreats and providing welcoming Benedictine hospitality. Still others fill a myriad of valuable works in the monastery, including but not limited to—carpentry, maintenance, farming, tending vineyards, laundry, grounds beautification and tailoring. For more information or to arrange an up-close-and-personal look at Subiaco Abbey, contact Brother Francis Kirchner, O.S.B., 405 N. Subiaco Ave., Subiaco, AR 72865; 479-934-1047; e-mail: brfrancis@subi.org; website: http://www.subi.org. See ad on page 79. Code #256. Brothers of Charity The Brothers of Charity were founded in 1807 by Servant of God, Rev. Peter Joseph Triest in Belgium. We are Brothers who live being a Brother as a personal vocation. In a world of discrimination and sectarianism, we try to emphasize this closeness as Brothers in community, being an invitation to help build a society in which love, respect and solidarity are pre-eminent values. We want to know God’s love. We hope all we meet on our way may see a reflection of God in us and may experience the joy of the Resurrection. With headquarters now in Rome, the 600 Brothers and 80 Associate members are present in 27 countries on 4 continents. They continue the charism given by the founder in works of charity with mentally ill, deaf, physically and developmentally disabled, homeless, AIDS, drug and alcohol dependent, psychologically distressed, mobile health clinics, and the full spectrum of childhood education. Contact: Br. John FitzGerald, 7720 Doe Lane, Laverock, PA 19038; (215) 887-6361; e-mail: jfitzfc@aol.com or Br. Donald Joyal, 1359 Monroe St., NE, Washington, DC 20017; (202) 636-4306; e-mail: donald.joyal. fc@fracarita.org; website: http://www.brothersofcharity.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #342. Brothers of Christian Instruction (F.I.C.) Our community of Brothers was founded to “make Jesus Christ known” according to Fathers John de La Mennais and Gabriel Deshayes who established the congregation at Saint Brieuc, Brittany, France in 1819. Today, with nearly 950 members, Brothers are found in 24 countries. Their educational mission is primarily as teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators in Catholic high schools and colleges. Brothers may also minister as retreat directors, spiritual directors and counselors, pastoral associates in parishes, and in foreign missions especially in East Africa, Japan, and the Philippines. In the United States Brothers are called to live a simple, prayerful, community lifestyle in Alfred, ME, Fall River, MA, Plattsburgh, NY, and at Walsh University, North Canton, OH. Single, Catholic young and middle aged men interested in the Brother’s vocation should contact: Bro. Guy Roddy, 2020 East Maple St., North Canton, OH 44720; (330) 490-7064; e-mail: gfroddy@yahoo.com; website: http://www.ficbrothers.org. See ad on page 63. Code #206.

LITTLE BROTHERS OF SAINT FRANCIS FRANCISCAN CONTEMPLATIVES Making Jesus Christ present by Contemplative Prayer, Eucharistic Adoration and simple neighborly sharing with the poorest of the poor among whom we live in the inner city ghettos, favelas or barrios of the world.

LITTLE BROTHERS OF SAINT FRANCIS 785-789 Parker Street Mission Hill (Boston), MA 02120 Tel. 617-442-2556 www.littlebrothersofstfrancis.org Enter #158 at VocationMatch.com The Brothers of the Christian Schools (F.S.C.) Founded by St. John Baptist de La Salle in 17th-century France, The Christian Brothers have more than 6,000 members in the world as elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers, university professors, counselors, missionaries, social workers, youth ministers, campus ministers, administrators, and retreat directors. In the United States and English-speaking Canada, approximately 800 Brothers serve in one of six provinces. Energetic, generous, and committed men are invited to live and to share the educational challenges of bringing Christ’s Gospel message to youth of all backgrounds, including the marginalized and those in need. Vocation Director, Christian Brothers Conference, Hecker Center, Suite 300, 3025 4th Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20017; (202) 529-0047; e-mail: rschieler@ cbconf.org; website: http://www.brothersvocation.org. Code #100.

Men’s communities

Benedictine Monks (O.S.B.)—Saint John’s Abbey Saint John’s Abbey is a Benedictine monastery of 150 monks; living, praying, and working together amid 2600 acres of woods, lakes and prairies in central Minnesota. Our Apostolates include: Spiritual Retreats, Woodworking, Saint John’s University, School of Theology, Preparatory School, Liturgical Press, Hill Museum and Manuscript Library, Saint John’s Bible and the Arboretum. We live a life steeped in a rhythm of prayer and work. In addition to private prayer, five times a day we gather for common prayer, including daily Eucharist. Our work varies depending upon the interests and talents of each monk. Through a balance of work and prayer, living in community and following the Rule of Saint Benedict a personal vocation is realized and fostered; helping to motivate the individual as well as the community to a greater unity as brothers in Christ and a more intimate and meaningful relationship with God. See our website for details: http://www.abbeyvocations.org. Brother Paul-Vincent Niebauer, O.S.B., Vocation Director, Saint John’s Abbey, Box 2015, Collegeville, MN 56321; (320) 363-2548; e-mail: vocations@osb. org. Preferred age for monk candidates: 23-40. Education: high-school diploma, minimum. See ad on page 73. Code #132.

each year, December 26-Jan. 1. Visits can also be arranged at other times, with accommodations in the Guest House and Retreat Center. Office of Monastery Vocations, 100 Hill Drive, St. Meinrad, IN 47577; (812) 357-6611; e-mail: vocations@ saintmeinrad.edu; website: http://www.saintmeinrad.edu. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 54. Code #014.

Brothers of the Sacred Heart (S.C.) “A call to be a Brother is a vocation to be the living, human memory of Jesus.” The Brothers of the Sacred Heart are a religious congregation of men who were founded in Lyon, France in 1821. Their mission is the evangelization of young people who are poor and without hope. Ministries include: teacher, campus minister, social worker, counselor, administrator, parish ministry, nursing, retreat director, youth minister, coach, home and foreign missionary. Today the Brothers of the Sacred Heart in the United States work in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arizona, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and England. Visit our website at: Brothers of the Sacred Heart, http://www.brothersofthesacredheart.org. Br. Chris Sweeney, SC, (504) 352-9940; e-mail: brochris66@hotmail.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 106. Code #203.

Capuchin Franciscan Friars (O.F.M. Cap.) The Capuchins are a distinctive Order within the Franciscan family. They are an evangelical brotherhood of men who preach, serve the physically and spiritually poor, teach, administer the sacraments, cook, and counsel in various settings in North America. Some friars are also missionaries in Africa, Asia, Central America, and the South Pacific. There are approximately 11,000 Capuchin friars worldwide, with about 800 of those living within

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Men’s communities

m o n K C o n t e m p l a t i v e

Trappist Cistercian

A small self-supporting community in the Ozark foothills of Missouri.

Assumption Abbey RR 5 Box 1056 Ava, MO 65608 (417) 683-5110 assumptionabbey@hughes.net www.assumptionabbey.org

Enter #121 at VocationMatch.com nine provinces throughout Canada and the U.S. For more information contact the Capuchin Vocation Office nearest you. California: P.O. Box 408, Solvang, CA 93464, (805) 688-4815, e-mail: beafriar@yahoo.com, website: http://www.beafriar.com. Colorado: (303) 981-1111, e-mail: vocations@capuchins. org, website: http://www.capuchins.org. Pennsylvania: (888) 263-6227, e-mail: brtom@capuchin.com, website: http//www. capuchin.com. Midwest USA: (773) 475-6206, e-mail: vocation@capuchinfranciscans.org, website: http://www. capuchinfranciscans.org. New York/New England: (212) 567-1300, e-mail: brotimjones@yahoo.com, website: http://www.capuchin. org/vocations. New Jersey/Southeast USA: (201) 863-3871, email: capuchinlife@aol.com, website: http//www.capuchinfriars. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 97. Code #091. Carmelite Friars (O. Carm.) [St. Elias Province] Carmelite Friars are consecrated religious men who seek the face of God. Following after the great Prophet Elijah, the Carmelite Friars hear God’s voice and respond. Founded as one of the first religious orders to be named after the Blessed Virgin Mary, we carry on the 800 year tradition of prayer, brotherhood, and work. While the types of work vary, Carmelites are firmly rooted in the presence of God. Our saints give heavenly witness to the many blessings God has bestowed on the Order of Carmelites. Contact Brother Robert E. Bathe, O.Carm, P.O. Box 3079, Middletown, NY 10940; (845) 344-2225; e-mail: vocation@carmelitefriars. org; website: http://www.carmelitefriars.org. See ad on page 143. Code #307. Carmelites (O. Carm.) [Most Pure Heart of Mary Province] Carmelites strive to live in God’s presence, “in allegiance to Jesus Christ,” through prayer, community, and ministry. We are engaged in various apostolic ministries to serve the Church, including a wide range of educational, parochial, and spiritual opportunities. We are teachers, pastors, campus ministers, chaplains, counselors, retreat directors, authors, missionaries, and spiritual directors. Members of our Carmelite Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary serve in many dioceses and archdioceses throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Peru. For more information about the Carmelites, please contact Fr. Sam Citero, O.Carm., Director of Vocations, 1600 Webster St., NE, Washington, DC 20017; (202) 526-1221 ext. 109; e-mail: frsam@carmelites.net; website: http://www.carmel-

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ites.net. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 66. Code #112. Claretian Missionaries (C.M.F.) [Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary] The Claretians are a Roman Catholic community of priests and brothers dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Jesus in more than 60 countries. Our ministries are devoted to social concerns and issues of justice and peace in parishes, foreign missions, and publishing. We reach out to young people in the inner city and on college campuses. We also serve as doctors, teachers, parish priests, and in many other roles. The Claretians were founded by St. Anthony Claret, who embodied the special charisms of community, mission, evangelization, and spirituality. Contact: Mario Delgado, Vocation Promoter, Eastern Province, 205 W. Monroe Street, Room 3001, Chicago, IL 60606; (312) 236-7846; e-mail: vocations3001@claretians. org; website: http://www.claretianvocations.org. Code #092. Comboni Missionaries (M.C.C.J.) Over 4,000 priests, brothers, sisters and lay missionaries in 41 countries around the world, this institute focuses on those St. Daniel Comboni loved as “the poorest and most abandoned people in the world.” In Africa, the Americas, and Asia, their apostolic work consists of evangelization—quite often first evangelization—empowering people in the process of ministering to their own needs within the religious and the broader human contexts. In North America, the priests and brothers do ministry among the poor in New Jersey, Ohio, California, Illinois, and Ontario. The sisters work among the poor in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Persons interested in checking out vocational opportunities for Comboni priests, brothers, sisters or lay missionaries can use the contact information that follows; their inquiries will be directed as appropriate. North American Province, 1318 Nagel Road, Cincinnati, OH 54255; (513) 474-4997; e-mail: info@ComboniMissionaries.org; or Fr. Angel Camorlinga, (708) 354-1999; e-mail: angelcamorlinga@yahoo.com; Fr. David Bohnsack, (773) 480-2522; e-mail: revdavemccj@gmail.com; Fr. Manuel Baeza, (626) 339-6732; e-mail: joebg7@yahoo.com; Fr. Luigi Zanoto; (973) 685-6338; e-mail: abuna_1@yahoo.com; website: http://www.ComboniMissionaries.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 30. Code #123. Congregation of Christian Brothers (C.F.C.) In the tradition of Blessed Edmund Rice, the founder, the Congregation of Christian Brothers, is an international community of vowed religious brothers living and praying in community and missioned by the church for Christian education. The men Christian Brothers seek to join with them are Catholic men who sense a call to live in fraternal community and who wish to minister in the educational apostolates of the church, especially to youth. They are men with the religious inspiration and dedication necessary to live a life of consecrated celibacy and who, through vows of poverty and obedience, place their gifts, talents, and possessions at the disposal of the community in order to meet the needs of God’s people. Please contact one of the following. Br. James R. McDonald, C.F.C., 10001 S. Pulaski Rd., Room 111, Chicago, IL 606553356; (773) 429-4496; e-mail: bromaccfc@yahoo.com; website: http://www.erbrothers.org. Br. William T. Flood, C.F.C., 419 Parkside Drive, Toronto, ON M6R 2Z7; (416) 604-7992; e-mail: cboffice@web.net; website: http://www.erbrothers.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 101. Code #095. Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.) The Congregation of Holy Cross was founded in post-revolutionary France in 1837. Blessed Basil Moreau, a priest of the diocese of LeMans, France, began a community of priests, brothers and sisters, to educate the children of LeMans and to assist in the diocese as auxiliary priests. In just four years, Blessed Basil sent seven brothers and a priest to the United States as missionaries. A year later in 1842 these men began the school in northern Indiana that was eventually to become the University of Notre Dame. Since then, the priests and brothers have begun five other institutions of higher learning: St. Edward’s University (Austin, TX), the University of Portland (Portland, OR), King’s College (WilkesBarre, PA), Stonehill College (North Easton, MA), and Holy Cross College (Notre Dame, IN) and many high schools. Today, Holy Cross religious serve in parishes, schools, and missions in 15 countries around the world from North and South America to Africa, Asia, Europe and Haiti. To learn more visit us at http://www.holycrosscongregation.org. For further information about a brothers’ vocation, contact: Br. Jonathan Beebe, C.S.C. at holycrossvocations@earthlink.net or visit their website at http:// www.holycrossbrothers.org. Those interested in priesthood, contact: Fr. Edwin Obermiller, C.S.C. at vocation.1@nd.edu or visit their website at http://holycrossvocations.org. See ad on page 109. Code #097. Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (S.S.S.) Blessed Sacrament religious are an apostolic community of priests,

brothers, and deacons who, in partnership with the laity, share a common vision: to have Christ in the Eucharist take hold of their lives so completely that they will live this mystery fully and proclaim its power to transform lives and communities through their many diverse and engaging ministries. By prayer in the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, within a full liturgical life and an active apostolate, Blessed Sacrament religious and their associates commit themselves to building Christian communities whose center of life is the Eucharist. Visit our website: http:// www.blessedsacrament.com/vocation or call (440) 442-6311. Code #096. Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (S.S.C.C.) The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary consists of priests, brothers and sisters. We also have a secular branch of affiliated lay people. Our Gospel lifestyle is centered in Eucharistic celebration and adoration, in living communally with a family spirit, and in apostolic service to the poor and unevangelized. Our members strive to contemplate, live and proclaim God’s love, symbolized by the joined Hearts of Jesus and Mary surrounded by a crown of thorns. Like those hearts, we are united in suffering and in joy. Saint Damien of Molokai is our most famous missionary, known for his service to victims of Hansen’s Disease (leprosy). Serving them cost him his life, making him our icon of Christ and inspiring us to live with the same human compassion and religious zeal for our faith. Contact: Fr. Richard Lifrak, P.O. Box 111, Fairhaven, MA 02719; (508) 999-0500 ext. 309; e-mail: frlifrak@sscc.org; website:; http://www.sscc.org. See ad on page 71. Code #230. Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata (C.S.S.) Stigmatine Priests and Brothers belong to an international community headquartered in Rome, with houses in the U.S., Italy, England, German, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Botswana, Brazil Paraguay, Chile, India, Georgia (Russia), the Philippines, and Thailand. St. Gaspar Bertoni founded in 1816 and entrusted the Congregation to the protection and patronage of Mary and Joseph, the Holy Spouses, because their marriage prepared, welcomed, and educated the mission of the Son of God. CSS motto, “Euntes Docete” is Latin for “Go Forth and Teach.” Apostolic work: seminary formation, spiritual direction, counseling, retreats, campus/youth/parish ministry, voluntary foreign missions, parish missions. Stigmatine formation offers a customized academic program based on individual background, but maintains a common character by the quest to unity in life through contemplation and apostolic activity, shared fraternity, dedication to work, quest for excellence, coupled with humility. Men ages 18-45 are invited to contact Fr. Geoff Deeker, N.A., Province, 554 Lexington St., Waltham, MA 02452-3097; e-mail: geoffd@stigmatines.com; website: http://www.stigmatines.com. See ad on page 44. Code #046. Crosier Fathers and Brothers (O.S.C.) For 800 years we Crosiers have marked each day celebrating the Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharist as a community of priests and brothers. We live with the risen crucified Lord transforming us in body, mind, and spirit to be witnesses of His risen life and new creation. Our religious habit, marked with the red and white cross, reminds us daily of our oneness with Christ as cross-bearers. The Rule of Augustine guides us in fraternal life as we help one another to live the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and to serve others. We invite you to consider Crosier religious life. We are an international Order founded in Belgium in 1210 and headquartered in Rome. We have U.S. communities in Onamia, Minnesota and Phoenix, Arizona. Contact: Fr. Stephan Bauer, O.S.C. or Fr. Charlie Kunkel, O.S.C.; 4332 N. 24th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85016; (800) 407-5875; e-mail: vocations@crosier.org: website: http:// www.crosier.org. Code #099.

Divine Word Missionaries (S.V.D.) As Divine Word Missionary priests and brothers, we are men of prayer and faith, serving where the Gospel has not yet been preached, or where the local church is not yet viable. Each of us is involved in a particular, unique ministry as we spread the Word of God. There are over 6,000 of us ministering in over 70 countries worldwide. As one of the largest international missionary congregations in the Catholic Church, we believe that His Mission is our Mission. Our steady growth is a result of our response to the changing needs of the Church and the people we serve. Internationalism, education and professional skills are the foundations of our society. We offer five formation programs: Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa; an Associate Program for college graduates; Brother Formation Program; our Novitiate is in Techny, Illinois; and Divine Word Theologate in Chicago. For more information, contact: Vocation Director, Divine Word Missionaries, P.O. Box 380, Epworth, IA 52045; 800-553-3321; e-mail: svdvocations@ dwci.edu; website: http://www.svdvocations.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 115. Code #177.

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org The Dominicans (O.P.) [Order of Preachers] Pope John Paul II, when he received the General Council of the Dominicans in his private library, told them: “Only those who have the experience of God can speak of him convincingly to others. At the school of Saint Dominic and of all the Dominican saints, you are called to be teachers of truth and of holiness.” Dominic de Guzman (1170-1221) was on fire with the love of God when he found the Order of Preachers (the Dominicans) and gathered around him a group of men dedicated to preaching the truth of God’s endless love. Since that time Dominicans have continued their legacy of preaching in any given time or place, and in the most effective and suitable ways, the gospel message of Jesus Christ. Feel free to contact any of the four geographic Provinces for more information: Central United States, St. Albert the Great Province; e-mail: wisdomop@yahoo.com; (312) 829-0295; website: http://www.domcentral.org. Eastern United States, St. Joseph Province; e-mail: vocations@dominicanfriars. org; (800) 529-1205; website: http://www.dominicanfriars.org. Western United States, The Most Holy Name of Jesus Province; e-mail: vocations@opwest.org; (510) 596-1821; website: http:// www.opwest.org. Southern United States, St. Martin de Porres Province, e-mail: frcharlie@dominicanvocations.com; (504) 837-2129 ext. 23; website: http://www.dominicanvocations. com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 128. Code #228.

Fiat Spiritus Community (FS) The Fiat Spiritus Community is a community of single and married baptized men and women called to live an apostolic life according to the spirituality of Catherine Kasper and to share the charism of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. The members live this way of life through formal vowed commitment. The members strive to model Mary’s response in the Annunciation to listen to the Spirit and in the Visitation to act on the Spirit’s initiative to become God’s presence in the world especially to the needy and underserved. The Fiat Spiritus Community embraces not only Mary’s response and action but also the response and action of the disciples at Pentecost; and continue to be inspired by holy people throughout history, to our present day as followers of Catherine Kasper and each other in community. For information contact: Brother Bob Overland, FS, P.O. Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513; (574) 935-1726; e-mail: bobo@poorhandmaids.org; website: http://www.fiatspiritus.org. Code #049. Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn (O.S.F.) The Religious Brothers of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, known as the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, were founded in 1858 in Brooklyn, NY, USA. We are a Community of all Brothers living in the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Our evangelical Franciscan life is composed of prayer, community life, and apostolic work meeting the needs of God’s people, mostly through secondary and higher education as well as other service apostolates. The religious habit, worn by the Brothers consists of a simple black tunic and capuche and girded at the waist with a white cord with three knots at the right. From the cord on the left is suspended the Franciscan Crown (seven decade rosary). Initial Formation consists of at least one year of Candidacy, one year of Canonical Novitiate, three years of Temporary Vows after which Perpetual Vows are taken. For more information contact the Vocation Director: Brother Louis Miritello, OSF; e-mail: LMiritello@sfponline.org; (631) 418-8522; website: http://www.franciscanbrothers.org. See ad on page 98. Code #102. Franciscan Friars (O.F.M.)—Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Province The Franciscan Friars of the Assumption BVM Province joyfully strive to witness to the presence of Christ in the world and proclaim the Gospel through our prayer, our life in fraternity and in a life of minority after the Rule and example of our founder, St. Francis of Assisi. As Franciscans, we serve the People of God in a variety of ministries, including parishes, education, preaching, chaplaincies, working among the poor, and in both foreign and domestic missions. We seek to serve wherever people need to hear the Good News of Jesus

VISION 2009

Franciscan Friars (O.F.M.)—Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus Holy Name Province is the largest community of Franciscan friars in the United States. An evangelical and missionary fraternity of more than 350 men, we serve the people of God in a wide variety of ministries—colleges, parishes, urban ministry centers, and social outreach—along the East Coast as well as in foreign countries. Rooted in the Catholic and Franciscan tradition, we seek to bring the Gospel into the everyday experience of all people through teaching, popular preaching and pastoral leadership. We foster Christian discipleship by collaborating with those whom we serve and by standing in solidarity with all people, especially the alienated, the immigrant, and the poor. If you are between the ages of 21 and 38 and would like more information on the Franciscan friars, please contact Fr. Brian Smail, OFM, Vocation Director, at 1-800-677-7788 or vocation@hnp.org, or visit our website at http://www.BeAFranciscan.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 78. Code #313. Franciscan Friars (O.F.M.)—Province of the Most Sacred Heart We welcome you to the Franciscan vision of the world, a world where love is more powerful than hate, forgiveness more powerful than revenge, hope more powerful than despair, community more powerful than isolation and God is more powerful than all that mitigates against goodness and hope. Become an instrument of change. Become a messenger of peace. Belong to something bigger than yourself. . .WWW.BEFRANCISCAN. COM. Contact: Brother Jack A. Carnaghi, OFM Vocation Director, Sacred Heart Province; e-mail: vocation@befranciscan.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #283. Franciscan Friars (O.F.M.)—Saint John the Baptist Province We Friars of Saint John the Baptist Province are part of the world-wide Franciscan Order which was founded by Saint Francis of Assisi 800 years ago. The first members of our Province arrived in Cincinnati, OH in 1844. Since then we have been serving the Catholic Church in a wide variety of ministries. Presently we serve in schools (high schools and universities), parishes, hospitals (as nurses and chaplains), inner city ministries, retreat ministry, publishing (books, catechetical aides, CDs and audio books at Saint Anthony Messenger Press), and foreign missions. In all of our ministries we preach the Good News of Jesus by both word and action with a special emphasis on giving a voice to the marginalized in our society. See our website (www.franciscan.org) for more information. Or contact our Vocation Director, Fr. Don Miller, O.F.M. at (513) 542-1082, at sjbvocations@franciscan.org, or at Vocation Office, 5000 Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45223-1213. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #233. Franciscan Friars, Conventual The Conventual Franciscans are one of the three branches of the First Order of St. Francis. The word Conventual is derived from the Latin convenire, “to come together”; hence we live together in “convents” or friaries. Our Order is spread throughout the world, and includes about 4500 priests and brothers who are all commonly called Friars. There are five provinces in North America, and a jurisdiction in the UK and Ireland. We wear a black or gray habit with a simple three-knotted cord representing our Vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience. The Spiritual Center of the Order is in Assisi, Italy, where our Friars care for the Basilica of St. Francis, which includes his tomb. In addition, the Conventuals are the Vatican confessors at St. Peter’s Basilica. In Christ’s name, we continue the ministry of healing so fundamental to the understanding of Saint Francis. For more information go to our website. Friar Paul C. Schloemer, OFM Conv., Province of Our Lady of Consolation Vocation Office, 6901 Dixie Highway, Louisville, KY 40258; (800) 424-9955 or (502) 933-4439; e-mail: franvoc@ aol.com; website: http://www.franciscans.org. Code #098. Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular (T.O.R.) We are a religious community of priests and brothers who follow the crucified and risen Christ in the spirit of St. Francis. We are committed to a life transformed by prayer and service; to personal and communal conversion of heart, mind, and soul; and to bearing Christ to a broken world. We actively embrace the new evangelization of Pope John Paul II. Our priest and brother Friars serve as educators, parish ministers, promoters of church renewal, advocates of social justice, hospital chaplains, and foreign missionaries. We administer two institutions of higher learning: St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania

WHAT ARE MONKS DOING IN THE CITY?

The Benedictine Monks of Newark Abbey

have been in the center of Newark, New Jersey since 1857

What are we doing here? † Living in community according to the Rule of St. Benedict. † Following a daily schedule that balances prayer and work. † Ministering to God’s people through St. Benedict’s Prep School and pastoral ministry. † Serving as a sign of hope and Good News.

SEE FOR YOURSELF! For further information contact: Br. Patrick Winbush, O.S.B. Director of Vocations 973.792.5772 vocations@sbp.org

www.newarkabbey.org

Enter #182 at VocationMatch.com and Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio. If you are between the ages of 20-35 and would like more information on the Franciscan Friars, T.O.R., please write, call, or visit our website at http://www.franciscanstor.org. Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Vocation Office, P.O. Box 104, Loretto, PA 15940; (814) 472-8060; fax: (814) 471-1866; e-mail: vocationstor@aol.com. See ad on page 99. Code #232.

Men’s communities

Edmundite Fathers and Brothers (S.S.E.) [Society of St. Edmund] The Society of St. Edmund is a clerical religious congregation of pontifical right dedicated to evangelization whose priests and brothers share a common life and profess the public vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. It was the original purpose of the Society to work for the glory of God and the salvation of neighbor through preaching. By preaching we understand both the witness of our common and personal pursuit of holiness and the service of the Gospel. Fr. Stanley Deresienski, SSE, Vocation Director,, 270 Winooski Park, Colchester, VT 05439; (802) 654-3400; Fax: (802) 654-3409; e-mail: sderesienski@smcvt.edu; website: http://www.sse.org. See ad on page 75. Code #119.

Christ and to experience God in their lives. Visit us at www.franciscan-friars.org. Contact: Fr. John Puodziunas, OFM, SS. Francis and Clare Friary, 9230 W. Highland Park Avenue, Franklin, WI 53132; toll free (877) 636-3742; e-mail: vocationdirector@ hotmail.com; website: http://www.franciscanfriars.org. Code #281.

Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular (T.O.R.)—Immaculate Conception Province Mission Statement: “Following Christ in the footsteps of Saint Francis, we are a fraternity of men who freely vow ourselves to living in communion as brothers. We strive to live the Gospel through gentleness, hospitality, and service. We seek to address the changing needs of the Church and the world by calling ourselves and others to prayer and conversion.” Our friars use their gifts to respond to the needs of the Church and world serving as parish priests, retreat directors, educators, chaplains, campus ministers, artists, advocates for ecological and social justice and pastoral ministers. The strength of our formation program is its flexible response to each person’s unique personality and gifts. Our friars serve in Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Virginia, Florida, Texas, Ohio and Minnesota. For more information contact: Fr. Patrick Foley, T.O.R., Vocation Office, 3811 Emerson Avenue, North, Minneapolis, MN 55412-2038; 1-800-220-0867; e-mail: frpattor@hotmail.com; website: http://www.franciscanfriarstor. com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 27. Code #295. Franciscan Friars of the Atonement (S.A.) The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement have long been leaders in the worldwide ecumenical movement to heal divisions within Christianity. In 1908 we began an annual prayer movement (January 18-25) that developed into the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Today, the Friars mission of “at-one-ment” includes dialogue among Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists; serving the homeless and those suffering from alcoholism, drug addictions, and HIV/AIDS; preaching the gospel in parishes around the world, and offering respite and hope to those in need of spiritual renewal. In the tradition of St. Francis of Assisi, we offer a prayerful communal life with active service to the Church in the United States, Canada, Japan, Italy, England and soon,

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org Kenya, Africa. Inquire about our “Come and See” programs offered each year in March and October. During Easter Week we offer a Vocation Discernment Retreat Week in Rome and Assisi, Italy for men who have previously attended a “Come and See” at Graymoor. We sponsor a College Age Discernment Program in conjunction with Stonehill College, Massachusetts. Contact Vocation Office, P.O. Box 300-Graymoor, Garrison, NY 10524; (800) 338-2620, ext. 2126; fax: 845-424-2170; e-mail: vocdirector@atonementfriars.org; website: http://www.atonementfriars. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 69. Code #003. Franciscan Friars of the Holy Land (O.F.M.) The Custody of the Holy Land, considered one of the most important of all the Franciscan provinces, includes the land where Jesus was born, lived, and died, and rose from the dead. The Franciscans have maintained a presence in the Holy Land for more than 800 years. Friars representing more than 20 countries, including the United States, staff and maintain churches and shrines in 33 cities throughout the Holy Land, as well as perform charitable, educational, and social works for the welfare of all who live in or come to the Holy Land. Friars also provide assistance to schools, orphanages, and parish centers, and participate in ecumenical, scientific, and cultural works entrusted to the Custody. In the United States, contact: Fr. Jacob-Matthew Smith, O.F.M., Vocation Director, Franciscan Monastery, 1400 Quincy St., N.E., Washington, D.C. 20017; (202) 256-6800 ext. 334 (daytime) or ext. 852 (evenings); e-mail: vocation@myfranciscan.com; website: http://www.myfranciscan.org. See ad on page 120. Code #276.

Men’s coMMunities

Glenmary Home Missioners (G.H.M.) We are a society of priests and brothers who, along with lay co-workers, serve the spiritual and material needs of the people in Appalachia, the South, and Southwest. As home missioners, we form and nurture Catholic faith communities in areas where the Church has never been established. We are committed to doing God’s work in rural America through ministries of ecumenism, evangelization, social outreach, and service to the poor and neglected. We staff over 50 missions and ministries in 14 dioceses as well as a research center and a pastoral center focusing on rural ministry. Fr. Steve Pawelk, Glenmary Home Missioners, P.O. Box 465618, Cincinnati, OH 45246-5618; (513) 881-7411; e-mail: vocation@glenmary.org; website: http://www.glenmary.org. See ad on page 12. Code #103.

Jesuits (S.J.) [Society of Jesus] United States Jesuit Conference: 1016 16th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036; (202) 462-0400; e-mail: usjc@jesuit.org; website: http://www.jesuit.org. California: P.O. Box 519, Los Gatos, CA 95031-0519; (408) 884-1613; e-mail: formation@calprov.org; website: http://www.jesuitscalifornia.org. Chicago: 2050 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614-4788; (773) 975-6363; e-mail: vocations@jesuits-chi.org; website: http://www.thinkjesuit. org. Detroit: 7303 W. Seven Mile Road, Detroit, MI 482212121; (313) 861-7500; e-mail: jesuitvocations@gmail.com; website: http://www.thinkjesuit.org. Missouri: 4511 West Pine Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63108-2191; (314) 361-7765; e-mail: vocation@jesuits-mis.org; website: http://www.jesuits-mis. org. New England: P.O. Box 9199, Watertown, MA 024719199; (617) 607-2800; e-mail: vocations@sjnen.org; website: http://www.sjnen.org. New Orleans: 710 Baronne St., Suite B, New Orleans, LA 70113; (504) 571-1055; e-mail: vocations@ norprov.org; website: http://www.norprov.org/vocations/. New York/Maryland: 39 East 83rd Street, New York, NY 100280810; (212) 774-5500; e-mail: vocations@nysj.org; or e-mail: vocations@mdsj.org; website: http://www.jesuitvocation.org. Oregon: P.O. Box 86010, Portland, OR 97286-0010; (503) 226-6977; e-mail: slantry@nwjesuits.org; website: http://www. nwjesuits.org. Wisconsin: 3400 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53208; (800) 537-3736 ext. 231 or (414) 937-6949 ext. 231; e-mail: vocations@jesuitswisprov.org; website: http://www. thinkjesuit.org. Upper Canada: 43 Queen’s Park Crescent East, Toronto, ON M5S 2C3; (416) 962-4500; e-mail: vocation@ jesuits.ca; website: http://www.jesuits.ca. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #104. Josephite Fathers and Brothers (S.S.J.) [The Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart] We are involved in ministry within city and rural settings. Our involvement includes parish ministry, hospital, prison and first responder chaplaincies, campus ministry, and operating one high school, St. Augustine’s in New Orleans. Our Major Seminary in Washington, DC, where our seminarians reside as they pursue their graduate degree in theology, also houses The Josephite Pastoral Center that is dedicated to promoting religious education material that is centered in the African-American Community. Apostolic Work: The Josephite Society is dedicated to spiritual educational and

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social ministry to the African-American community and has worked exclusively in the African-American community since 1871. The Josephite Society affords its members the mutual support of community life in an active ministry. Currently serving in the Archdioceses of Baltimore, Galveston-Houston, Los Angeles, Mobile, New Orleans, Washington and in the Dioceses of Arlington (VA), Baton Rouge, Beaumont, Biloxi, Jackson (MS), and Lafayette. Rev. Peter C. Weiss, S.S.J. and Brother Louis, S.S.J. serve as Vocation Ministers. Josephite Vocation Department, 1200 Varnum Street, NE, Washington, DC 20017-2796; (202) 832-9100; fax: (202) 832-9099; e-mail: vocations@josephite. com; website: http://www.josephite.com. See ad on page 129. Code #192.

Legionaries of Christ (L.C.) The Legion of Christ is a Roman Catholic congregation of priests, founded in 1941, active in 21 countries, with over 750 priests and 2,500 seminarians of 39 different nationalities. The spirituality of the Legionaries is Christ-centered, and he is the ideal, standard, and example of each Legionary’s religious, priestly, and apostolic life. Our priesthood and our daily life are centered on the Eucharist, guided by Mary’s presence, and lived in fidelity to the Church’s Magisterium. Our mission is to build the Kingdom of Christ by forming and placing at the service of the Church a new type of Catholic who lives his personal call to holiness and spearheads apostolic action wherever God places him. One life, one chance to live it. Do something great for God! Call us, visit us. Vocation Director: Fr. Anthony Bannon, L.C., 475 Oak Ave., Cheshire, CT 06410; (800) 420-5409; e-mail: vocation@legionaries.org; website: http://www.legionariesofchrist.org. See ad on page 35. Code #226. Little Brothers of Saint Francis (L.B.S.F.) We are a contemplative community of brothers who live the “Hidden Life of Nazareth” in prayer and Eucharistic adoration among Christ’s poor in the inner-city ghettos, favelas, or barrios of the world. We have an evangelical street ministry of friendship to destitute homeless and the poorest of the poor. We seek to make a total gift of self to God while living a fraternal life in radical Gospel poverty. Vocation Director, 785-789 Parker Street, Boston, MA 02120; (617) 442-2556; website: http://www.littlebrothersofstfrancis.org. See ad on page 137. Code #158 Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd (B.G.S.) Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd are ordinary men striving to follow the example of Jesus the Good Shepherd. We are called upon to be risk takers. . . to be ready and willing to risk all for the sake of the man, woman or child who is lost, abused, alone, frightened and bewildered in a world of high-tech productivity and fast paced living. Impelled by conviction and the spirit of “Charity Unlimited. . . Never Stop Loving,” to be available, hospitable, flexible, adaptable and respectful of life, we seek every opportunity to discover the presence of God in the simple movement of the very ordinary, through various forms of direct service to the homeless and the hungry, the elderly and the dying, the battered and the abused. We seek to provide hope to the hopeless, love to the loveless, a sense of dignified purpose to the aimless, and faith to the faithless. Vocation Director, e-mail: info@lbgs.org; website: http://www.lbgs.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 75. Code #344.

Marianists, Province of Meribah (S.M.) As Marianists, we dedicate our lives to Mary. We are honored to follow her example of humble service and faithful discipleship in every aspect of our life. We are a religious community of brothers and priests committed to living the challenge of the Gospel together in community. At the center of our lives are the two tables: the altar—the table of faith and sacrifice, and the dining table—the table of fraternity and fellowship. We have committed ourselves to the service of Christ and his Church through the apostolate of education. We form a new family, based on the Gospel of the Lord, in which we share in common prayer, friendship, possessions, work, successes, and difficulties. We aim to make family spirit the distinctive mark of our communities, growing in the characteristics of Mary, particularly her faith, humility, simplicity, and hospitality. Vocation Director, 240 Emory Rd., Mineola, NY 11501; (516) 742-5555 ext. 598; e-mail: Vocations@chaminade-hs.org; website: http://www.provinceofmeribah.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 99. Code #334. Marianists, Society of Mary (S.M.) Blessed William Joseph Chaminade founded the Society of Mary (Marianists) in France in 1817. The Marianists are an international Catholic religious order of brothers and priests. Almost 500 serve in the Province of the United States, which includes Eastern Africa, India, and

Mexico. In the United States, Marianists sponsor the University of Dayton in Ohio, St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Chaminade University of Honolulu, and high schools, parishes, and retreat centers. The mission of the Marianists is to spread gospel values, educate students, work in lay formation, and serve the poor. Marianist National Vocation Office, 4425 W. Pine Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108-2301; (314) 533-1207; website: http://www.marianist.com/vocations. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 80. Code #105. Marist Brothers (F.M.S.) Founded in 1817 by St. Marcellin Champagnat, the Marist Brothers work to make Jesus Christ known and loved through the Christian education of young people, with special attention to the most neglected. St. Marcellin gave his community the name of Mary because he wanted them to live according to her spirit. Following the example of St. Marcellin, approximately 4,000 Marist Brothers work with their lay colleagues and other members of the Marist family to put into practice their motto: All to Jesus through Mary; All to Mary for Jesus. Present in 78 countries, the Marist Brothers work in all levels of education and a variety of education-related ministries. Br. Michael Sheerin, F.M.S., Marist Brothers Vocation Office, 1241 Kennedy Blvd., Bayonne, NJ 07002; (201) 823-1115; e-mail: vocations@maristbr.com; website: www. maristbr.com. See ad on page 98. Code #298. Marist Fathers and Brothers (S.M.) [Society of Mary] Marists believe that they are called by Mary to live in her Society, a religious community of prayer, fellowship and Gospel ministry to the Church and the world. Marists carry out the Gospel ministry in schools, parishes, and chaplaincies in the USA and in other countries throughout the world, including foreign missions. The Marists accept candidates for the priesthood and brotherhood who are between the ages of 21 and 40 and offer discernment programs and Come and See days and weekends. For more information please contact the Vocation Office of the Marists at 2335 Warring St., Berkeley, CA 94704; toll free: (866) 298-3715 or (510) 486-1232 or (617) 262-2271 (the Boston area), or e-mail us at maristvocations@sbcglobal.net or visit us on line at www. maristsociety.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 144. Code #107. Maryknoll Congregation and Society (M.M.) To mention Maryknoll is to mention Mission. Maryknoll is the popular name for the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, established by the U.S. Bishops in 1911 to represent the Church of the United States in the work of foreign missions. We are from the Church in the United States, but our principal work is overseas. Currently numbering some 480 priests and brothers working in some 28 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, in solidarity with the poor in witnessing to the Kingdom of God. Contact: Fr. Dennis Moorman, M.M., Vocation Ministries, P.O. Box 305, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0305; (914) 941-7590, ext. 2416; e-mail: vocation@maryknoll.org; website: http://society.maryknoll.org. See ad on page 103. Code #199. Missionaries of the Holy Family (M.S.F.) The Missionaries of the Holy Family were founded as a religious community in 1895 in Holland. Today, we minister throughout the world. We base our community life on the model of the Holy Family who lived simple lives in faithful response, love, and care to the mission of Jesus. Our founder taught us to seek out and encourage vocations. We strive to live a missionary spirit by bringing the Gospel message wherever it is not sufficiently proclaimed. Here in North America, we are involved as priests and brothers in parishes, schools, hospitals, and missions. Our work reflects the care and concern we have for family life. Vocation Director, 104 Cas Hills Dr., San Antonio, TX 78213; (888) 4 THY WILL; (888) 484-9945; e-mail: Vocations@MSF-America.org; website: http://www.MSF-America.org. See ad on page 133. Code #129. Missionaries of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S) We are a society of apostolic life, priests, brothers and lay associates sharing a common mission: to renew the Church through the ministry of the Word and the saving power of Christ’s most Precious Blood. Founded in 1815 by St. Gaspar del Bufalo, our congregation carries out a variety of ministries as pastors, teachers, chaplains, youth ministers, retreat directors, mission preachers and campus ministers, both in the U.S. and abroad. We reach out to those on the margins of society—and to each other as we build a community where members find peace and new energy. Cincinnati Province (Eastern U.S., including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, California as well as Chile, Peru, Guatemala, Colombia), (937) 228-6224; e-mail: vocation@cpps-preciousblood. org. On the web at www.cpps-preciousblood.org. Kansas City Province (Western U.S., including Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Colorado, Illinois, Texas, California as well as Vietnam), (816)

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org 781-4344; e-mail: voc.office@yahoo.com. On the web at www. kcprov.org. See ad on page 55. Code #108. Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (M.S.C.) Building a Civilization of Love. “The spirit of our Congregation is made of love and kindness, humility and simplicity; but above all, it is a spirit of love for justice and concern for the welfare of all, specially the poorest one.” (MSC Constitutions #13). The MSC are active in 54 countries, most of which are poor and developing nations. The MSC USA Province serve parishes, hospitals, schools, prisons, and conduct special retreat programs to find healing, love, and joy. The MSC USA Province also supports activities and missions in Colombia (South America) and in countries in the South Pacific, South Asia, and Africa. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be Loved Everywhere! Contact: Fr. Andrew Torma, MSC, Vocation Director, 4821 S. Hermitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60609; (630) 862-0979; e-mail: vocation@misacor-usa.org; website: http://www.misacor-usa.org. Code #130.

Missionary Benedictine Priests and Brothers (O.S.B.) The Missionary Benedictine Monk lives his vocation of prayer and work in the community of brothers, striving daily to a deeper encounter with Christ. Prayer times in community, the daily celebration of the Eucharist, opportunities for quiet time in meditation and lectio are interwoven with our work schedule and life in community. Following the motto of our international congregation: Lumen Caecis—Light to the Blind, each monk tries to combine the Benedictine monastic lifestyle with an active missionary apostolate. We are working in 17 countries. At Christ the King Priory in Schuyler, Nebraska, the seven monks are involved in retreat house ministry, spiritual direction, pastoral assistance, Hispanic ministry, in raising mission awareness and fundraising in support of our missionaries, etc. Vocation Director, Christ the King Priory, 1123 Road I, P.O. Box 528, Schuyler, NE 68661-0528; (402) 352-2177; e-mail: BroTobias@ BenedictineMissionHouse.com; websites: www.BenedictineMissionHouse.com and www.StBenedictCenter.com. See ad on page 100. Code #249. Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.) Serving in over 70 countries, the Oblates are an international Congregation of about 4,400 priests and brothers sent to preach the Good News to the poor. Called “specialists in difficult missions,” we are committed to carrying the Gospel to others in the spirit of St. Eugene de Mazenod. We fulfill our mission in and through community. Wherever we work, our mission is especially to those people whose condition cries out for salvation and for the hope, which only Jesus Christ can fully bring. We give them our preference. In our mission we are dedicated to Mary Immaculate who is our patroness. If you are between ages 17 and 37 and interested in our mission here is your chance. Oblate Vocation Office, 327 Oblate Drive, San Antonio, TX 78216-6602; English & en español: (800) 358-4394; e-mail: vocations@omiusa.org; website: http://www.omiusa.org. See ad on page 105. Code #109. Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity (S.T.) We are religious priests and brothers dedicated for ministry to poor and forsaken persons in the U.S. and Latin America. We work hand in hand with other men and women to witness to the love of God. Our chief effort is to develop a missionary spirit in the laity, with the goal that every Catholic be an apostle. In the U.S., we serve in inner-cities and rural areas; we toil in immigrant communities, minister in prisons, and manage lay development centers. In every place we are, we always learn more deeply of God from the people with whom we serve. As Pope John Paul II says: “The Church needs your energies, your ideals, your enthusiasm to make the Gospel of Life penetrate the fabric of society.” So we dare you to stand with us. . .in the Spirit and in Christ. . .to live in God’s service. For more information please contact: Vocation Office, 9001 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20903; (800) 298-5602; e-mail: vocations@trinitymissions.

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Norbertine Fathers and Brothers (O. Praem.) [Canons Regular of Premontre]—Daylesford Abbey As the one and only Abbey within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Daylesford Abbey occupies 130 acres of countryside in Paoli, Pennsylvania. Our roots go back to Premontre, France in 1120 when St. Norbert founded the Community. A Roman Catholic Order of Priests and Brothers, we Norbertines live an active liturgical, apostolic, and eccesial life dedicated to serving the local Church through our liturgical prayer life celebrated in the Abbey Church. In our ministries inside and outside the Abbey, we are nourished by an active-contemplative prayer life. We Norbertines daily break bread at two tables: the Eucharistic table of the Lord and the table of hospitality. Daylesford Abbey is a healing and reconciling community. We invite men ages 21-50 to contact us if our community might be where God is calling them. For more information contact Fr. Bill Kelly, O.Praem., 220 South Valley Road, Paoli, PA 19301; (610) 647-2530 ext. 115; fax (610) 651-0219; e-mail: brobbt@yahoo.com; website: http:// www.daylesford.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 141. Code #289. Norbertine Fathers and Brothers (O. Praem.) [Canons Regular of Premontre]—St. Moses the Black Priory Have you thought that your life might be different, more meaningful and more directed toward God? Wondered how your own particular talents and gifts might be enhanced in service to the Church? Looking for ways to give witness to peace and justice? To reduce conflicts between and among all people? Come, see the diversity of ministries available including parish ministry, college/university teaching, campus ministry, spiritual direction, and prison ministry. Begin your journey today. Come and see! Men with some college background are invited to the Norbertine Priory of St. Moses the Black, For more information, please contact: Vocation Coordinator, 7100 Midway Road, Raymond, MS 39154; (601) 857-0157 ext. 218; e-mail: norbertine-ms@hotmail.com; website: http://www.stmosestheblackpriory.org. See ad on page 53. Code #110. Norbertine Fathers and Brothers (O. Praem.) [Canons Regular of Premontre]—Sta. Maria de la Vid Priory The Priory was established in 1985 as a foundation house from St. Norbert Abbey, DePere, WI. Our goal is to become an abbey in New Mexico. Priests, brothers, and seminarians live together, nurtured by the Eucharist, Morning and Evening Prayer, and by our communal interaction. From the community base, we serve in parishes, hospitals, schools, and in a variety of different ways in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. Our ministry is broadly multicultural particularly to Hispanics, Native Americans, and Anglos. On our 70-acre property we also offer a “place apart” to the spiritual seeker and retreatant in our hermitages and guest house. We invite men discerning a vocation to come as observers and live for a time the rhythm of our life. Vocation Coordinator, 5825 Coors Road, SW, Albuquerque, NM 871216700; (505) 873-4399 ext. 228; e-mail: maesanthnyg1@aol. com; website: http://www.norbertinecommunity.org. See ad on page 53. Code #110. Norbertine Fathers and Brothers (O. Praem.) [Canons Regular of Premontre]—St. Norbert Abbey The Norbertines of St. Norbert Abbey are dedicated to living a communal, activecontemplative lifestyle according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ following the Rule of St. Augustine. We profess Solemn Vows, committing ourselves to the apostolic life and a life of conversion. Our membership consists of 67 men living primarily at St. Norbert Abbey, and other houses in De Pere, WI, Albuquerque, NM, and Raymond, MS. As Canons Regular, our first ministry is living the common life devoted to the sung choral office, Eucharist, and common table. From this common life flow various ministries including hospitality and retreats, parish ministry, education and administration at St. Norbert College and Notre Dame de la Baie Academy, and numerous other ministries as needed in the local church. Qualified candidates ordinarily have, or are in the process of completing, a college degree and are ready and willing to live unselfishly in a communal lifestyle. Contact the Vocation Coordinator, 1016 N. Broadway, De Pere, WI 54115; (920) 337-4333; fax: (920) 337-4328; e-mail: vocations@norbertines.org; website: http://www.norbertines.org. See ad on page 53. Code #110.

Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (O.S.F.S.) The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales are priests and brothers, dedicated to living Jesus’ gentleness and humility in the spirit of St. Francis de Sales. We believe that the Gospel message and teachings of the Catholic Church hold rich meaning and deep hope for all men and women. Living in community, we are parish priests,

Enter #289 at VocationMatch.com teachers and professors, campus ministers, missionaries, chaplains, social workers, and counselors. We serve throughout the United States, from California to Washington, D.C., from Canada to Florida. We invite you to join us in growing toward all that God has planned for you. For more information about the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, please contact: Director of Vocations, 2200 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19806; (302) 656-8529; e-mail: kmnadolski@mac.com: website: http://www.oblates.org. See ad on page 56. Code #285

Men’s communities

Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (M.SS. CC.) We are a religious community of priests and brothers dedicating our lives to God through service to our brothers and sisters in the localities of Italy, Argentina, the United States, India, Slovakia, Nigeria and Indonesia. As missionaries, our outreach is to those in need, whatever those needs may be. In the United States, we currently serve in parish ministry, schools, nursing homes, hospitals, retreat work, and spiritual direction. Our founder, Saint Gaetano Errico, calls us “to labor selflessly . . . to make known to all people the deep and tender love of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and to kindle this love in the hearts of all . . .” Vocation Director, P.O. Box 189, Linwood, NJ 08221; (609) 927-5600; e-mail: mssccusa@aol. com; website: www.missionofsacredhearts.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 79. Code #133.

org; website: http://www.MissionaryServantsVocations.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 72. Code #284.

Oblates of the Virgin Mary (O.M.V.) The Oblates of the Virgin Mary are a religious community of priests and brothers. Living the charism of their Founder, the Venerable Fr. Bruno Lanteri, they cultivate a deep personal relationship with Christ through His Word and in the Eucharist. The Oblates are consecrated to Mary and profess a strong adherence to the Magisterium and the Holy Father. Their apostolic goals include: the formation of the laity and the clergy, combating modern errors in faith and morals, upholding solid doctrine, giving the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and parish missions, the diffusion of Catholic teaching through books and other means of communication, and foreign missionary activity. Preferred age: under 40. Education: college/higher education preferred. Vocation Director, 1105 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215; (617) 869-2429; e-mail: vocations@omvusa.org; website: http://www. omvusa.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 77. Code #111. Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary We are a Eucharistic and contemplative community consisting of priests, brothers, and sisters, who wear a full habit, as well as lay “external” members, all of whom are consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Our daily schedule, besides Holy Mass, includes: 15 decade Rosary (20 on Thursday), Divine Mercy Chaplet, Liturgy of the Hours, and time for silent adoration, all before Our Lord Jesus, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. After being filled with the love and mercy of Our Savior, we go forth to be His reflection to others through various corporal works of mercy. Contact: Vocation Director, 48765 Annapolis Rd., Hopedale, OH 43976; (740) 946-9000; e-mail: twohearts1@mac.com; website: http://www.heartsofjesusandmary.org. Code #271.

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brothers

Brother A. takes your questions

Arnaldo Sanchez, O.S.M. had a good job and plenty of perks, but something was missing. He found it in religious community.

Brother Arnaldo Sanchez, O.S.M. COMMUNITY: Order of Friars Servants of Mary WHAT I DO FOR FUN: Movies, bike-riding, trav-

el.

BEST THING SO FAR ABOUT COMMUNITY LIFE: At the end of the day I can go to sleep knowing that I am surrounded by a group of guys that I not only call brothers but family. FAVORITE FOOD: Puerto Rican.

Photo by James Foerster, courtesy of Order of Friars Servants of Mary

PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN: I was a senior operations manager for a major business in corporate America prior to entering religious life. BEST-KEPT SECRET ABOUT BROTHERS: We’re a powerful presence in the life of the church, and minister in many areas.

FAVORITE WAY TO PRAY: Personal prayer and meditation. BEST-LOVED MINISTRY: Teaching high school. The boys asked if they could call me “Brother A,” and so they did. I learned a lot from them!

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Search these Men’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province The Spirit of Saint Francis has been kept alive through the centuries by the work of many men and women who have committed themselves to a ministry that promotes Franciscan values. The Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe has remained faithful to their Franciscan tradition by their commitment to the missions of the Southwest among the Native Americans: Navajo and Pueblos, the Hispanic and Anglo population. The variety of ministries has made us a truly unique Franciscan Province. If you sense that God might be calling you to the religious life, this is a wonderful opportunity to discern your vocation among the poor, among those who are considered outcasts, and among those who thirst for God’s love and justice. Come; share, dream, love—Join us! God bless you. Vocation Director for OLG Vocation Office, 1204 Stintson Street SW, Albuquerque, NM 87121-3440; (505) 217-3491; e-mail: ofm@olgvocations.org; website: http://www. olgvocations.org. See ad on page 71. Code #339.

Passionists (C.P.) Passionist priests and brothers take a unique vow to promote the memory of Christ’s passion and God’s redeeming love for us through their life of contemplation, community and ministry to the crucified of today. Founded by St. Paul of the Cross, Passionists reach out with compassion to those who suffer or are marginalized—the disabled, the sick, the dying, the impoverished, those who grieve or are alone—and offer opportunities for all to experience spiritual growth and healing. Prayer and a rich community life support the special Passionist charism. Ministries include preaching, retreat center programs, parish, radio and TV ministry, and chaplaincies. Both Provinces have members missioned in other countries. Interested in male candidates, 19-40 years old. Western Province: Fr. Christopher Gibson, C.P.; (773) 631-6336 and cell (773) 266-1942; e-mail: vocationdirector@ passionist.org; website: http://www.thepassionists.org. Eastern Province: Fr. William Maguire, C.P.; (412) 325-8041; e-mail: spoc-vocations@cpprov.org; website: http://www. thepassionists.org. Code #113. The Paulist Fathers (C.S.P.) The Paulists founded by Servant of God, Isaac Hecker, are the first North American community of priests. The Paulists minister through their mission of Reaching Out (Evangelization), Bringing Peace (Reconciliation), and Seeking Unity (Ecumenism and Interreligious Relations). The Paulists are in 20 cities in the United States and Canada. We serve as campus ministers and parish priests. We conduct retreats/missions, and publish through Paulist Press. We reach out through the Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association and work in media-related endeavors through Paulist Productions. We serve young adults through BustedHalo.com. Training includes a year novitiate and graduate theological studies in Washington, DC. Fr. David E. Farnum, C.S.P., Director of Vocations, 415 West 59th Street, New York, NY 10019-1104; (800) 235-3456 or (212) 757-4260; fax: (212) 445-0285; e-mail: vocations@paulist.org; website: http://www.paulist.org/vocation. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 172. Code #114. Piarists (Sch.P.) Founded by St. Joseph Calasanctius in 1617, Piarists profess a special fourth religious vow to educate youth, especially the poor. Our schools are concerned with both the spiritual and academic achievement of our students. Our motto, Pietas et Litterae, expresses both our work and charism. We are an International Order in 32 countries, and in the United States are represented in New York, Philadelphia, Washington,

VISION 2009

PIME Missionaries (P.I.M.E.) [The Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions] PIME is an International Society of Apostolic Life of priests and brothers who dedicate their lives to the mission among non-Christians in foreign countries. The initial formation for candidates will take place in the US region. Our formation and training program is flexible. We are able to adapt our program to meet the needs of each individual as much as possible, according to one’s academic background and life experiences. PIME has two International Theology formation houses for candidates to missionary priesthood (Italy and Philippines). The formation house for missionary brothers is located in Italy. Visit us at www.pimeusa.org. PIME Missionaries, 17330 Quincy St., Detroit, MI 48221; (313) 3424066; fax: (313) 342-6816; e-mail: info@pimeusa.org; website: http://www.pimeusa.org. See ad on page 104. Code #134. Presentation Brothers (F.P.M.) The Presentation Brothers are an international Roman Catholic Congregation of religious brothers working in several countries. We are men who believe that Jesus Christ is calling us to serve him and his people in a radical way. We live our baptismal promises through sharing all that we earn and by devoting our lives to the service of people. We take three vows: chastity, poverty, and obedience and we live together in small groups called communities where we support one another and live out this challenging lifestyle. We are teachers, social workers, pastoral workers, chaplains. Regardless of the work we do, it is all “Ad Majorem Die Gloriam”--for the greater glory of God. Today we work in Ghana, Nigeria, West Indies (St. Lucia and Grenada), USA, Canada, Ireland, England, Slovakia, and Geneva. Vocation Director, 1602 Pettis Blvd., Kissimmee, FL 34741; (407) 8462033; e-mail: brofromknox@yahoo.com; website: http://www. presentationbrothers.com. See ad on page 70. Code #115. Priests of the Sacred Heart (S.C.J.) We are an apostolic international congregation of Brothers, Deacons, and Priests inspired by the mystery of God’s love expressed in the heart of Christ. Fr. Leo John Dehon, our founder, was convinced that the best way to respond to our experience of God’s love is by reaching out to those around us and helping them to experience that same love in their own lives. This often means addressing unjust situations and circumstances that prevent people from reaching their full potential. Much of our work in the U.S. is with the poor and working class. Foreign missions are available. We prefer candidates 18-40 (will consider to age 45) with religious and/or social involvement, a solid academic background, and appropriate work history. Vocation Director, P.O. Box 206, Hales Corners, WI 53130-0206; toll free (800) 609-5559; fax: (414) 529-3377; website: http://www.scjvocation.org. See ad on page 100. Code #116.

The Redemptorists (C.Ss.R.) [Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer] The Redemptorists are a community of apostolic men—followers of Jesus Christ the Redeemer and disciples of St. Alphonsus Liguori. As a religious congregation of priests and brothers, our mission is to proclaim the Good News of plentiful redemption to the poor and most abandoned. Our work in parishes, retreat houses, parish missions, and foreign countries, as well as special apostolates, e.g. migrants, prisoners, and young adults, serves as pathways for Christ’s love. Like the apostles we live and work together; we combine our prayers and deliberations, our labors and sufferings, our successes and failures, and our talents and material goods in service to the Gospel. For more information, visit our website: http://www. redemptorists.com or contact the Vocation office: Fr. Richard S. Bennett, C. Ss.R.; e-mail: richard859@aol.com; telephone: (718) 321-1394. See ad on page 41. Code #135.

The Salesians of Don Bosco (S.D.B.) For over 150 years under the teachings of St. John Bosco, Salesian Brothers and Priests have been inspiring young people to live lives of faith. We are looking for men who want to dedicate their whole life to Christ, the church, and the young. As a Salesian priest or brother you will evangelize and achieve sanctity by accompanying youth toward holiness. Salesians serve in various capacities: youth ministers, teachers, coaches, technical instructors, guidance counselors, and friends to the young. We live in community and work together in a common mission. In the United States,

Enter #307 at VocationMatch.com Salesians operate 25 youth oriented parishes, 10 high schools, seven boys and girls clubs, and three retreat houses. Fr. Steve Ryan, S.D.B., Salesian Vocation Office, 315 Self Place, South Orange, NJ 07079; (973) 761-0201; e-mail: salvoc@aol.com; website: http://www.salesianvocation.com or Fr. Chris Woerz, S.D.B., Office of Vocation Office, P.O. Box 1639, Rosemead, CA 91770; (626) 280-8622; e-mail: vocation@salesianym.org; website: http://www.salesianym.org. See ad on page 19. Code #117.

Men’s communities

Pallottines (S.A.C.) [The Society of the Catholic Apostolate] Founded by St. Vincent Pallotti in 1835, serves as an active apostolic community within the mission of the Church of the United States. We are more than 2,400 priests and brothers engaged in many apostolates, which include parish ministry, education, prison ministry, retreat work, youth ministry, lay ministry formation, and hospital and military chaplaincies. Pope John Paul II spoke of the Pallottines as “...a bridge between the clergy and laity in order to give life again to that apostolate which unites the faithful to the work of evangelization and sanctification....” Consider this a personal invitation to take a serious look at becoming a Pallottine. If you have felt a ‘Yes’ within yourself to get more information, we invite you to contact either of our vocation offices: Immaculate Conception Province (Eastern United States): 1-800-APOSTLE; website: http://www.sacapostles.org; e-mail: Vocation@sacapostles.org; or mail Vocation Director, Pallottine Vocation Office, 5552 Route 70, Pennsauken, NJ 08109. Mother of God Province (Midwestern United States): (414) 259-0688 ext. 155; website: http://www.pallottines.org; e-mail: vocations@pallotti.net; or mail Pallottine Vocation Director, 5424 W. Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53208. See ad on page 117. Code #239.

Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Puerto Rico, and Los Angeles, We have schools, parishes, Spanish ministries, foreign missions, a summer mission in Mexico, and a school and Appalachian Mission in eastern Kentucky. Rev. David Powers, Sch.P., Vocation Director, 99 Martha’s Vineyard, Prestonsburg, KY 41653; (610) 564-8893; e-mail: dariff@hotmail.com; website: http://www. piaristusa.org. Code #195.

Salvatorians (S.D.S.) [Society of the Divine Savior] The Salvatorians were founded to use “any means which the Love of Christ inspires” to bring the Gospel to the world. We are multi-cultural and fully embrace the Spirit of Vatican II. Our members collaborate closely with the Salvatorian Sisters, the Lay Salvatorians, and the people we serve. We are involved in parishes, foreign missions, education, hospital chaplaincies, youth ministry, counseling, campus ministry, and specialized ministries. Our members serve in the Archdioceses of Milwaukee, Portland, and Washington and in the Dioceses of Bismarck, Birmingham, Green Bay, Harrisburg, LaCrosse, Nashville, Oakland, Orlando, Phoenix, St. Cloud, Sacramento, Savannah, and Tucson. American Salvatorians are also serving in Tanzania, East Africa. Contact: Fr. Scott Jones, S.D.S., 1735 N. Hi-Mount Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53208-1720; (414) 258-1735 ext. 104; e-mail: Scott@salvatorians.com; website: http://www.salvatorians.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 59. Code #145. Servants of Charity (S.C.) Our priests and brothers strive to imitate Jesus, the Good Samaritan, by bringing the Father’s healing love to the suffering in body and spirit. Founded by Blessed Louis Guanella in 1908, we are now represented in 19 countries. Our Province (United States, Philippines, and India) provides “Bread and Lord” especially to people with developmental disabilities as well as serving abandoned children, the elderly, children in need, and parishes. The Servants of Charity also have a ministry known as the Pious Union of St. Joseph, an association of the faithful praying for the suffering and dying. We seek men hungry to live a life of personal love of God expressed in prayer, community life, simplicity, hospitality, compassion toward the suffering, and in communion with the teaching and tradition of the Catholic Church in its entirety. We offer a life of “Prayer and Suffering” lived within a community of sinners who want to be saints. Fr. Dennis M. Weber, S.C., 1795

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Society of Mary

and life to the gospel of Jesus Christ in its totality through a variety of ministries. These include parish, health care, education, street children, people with handicaps, refugee relief, and village development ministries. S.M.A. Vocation Director: Deacon Keith McKnight, S.M.A., 23 Bliss Avenue, Tenafly, NJ 07670; toll free, (888) 250-4333 or (201) 567-0277; e-mail: deaconkm@smafathers.org; website: http://www.smafathers. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 44. Code #136. Society of Mary (S.M.) (See Marist Fathers and Brothers)

Called by Mary To live, to pray, and to serve the Church and the world In the community which bears her name

Men’s coMMunities

The MarisTs

U.s. Province

maristsociety.org For more information, contact: The VocaTion DirecTor MarisT FaThers anD BroThers 2335 Warring sT., Berkeley, ca 94704 Toll Free: 866-298-3715, or 510-486-1232 eMail: maristvocations@sbcglobal.net

enter #107 at VocationMatch.com South Sproul Road, Springfield, PA 19064; (610) 328-3406; e-mail: servantsofcharity@comcast.net; website: http://www. servantsofcharity.org. See ad on page 74. Code #118. Servants of Mary, Friars (O.S.M.) Founded in 1233, we bring the compassionate presence of Christ to the world through lives lived in community, serving the needs of others in a variety of ministries, while looking to Mary as the example of life and service. The Servite Friars, together with Servite religious sisters, cloistered nuns, and Servite lay family, form an international community of over 15,000 members. For more information on the Servite Friars please contact the Vocation Director Bro. Arnaldo Sánchez, O.S.M., 3121 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60612-2729; (773) 533-0361 ext. 221; e-mail: ArnaldoSanchez@servitesusa.org; website: http://www.servite.org. See ad on page 74. Code #159. Servants of the Paraclete (s.P.) We are a religious congregation of priests and brothers who dedicate our lives to Christ by assisting fellow priests and brothers who are in need of psychological, spiritual, and vocational support. Founded in 1947 by Fr. Gerald Fitzgerald, s.P. our Congregation has helped more than 4,000 clergy through residential programs based on Eucharistic adoration, psychological and spiritual counseling, fraternal life in common, and fidelity to the Church. Currently this ministry is being carried out in the USA and the Philippines. If you are interested in finding out more about the Servants of the Paraclete, please contact: USA: Rev. Philip Taylor, s.P., (636) 274-5226, ext. 303; e-mail: philiptsp2003@ yahoo.com; S.E. Asia: Rev. Benedict Livingstone, s.P., e-mail: benedictl@yahoo.com; website: http://www.theservants.org. You will receive a warm welcome. Servants of the Paraclete, 6476 Eime Road, Dittmer, MO 63023. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 70. Code #300. Society of African Missions (S.M.A.) We are an international community of 1,200 missionaries: priests, brothers, and laity. Our ministry is among the different peoples of Africa and those of African descent. At this time there is not a program for brothers in the United States. We come from Africa, Argentina, Europe, India, the Philippines, and North America. With over 150 years of missionary service, we strive to witness by word

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Society of St. Paul The Society of St. Paul is an international congregation of priests and brothers founded by Blessed James Alberione for the sole purpose of bringing Christ to the world today through the means of communication. The priests and brothers share a common life style and profess the vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and fidelity to the Pope. Fortified by an intense spiritual life consisting of daily meditation, mass, recitation of the liturgy of the hours and one hour adoration before the Blessed Sacrament as well as personal prayer so that by living Christ in their lives they may give Christ to others through their apostolate. Paulines in imitation of St. Paul, who preached and wrote about Jesus Christ, are on fire to spread the good news of Jesus Christ in the most rapid and far reaching ways. Through books, magazines, tapes, videos, CD’s, radio, television and the Internet, Christ is preached to millions of people around the world. For information write or call: Society of St. Paul, Vocation Office, 2187 Victory Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10314; (718) 982-5709; e-mail: Vocation@stpauls.us; website: http://www.vocationoffice.org. Code #149. Somascan Fathers and Brothers (C.R.S.) The Somascan Fathers and Brothers minister at the following facilities: Pine Haven Boys Center, a residential treatment center for disadvantaged boys ages 7-15 in Allenstown, NH; Assumption Catholic Church and Christ the King Catholic Church in Houston, TX. Both parishes have a strong presence of immigrants from Latin America. Also in Houston, Somascan Hall, the House of Formation next to the Christ the King Church. All vocation inquiries should be addressed to Fr. Italo Dell’Oro, CRS, Vocation Director: (713) 880-8243; e-mail: somascans@yahoo.com. For more information please visit: http://www.somascans.org. See ad on page 15. Code #120. Spiritans (C.S.Sp.) [Congregation of the Holy Spirit] For over three centuries Spiritans have crisscrossed the globe—living particularly among people who are suffering, being a pastoral presence and advocate for justice, and teaching the message of the Gospel. In parishes, schools, and missions we go where there is a need, bearing God’s Spirit of joy and hope. Today Spiritan Priests and Brothers are over 3,000 strong, an international congregation on an adventure of the Spirit. We are committed to the poor, dedicated to justice, and open to all cultures, and grounded in community and prayer. Vocation Office, Bro. Michael E. Suazo, C.S.Sp., Congregation of the Holy Spirit, USA, West, 1700 W. Alabama St., Houston, TX 77098-2808; (713) 522-2882 or (832) 656-4669; e-mail: vocations@duq.edu or suazocssp@aol.com; website: www.spiritans.org. See ad on page 81. Code #164.

Trappist Cistercian Monks (O.C.S.O.) The monastery is located in the wooded hills and hollows of southwest Missouri. This location is ideal for prayer but makes it difficult for us to earn our living, so we have a fruitcake industry. Our call is to leave all and follow Christ on a desert journey in a community of brothers. Our guide is the Benedictine monastic way in the contemplative tradition of St. Bernard of Clairvaux and Thomas Merton. Our task is to glorify God and to build up the body of Christ by a life of intercessory prayer and sacrifice. We have room for brothers and priests, and are flexible regarding age and education. Br. Francis Flaherty, O.C.S.O., Assumption Abbey, RR5, Box 1056, Ava, MO 65608; (417) 683-5110; e-mail: avavocations@ hughes.net; website: http://www.assumptionabbey.org. See ad on page 138. Code #121. Trinitarians (O.SS.T.) Founded in 1198 through the vision of St. John DeMatha, the Trinitarian priests and brothers bring the redemptive love of Jesus to those they serve. The earliest Trinitarians, through every possible means available, sought freedom for those held captive for their faith. Through their work for the poor, those who suffer religious persecution, and in parishes, schools, missions, prisons, and hospitals, they strive for the freedom of all people. Trinitarians live in small, intimate communities and enjoy common prayer. Their purpose in loving is freedom and dignity. They number 75 members in the United States and more than 700 worldwide. Candidates, ages 18-40, with a minimum of a high school diploma, are considered. Vocation Director, P.O. Box 5719, Baltimore, MD 21282-0719; (800) 525-3554 or (410) 484-2250; e-mail: voca-

tions@trinitarians.org; website: http://www.trinitarians.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 39. Code #122.

U.S. Army Chaplain Corps FOR GOD AND COUNTRY. Fulfill the call of your faith—and strengthen the most courageous and committed men and women of our nation as a U.S. Army Chaplain. Share their lives and guide their hearts as a minister of presence, immersed in the heart and soul of the Soldier, sharing their lives and guiding their hearts as the moral compass of the command. You’ll care for their families as well, as a pillar of support when and where it is needed most; guiding weddings, funerals, marriage counseling, and baptisms. This unique opportunity offers you a depth of personal involvement and fulfillment few endeavors can. For more information about answering the call as an Army Chaplain, contact 1-888-238-8287 or visit us on the web at http://info.goarmy. com/chaplain/b569. See ad on page 127. Code #246.

Viatorians (Clerics of St. Viator) Viatorians are religious priests, brothers, and lay associates sent by the Catholic Church to teach the faith and proclaim Jesus Christ as Gospel. In parishes, schools, and a variety of ministries, Viatorians work with Christian communities to live, deepen, and celebrate faith. A priest of the Archdiocese of Lyons, France, Father Louis Querbes founded the Viatorians in 1831 as an association of lay and religious school teachers to catechize and serve as animators of the liturgy in rural French parishes. As patron saint of the congregation, Father Querbes chose Saint Viator, a young fourth century catechist-lector of the cathedral church of Lyons. Today approximately 600 religious and nearly 300 lay men and women serve the church in 16 countries. Viatorians of the Province of Chicago minister primarily in Illinois and Nevada in the United States, in Colombia, South America and in Belize, Central America. Contact Daniel J. Lydon, 1212 East Euclid Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60004; e-mail: dlydon@ viatorians.com; website: http://www.viatorians.com. See ad on page 122. Code #094. Vincentian Priests and Brothers [Congregation of the Mission (V.C.)] Confronted by the sickness of France in the 1600’s and their spiritual weariness caused by an uneducated clergy in that same period, St. Vincent de Paul committed his life to championing the needs of the poor. Almost 400 years after founding the Vincentians in 1625, his community of priests and brothers continue to spread God’s message of hope to the poor, and to train priests and laity in service to the poor in 53 international provinces on five continents. If you have a desire to be a missionary at home and/or abroad, we urge you to experience the Vincentian challenge! Contact us: 1-800-DePaul-1; website: http://www.vincentian.org. Why not you? Why not now? See ad on page 112. Code #178.

Xaverian Brothers (C.F.X.) [Congregation of the Brothers of St. Francis Xavier] The Xaverian Brothers are vowed laymen dedicated to following Jesus through lives of prayer, community, and service. Inspired by the vision of Theodore James Ryken, our Founder, and by the zeal of Francis Xavier, we strive to live lives rooted in the Good News of God’s saving love for all people. Blending a life of contemplation and action, we are attentive to the call of God’s Spirit to be BROTHERS to the poor and marginalized people in North and South America, Europe, and Africa. Volunteers also share in the life and works of the Brothers in these regions. Vocation/Volunteer Minister: Br. Jim Connolly, C.F.X., 4409 Frederick Ave., Baltimore, MD 21229; e-mail: jconnolly@xaverianbrothers.org; website: http://www. xaverianbrothers.org. See ad on page 135. Code #198. Xaverian Missionaries (S.X.) Serving in 18 countries around the world, the Xaverian Missionaries are an international, multicultural community of over 1,000 priests, brothers, and sisters. In the spirit of our founder Blessed Guido M. Conforti we commit ourselves to live and witness to the Good News of Jesus—the greatest gift we can share with the world—in poverty, chastity, and obedience. We fulfill this mission in and through community. Moved by our passion for Christ and for humanity our mission is directed to non-Christians and among them we choose to work with the poor. It is our desire that our lives and our ministries may always reflect the love of Christ. Through empowerment of local communities, education, inter-religious dialogue, health care, social development, justice and peace, we facilitate the transformation of our world into the “ONE FAMILY” our Founder dreamed. Contact: Fr. Joe Matteucig, sx, 101 Summer Street, Holliston, MA 01746; (508) 429-2144; e-mail: pino.ma@gmail.com; website: http://www.xaviermissionaries. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 118. Code #137.

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woMen’s reliGious coMMunities directory A

Adorers of the Blood of Christ (A.S.C.) The Adorers of the Blood of Christ are courageous, confident, and committed women and we invite you to join us. As adorer-apostles we are called to engage in the ongoing process of transforming the world into “that beautiful order of things which the great Son of God came to establish in His blood,” as our foundress, St. Maria De Mattias, put it. The Adorers of the Blood of Christ are consecrated to Jesus’ redeeming love, and we strive to be His reconciling presence in our wounded world. We are a community of 325+ religious women throughout the United States and four foreign nations performing the healing ministries of education, environmental work, health care, pastoral work, social justice, and spiritual development. Our international congregation serves in 19 countries on all the inhabited continents. Are you a courageous, confident, committed woman? You can make a difference as an Adorer of the Blood of Christ. For more information, log onto www.adorers.org or contact Sr. Jan Lane at 1-877-236-7377 ext. 1455 (ADORERS) or lanej@ adorers.org See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 67. Code #001.

Augustinian Nuns (O.S.A.) “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless, until they rest in you.” These words of Saint Augustine speak to the heart of human experience as profoundly today as they did in the Third century. We are a contemplative monastic community of women who follow the tradition and Rule of Saint Augustine. Through our life in community and our ministry of prayer we give witness to the presence and love of God in our world. Our work is carried out within the monastery and through our prayer we embrace the world and Church universal. A hunger for God, a passion for life, a compassionate love for our sisters and brothers, and the capacity for joy and an appreciation of beauty are all traits of an Augustinian spirituality. If you are a single women drawn to give yourself to God in a life of prayer we invite you to contact us: Sr. Mary Grace, O.S.A., Mother of Good Counsel Monastery, 440 N. Marley Road, New Lenox, IL 60451; (815) 463-9662; e-mail: sr.marygrace@sbcglobal. net; website: http://www.augustiniannuns.com. See ad on page 150. Code #161.

Benedictine Sisters/A.B.F.C. (American Benedictine Formation Conference) Each monastic community, though observing the Rule of Benedict, is independent and self-governing. Community is the central ministry of Benedictine monasteries. We share our lives, our prayer, and our work as a way of blessing the world. This common life is meant to be a sign that “strangers can live together in love (AIM).” Our monastic profession of obedience, stability, and fidelity to the monastic way of life, binds us to God, to the Church, and to one another.

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Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Atchison, KS—Mount St. Scholastica We are a monastic community rooted in the common life, prayer, and ministry to God’s people. Priority is given to times of common prayer throughout the day as we gather for Liturgy of the Hours. Flowing out of our monastic living, our ministries focus on empowering women, particularly the young, the poor, and those most in need. Our ministries include a spirituality center, a music conservatory, and women’s centers in Atchison and Kansas City. Our Sisters also work in the areas of counseling, health care, parish ministry, and education at all levels. We invite women, ages 20-40, who wish to visit or inquire for more information to contact: Sr. Suzanne Fitzmaurice, O.S.B., 801 South 8th Street, Atchison, KS 66002-2778; (913) 360-6219; e-mail: vocation@mountosb.org; website: http://www.mountosb.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #080. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Beech Grove, IN—Our Lady of Grace Monastery We are monastic women who choose to seek God in community. If you feel you have a religious vocation to serve the people of God in community, call us at (317) 787-3287, ext. 3032. As Sisters of St. Benedict, we follow a monastic way of life. Prayer and community come first in our lives. We live the Benedictine tradition of seeking God through prayer, work, and hospitality. We are engaged in the work of God through various ministries. We also serve one another by living in a community characterized by warmth, honesty, vitality, and joy. We welcome single, Catholic women, ages 2045, who are experiencing a call from God; who desire to live the Gospel; and who have a capacity to be generous and compassionate. Find us at http://www.benedictine. com and at http://www.beechgroveosb.blogspot.com. Vocation Director: Sr. Jennifer Mechtild Horner, OSB, 1402 Southern Avenue, Beech Grove, IN 46107; e-mail: jennifermechtild@benedictine.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page. 83 Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Bismarck, ND—Annunciation Monastery We are a community of 60 monastic women who seek God and care for God’s people. Our monastery is nestled atop a bluff overlooking the scenic Missouri River. We value common prayer, the Eucharist, and time alone with God. We value community life and care for and support one another. Women of faith, we make a vital impact on the lives of others through our ministries and prayer. As individuals we do whatever work best suits our talents; most of us are involved in our sponsored ministries of St. Alexius Medical Center, University of Mary, and our Benedictine hospitality center. We are vibrant, creative leaders in our area. We invite you to explore joining us in an incredible journey. Sr. Gerald Wald, O.S.B., 7520 University Drive, Bismarck, ND 58504-9653; (701) 255-1520; e-mail: vocations@ annunciationmonastery.org; website: http://www. annunciationmonastery.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Boerne, TX—St. Scholastica Monastery We are a congregation of 18 Sisters who are called to seek God in prayer and community.

We do so by living and working together and following the Rule of St. Benedict. We gather together three times a day for communal prayer. We sponsor two ministries: Omega Retreat Center and our Health and Wholeness Center which is a senior activity center. We ministry on the border of Texas and Mexico where we are able to serve those in need on both sides of the border and provide hospitality and educational opportunities to various mission groups. Sisters serve in various ministries: spiritual direction, retreat and parish work, pastoral care, education, corporate responsibility, health care, outreach to those in need, and internal ministries. Vocation Director, Sr. Kathleen Higgins, O.S.B., 416 W. Highland Dr., Boerne, TX 78006; (830) 816-8504; e-mail: khiggins@ ktc.com; website: http://www.boernebenedictines.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.)—Bristow, VA The Benedictine Sisters of Virginia are a community of 37 women living the monastic way of life. Each sister seeks God and in the process finds herself, discovers her gifts, deepens her prayer, forms community, serves God’s people, and makes a lifetime commitment. Benedictine spirituality forms a rich tapestry of community, prayer, and ministry. We have several corporate ministries that address a variety of needs in the local church and community: education, homelessness, retreats and pastoral programs, counseling, adult literacy and hospitality. Individual sisters engage in ministries which are expressive of their gifts. St. Benedict Monastery is located 35 miles west of Washington, D.C., near Manassas, Virginia. We invite women interested in exploring our life to visit us, attend a Monastic Discernment Weekend, or to apply for the Live-In Program. Contact: Sr. Vicki Ix, O.S.B., Saint Benedict Monastery, 9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow, VA 20136-1217; (703) 298-5337; e-mail: vocations@ osbva.org; website: http://www.osbva.org; vocation blog: http://www.monasticsonajourney.blogspot.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #321. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.)—Chicago, IL We are Benedictine women called to seek God in prayer and community, serving where there is need. We sponsor an academy for young women and serve the church and society in a variety of ways. We work in education, social service, pastoral ministry, spiritual development, and health care. We minister to the elderly, the homeless, the mentally ill, and those transitioning out of prison, always in a spirit of ecumenism. We stand together in our efforts to abolish the death penalty and to promote peace and justice. Underlying all we do is the desire to live the Gospel command to love God and neighbor. Women 21-50 who wish to seek God in an active monastic community by living a balanced life of prayer and work are invited to contact us. Sr. Benita Coffey, O.S.B., Vocation Minister, 7430 N. Ridge Boulevard, Chicago, IL 60645; (773) 764-2413, ext. 327; e-mail: vocation@osbchicago. org. Visit us at our website: http://www.osbchicago.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #004.

woMen’s coMMunities sarch woMen’s coMMunities

Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (A.S.C.J.) The Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus were founded in Viareggio, Italy, in 1894 by Clelia Merloni. Clelia propelled the life of the Apostles into the heart of the Church by dedicating the Congregation to the loving Heart of Jesus. The motto of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: The Love of Christ Impels us, summarizes the moving force of their lives. Apostles spread devotion to the Sacred Heart by lives of compassion and holiness. As consecrated women of the Church, they imitate the life of Christ in the world today through education, health care, pastoral ministry, social services, human development, and missionary activity. An international Congregation, they serve in Italy, Albania, Switzerland, Chile, Mexico, Benin, Mozambique, Taiwan, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, the Philippines, and the United States. Sr. Susan Marie Krupp, Mount Sacred Heart Provincialate, 295 Benham Street, Hamden, CT 06514-2801; (314) 620-8847; e-mail: vocations@ascjus. org; Congregation website: http://www.ascjus.org. See ad on page 85. Code #267.

A balanced, contemplative life, Benedictine spirituality yields meaningful ministry that addresses the needs of the modern world, e.g. education, health care, pastoral ministry, social work, spiritual direction, missionary activity. Each monastery is unique in size, geographic location, and in the distribution of God’s gifts. Common to us all, is the pursuit of peace and the search for God. Sr. Roberta Bussan, O.S.B., Vision 2010 Coordinator. Website: http://www.abfconline.org/sisters. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #004.

Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Colorado Springs, CO—Benet Hill We are a monastic community of 37 members committed to Gospel as lived out in the Rule of St. Benedict which emphasizes seeking God. We strive to seek God through community in hospitality, praise of God in liturgy, and daily communal prayer, and serve God’s people in ministry according to each Sister’s giftedness to meet the needs of the church and society in a changing culture, especially the needs of women. Commitment to justice issues, global concerns, peace and nonviolence calls us to work in a variety of ministries such as scripture studies, spiritual direction, retreats, work with the elderly, the young, the sick, the poor and the marginalized. We currently serve in Colorado, New Mexico, and Jamaica.

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Do everything out of love for God, with God in order to come to God

FRANCISCAN SISTERS OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA 1388 PRIOR AVENUE SOUTH ST. PAUL, MN 55116-2659 maryldolezal@yahoo.com

www.askmotherrose.org Enter #031 at VocationMatch.com We invite women over the age of 21 to consider exploring our Benedictine way of life as you discern your call from God to follow the gospel. Contact us for more information on criteria for entrance. Sr. Mary Colleen Schwarz, O.S.B.; 3190 Benet Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80921; (719) 633-0655; e-mail: goldfinchosb@hotmail.com; or Sr. Clare Carr, O.S.B., (303) 756-7349; e-mail: ccarr10@ hotmail.com; website: http://www.benethillmonastery. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 83, 111. Code #270. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Cottonwood, ID—Monastery of St. Gertrude Put Down Roots, join us as we minister to the world through our way of life, seeking God through prayer, community, and service. In a spirit of healing hospitality, grateful simplicity, and creative peacemaking, we invite you to serve with us at the Monastery, in the Diocese of Boise and throughout the Northwest in our ministries of education, health care, spirituality, and more. Take a chance and call us now. Vocation Director: Sr. Janet M. Barnard, O.S.B., 465 Keuterville Road, Cottonwood, ID 83522; (208) 962-5024; e-mail: vocation@ stgertrudes.org; website: http://www.StGertrudes.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Covington, KY—St. Walburg Monastery We are a Benedictine community of monastic women who celebrate the presence of Jesus Christ in community, prayer and work. The Liturgy of the Hours, Eucharist, personal prayer, and reading are the foundations of our spirituality. Our common search for God enables us as community to create spaces of peace and justice. We work as church ministers serving old and young, sick and poor, strangers and guests. We are spiritual and retreat directors, teachers, social workers, counselors, nurses, and administrators in Kentucky, Ohio, and Colorado. We sponsor Villa Madonna Academy, a Montessori school, and a Spirituality Center. Women who want to strengthen their faith and discern a call to serve God are welcome to spend time with the community.

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Contact: Sr. Cathy Bauer, O.S.B., 2500 Amsterdam Road, Covington, Kentucky 41017; (859) 331-6324; e-mail: bauerosb@yahoo.com; website: http//www.stwalburg.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Crookston, MN—Mount St. Benedict Monastery We are monastic women committed to living the Gospel and the Rule of Saint Benedict. We strive for awareness of God through prayer, service, and reverence for all creation in a spirit of peace and joy. Our core values are community, hospitality, prayer, and just peace. We discern our works according to the needs of the times and the gifts of the sisters. At present we serve in Minnesota and Texas as educators, spiritual directors, pastoral ministers, health care providers, musicians, and artists. Some sisters work directly with the poor. We invite women, single or single-again, ages 20-50, who desire a monastic lifestyle to contact our Vocation Director, Sr. Anne DeMers, O.S.B., 620 Summit Avenue, Crookston, MN 56716-2799; (218) 281-3441; e-mail: ademers@msb. net; website: http://www.msb.net. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 13, 83. Code #221. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Cullman, AL—Sacred Heart Monastery How can my life make a difference? What gives real meaning to life? How can I best respond to God’s love for me? If these are your questions, we invite you to visit and experience how we seek God by a life of balance, prayer and work, community life, and solitude according to the Rule of Saint Benedict. Rooted in this heritage, we share God’s gifts in different ministries, responding to the needs of the Church in this mission area. Located in the heart of North Alabama, we have been reaching out in love and service to God’s people for over 100 years. We can’t answer your questions for you, but we will help you discern your best response to God’s loving call. Vocation Director: Sr. Magdalena Craig, O.S.B.; 916 Convent Rd., NE, Cullman, AL 35055; (256) 734-2199; email: vocations@shmon.org; website: http://www.shmon. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #280. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Duluth, MN—St. Scholastica Monastery We are Benedictine monastic women who seek God together in Community. Our lives are centered around the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours, grounded in liturgical and personal prayer, in Lectio Divina (holy reading), with time for silence and solitude, for ministry, study, and leisure. Our core monastic values of hospitality and stewardship, peace and justice, stability and attentive listening, together with the Gospel and the Rule of St. Benedict, guide our communal life and our ministries. We invite women to join us in permanent vowed membership or to experience monastic life by living with us for six months to a year or longer in our volunteer residential Benedictine Associate program. For more information, to arrange a visit, or for a copy of our film “Sing a New Song,” contact Sr. Mary Catherine Shambour, O.S.B., 1001 Kenwood Avenue, Duluth, MN 55811-2300; (218) 723-6646; e-mail: mcshambour@ duluthosb.org; website: http://www.duluthbenedictines. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 23, 83. Code #282. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Eau Claire, WI—St. Bede Monastery We, the Sisters of Saint Bede Monastery in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, value liturgical prayer and the bonds of community. We are challenged and supported in our monastic profession to seek God before all else. Through various ministries we encourage the particular gifts and skills of each sister to be used for the common good of Church and community. We welcome others who wish to experience the graces of life in common. Their future will rest on a 1500 year monastic tradition. This inheritance will bless them as they live out the spirit of Saints Benedict and Scholastica in the 21st century. Vocation contact: Sister Marjorie Hill, O.S.B., P.O. Box 66,

Eau Claire, WI 54702; (715) 834-3176; e-mail: vocation@ saintbede.org; website: http://www.saintbede.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.)—Elizabeth, NJ We are monastic women who seek God in community through Gospel values and the Rule of Benedict. We live out our monastic conversion supported by Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours, Lectio Divina, and presence to one another. In active lives balanced with contemplation, we witness to Jesus Christ through community, hospitality, and service in education, health care, and spirituality. We welcome responses from single women who have some college or work experience and desire to seek God within a community life that overflows into prayer and ministry. Sr. Mariette Therese, O.S.B., Saint Walburga Monastery, 851 North Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07208; (908) 352-4278, x. 274; e-mail: srmariette@aol.com; website: http://www.catholicforum. com/bensisnj. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Erie, PA—Mount Saint Benedict Do you long for a deeper relationship with Jesus? Are you willing to serve those who have less? Do you want to pray among those who share your faith and values? Our challenge is to live the Rule of Saint Benedict today; to pray together, to be a witness of our Catholic faith; to celebrate God’s constant love. We invite you to take a look, to visit us, to volunteer in our ministries, to learn more about the Benedictine Sisters of Erie. Explore our website ErieBenedictines.org. We extend a special welcome to women ages 21-45. Contact Sr. Janet Goetz, O.S.B., 6101 East Lake Rd., Erie, PA 16511; (814) 8990614 ext. 2424; e-mail: vocations@mtstbenedict.org; website: http://www.eriebenedictines.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #310. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Ferdinand, IN—Monastery Immaculate Conception We are monastic women seeking God through the Benedictine tradition of community life, prayer, hospitality, and service to others. By our life and work, we commit ourselves to be a presence of peace as we join our sisters and brothers in the common search for God. We serve in education, parish ministry, social services, health care, retreat and spiritual direction, and mission work. We do not identify ourselves with one specific ministry; rather we respect each individual’s gifts as given by God. A college education is helpful but not required. We have 169 members, 6 of whom are in initial formation. We encourage women, ages 18-40, who earnestly seek God and want to live a balanced life of prayer and work to inquire about our monastic lifestyle. Sr. Agnes Marie Dauby or Sr. Michelle Sinkhorn, 802 East 10th Street, Ferdinand, IN 47532-9239; (800) 738-9999; e-mail: vocation@thedome.org; website: http://www.thedome.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 83, 123. Code #069. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Fort Smith, AR—St. Scholastica Monastery We are monastic women living the Benedictine tradition of seeking God in community through prayer, work, hospitality, and leisure. Our community membership is 63. We are engaged in the work of God through education, pastoral care, pastoral ministry in parishes, prison ministry, social services, social awareness, counseling, retreat work, and spiritual direction. We welcome and encourage women ages 18-45 who are seeking to live a balanced life of prayer and personal transformation, who hunger for meaning in life, and who have the desire to become part of our future by sharing the power of the Gospel, to free people for a fully human life, and create a community of love and peace. Vocation Director: Sr. Kimberly Prohaska, O.S.B., P.O. Box 3489, Fort Smith, AR 72913; (479) 783-4147; e-mail: vocationdirector@ stscho.org; website: http://www.stscho.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 83, 92. Code #341.

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Lisle, IL—Sacred Heart Monastery Directed by the Gospel and the spirit of the Rule of Benedict, our mission is based on a commitment to use our time, talents, and resources to spread the Good News. Our primary ministry is Hospitality to those in our expanding health care facility, education, nursing, pastoral ministry, retreat work, social concerns and domestic services. We sponsor Daybreak of Lisle. Lectio Divina (a form of praying with scripture) and Centering Prayer are ways we foster spiritual growth for our health care community. In our monastic lifestyle we try to balance community with ministry. Interested? Contact us for further details. Vocation Director: Sister Christine Kouba, O.S.B., 1910 Maple Avenue, Lisle, IL 60532-2164; (630) 725-6000; e-mail: ckouba@shmlisle.org; website: http://www.shmlisle.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #004.

Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Mt. Angel, OR—Queen of Angels Monastery We are women responding to the call to live community according to the Gospel and the Rule of Saint Benedict. Together we seek God in a balanced life of prayer and work, simplicity, hospitality, and service. While our vow of stability leads us to special care of the people in our local area, we are deeply conscious of sharing the universal mission of the Church. Our community ministries include a retreat and renewal center and a homeless shelter. Our 40 members serve in a variety of individual ministries, including teaching, pastoral care, health care, spiritual direction, and parish work. We encourage women who are interested in our monastic way of life to visit and explore the possibilities of Benedictine life. Vocation Director: Sr. Marietta Schindler, O.S.B., 840 South Main Street, Mt. Angel, OR 97362; (503) 845-6141; e-mail: smarietta@ juno.com; website: http://www.benedictine-srs.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 83, 87. Code #202. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Ogden, UT—Mount Benedict Monastery We are a monastic community of Benedictine women committed to witness to gospel values among each other, in the church, and to all God’s people. Together we seek God through our community lifestyle, our prayer, and our service under the Rule of Saint Benedict. Our ministries both inside and outside the monastery, vary according to the unique gifts of each sister. These include: parish ministry, health care, chaplaincy, retreat work, spiritual direction, RCIA, liturgical music. Our life is a balance of prayer, work and leisure. We welcome women who wish to visit to contact the Vocation Director, 6000 South 1075 East, Ogden, UT 84405; (801) 479-6030; e-mail: vocations@mbmutah. org; website: http://www.mbmutah.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #004.

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Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Rapid City, SD—St. Martin Monastery St. Martin Monastery is located in the beautiful Black Hills of western South Dakota. We are a community of 33 women who are striving to support one another as we live out our Baptismal call. Our prayer, Lectio Divina, and the Liturgy of the Hours, as well as our community life are a source of strength from which all our ministries flow. If you are seeking God’s will, have a spirit of adventure and creativity, with a desire to serve, we invite you to come and spend some time with us. As Benedictines our main task is to seek God in all things. We strive to do this as we reach out to share with others our Benedictine values of balanced lifestyle, peace, silence, and prayer. Vocation Director: Sr. Margaret Hinker, O.S.B., 2110-C St. Martin Drive, Rapid City, SD 57702-9660; (605) 343-8011; fax: (605) 399-2723; e-mail: marg@blackhillsbenedictine.com; website: http://www. blackhillsbenedictine.com. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Richardton, ND—Sacred Heart Monastery The Benedictine Sisters of Richardton were founded in 1910 to respond to the needs of the church in rural North Dakota. Our spirituality, community life, and ministry are nourished by daily Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours, contemplative prayer, and personal devotions such as rosary, stations of the cross, novenas, holy hours, and adoration. We value the common life based on the Rule of Benedict and the monastic promises of obedience, stability, and fidelity to the monastic life. We serve the Church though education, health care, pastoral care, and retreat ministry, using the gifts of each Sister. Our contemplative environment on the prairie surrounds our monastery with the peaceful beauty of God’s creation. Vocation Director, P.O. Box 364, Richardton, ND 58652; (701) 974-2121; e-mail: vocations@sacredheartmonastery.com; website: http:// www.sacredheartmonastery.com. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #312. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Ridgely, MD—St. Gertrude Monastery We, the Benedictine Sisters in Ridgely, MD, respond to God’s call through community, prayer, and good works. Our monastery is located on 550 acres of farmland on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. As Benedictines, our primary work is our communal prayer and life together. Our good works are expressed through the ministries located on our property which are the Benedictine Programs for the developmentally disabled children and St. Martin’s Ministries which is an outreach to the rural poor. Sisters also minister in Wilmington, DE and Washington, DC, in the areas of education, social work, and nursing. We have 27 members. College education and/or two years of work experience are preferred. Women who believe seeking God to be primary in their

Let a spirit of youthful joyousness be characteristic of us. May God grant us hearts full of love and gentleness toward all.

EASTERN PROVINCE S. Bernadette McCauley 350 Bernardsville Road Mendham, NJ 07945 973-543-6528 ext. 274 sbernadette@scceast.org www.scceast.org

WESTERN PROVINCE S. Carol Bredenkamp 1801 Forest Avenue Wilmette, IL 60091-1533 847-251-5855 callscc@sccwilmette.org www.sccwilmette.org

Enter #212 at VocationMatch.com lives are invited to explore our way of life. Contact: Vocation Director, St. Gertrude Monastery, 14259 Benedictine Lane, Ridgely, MD 21660; (410) 634-2115 ext. 1428; e-mail: ridgelyvocations@hotmail.com; website: http:www.ridgelybenedictines.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #320. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Rio Grande City, TX— Monastery of the Good Shepherd Our mission is to set our monastic hearts on seeking God and to become a transforming, prayerful presence in order to live the Benedictine way of life and to share it with others. We are involved in the new evangelization through our Fountain of Life Eucharistic Adoration Chapel for the laity of the area, retreats, conferences and renewal movements. We offer space and time for people to come aside and rest awhile in the Lord. We offer you our life of prayer and work at the monastery! Benedictine Monastery of the Good Shepherd, Sr. Nancy Boushey, P.O. Box 1501, Rio Grande City, TX 78582, (956) 486-2680; e-mail: sanbenito@granderiver. net; website: http://www.starrcountybenedictines.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #004.

woMen’s communities sarch WOMen’s communities

Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Lutherville, MD—Emmanuel Monastery We, the Benedictine Sisters of Emmanuel Monastery, are a community of monastic women who seek God through prayer, community life, and ministry, bringing a 1500 year tradition into the 21st century. Empowered by the Word of God, we claim our gifts as women in the Church, with an international commitment to justice and peace, offering hospitable space in a culture that fosters hostility. We serve persons with material and spiritual needs in a variety of ministerial settings and challenge structures that diminish human dignity. Because we bear the name Emmanuel, God with us, we commit ourselves to be a presence of God in our world. We are a small community of 14 women who minister according to our personal gifts and where there is a need. We minister in New Jersey and in the Baltimore area. We are known for our gifts of community and hospitality and our commitment to justice and peace. Contact: Sr. Patricia Kirk, O.S.B., 2229 W. Joppa Rd., Lutherville, MD 210934601; (410) 821-5792; e-mail: pkirk@emmanuelosb.org; website: http://www.emmanuelosb.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #319.

Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.)—Pittsburgh, PA Our monastic life compels us to seek God in Community and Prayer as our chief occupation. Seeking God, we follow the values of the Rule of St. Benedict by our practice of common prayer, lectio divina, generous hospitality and living in common. Nourished by the Word of God and our life together we respond to the needs of our world utilizing the gifts of each individual sister as they are led through education, ministry, parish ministry, Appalachia ministry, social justice, senior services, transitional housing for women with dependent children, foster parenting, visual arts, liturgy and music, counseling, spiritual direction and spirituality programs. We seek to be a sign that peace and peacemaking is possible in an ever-chaotic world. If you seek God and are looking to be encouraged and challenged in your search contact us: Sr. Barbara Jayne Vopat, O.S.B., 4530 Perrysville Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15229-2296; (412) 931-2844 ext. 118; e-mail: listening@osbpgh.org; website: http://www.osbpgh.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #004.

Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Rock Island, IL—St. Mary Monastery Both contemplative and active, we are called to prayer, community, and work using our gifts. We serve in spiritual direction, retreats, parish work, pastoral care, campus ministry, education, social work, community work, and outreach to the poor. We invite you to take time to stroll through our wooded grounds and reflect on God’s call to you. Watch the ducks paddle around the lake and the deer graze on the hill. Come to prayers and meals. Talk and laugh with the sisters. “Listen with the ear of your heart.” Join us on your vocation journey. You may feel one step closer to home. Sr. Roberta Bussan, O.S.B., 2200 88th Avenue W, Rock Island, IL 61201; (309) 283-

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God through prayer/ministry, and listen with the ear of the heart to the Spirit’s call into the future. We invite women between the ages of 20-50 who hear a call to prayer and community to “Come and See” the Florida Benedictines! For more information see our web page: http://www. floridabenedictines.com. Sr. Mary David Hydro, O.S.B., Box 2450, St. Leo, FL 33574-2450; (352) 588-8320; e-mail: vocation@saintleo.edu. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), St. Mary’s PA—St. Joseph’s Monastery We, the Benedictine Sisters of Elk County believe that we are called to seek God and witness Jesus Christ through prayer, community life, hospitality, and service. We are dedicated to fostering spirituality, supporting education and being wise stewards of God’s creation. Established in 1852, in St. Marys, Pennsylvania we are the first Benedictine convent in the United States. The founding sisters came to this area to teach the children of German immigrants and bring Benedictine spirituality to this area. In the years since our inception, we have served and continue to serve the people of St. Marys. We are a small community of 19 women who minister according to our gifts and talents. Our mission includes hospital care, teaching, religious education and a variety of other works. We invite you to come and see if God is calling you to this way of life. Contact: Sr. John Paul Bauer, OSB, 303 Church St., St. Mary’s PA 15857; (814) 834-2267; e-mail: srjohnpaul@yahoo.com; website: http://www. benedictinesistersofelkcounty.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #004.

Enter #205 at VocationMatch.com 2300 or (800) 650-1257 e-mail: rbussan@smmsisters.org; website and blog: http://www.smmsisters.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 25, 83. Code #152. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), St. Joseph, MN—St. Benedict’s Monastery The rhythm of our life is centered in daily communal and individual prayer: Liturgy of the Hours, Lectio Divina, personal prayer, and sacramental celebrations. Our life in community commits us to one another in a lifelong search for God. We support and challenge each other to live joyfully and responsibly. In response to the needs of the times in the world, church, and locale, we engage in a variety of works and ministries with a particular focus on enriching the spiritual lives of women. At present our monastery numbers about 260 and shares a campus with the College of Saint Benedict. We invite women, ages 18-45, who are interested in exploring our way of life to participate in one of our Benedictine Live-In Experiences. Visit us at our website: http://www. sbm.osb.org. Sr. Mary Catherine Holicky, 104 Chapel Lane, St. Joseph, MN 56374-0220; (320) 363-7180; email: mholicky@csbsju.edu; website: http://www.sbm. osb.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 37, 83. Code #175. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), St. Leo, FL—Holy Name Monastery The Benedictine Sisters of Florida, the only Motherhouse of Sisters in the diocese of St. Petersburg, is a monastic community of women seeking God together in a life of prayer and ministry. Our prayer life is centered in Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours, and Lectio Divina. Our ministries depend on local needs and the gifts of the Sisters. Our prayer overflows in ministries that express our corporate commitment to respond to the hungers of the people of God: education, retreats, spiritual direction, hospitality, and direct service to the poor. Presently there are 20 sisters who seek God together in community, praise

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Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), St. Paul, MN—St. Paul’s Monastery If you yearn for life and desire to seek God with other seekers, come. We are 56 monastic women who seek God together in community and celebrate Liturgy of the Hours, Lectio Divina, personal prayer, and the sacramental life of the church. Through the Gospel and the Rule of Saint Benedict, we respond through ministries of prayer, good works, and hospitality. We work in spirituality, education, pastoral care, health and child care as well as other areas of need among God’s People today. We welcome women who are seeking a balanced life of prayer, work, and leisure and who have completed college or an occupational education to a Come and See experience and share our life at the monastery. Please contact the Vocation Director: Sr. Marie Fujan, O.S.B., 2675 Larpenteur Avenue E., St. Paul, Minnesota 55109-5097; (651) 777-8181; e-mail: srmarie@ stpaulsmonastery.org; website: http://www.stpaulsmonastery.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #004. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Tulsa, OK—St. Joseph Monastery This is our story. . . .God called us to Oklahoma in 1889 even before OK was a state. We were called to work with the Native Americans and African Americans. We established schools and traveled the territory teaching vacation Bible school. Today, we are a community of 22 women—nurses, educators, administrators, catechists, spiritual directors, liturgists, consultants, and pray-ers. As Benedictine women we have one special calling—to pray and to build community. The Eucharist and Divine Office are central to our life. We pray, we work, we share meals together, and we play together as we minister to the needs of the people of OK. We’ve been telling our story for 130 years now and OK is still a mission territory, less than 4% Catholic, on the edge of the Bible Belt. We invite you to come and help us continue to write and tell our story as we build up this Benedictine community for the kingdom of God in OK. Vocations, St. Joseph Monastery, 2200 S. Lewis, Tulsa, OK 74114; (918) 742-4989; e-mail: vocations@stjosephmonastery. org; website: http://www.stjosephmonastery.org. See ad on page 110. Code #293. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Watertown, SD—Mother of God Monastery We are a community of 55 monastic

women living in the peaceful prairie land of rural South Dakota. We are called to seek God joyfully in community. We respond to the needs of others through our ministries, our prayer, our advocacy, and our hospitality. Currently our sisters are involved in teaching, health care, pastoral care, parish work, in ministry to Native Americans, Latinos and other cultures, in spiritual direction and retreats, ministry to the elderly, and in environmental stewardship. We invite women who desire to seek God to journey with us. We offer several discernment retreats throughout the year. Visit our website for a description and dates or contact Adrienne Kaufmann, O.S.B., 110 28th Avenue SE, #214, Watertown, SD 57201; (605) 886-4159; e-mail: vocations@dailypost.com; website: http://www. watertownbenedictines.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 83, 121. Code #157. Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.), Yankton, SD—Sacred Heart Monastery The charism entrusted to Benedictines is, in essence, the gift to seek God in community, to praise God through prayer and ministry, and to listen with eagerness to the Spirit’s call into the unknown future. Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton is home to 126 Sisters, four of whom are in formation. Called first to prayer and community life, we then reach out in service in a variety of ways, depending on the needs of the people and the gifts of the Sisters. We invite women who desire to grow as people of prayer, who desire the support of community life, and who want to serve our church and world to come to meet us at Sacred Heart Monastery. Sr. Eileen O’Connor, 1005 West 8th St., Yankton, SD 57078, (605) 668-6000; e-mail: eoconnor@mtmc.edu; or Sr. Barbara McTague; e-mail: bmctague@mtmc.edu; website: http://www.yanktonbenedictines.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 83. Code #143. Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (O.S.B.) We are a contemplative monastic community. Our life is guided by the tradition and the wisdom of the Rule of Saint Benedict. We serve the Church through a ministry of prayer. We support ourselves by work within the enclosure of the monastery. We strive to witness to God’s presence in the world through our prayer and community life and by offering a welcoming and peaceful space to those who visit. Our three monasteries are located in Clyde, MO; Tucson, AZ; and Dayton, WY. If you’re a single woman between the ages of 18 and 49 and drawn to a life of prayer, we invite you to contact us. Sr. Ruth Starman, 31970 State Highway P, Clyde, MO 64432-8100; (660) 944-2221; e-mail: vocation@benedictinesisters.org; website: http://www.benedictinesisters.org. See ad on page 38. Code #008. Bernardine Franciscan Sisters (O.S.F.) Founded in the United States in 1894, our mission is to live the Gospel in the spirit of Francis and Clare! Over 350 Bernardine Franciscan Sisters reach out in the Name of Jesus to God’s people across the continental United States, Puerto Rico, and Brazil. Our missions include the Dominican Republic, Mozambique and Liberia (West Africa). We minister in education at all levels, catechetics, retreat work, health care, and parish ministry as well as with and on behalf of the poor—especially with women and children. The Gospel, Francis and Clare permeate our Formation Programs for Sisters, Lay Associates and Volunteers in Mission! Do you have a Franciscan heart? Are you willing to journey in faith and joy, sister and servant to all? If so, please contact S. Shaun Kathleen, O.S.F., Vocation Director, 450 St. Bernardine Street, Reading, PA 19607-1737; (610) 777-2967; e-mail: FollowFrancis@bfranciscan.org; website: http://www.bfranciscan.org. See ad on page 22. Code #214.

Canossian Daughters of Charity (Fd.CC) The Canossian Daughters of Charity, Servants of the Poor (aka Canossian Sisters) is an international missionary congre-

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org gation of women founded by St. Magdalene of Canossa, canonized in 1988. Our actions arise from our identity born of Christ crucified, the Greatest Love. We are called to journey in simplicity, sharing a common life at the service of our brothers and sisters on every continent. Through ministries of education and human promotion, evangelization and faith formation, and pastoral care among the suffering, we strive to touch each person with the love of God. Our motto is “to make Jesus known and loved,” especially to those most in need. Our ministries find us in a wide variety of ecclesial and other settings as we continually discern together the most pressing emergent needs and a creative response to the Gospel’s challenge. We are serving in five continents (America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania) and in 34 countries. Sr. Kay Taylor, FdCC; 8500 James Ave., NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111; (505) 332-3240; srkaytaylor@yahoo.com or Sr. Stella Negri, FdCC; 1858 38th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122; (415) 759-6685; e-mail: s_negri@yahoo.com; website: http://www.canossiansisters.org See ad on page 159. Code #335.

being of one heart and mind, they continue their mission as loyal daughters of the Church rendering compassionate care to the mystical Body of Christ in the aged and infirm. Sr. Maria Therese Healy, O.Carm., St. Teresa’s Motherhouse, 600 Woods Road, Germantown, NY 12526; (518) 537-5000; fax: (518) 537-4579; e-mail: vocationdirector@ valstar.net; website: http://www.carmelitesisters.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 113. Code #153.

Carmelite Monastery of Cristo Rey Our contemplative Carmelite vocation is a call to serve God exclusively through prayer, sacrifice, and penance. In a hidden way, living in the presence of God is the center of our life. We pray for all, especially interceding for priests and the intentions of the Church. Through our solemn religious vows and life of simplicity, we strive to imitate our Blessed Mother, the most excellent disciple, as guided by the charism of our Holy Parents St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, with papal enclosure, full habit, and blend of silence, solitude, and joyful community. Novus Ordo/Tridentine Masses, Divine Office (including Gregorian chant), Lectio Divina, community rosary, Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction Service. Bilingual (Eng/Sp) in deference to the heritages of our Holy Parents and our foundation (1927) which fled religious persecution in Mexico. Require fluency in either language. Ages: 18-37, some exceptions. Sound mental judgment and physical health. Contact: 721 Parker Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118-4227; (415) 387-2640; Fax (415) 751-5330; email: vocations@cmcrnuns.org; website: cmcrnuns.org. See ad on page 13. Code #333.

Carmelites (O.Carm)—Congregation of Our Lady of Mount Carmel—Motherhouse, New Orleans As Carmelites we desire to be a community of contemplative women following “in the footsteps of Jesus” by living and serving in the midst of God’s people. A Pontifical Apostolic congregation, presently we are in Louisiana, Illinois, and the Philippines. Our zeal is rooted in our contemplative prayer and a prophetic call in the tradition of the prophet Elijah and of Mary, our sister and mother. We cherish community life from which we go forth striving to bring about a more peaceful, just, and loving world in a variety of ministries based on the needs of God’s people and on the gifts, talents, and educational preparation of each sister. Above all we desire that each sister become the woman of God that she is created to be. Vocation Counselor: Sr. Alice Abate, O.Carm., 420 Robert E. Lee Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124-2596; (504) 302-9795; e-mail: carmelitesrs@bellsouth.net; website: http://home. bellsouth.net/p/PWP-mountcarmel. See ad on page 17. Code #013.

Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm (O.Carm) Founded by Mother M. Angeline Teresa in New York in 1929, Mother sought to render loving care of the aged with deep respect for their dignity, loving them as children of God. The Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm together with hundreds of dedicated staff and volunteers care for their beloved elderly in 23 home-like residences, in eight different states within the USA, with one home in Dublin, Ireland. The Carmelite Sisters wear a distinct religious habit, and have a regular prayer schedule including: Liturgy of the Hours, daily Eucharist, Rosary, an hour of daily meditation, and a week of retreat each year at the Motherhouse. Strengthened by community,

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Cenacle Sisters (r.c.) Cenacle Sisters are active women with contemplative hearts, called to live and pray in union with each other for the sake of the mission. We do this principally through retreats, religious education, and other forms of pastoral activity whose aim is to awaken and deepen faith. This is done most often in places of retreat, in people’s homes, in centers for spiritual direction and religious development, and in parishes. In addition to sisters, there are lay members, vowed and non-vowed, who share in the Cenacle mission and charism. Sr. Janice Bemowski, r.c., The Cenacle, 513 W. Fullerton Parkway, Chicago, Illinois 60614; 773-528-6300; e-mail: vocations@cenaclesisters.org; website: http://www. cenaclesisters.org. See ad on page 17. Code #188. Cistercian Nuns (O.Cist) Founded in 1098, the Order of Citeaux is one of the Church’s ancient monastic orders. The primary sources of Cistercian monasticism are the Sacred Scriptures, the Rule of St. Benedict, the traditions of the Desert Fathers, and the spirituality of our own 12th century Fathers. Our daily life is a balanced alternation between the Divine Office prayed in Latin with Gregorian Chant, lectio divina, and manual labor. Silence, solitude in community, ascetic practices, the cultivation of continual interior prayer, together with the monastic vows of obedience, stability and unceasing conversion, are the means by which we hope to attain to purity of heart, tranquility of mind and spiritual union with God. Monastic life is a radical participation in the self-emptying of Christ which transforms humanity and the cosmos into the New Creation. Requirements for candidacy: age 20-35 with two years of college or work experience, possession of good physical and psychological health, emotional maturity, and the desire to fulfill God’s will. Valley of Our Lady Monastery, E11096 Yanke Drive, Prairie du Sac, WI

Enter #070 at VocationMatch.com 53578-9737; e-mail: vocations@nunocist.org; website: http://www.nunocist.org. See ad on page 42. Code #011. Cistercian Nuns (Trappistine) (O.C.S.O.) Our community follows the Rule of St. Benedict, and is wholly oriented towards contemplation. We dedicate ourselves to the worship of God in a hidden life within the community. Our life is structured according to a special rhythm of prayer, work, and Lectio Divina, which continually calls us to deeper conversion, love, and self-awareness as we grow in our relationship with Jesus. Lectio Divina is the prayerful reading and pondering of God’s Word. Our manual work is the prayer of our hands. There are specific times for the Divine Office and for personal prayer. We are located on the bluffs of the Mississippi River, surrounded by our organic farm and rolling hills. Women 18-39 years of age may apply. For more information contact Sr. Martha; Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey, 8400 Abbey Hill Lane, Dubuque, IA 52003; (563) 582-2595, ext. 21; e-mail: vocations@ olmabbey.org; website: http://www.mississippiabbey.org. Code #084.

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Carmelite Nuns (O.C.D.) Beacon, NY The Carmel of the Incarnation embraces the Carmelite way of life as envisioned by St. Teresa of Jesus. Our Scripture-based rule informs a joyful life of prayer, silence and solitude lived within a vibrant community. We are women of diverse background and interests, united in our search for God. St. Teresa’s desire was to create an environment in which the purity and fervor of the desert hermits was nourished by a warm and generous community life. We share that vision! We strive to grow together as individuals and as community. Living at the heart of the Church, we bring to our prayer—Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours, and prayer in solitude—the concerns of our world, our Church, its people, its leaders. If you have a passion for Christ and a love for his Church, come journey with us! Vocation Director, 89 Hiddenbrooke Drive, Beacon, NY 12508; (845) 831-5572; e-mail: srmarita@carmelitesbeacon. org; or srmichaelene@carmelitesbeacon.org; website: http://www.carmelitesbeacon.org. See ad on page 148. Code #070.

Carmelite Sisters of St. Thérèse (C.S.T.) We are a small and lively group of women dedicated to prayer and community life in the Carmelite tradition, while serving the needs of others in any kind of ministry offered to us within our capacity. If you are a female, single, Catholic, 21 or older, consider allowing us to minister to you as you discern your call to follow Christ in a religious vocation. Vocation Director, 1300 Classen Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73103; (405) 232-7926; e-mail: srbj@stjohn-catholic. org; website: http://www.oksister.com. See ad on page 20. Code #010.

Congregation of Divine Providence (C.D.P.)—Marie de La Roche Province Our mission is to make God’s Providence more visible in the world. With our God of Providence, we are committed to co-creating a world of compassion, justice, and peace. Our Sisters serve by meeting the needs of the times through a variety of ministries. We are risk takers, always open to new ministries. The Marie de La Roche Province is spread across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic; our Sisters come from many parts of the world. We are a welcoming and diverse group of women who have chosen to live in community, embrace a deepening prayer life, and serve the needs of today’s world. If you would like to join us, please contact Sister Judith Connor at (412)

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Congregation of Sisters of Bon Secours (C.B.S.) In 1821, Bon Secours became the first community of sisters to provide continuous nursing in homes. Our common vision and mission: to help people to wholeness, alleviate suffering of all forms, and bring a message of hope and “GOOD HELP” to those in need. Our faith-filled communities draw others to our charism of compassion, healing, and liberation. Marked by a passionate spirit for God’s kingdom, we contribute to a more humane world integral to spreading the Gospel. Using our gifts, we minister in health care, retreat ministry, pastoral, social and human services, housing, community organizing, education, outreach, etc. Continuing foundress Josephine Potel’s innovative spirit, we bring healing and wholeness beyond walls of tradition in rural areas and cities. Located in nine states we are also international. Contact: Sr. Patricia Dowling, C.B.S., Vocation Director, 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD 21104; toll free, 1-877-742-0277; e-mail: cbsvocations@bshsi.org; website: http://www.bonsecoursvocations.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 131. Code #058. Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (C.S.A.) The Sisters of St. Agnes participate in the mission of Christ by joyful service in the church, always aware that we, too, are among the needy and are enriched by those we serve. As an apostolic community, we are committed to transformation of the world, the church, and ourselves through promoting systemic change for the quality of life; justice for the economically poor; furtherance of the role of women in church and society; mutuality; inclusivity; and collaboration. Sr. Jean Hinderer, 320 County Road K, Fond du Lac, WI 54937; (920) 907-2310; e-mail: vocations@csasisters.org; website: http://www.csasisters.org. See ad on page 64. Code #171.

enter #161 at VocationMatch.com 318-3327 or e-mail: cdpjudith@hotmail.com. For more information, you can also visit our website at http://www. divineprovidenceweb.org. Code #325. Congregation of Divine Providence (C.D.P.)—Melbourne, KY The Congregation of Divine Providence is an international community established in France in 1762 and in the U.S. in 1889. Contemplation of Jesus reveals our Provident God and impels us to become living expressions of God’s tender love through works of mercy. This is the heart of our spiritual life and community. There is a special concern for women and youth and a preference for the most abandoned. Our ministries include teaching (all forms and levels), social work, health care, pastoral ministry (hospitals, campuses, parishes), direct service of the poor, retreats, and peace and justice work. We are present in nine countries. In the U.S. we are in 12 dioceses and archdioceses. We live in small communities where we attempt to follow Jesus and emphasize the gospel values of simplicity, poverty, charity, and abandonment to Providence. Consider joining us. Vocation Director, 1000 St. Anne Drive, Melbourne, KY 41059; (859) 441-0700 ext. 324; e-mail: vocation@cdpkentucky.org; website: http://www.cdpkentucky.org. Code #257. Congregation of Notre Dame (C.N.D.) Sisters and Associates of the CND are united by a desire to follow Jesus, a devotion to Mary, and the spirit of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, their foundress. An international community, its members serve as educators and in a variety of Gospel ministries. For information go to www.cnd-m.com. Contacts: USA: Sr. Lucille Cormier, 30 Highfield Rd, Wilton, CT 06897; e-mail: cndsusa@sbcglobal.net or call (203) 762-4304 Canada: Sr. Maureen Baldwin, e-mail: mbaldwin@cnd-m.org or call (416) 469-6756;

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Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (D.C.) We are to see in our brothers and sisters who are poor the person of Jesus Christ. These are the words of St. Vincent de Paul, a humble priest who, together with St. Louise de Marillac, a noble widow, founded the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in 1633 in France. Two hundred years later, Elizabeth Ann Seton, an American widow, founded the community in the United States. The community was the first order of women to live and work among our brothers and sisters who are poor. Today, the Daughters of Charity, an international community of over 19,500 women, continue to seek out those in need. Prayer, community life, and service to our brothers and sisters who are poor are essential elements of their lives. For more details check out our website at www.daughters-of-charity.com or write to the Vocation Director nearest you: 124 Third Street, Niagara Falls, NY 14303; 1201 South Caton Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21227; 9400 New Harmony Road, Evansville, IN 47720; 26000 Altamont Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022; 4330 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63108. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ads on pages 61, 63, 65, 67. Code #168. Daughters of Divine Zeal (F.D.Z.) We are an international community of sisters established by St. Hannibal Marie Di Francia in 1887. We embrace the vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty, and profess a fourth vow: to pray and work for priestly and religious vocations (Rogate). Our charism is founded on the Gospel command of Jesus, “Pray the Lord of the Harvest to send workers into His Harvest. . .” (Mt. 9:37-38). Committed to prayer and ministration, the Daughters of Divine Zeal render service to schools, nursing homes, missions, parishes, and other local church needs. We invite women between 18 and 40 years old to join us. Cabrini Convent, 234 Franklin Street, Reading, PA 19602; Hannibal House Spiritual Center, 1526 Hill Road, Reading, PA 19602, Daughters of Divine Zeal, 379 E. Manning Avenue, Reedley, CA 93654;

e-mail: srdaisydz@yahoo.com; website: http://www.fdz. com.au/order. Code #236. Daughters of St. Joseph We are a community of the New Spring time of the Church, founded in 2003. Our vocation is to BE for Jesus. As our dear patron, St. Joseph, was a silent, loving presence for the child Jesus, so we wish to imitate his being for Jesus through our Eucharistic prayer life and works of mercy. Our daily life includes Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, meditation, Our Lady’s Rosary, recreation, and apostolic labor. The apostolic ministry of each sister is discerned with community as the Holy Spirit shows forth her gifts. We invite women 18-50 years old interested in risking all for Jesus to contact us: Daughters of St. Joseph, 113 Lafaye Ave., Thibodaux, LA 70301; (985) 446-7525; e-mail: joesdaughters3@yahoo.com; website: http://www.daughtersofstjoseph.com. See ad on page 85. Code #185. Daughters of St. Mary of Providence The Daughters of St. Mary of Providence, founded in 1981 by Blessed Aloysius Guanella, is a religious congregation of Pontifical Rite. The love and fidelity to the Magisterium of the Church is an outstanding quality that every Sister possesses and fosters in her understanding of who they are in the Church. The Sisters live their religious consecration with the profession of the three vows of chastity, obedience, and poverty and carry out their ministry of charity among Senior citizens, the Developmentally Disabled, Youth, CCD Students, the Nutritionally Deprived and Nursing Home Residents. The Sisters spread their “culture of charity” and their commitment to all stages of life from conception to natural death in fourteen countries around the world: Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Romania, India, the Philippines, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Mexico, Canada and the United States. For more information: Vocation Director, 4200 North Austin Ave., Chicago, IL 60634, (773) 205-1313; e-mail: info@dsmpic.org or dsmpchi@sbcglobal.net; website: http://www.dsmpic.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 91. Code #263. Daughters of St. Paul (F.S.P.) An international congregation of Sisters, who live in the spirit of St. Paul the Apostle, to communicate Christ to the world through the media. Our daily prayer roots us in the Word of God and the Eucharist. Join us for discernment retreats and Come and See programs, and the St. Paul Summer High School Program. Age limit 18-30 years old. Contact: Sr. Margaret Michael, F.S.P., Vocation Director, 1025 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314; (703) 549-1323; e-mail: vocations@paulinemedia.com. Canada: Vocation Director, 3022 Dufferin St., Toronto, Ontario M6B 3T5; (416) 781-9131; e-mail: daughters_stpaul@yahoo.ca; website: http://www.daughtersofstpaul.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 171. Code #015. Daughters of the Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (F.C.S.C.J.) Contemplate and experience the Love of Jesus in our international congregation. Our mission is to witness to the love of the Sacred Heart; to the mystery of God’s nearness, of God dwelling among us. Our desire is to live the virtues of welcome, reconciliation, and simplicity in a world that dearly needs such a witness. We strive to reveal that Jesus is alive, near, and that his love is universal. We witness this by our willingness to respond to the needs of others. We minister in education of children and adults, serving parishes and diocese, retreat work, health care, and sharing in projects of our sisters in other countries. The apostolic value of our activity depends more on our union with God than on the nature of our work. Good health and at least a high school education are required. To learn more contact: Sister Juanita Durgin, FCSCJ, 26 Amherst St., Milford, NH 03055; (603) 672-4133; e-mail: wnddr.jed@myfairpoint. net; website: http://www.fcscj.org. Code #180.

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org Daughters of the Heart of Mary (DHM) Women of Vision and Faith. The Daughters of the Heart of Mary—an international congregation of women who profess vows of Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience and live religious life without a distinctive sign or title. We live contemporary and often hidden lives patterned after that of Mary of Nazareth, with community life through a common spirituality and prayer life. Whether residing in a small community setting with other sisters or with family or alone, community is fostered through regular meetings, days of prayer and spiritual renewal, community celebrations, and province-wide gatherings. Our ministries are broad and diversified. Founded in 18th Century France by a Jesuit and lay woman, our mission Then and Today is to bring the Gospel message of Jesus out in the midst of the world, witnessed through our own lives of service to the Church and God’s people. Vocations Ministry, 1365 Northampton St., Holyoke, MA 01040; (413) 534-4502; e-mail: vocations@dhmna.org; website: http://www. dhmna.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 119. Code #150.

Discalced Carmelite Nuns (O.C.D.) The Carmelite Nun strives for the fullness of Christ-like love in a life dedicated to unceasing prayer and contemplation in solitude and in sisterly community. Their special mission is to offer everything to God for the good of the Church and the salvation of souls, by participating in daily Mass and the Divine Office, in living their religious vows, in work, asceticism, and joyful community life. Their love embraces all the world, as Pope John Paul II wrote to the Carmelites: “The enclosure does not isolate from the communion of the Mystical Body, but puts those who adhere to it at the heart of the Church. . . .” St. Teresa writes to her daughters that God hears most readily the cry of the soul that loves Him. This is Carmel’s gift to the Church. For more information: Vocation Directress, 2901 South Cecelia Street, Sioux City, IA 51106-3299; (712) 276-1680; e-mail: sccarm@msn.com; website: http:// www.carmelsc.org. See ad on page 112. Code #262. Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Carmel, California We are a cloistered, contemplative community of women, totally consecrated to Jesus through the solemn vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. Prayer is the foundation of our life. We wear the habit as a sign of our religious consecration and devotion to Our Lady. Our monastery, nestled close to the Santa Lucia Mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean, provides a distinctive ambience for a joyful life of prayer for the Church and the world. Faithful to the teachings of the Church and the Teresian charism, our sisterly life combines community and solitude, spiritual reading, liturgical prayer (Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours) and two hours of personal prayer. We work in silence but have two hours of recreation together daily. St. Thérèse of Lisieux said of our vocation: “In the heart of my mother the Church, I will be LOVE...” for she knew that “love reaches through time and space, because it is eternal.” Mother Teresita, OCD; Carmelite Monastery of Our Lady and St. Therese, 27601 Highway 1, Carmel, CA 93923; (831) 624-3043; calledtolove@catholic.org; www. carmelitesistersbythesea.net. Code #352.

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Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Adrian, MI Adrian Dominicans are a Congregation of more than 1,100 vowed women religious and associates who continue the Dominican tradition of preaching through prayer, study, mission, and common life. We minister in a variety of professions with peoples in various cultures, languages, and backgrounds. Many of us are engaged in the traditional works of education, health care, and social service. Others are involved in community organization, works of peace and justice, ministries in law, art, science, business, housing, pastoral care, and retreat work. We invite you to visit our website at http://www.adriandominicans.org, or better yet, come visit and get to know us. Vocation Director, 1257 East Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, MI 49221-1793; (517) 2663537; e-mail: vocations@adriandominicans.org. See ad on page 9. Code #018. Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Amityville, NY Our family consists of vowed members, Associates and Volunteers. Our lives are shaped by prayer, common life, study, and mission. “We Dominican women religious, called to be signs of joy and hope, commit ourselves to incarnating the Gospel, deepening our life of prayer, searching for Truth, discerning the needs of the Church and ministering to the People of God.” We live out our Dominican call to preach the truth in a variety of ministries. We invite you to visit our website at www.catholicdominicansisters.org or to contact Sister Elaine Jahrsdoefer, OP at (631) 842-6000; e-mail: asstprioress@amityop.org See ad on page 9. Code #018. Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Blauvelt, NY Our Dominican motto: to praise, to bless, to preach the Word of God frames our lives of prayer, study, common life and ministry. We endeavor to proclaim the good news of the compassionate love of God for each person with a special consciousness of and presence to those who are poor and on the margins of society. In living out this mission, we serve in a variety of ministries including education, social services, health care, pastoral care, peace and justice, and prison ministry. We have committed ourselves to intentionally embrace the future with hope and recognize that God’s design is one that leads us to a greater understanding of the sacredness and oneness of all creation. We invite you to join us. To learn about our life and ministries, visit our website www.opblauvelt.org, our blog: opblauvelt.blogspot.com or contact our vocation minister, Sr. Michaela Connolly, O.P.; e-mail: mconnolly@ opblauvelt.org. See ad on page 9. Code #018. Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Grand Rapids Moved by the Spirit, and drawn into the love of our God, we are vowed Dominican women preachers of hope: preaching by our very being, preaching the Word, and preaching in diverse forms through our ministries. Through contemplation, study, common life, and ministry, we strive to live the gospel, embodying God’s compassion for our needy

Sisters of the Resurrection Called to be vibrant witnesses of the RISEN LORD!

Dedicate your life to God in the spirit of the Paschal Mystery. Embrace a life of prayer, community living, and service through ministries in education and health care. Please contact the Vocation Director at: 7432 W TalcoTT ave chicago, il 60631 773-792-6363 callres@yahoo.com

35 BolTWood ave casTleTon, ny 12033 518-732-2226 vocaTion@resurrecTionsisTers.org

www.resurrectionsisters.org Enter #215 at VocationMatch.com world. We are contemplative Dominican women who desire to become the prayer that we pray, both individually and communally. The depth and joyfulness of our liturgical prayer grounds us in holy mystery. We are called to continual deepening of a contemplative engagement with the world. We have a passion for justice, a desire to be in right relationship with God, one another, and the cosmos. Our ministries are as diverse and creative as are the gifts and talents of our members. We serve primarily in Michigan, New Mexico as well as in 17 other states and in Peru and Honduras. Join our Sisters and Associates in preaching the Gospel of Hope. Sr. Katheryn Sleziak, O.P., 2025 East Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3895; (616) 643-0378; e-mail: ksleziak@grdominicans.org. Visit our website: http://www.grdominicans.org. See ad on page 9. Code #018.

woMen’s communities sarch WOMen’s communities

Daughters of the Holy Spirit (D.H.S.) Rooted in a vital Trinitarian spirituality, we are called, like Mary, to reverence in a special way the presence and power of the Holy Spirit within ourselves, in others and in all creation. Living in the Spirit of Pentecost, we continue the Mission of the risen Christ through our simple presence, humble gestures, and collaborative efforts. Together we are sent forth in Gospel boldness to witness God’s tender love for all, especially for the least favored, “that all may have life and have it to the full.” Sr. Therese Vanasse, 152 Prospect Street, Moosup, CT 06354-1441; (860) 5642243; e-mail: tvanassedhs@att.net; website: http://www. daughtesoftheholyspirit.org. See ad on page 123. Code #016.

Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Dominican Sisters live in many locations throughout the U.S. We share a common heritage, and are influenced by differences in our geography and history. As Dominicans, we claim preaching as our mission, supported by a life of prayer and study in community. In apostolic congregations members often live in the locale where our particular ministries are located. Our preaching may take many forms, such as parish or diocesan ministry, education or health care, advocacy for justice, legal aid, the arts, spirituality or missionary activity. In all our ministries Dominican women strive for integrity in serving God and creation in the 21st century. Women in their 20’s and 30’s are invited to contact a Dominican congregation for specific information about the process for joining this mission as a vowed member. Women are also invited to obtain information about retreat opportunities and volunteer programs at a nearby Dominican community. Locate one by visiting our website: http://www.domlife.org/Vocation. See ad on page 9. Code #018.

Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Mission San Jose Is there a “God hunger” within you? Does the love of God tug at your heart? Does a “one soul and one heart in God” community resonate with your deepest desires and greatest hopes? Contact the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose (Order of Preachers)—joyful Gospel women whose prayer, study, community, and ministry empower them to preach Jesus Christ by evangelization and education that promotes justice and peace. Inspired by Saint Dominic, Saint Catherine of Siena, and foundress Mother Pia Backes, we center our lives on the Word of God, contemplate God’s Truth, and pass it on to others “Contemplata aliis trader.” Preferentially, we serve those who are young, poor or vulnerable in Guatemala, Germany, Mexico and the United States. For further information, contact Pauline Bouton, O.P., 43326 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA 945395829; (510) 789-7079; e-mail: vocations@msjdominicans. org or visit our website: http://www.msjdominicans.org. See ad on page 9. Code #018. Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Racine, WI In harmony

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sisters

Listening for God Sister Theresa My-Hao Nguyen, I.W.B.S. Whether she is giving her attention to a Vietnamese immigrant with a problem or to a theology lecture, Sister Nguyen knows the value of listening. It was by paying close attention to God that she found her way to religious life. COMMUNITY: Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament

Photo courtesy of Sister Theresa’s community, the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament

WHAT I ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A NOVICE: Having time to pray and relax. MY FAVORITE FOOD: Phở Bò, which is a Vietnamese beef noodle soup. BEST THING SO FAR ABOUT COMMUNITY LIFE: Sharing things in common and receiving a variety of gifts. WHAT I DO FOR FUN: Stretching exercises to classical music, blogging, playing music, and crocheting. MY FAVORITE WAY TO CONNECT WITH GOD: Journaling with scripture. PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN: That I grew up in Vietnam, live in the U.S.A., have a Mexican stomach, and am learning to speak with a Texas accent!

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org with our Dominican heritage of study and contemplation, we strive to be listeners and bearers of God’s Word. We are women “committed to truth and compelled to justice” who serve by our life-giving presence in areas of education, pastoral and retreat ministry, spiritual guidance, health care, and social justice. We stand in solidarity with people who are oppressed and alienated by unjust systems. At this urgent time in the church and global community, Racine Dominicans invite others to join them in community life, prayer, and ministry. Director of Vocations: Sister Karen Vollmer, O.P., 5635 Erie Street, Racine, WI 54302-1900; (262) 639-4100; e-mail: vocations@racinedominicans.org; website: http://www. racinedominicans.org. See ad on page 9. Code #018.

Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Sinsinawa, WI As Dominicans we trace our roots to the 13th century when St. Dominic founded the Order of Preachers (O.P.). That provides us with nearly 800 years of history as members of a worldwide Dominican Family. Our U.S. congregation was founded in Wisconsin by an Italian Dominican missionary, Samuel Mazzuchelli, O.P. in 1847. Fr. Samuel, currently recognized as “Venerable,” is well on his way to being named a saint by the Vatican. Today more than 600 Dominican Sisters from Sinsinawa are “called to proclaim the Gospel through the ministry of preaching and teaching in order to participate in the building of a holy and just society” and minister in dioceses all over the United States and in Bolivia and Trinidad. Share in the vitality of Dominican life. Contact Sister Jeri Cashman at member@sinsinawa.org. See ad on page 9. Code #018. Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Springfield, IL We Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois, are rooted in the mission of Jesus. Filled with the joy of the Gospel we are committed to bringing hope to our world. As St. Dominic did in 13th century Spain, we preach the Gospel in our own time and place, centered in prayer, study, ministry, and community life. We serve in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, Wisconsin, and Peru, South America. If you are a woman 18 to 40 and would like more information please contact: Sr.Teresa Marron, O.P., Vocation Director, 700 Ashland Ave., Chicago Heights, IL 60411; (708) 7557565; e-mail: srteresa@spdom.org; website: http://www. springfieldop.org. See ad on page 9. Code #018. Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—Tacoma, WA Nourished by prayer and study, supported by community, and energized by ministry we, the Dominican Sisters of Tacoma, are committed to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a community, we preach Jesus’ love and compassion to the people of God through our diverse ministries in Washington, Oregon, California, Nicaragua, Central America and Montreal, Canada. These ministries include education, health care, ministry to the developmentally delayed (L’Arche), social service, housing, ministry to undocumented people, women’s spirituality (Catherine

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Dominican Sisters of Divine Providence A contemplative-active community. Our main purpose as religious is to be deeply immersed in God through a serious prayer life. The specific work of the community is the spreading of the Kingdom of God through the apostolate of teaching. Our apostolic work flows from, alternates with, and is sustained by our prayer life. In a joyful and relaxing atmosphere we work together, share our gifts, and recognize and appreciate one another’s contributions and uniqueness. To contact us: 25 Harmony School Road, Flemington, NJ 08822; (908) 782-1504; fax: (908) 7887394; e-mail: smmichele698@yahoo.com. See ad on page 28. Code #022. Dominican Sisters of Hope (O.P.)—Ossining, NY We Dominican Sisters of Hope are called to preach the Gospel to our world. In communion with all Creation, we commit our lives to the transforming power of Hope. Our Sisters minister wherever they have discerned a call to serve others. As followers of St. Dominic, we strive to embrace the values of prayer, study and common life for the sake of mission. We invite other women, who feel called to bring hope to our world by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to join us by contacting Sister Janet Marchesani, OP, Ossining Center of Hope, 299 North Highland Ave., Ossining, NY 10562-2392; (914) 941-4420; e-mail: jmarchesani@ophope.org; website: http://www.ophope.org. See ad on page 9. Code #018. Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of the Springs of Bridgeport (O.P.) We are Dominican Sisters in a new Congregation who are committed to the values embraced by Saint Dominic in the 13th Century. Dominicans are unique among other religious orders in the Church because we are committed to finding the Truth, Jesus Christ, through study. Without study, common life and common prayer make little sense, and our preaching is empty. Study is our way of finding God. We live our Dominican vocation primarily as teachers, professors, and scholars. We are women who are faithful to the church and who believe that the saving message of Jesus Christ needs to be preached today. If you think that God has something special in mind for you in these exciting and challenging times, we’ll be happy to show you how we live. Sister Martha Kunesh, O.P. or Sister Helen Kieran, O.P.; 21 Schuyler Avenue, Stamford, Ct. 06902; e-mail: mkunesh@olsbridgeport.org or hkieran@olsbridgeport. org; website: http://www.olsbridgeport.org. See ad on page 114. Code #351. Dominican Sisters of Peace (O.P.) We are Dominican Sisters whose charism of preaching flows from our contemplation, study, and community. We are more than 650 Sisters and 500 Associates who live and minister in 29 states and in Honduras, Nigeria, Peru, Tanzania, and Vietnam. We are committed to greater involvement in the global community, simplicity of life, and itinerancy. Our diverse ministries include education, health care, social work, spiritual direction, and parish-based ministries, among others. We serve in colleges, high schools, elementary schools, literacy centers, ecology and spiritual outreach centers, parishes, prisons, and more. We work to create environments of peace by promoting non-violence,

Join us

- in prayer - in working for justice

- in sustaining Creation

Not Words But Deeds

Sisters of the Presentation San Francisco

presentationsisterssf.org

Contact: Sister Stephanie Still, PBVM sstill@pbvmsf.org 415-422-5020 Enter #266 at VocationMatch.com unity in diversity, reconciliation, and justice through solidarity, especially for women and children. For more information, please contact Sr. Cathy Arnold, O.P. or Sr. Amy McFrederick, O.P., at 1220 W. Market St., Akron, OH 44313, or vocations@oppeace.org or (330) 835-5690; website: www.oppeace.org. See ads on pages 9, 167. Code #338.

Felician Franciscan Sisters (C.S.S.F.) We, the Felician Sisters are an active contemplative congregation of consecrated women founded by Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska. Our charism is to imitate her boundless love of God and surrender to God’s will in compassionate service, total availability and concern for the salvation of all people. We live and pray together in community, and follow the rule of St. Francis of Assisi. Responding to the needs of God’s people and of the times, we minister in health care, pastoral care, education, social work, spiritual and administrative services and other Church related ministries. Today about 2,000 Felician Franciscan Sisters minister to God’s people in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Poland, Italy, England, France, Kenya, Estonia, Russia, Ukraine and the Amazon. Find out more about us at www.FelicianSisters.org or contact the Vocation Center at navocations@feliciansisters.org. See ad on page 29. Code #025.

woMen’s communities sarch WOMen’s communities

Dominican Sisters (O.P.)—San Rafael, CA Since 1850 the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael have been a vital part of the history and development of California, its people, and its church. We have established convents, schools, and hospitals throughout California and Nevada. We are committed to the Mission of Dominic: to proclaim God’s Word in our world. We serve in a broad array of ministries: education, health care, social service, pastoral care, advocacy for justice, and spiritual guidance. With our lives rooted in God’s truth and love, we are dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel in a world full of people who hunger and thirst for God’s love. We celebrate our calling as preachers and we welcome other women to join us in community and ministry. Sr. Patricia Farrell, O.P., 1520 Grand Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901-2236; (415) 257-4939; fax: (415) 453-8367; e-mail: vocations@sanrafaelop.org; website: http://www.sanrafaelop.org. See ad on page 9. Code #018.

Place), campus ministry, parish ministry, and literacy tutoring. In our Mission Statement we have pledged ourselves “. . . .to collaborate in networks of spiritual, educational, and political commitment to create a just society that addresses basic human needs and ends the violence that erodes our planet.” We invite and welcome women who have come alive in the Word of God and who share our joy and energy for preaching the Good News of Jesus to God’s people everywhere. Come; create your future with us! Sr. Gretta Woodlock, O.P., 935 Fawcett Ave., S., Tacoma, WA 98402; (253) 272-9688; fax: (253) 272-8790; e-mail: gretta@tacomaop.org; website: http:// www.tacomaop.org See ad on page 9. Code #018.

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org

Sisters of St. John the Baptist

woMen’s communities Search WOMen’s communities

As an international community of women religious, we serve as teachers, administrators, pastoral and social workers, health professionals and caregivers.

We work for the glory of God in the service of our neighbor–especially the youth and children who are poor, abandoned, marginalized and at risk of losing their faith– through evangelization, ed education and human promotion. Is God calling you to respond to these challenges? What is your answer? For information about the

Sisters of St. John the Baptist, visit our website:

Baptistines.org To spend a day or weekend, email our vocation directors: SR. ELSA JERONIMO, C.S.JB and SR. LICERIA SAYON, C.S.JB.: Baptistinevoc@aol.com

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underserved. The Fiat Spiritus Community embraces not only Mary’s response and action but also the response and action of the disciples at Pentecost; and continue to be inspired by holy people throughout history, to our present day as followers of Catherine Kasper and each other in community. For information contact: Brother Bob Overland, FS, P.O. Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513; (574) 935-1726; e-mail: bobo@poorhandmaids.org; website: http://www.fiatspiritus.org. Code #049. Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (F.M.M.) We were founded in 1877 for Universal Mission. Our Foundress, Blessed Mary of the Passion, has said: “We have but one country. . . the whole world is ours. Be ready to go anywhere to proclaim the Good News.” Today we are 7,400 sisters from different nations and cultures serving in 76 countries. Like Mary we strive to do whatever God asks. . .ready to bring the Good News of His Love to all. Our Prayer life includes the joy of daily Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. In the spirit of St. Francis we are found among the poor and marginalized. Our works include education, health care, different social service works, prison ministry, pastoral ministry, parish work, soup kitchens, religious education, and working with immigrants and refugees. Vocation Director: Sr. Alicia Alambra, FMM, 399 Fruit Hill Ave., North Providence, RI 02911-2842; (401) 353-5800; e-mail: fmmvoc@aol. com; website: http://www.fmm.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #125.

Our charism is that of Francis Assisi: to live the Gospel life in the spirit of love, joy, simplicity, and hospitality, and to share our Franciscan Spirituality with others. We minister on the East Coast of the United States, Jamaica, Brazil, and Bolivia. Our ministries include health care, social services, education, parish and spiritual ministries, among many others. We care for the homeless, raise awareness of justice, peace, and environmental issues, and commit ourselves to a Gospel stance of nonviolence. We support one another in community and prayer, using our varied gifts and talents to care for God’s people. Sr. Jo Marie Streva, OSF, Initial Formation Office, 1406-1 Park Shore Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33901, (239)3325260; email: fsainquiry@yahoo.com; website: www. alleganyfranciscans.org. See ad on page 163. Code #189. Franciscan Sisters of Chicago (O.S.F.) Modeled after the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare and the early brothers and sisters we take our inspiration from the Gospels, following Jesus. We call it Franciscan Evangelical Life. Our witness is the witness of our lives. As Francis said, “Preach with your example, and if necessary, with your words.” Thus we actively labor in ministries of service and prayer, joyfully sharing the gifts of talents and skills given by the Holy Spirit, for the building up of the kingdom of God in justice, mercy, and peace. Vocation Director, Sr. Lois Marie Rossi, 3115 N. Karlov Avenue, Chicago, IL 60641; (773) 328-5562; e-mail: vocations@chicagofranciscans. com; website: http://www.chicagofranciscans.org. See ad on page 45. Code #166.

Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows (O.S.F.) Our community was founded in China (1939) by Bishop Rafael Palazzi, O.F.M. The Spirit of God has brought us to ministry in various places: California, Oregon, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Canada. As religious women, we seek to live united with Christ. We witness to his Good News through the joy and hospitality of our Franciscan charism, each of us using our gifts for the glory and praise of God. Places where the Gospel has not been fully proclaimed have a special appeal to us. Current ministries: retreat work, catechesis, elementary and high-school education, teen and parish ministry. We welcome inquiries from women, ages 18 to 45. Vocation Directress, 3600 S.W. 170th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006-5099; (503) 649-7127; fax: (503) 259-9507; e-mail: franmisisters@yahoo.com; website: http://www. olpretreat.org. Code #126.

Franciscan Sisters of Dubuque, Iowa (O.S.F.) Please visit our webpage www.osfdbq.org. “Rooted in the Gospel and in the spirit of Saints Francis and Clare, the Sisters of St. Francis live in right relationship with all creation.” We express our love of God through prayer, service, and community. We are committed to peace and justice and have Sister Water Projects in Honduras and Tanzania. We serve in diverse ministries, e.g., educators, health care workers, retreat and prayer ministers, pastoral ministers, caretakers among the elderly, social workers, peace and justice advocates, dietary and clerical workers, artists and musicians. We are a vibrant Community of 330 vowed members with three temporary professed, and 110 associates. We minister in 28 diocese in 16 states. We welcome you so e-mail us at: vocation@osfdbq.org; website: http://www.osfdbq.org, or call (563) 583-9786. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 155. Code #193.

Franciscan Sisters at Springfield (O.S.F.) [Hospital Sisters of St. Francis - USA, Inc.] We are committed to proclaiming the Gospel in the spirit of St. Francis and our founding Sisters, by prayer and service with others. We remain dedicated to a wholehearted response to the sick, poor, and needy as we strive to bring Christ’s healing presence to suffering humanity with simplicity and compassionate care. We are an international congregation with community members serving God’s people through healing ministries such as nursing, social service, home health care, occupational therapy, pastoral care, HIV/AIDS, massage therapy, spiritual direction, and administration. There are thirteen hospitals located in Illinois and Wisconsin as well as mission centers in Tanzania and Haiti. We have community members in Germany, Poland, Japan, India, Czech Republic, and Korea. Membership Invitation: Vocation Director, St. Francis Convent, LaVerna Road, P.O. Box 19431, Springfield, IL 62794-9431; (217) 522-3386; e-mail: discern@ hsosf-usa.org; website: http://www.franciscansatspfld.org. Code #037.

Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota (O.S.F.) We are a community of women, who dedicate ourselves to a life of prayer and service to others. We follow the Gospel of Jesus in the Spirit of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi. We do works of charity, striving to be instruments of peace and healing and spreading God’s love, seeking solidarity with persons who are poor and reverencing all God’s creation. Our diverse ministries include social work, health care, counseling, education, child care, parish ministry, spiritual direction, justice advocacy, environmental awareness, presence with homeless, and hospitality. We minister in the United States, Mexico and Ecuador. Vocation Minister, Sr. Grace Skwira, 116 8th Avenue SE, Little Falls, MN 56345-3597; 320632-0652; fax: 320-632-1714; e-mail: vocations@fslf. org; website: http://www.fslf.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 84. Code #268.

Franciscan Sisters of Allegany (O.S.F.) The Franciscan Sisters of Allegany are women in relationship: with God, others and creation. We seek to live the Gospel and witness to God’s love in the Franciscan tradition by living as sisters with all creation and by joyfully serving others, especially those who are poor and marginalized.

Franciscan Sisters of Oldenburg, IN (O.S.F.) We are Third Order Franciscan Sisters. We are women of prayer, committed to vibrant Franciscan living of Gospel values. We are committed to being prophetic in care of creation: in working for peace through justice and we make right relationships a high priority in our lives. We were founded in 1851 and have 261 sisters, including one in initial formation. Our Associates number 285. Our outreach ministries are Michaela Farm in Oldenburg which

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org incorporates natural farming practices; Prayer Lodge in Busby, Montana, and Nia Kuumba Discernment House in St. Louis, Missouri and Oldenburg Franciscan Center, a Spirituality Center on campus. Our foreign mission is in Papua New Guinea. For further info see http://www. oldenburgfranciscans.org or call our vocation director, Sr. Joan Miller (812) 933-6417 or e-mail: vocations@ oldenburgosf.com. See ad on page 28. Code #167. Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (O.S.F.) We celebrate our mission to be a transforming presence in society through witnessing Gospel values. We strive to be prayerful women of faith, prophetic vision, and courage. As 104 sisters in community serving the poor and empowering others to live the gospel with hope and joy, we serve in 15 states in the United States in pastoral care, education, health care, youth ministry, and social services. As Franciscans for Earth, we are committed to working for systemic change in environmental issues. In the words of our foundress, Mother Ernestine Matz, “There is no place too far, no service too humble, and no person too lowly.” Visit our web site at http://www. franciscansisters-olph.org for information. Vocations, 335 South Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122; (314) 9653700; fax: (314) 965-3710; e-mail: vocations@fsolph.org. See ad on page 33. Code #170.

Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (F.S.P.A.) As Franciscans we commit ourselves to promoting sustainability of the environment, seeking peace and justice for all, and inviting new members to join us on our Franciscan journey. The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration have prayed 24/7 since 1878. This Eucharistic Adoration is the essence of who we are and what we do. Today more than 300 Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and 220 Affiliates and 125 Prayer Partners live a spirituality of Loving Presence in mission, in community, and in solidarity with the oppressed. We minister throughout the United States as well as Canada, Central America, Mexico and Africa. We offer a wide variety of ministry options including education, health care, parish—just to name a few. Let’s talk. Membership Office, 912 Market Street, La Crosse, WI 54601-8800; (888) 683-FSPA (toll free); e-mail: membership@fspa.org; website: http://www. fspa.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 61. Code #030. Franciscan Sisters of Rochester, MN (O.S.F.) The Franciscan Sisters of Rochester, MN, believe as St. Francis did: that we are all brothers and sisters, one family under God. With a rich spiritual heritage and the strength of prayer and community, we choose ministries guided by societal needs and the call to justice. You will find us across the United States, in Cambodia or Colombia, in inner cities and rural areas, responding to the call to justice and peace; we are teachers, nurses, spiritual directors, artists, writers, administrators, religious educators,

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Franciscan Sisters of Saint Elizabeth (F.S.S.E.) Following in the footsteps of our Founder Blessed Ludovico and living under the Third Order Regular Rule of Saint Francis, we commit ourselves to a Gospel life of poverty, chastity, and obedience. As a multi-cultural community, we minister to God’s people on five continents. Worldwide we daily unite ourselves as community through our common celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Divine Office, Holy Hour, and meditation. We offer our service through education, health care, parish ministry, care of the elderly, and evangelization. We joyfully embrace living in community, sharing a life of prayer while being active in our ministries. Are you called to journey with us? Call, write, or e-mail. Request information; come visit. The first step of the journey is yours to take. Let us assist you along the way. Vocation Office, Franciscan Sisters of Saint Elizabeth, 499 Park Road, Parsippany, NJ 07054; (973) 539-3797; e-mail: sr_cathylynn@yahoo.com; website: http://www.franciscansisters.com. See ad on page 119. Code #056. Franciscan Sisters of St. Paul, MN (O.S.F.) Known internationally as the Franciscan Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Angels, we serve in the United States, Netherlands, Brazil, and Germany. We are committed to live the Gospel plainly and simply among the people, to serve each other in community, and be open to God’s challenge, whatever the time and place, in actively relieving human suffering. We serve in multiple ministries abroad, and in the U.S. we minister in health care, education, and social services, especially among the poor. Prayer is the substance of our choice of life. We invite any woman between the ages of 21 and 40 who wishes to accompany us on our journey to join us as a member or associate. Minimum education required is high school; college degree preferred. Visit http://www.askmotherrose. org for more information. Vocation Director, 1388 Prior Avenue South, St. Paul, MN 55116; (651) 690-1501; email: maryldolezal@yahoo.com. See ad on page 146. Code #031. Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement (S.A.) We are a community of women founded in 1898 who share a vowed life within the context of community. Our spiritual and community life nurture and make possible our ministries that vary according to ones gifts and background. At present our sisters minister in the United States, Canada, Italy, Japan, and Brazil. We are currently involved in faith formation, pastoral ministry, social services, kindergartens, retreat and guest house ministry. Vocation Ministry, 41 Old Highland Turnpike, Garrison, NY 10524; (845) 230-8200; e-mail: VocationMinistry@graymoor.org; website: http://www.graymoor.org. See ad on page 29. Code 211. Franciscan Sisters of the Poor (S.F.P.) We are women who have heard the call from Christ to “heal my wounds in the poor and suffering.” We walk in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, committed to a Gospel way of life. An international congregation in the geographical areas of the United States, Brazil, Italy, Africa, and the Philippines, we respond to people in need through our healing presence and diversity of gifts. Sisters in the United States are involved in pastoral/spiritual ministry, health care, social outreach, and direct services to the poor and homeless. Prayer, contemplation, and community are central to our lives. You are welcome to “come

enter #193 at VocationMatch.com and see!” Contact: Vocation Office, 60 Compton Road, Cincinnati, OH 45215-5105; (513) 761-9040, ext. 132; e-mail: vocations@franciscansisters.org; web: http:// www.franciscansisters.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 86. Code #032. Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart (O.S.F.) As Franciscan women in the church today we share our lives in prayer, community, and ministry. Located in Indiana, Illinois, California, and Brazil, South America; our ministries include: health care in hospitals, clinics, home health, support programs for pregnant teens, and social service programs; education as teachers, administrators, librarians, and religious education coordinators; parish ministry as liturgists, pastoral associates, youth ministers, and coordinators of parish programs; retreat ministry and ministry among the base communities of the Amazon area of Brazil, South America. Contact: Vocation Director, 9201 West St. Francis Road, Frankfort, IL 60423; (815) 464-3873; e-mail: vocations@fssh.net; website: http://www.fssh.net. See ad on page 45. Code #033.

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Franciscan Sisters of Peace (F.S.P.) The Franciscan Sisters of Peace were founded in 1986 in the Archdiocese of New York. Their charism is to live the Gospel and to follow in the footprints of Jesus Christ in the manner of Francis and Clare of Assisi. They follow the Rule of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis and are committed to being peacemakers in word and witness. Franciscan Spirituality forms the common heart of the congregation. The Associates of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace are lay women who live the Franciscan spirit and charism of peacemaking in their own lives. Franciscan Sisters of Peace minister in New York, New Jersey, Arizona, New Mexico and California in education, religious education, pastoral and social work, and prison ministry. Women who are practicing Catholics are welcome to contact Sr. Ann Smith, FSP (Vowed Membership) or Mrs. Judith Peterson (Associates), 20 Ridge Street, Haverstraw, NY 10928; (845) 942-2527; e-mail: secretary@fspnet.org; website: http://www.fspnet.org. Code #017.

counselors, social workers, therapists, and healers of creation. We believe in the empowerment of women and the worth and dignity of every person. We learn as we teach, are healed as we heal others, and are changed as we pray and act with compassion. We hope to join with others in creating with compassion a just and loving global community. For more information, contact: Central Minister, Rochester Franciscan Life Teams, (888) 277-4741; e-mail: ann.redig@myclearwave.net; website: http://www.rochesterfranciscan.org. See ad on page 30. Code #213.

Good Shepherd Sisters (G.S.S.) We are an international congregation with over 4,000 vowed members both apostolic and contemplative. We have communities in 71 countries throughout the world. Our mission is one of reconciliation. We believe that, “One Person is of More Value than a World.” Through our prayer and ministry we strive to model our lives after the heart of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who left the 99 to respond to the one in special need. Our apostolic work includes a variety of human services, primarily social work and social justice advocacy with a particular focus on women and children. Our contemplative prayer strives to bring the liberating love of Jesus, the Good Shepherd to all of God’s people.

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org Little Sisters of the Poor (L.S.P.) We are an international congregation living the Beatitudes and serving the needy elderly in the spirit of St. Jeanne Jugan, one of our Church’s newest saints (canonized October 11, 2009!). Through our fourth vow of hospitality, we dedicate our lives to the aged poor, with whom we become one family. The words of St. Jeanne Jugan are our inspiration as we spend our lives in humble service: “Making the elderly happy, that is what counts. . .Never forget that the poor are Our Lord; it is Jesus whom you care for in them.” Through our vocation we wish to give quiet witness to the dignity of every human life, until the very end. The Association Jeanne Jugan is comprised of Catholic lay men and women who share in our spirit and mission. Visit our website: http://www.littlesistersofthepoor.org or contact Sr. Constance, 601 Maiden Choice Lane, Baltimore, MD 21228; e-mail: serenity@littlesistersofthepoor.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 94. Code #041.

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Enter #222 at VocationMatch.com Vocation Directors: Christine Alvarez, (732) 946-0515; e-mail: gsvocny@optonline.net; Sr. Mercy de Leon, (314) 381-3400; e-mail: mdeleon@gspmna.org; Sr. Mary Ann Giordano; (215) 782-8627; e-mail: sunset@catholic. org; US website: http://www.goodshepherdsisters.org; Sr. Gilda Fernando, Toronto, Canada; (416) 787-4285; e-mail: gildafernando@hotmail.com; Canada website: http://www.goodshepherdsisterscanada.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 62. Code #077. Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart (G.N.S.H.) Grey Nuns are an apostolic religious congregation dedicated to contemplating and living the values of the Gospel. As daughters of St. Marguerite d’Youville our mission calls us to know and share God’s constant and unconditional love with one another and with those to whom we minister. We choose to live out this call in community, personal and communal prayer, and compassionate service, especially to the poor and needy. Social justice, peace and nonviolence, and care of the earth are important values in our prayer, living and working. Our 127 sisters are present in 12 dioceses in the U.S. and Haiti and engage in educational, health care, pastoral and social ministries. We invite women between the ages of 20-45 who love enough to serve the poor and are prepared to explore our life and mission to contact our Vocation Director at 1750 Quarry Road, Yardley, PA 19067-3998; (215) 968-4236; e-mail: jdaly@greynun.org; website: http://www.greynun.org. See ad on page 14. Code #183.

Holy Cross Sisters (S.C.S.C.) Inspired by the Cross of Jesus Christ and the example of St. Francis of Assisi, Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross and Associates use our gifts to help meet the needs of our times as God enables us. We welcome those who seek to transform the challenges of today into hope. Sisters and Associates work in such fields as health care, social services, pastoral ministry, education, spirituality, prison ministry, and liturgy in 10 states. We also draw strength from our international community of more than 4,000 sisters and associates on 5 continents, united through our motherhouse in Switzerland. Our congregation was co-founded in 1856 by Capuchin friar Theodosius Florentini, visionary social reformer, and Theresa Scherer, our first superior general. For more information, contact: Sr. Kathy Wiesneski at kwiesneski@holycrosssisters.org; (715) 539-1460; website: http//www.holycrosssisters.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #035. Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters (S.Sp.S.) As an international missionary community of about 3,500 women ministering in 46 countries, we are called to share the Good News of Jesus and witness to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the world. Called by the Spirit, we are sent to peoples of diverse cultures, religions, and social/ethnic backgrounds. Wherever possible we live in

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international/intercultural communities. We participate in the mission of Jesus through education on all levels and in different types of schools, through health care, in parish ministry, retreat work and spiritual direction, communication and media, counseling and social services, work with the elderly and especially with women who are pushed to the margins of society. For more information please contact: Office for Vocation Ministry, P.O. Box 6026, Techny, IL 60082-6026 or 319 Waukegan Rd., Northfield, IL 60093; (847) 441-0126 ext. 700 or 704; e-mail: sspsovm@aol.com; website: http://www.ssps-usa. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 158. Code #127.

Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (I.B.V.M.) [Loretto Sisters] Founded in 1609, we are an apostolic community of Catholic women present in 26 countries across six continents. We live our Ignatian spirituality of “contemplatives in action” so cherished by our founder, Mary Ward. In prayer we seek to discern and embrace God’s desire in today’s changing and challenging times. We believe that women have great gifts to offer in promoting freedom, justice, and integrity within church and society. The place of women in society is central to our concern. We serve in educational, pastoral, and social ministries as parish ministers, religious education directors, teachers, spiritual directors, counselors, campus ministers, caregivers to women in need, and ministries among immigrants. With a single-hearted love we hold ourselves open and ready to undertake whatever is for the greater glory of God and the good of those we serve. Contact Sr. Lynn Cira, IBVM; (416) 925-2833; e-mail: ibvm.lynn@sympatico.ca or Sr. Claire Vandborg, IBVM; (630) 868-2904; e-mail: vocation@ibvm.us. Visit our websites: http://www.ibvm. ca or http://www.ibvm.us. Code #210.

Little Company of Mary Sisters (L.C.M.) We, the Little Company of Mary Sisters, are an international congregation named for the little group of faithful followers who remained in the company of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, at the foot of the Cross. Upon founding the LCM Sisters in Nottingham, England in 1877, Venerable Mary Potter dedicated her community to the Maternal Heart of Mary. We bear witness to the healing presence of Jesus through our spiritual and physical care of the poor, sick, suffering, and dying in our midst, and by constant prayer for the sick and dying of the world. We welcome single women, ages 21 to 45, of diverse cultures, talents, and life experiences who have the health and desire to follow Jesus in gospel living as consecrated women. Contact: Sister Jean Stickney, L.C.M., (708) 229-5797 or Suzanne Petrouski, (708) 229-5095, American Province LCM Sisters, 9350 South California Avenue, Evergreen Park, IL 60805; e-mail: vocations@lcmh.org; website: http://www.lcmh. org or http://www.lcmglobal.org. See ad on page 130. Code #039.

Marianist Sisters, Daughters of Mary Immaculate (F.M.I) The Marianist Sisters are the women vowed religious in the Marianist Family. We continue the risk-taking faith of our foundress, Adèle de Batz de Trenquelléon, in developing faith communities in collaboration with the laity, and the service of women, youth, and the poor. FMI’s serve in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and the United States (Dayton, OH and San Antonio, TX). In the United States we still have much of the pioneer spirit, with “a mission to spread the Marianist Charism wherever we are.” Vocation Office: 30 Sawmill Road, Dayton, OH 45409; (937) 224-5896; or 235 W. Ligustrum Drive, San Antonio, TX 78228-4092; (210) 433-5501; e-mail: laura. leming@notes.udayton.edu or gtrautman@sm-usa.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 80. Code #105. Marianites of Holy Cross (M.S.C.) United with Mary standing at the foot of the cross, we, Marianites of Holy Cross, are APOSTOLIC religious, women of PRAYER and COMPASSION. Our mission, energized by our life in COMMUNITY, is to incarnate the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. Called to be a PROPHETIC presence in an ever-changing world, we resolutely stand with those who are excluded. We number 200 sisters, and are part of the Holy Cross Family of Sisters, Brothers, Priests, and Lay Associates. We minister in the all-inclusive fields of education, health care, social work, and parish ministry in France, the United States and Canada. In prayer, community life, ministry, with family and friends, we witness to God’s Spirit dwelling within us and encourage others to recognize God’s action in their lives. Sound like you? Contact us! E-mail: reneemsc@marianites.org; website: http://www.marianites.org. See ad on page 160. Code #162. Marist Missionary Sisters (S.M.S.M.) The Marist Missionary Sisters are a multi-cultural congregation. They belong to a religious family known as the Society of Mary, whose members include laity, sisters, brothers, and priests. Today, the Marist Missionary Sisters serve in many countries on six continents. We serve in many different ways, such as education, pastoral ministry, social outreach, and the promotion of health and ecology. We live simply and prayerfully in community in the spirit of Mary. As we embrace different cultures and traditions, we experience many unique expressions of faith and community that enrich us. If you are looking for more and want to make a difference in our world, come and share our vision. Contact: Vocation Office, 349 Grove St., Waltham, MA 02453; (781) 899-1837; e-mail: smsmvoc@aol.com; website: http://www.maristmissionarysmsm.org. Code #128. Maryknoll Sisters (M.M.) We are women religious missionaries of varied nationalities. Rooted in Christ, we cross boundaries of cultures, races, gender, socioeconomic-political status and faith traditions, making

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org God’s love and compassion visible in 30 countries in Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands and the Americas. We serve as pastoral workers, social workers, community based health workers, doctors, nurses, catechists, farmers, teachers, theologians, spiritual directors and advocates for justice and peace, preservation of the environment and integrity of all creation. We journey with the people especially the poor and oppressed in the search for truth, for justice, and for peace. Come. . . join us. . . . Contact: Vocation Ministry, Maryknoll Sisters, P.O. Box 311, Maryknoll, NY 10545; (914) 941-7575 ext. 5676; e-mail: vocation@mksisters.org. Our website: http://www.maryknollsisters.org. See ad on page 103. Code #199.

Medical Mission Sisters (M.M.S.) Medical Mission Sisters are an international community of Catholic Sisters and Associates whose lives are committed to healing and wholeness. We live out this commitment in 19 countries on five continents, including North America. Our call “to be present to life in the spirit of Jesus the healer” takes shape in our involvements in primary health care, hospitals, holistic health, women’s groups, community development, social work, global education, environmental concerns, and justice and peace issues. Our approach is to work closely with local people, helping them learn how to experience health and healing in their own lives, communities and nations. We invite women who want to live the love of God for all people through a mission of healing to join us on our journey. For more information, contact: Sr. Marguerite Papineau, 8400 Pine Road, Philadelphia, PA 19111; (215) 742-6100 or (215) 2058979; e-mail: mms8400@aol.com; website: http://www. medicalmissionsisters.org. See ad on page 104. Code #042. Medical Missionaries of Mary (M.M.M.) Inspired by our Blessed Mother’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth, the Medical Missionaries of Mary (MMM) follow her example, bringing Christ’s healing love to those most in need. Sustained by prayer and community life, each sister, in self-surrender, seeks God through a life-long commitment of poverty, celibacy, and obedience in service to the sick, poor, marginalized and most neglected of our world. MMM is particularly drawn to those services that heal and empower women. MMM presently serve in nine African countries, Brazil and Honduras ministering in a variety of professional capacities such as midwives, nurses, doctors, social services, administrators and various pastoral ministries. The sisters strive to identify, respect and affirm cultural differences and wisdom with particular regards to health and healing. Primary Health Care, in continuous dialogue with the local people, is a MMM priority. Contact: Sr. Madeleine LeBlanc, Vocation Director, Medical Missionaries of Mary, 179 Highland Ave., Somerville, MA 02143-1515; (617) 666-3223; e-mail: srmadeleinem-

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Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart (M.H.S.H.) Mission Helpers can be found visiting poor families in their homes to inquire about their needs; acting as advocates for the handicapped and hearing impaired; feeding the homeless of our cities; reaching out to the Hispanic community in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela; counseling and challenging young people; comforting families of the terminally ill, including those with AIDS; counseling families dealing with social, economic, or psychological pressures and proclaiming the Gospel through spirituality programs and formal religious education. Becoming aware of an existing need, a Mission Helper responds. Vocation Director, 1001 West Joppa Road, Baltimore, MD 21204; (410) 823-8585, ext. 255; fax: (410) 296-4050; e-mail: ovillegas@missionhelpers.org; website: http://www.missionhelpers.org. See ad on page 132. Code #043. Missionary Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.)—Immaculata Monastery & Spirituality Center Missionary Benedictine Sisters commit themselves to Jesus Christ through their monastic life and ministry. Community and personal prayer, active ministry and a communal, simple lifestyle blend together to form a dynamic of grace as they seek to know and serve God in their day-to-day lives. The sung Liturgy of the Hours, daily Eucharist, and Lectio Divina are irreplaceable parts of their day. Their missionary focus is to bring the Good News of Jesus in word and deed, especially to those most in need. 1,400 Missionary Benedictine Sisters reach out to the people in need in 19 countries. The sisters do a variety of ministries, e.g., health care, education, social work, spiritual direction and retreats, along with youth ministry. In the United States, 40 Sisters serve in Nebraska and Minnesota. Vocations Office, 300 North 18th Street, Norfolk, NE, 68701; (402) 371-3438; e-mail: srcacosb@yahoo.com or vocations@norfolk-osb. org; website: http://www.norfolk-osb.org. Our blog is www.norfolkmbs.blogspot.com. See ad on page 100. Code #249. Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (M.F.I.C.) The Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, a community of about 250 Sisters, serve the church, especially the poor and needy, in 10 countries of the world including nine East Coast states of the U.S. In the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi we seek to embrace a radical following of the gospel, calling one another to holiness, living in community. In a world of division, we strive to be peacemakers by our presence. Our ministries are quite varied and include: education, health care, foreign missions, social services, pastoral ministry, prison chaplaincy, campus ministry, counseling, spiritual direction, legal services. We have vowed and associate members. Vocation Director, Sr. Anna Theresa, 790 Centre Street, Newton, MA 02458; (617) 969-1024; fax: (617) 527-2528; e-mail: mfic@mficusa.org; website: http://www.mficusa.org. See ad on page 107. Code #179. Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity (M.S.B.T.) Love means service! The Holy Spirit is seeking qualified young women to become our sisters as we work to open NEW MISSIONS, and to help us continue to serve at our established missions. Our call is to take on “abandoned work”—work of the Church that wouldn’t get done without us. We find ourselves in poor or remote places where people need material help and spiritual encouragement. We are missionaries! We work to preserve the Catholic Faith among traditionally Catholic people, often immigrant populations who desperately need support. We are in the USA, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Jamaica. We adapt to the needs we find. Our work includes: parish ministries of all kinds, social services, young adult ministries, outreach to migrant workers, prison work, health care, at-risk children’s programs, retreat ministries, and family life development programs. Glory to the Triune

God! Sr. Mary Kay McDonald, MSBT, and Sr. Olivia Montejano, MSBT, 3501 Solly Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19136; (215) 335-7534; e-mail: voc@msbt.org; website: http://www.msbt.org. See ad on page 125. Code #278. Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary (M.S.H.R.) The Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary seek to continue Christ’s mission in today’s broken world. We are diverse in ministries, ethnicities, and cultures. As women of faith and prayer, we strive to give witness to missionary zeal. We are ready to be sent beyond the boundaries of our own country and culture. As we go forth, we endeavor to find, nurture, and share the Divine Life and its abundance, especially with those on the margins. Through our apostolates in Africa, the Americas, and Europe, we work to establish a Christian presence, to empower, especially women, and to foster spiritual and economic development. Our missionary life allows those on the margins to challenge us to become more compassionate and to work with them to create a more human and thus, more Godly world. Contact: Sr. Florence Enechukwu, 741 Polo Rd., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010; (610) 520-1974; e-mail: enechufn@yahoo.com; website: http://www.holyrosarysisters.org See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #186. Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (S.M.I.C.) We are an international community that lives and breathes a deep love for St. Francis and St. Clare as well as for mission. Through our mission, we express our contemplative compassionate presence to all, especially the most needy. Our foundation was in Brazil in 1910. Now we are on all continents to live the gospel and to give witness to God’s love. Our ministries are fine-tuned with the needs of the people we serve. Going to Angola/Africa is our newest endeavor. We Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception invite you to consider religious life! Please contact Sr. Andrea Westkamp, S.M.I.C., 779 Broadway, Paterson, NJ 07514; (973) 279-3790; e-mail: vocationssmic@aol.com; website: http://www.smic-missionarysisters.com. Code #131. Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (M.S.C.) We are missionaries who are called to be the heart of God in the world. United in faith and prayer, we are 850 women risking for the Gospel in the U.S.A. and in 17 other countries. Our mission is to serve those most in need of the compassionate love of Jesus, wherever that may be. Our ministries are diverse, including: evangelization, social work, health care, education, pastoral care, counseling, and parish ministry. We invite women 20 - 45 years of age to join us in spreading the message that God loves all people. Vocation Minister, 2811 Moyers Lane, Reading, PA 19605; e-mail: mscvocdir@aol.com; website: http://www.mscreading.org. See ad on page 95. Code #305.

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Mater Redemptoris Convent and House of Formation Founded in 2000, this is a place for young women (ages 17 to 25) to discern if God is calling them to Consecrated Life. While receiving their academic education, the aspirants learn what religious life is all about by living in the convent during the school week. They may go home to their families 3 weekends a month. One weekend a month, the Sisters and aspirants take time to learn about religious congregations, their spirituality, prayer, and way of life. Formation Weekends and retreats are also open to those young women who believe God may be calling them to religious life but cannot live at the House of Formation. Over 400 young women have visited the convent and over two dozen women have entered nine different religious congregations. The House of Formation is staffed by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George whose apostolic presence is found in schools, health care, and parishes in over 10 dioceses in the nation. For more information: Sr. M. Stephania Newell, FSGM, 3730 East Avenue South, La Crosse, WI 54602; (608) 7884530; e-mail: snewell@dioceseoflacrosse.com; website: http://www.dioceseoflacrosse.com. Code #286.

mm@yahoo.com; website: http://www.mmmusa.org. Code #299.

Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (M.S.C.) “Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked. . .? Whatever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.” We are Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus—passionate and bold in responding to the most urgent needs of our world. Our works include health care for the poor and uninsured, elder care, education, low-income housing, advocacy for immigrants and persons who are trafficked, faith formation and human promotion. We are in 16 countries around the world. We are vowed sisters, lay missionaries, volunteers and many others who collaborate in our works—all seeking to be a creative and compassionate expression of Christ’s love in the world. Come. Join us. For more information on how to share your gifts as a Missionary for one year, two years, or the rest of your life, visit our website www.mothercabrini.org. MSC Vocation Director, 610 King of Prussia Rd., Mansion, Second Floor Wing, Radnor, PA 19087; (610) 902-1039; e-mail: MSCvocations@mothercabrini.org. See ad on page 3. Code #044.

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Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters Called by the Spirit - Embracing the World

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Give meaning to your life! Join us in our worldwide mission!

Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters Office of Vocation Ministry 319 Waukegan Road Northfield, IL 60093 Phone: 847-441-0126, ext. 704 sspsovm@aol.com www.ssps-usa.org

Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary We are a Eucharistic and contemplative community consisting of priests, brothers, and sisters, who wear a full habit, as well as lay “external” members, all of whom are consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Our daily schedule, besides Holy Mass, includes: 15 decade Rosary (20 on Thursday), Divine Mercy Chaplet, Liturgy of the Hours, and time for silent adoration, all before Our Lord Jesus, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. After being filled with the love and mercy of Our Savior, we go forth to be His reflection to others through various corporal works of mercy. Contact: Vocation Director, 48765 Annapolis Rd., Hopedale, OH 43976; (740) 946-9000; e-mail: twohearts1@mac.com; website: http://www.heartsofjesusandmary.org. Code #271. Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters (O.L.V.M.) An OLVM (Victory Noll) Sister is creative, daring and innovative by the life she lives in response to the missionary call. She helps others translate their dreams, prayers and visions into actions by living among the people in a simple, prophetic life of community and ministry. She is, like Mary, rooted in the Gospel, standing with Jesus as a witness to justice issues. She is a vowed religious who chooses to live out those vows in response to the needs of the poor and oppressed, especially women. Victory Noll Sisters do this, not tied to large institutions, but in creative and diverse ministries. If you would like to explore challenging opportunities to continue the Mission of Jesus as a Victory Noll Sister, contact Sr. Rose Ann Kaiser, Vocation and Associate Coordinator, P.O. Box 109, Huntington, IN 46750-0109 or via e-mail: voc@olvm.org or phone (260) 356-0628 ext. 154. Visit our website: http://www.olvm. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 131. Code #201.

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Oblate Sisters of Providence (O.S.P.) The Oblate Sisters of Providence were founded in 1829 to meet the needs of Haitian refugees in Baltimore. As the oldest religious community for women of African descent, we continue the tradition of education and service to the poor and neglected begun by our foundress, Mother Mary Lange. In African American and Latino communities in the United States and Costa Rica we serve primarily as teachers, school administrators, social workers, catechists and pastoral associates. Through our ministries we spread the Good News of Christ by the integrity of our faith, our love of God and our firm hope and trust in God’s Providence. If you hunger for a deeper relationship with God, have a longing to help God’s people and desire to be an instrument of change, contact Sr. Marcia Hall, OSP, Vocation Director; (410) 242-8500; e-mail: sr.marciaosp@gmail. com; website: http://www.oblatesistersvocations.com. Together we have the ability to change lives! Code #340. Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (O.S.H.J.) The Oblate Sisters are a group of women who strive to attain union with God by offering their lives for diocesan priests. Their special charism is both spiritual and ministerial. The sisters are called first of all to pray for priestly holiness and to offer the joys and sorrows of their lives for the good of priests. Ministerially the sisters care for retired and convalescent priests, and collaborate with them in parish ministry, which includes teaching, directing religious education, hospital visitation, and distribution of the Eucharist to the home bound. The sisters also conduct a preschool and kindergarten, which is located on their Motherhouse grounds. Sr. Teresina Rosa, 50 Warner Road, Hubbard, OH 44425; (330) 7599329; e-mail: JCOBLATE@aol.com; website: http://www. oblatesistersofshj.com. See ad on page 122. Code #196.

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Pallottine Missionary Sisters (S.A.C.) [Missionary Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate] “The love of Christ impels us” is the motto of our congregation. St. Vincent Pallotti founded the sisters in Rome as a way to fulfill the needs of the people of his time. His vision was for everyone to live out their baptismal call and spread the Gospel message by any and all means through their unique God-given gifts. As Pallottines, we are called, just as St. Vincent was, to empower the laity and to awaken in all Christians their apostolic call. We live out our consecrated life through prayer, community living, and apostolic service. Our ministries vary based on our individual call and the needs of others. The Pallottines serve in West Virginia, Maryland, Missouri and 19 other countries. For more information contact Sr. Lena May, SAC, 15270 Old Halls Ferry Rd., Florissant, MO 63034-1611; (314) 830-9814; e-mail: vocations@pallottinespirit.org; website: http://www.pallottinespirit.org. See ad on page 117. Code #239. Pallottine Sisters (C.S.A.C.) [Sisters of the Catholic Apostolate]—Immaculate Conception Province The charism of the Pallottines is to awaken in each person the awareness that God has called us to be apostles. St. Vincent Pallotti, inspired by the universal call to holiness, established the Union of the Catholic Apostolate with priests, brothers, sisters, and laity in 1835 in Rome, Italy. Pallottines work together to give new life to faith, a new spark to love, and a new thrust to bringing all to unity in Jesus Christ. They do this through education of children and adults, formation programs for the laity, outreach to immigrants, and collaboration with other groups. As Pallottine Sisters community life, scripture, prayer, and the Eucharist are a major part of our religious life. We have missions in Italy, Brazil, Argentina, India, and Mozambique, Africa. For more information, write to Director of New Membership and Ministry, P.O. Box 767, Harriman, NY 10926-0767. Call (English) (845) 492-5076; (Spanish) (845) 238-3917; e-mail: newapostle98@yahoo.com; website: http://www.pallottinesisters.org. See ad on page 117. Code #239.

Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate We are contemplative-missionary Sisters, founded in New York City in 1920 by Mother Mary Teresa Tallon. Our apostolate of evangelization, religious education and social service assistance is fired by a life of Eucharistic prayer and love for Jesus and His Church. Mary’s Visitation to Elizabeth, and Jesus the Good Shepherd, inspire us as we visit parish families or catechize children, youth and adults. We seek especially to befriend and spiritually assist careless and alienated Catholics while guiding and encouraging Catholic family life. To learn more about us, see our website at parishvisitorsisters.org or contact Sr. Dolores Marie, Vocation Director, P.O. Box 658, Monroe, NY 10949-0658; (845) 783-2251; e-mail: pvmi@frontiernet.net. See ad on page 87. Code #292. Passionist Nuns (C.P.), Clarks Summit, PA Our community invites single women of mature age who feel an attraction to contemplative community to “Come and See” for a time, to become mutually acquainted and to share our lifestyle. We live as sisters together a simple prayerful life of worship and service, walking and working in the Presence of God throughout the day and meeting for celebration of Liturgy in Eucharist and Liturgy of the Hours in our monastery chapel. By our unique vow, Passionist Nuns are devoted to a grateful remembrance of the sacrificing love of Jesus “even to death on a cross” and to lifting up this gift to God by our union with Him for the redemptive needs of all the world. Contact: The Passionist Nuns, St. Gabriel’s Monastery, 631 Griffin Pond Road, S. Abington Township, PA 18411; (570) 586-2791; e-mail: passionistnunscls@yahoo.com; website: http://www. passionistnunscls.org. Code #238. Passionist Nuns (C.P.), Ellisville, MO Brides of the Crucified. Giving Him everything through Religious vows. A spirit of poverty, solitude, prayer and community builds a relationship with Jesus of worshipful love. We love for those who don’t; pray for those who won’t. Thus do we serve God, the Church, the World. Loyal to the Holy Father. We pray the Liturgy of Hours, daily Holy Mass and Rosary, coming before the Blessed Sacrament at least 8 times daily keeps us attuned to the beatings of the Sacred Heart. Looking for something to fill the emptiness in life? Write: Passionist Nuns, 15700 Clayton Rd., Ellisville, MO 63011-2300; website: http:// home.catholicweb.com/passionistnuns. NO E-MAIL. Please provide a mailing address when you write. Code #047. Poor Clares (O.S.C.) [Order of Saint Clare]—Langhorne, PA Cloistered Franciscan nuns, founded by St. Clare of Assisi, companion of St. Francis of Assisi. For more than 750 years Poor Clares have been part of the heart of the church, living the Gospel Life in their contemplative life style which is nourished by daily Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours throughout the day, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during times of the day, and a joyous community life. A year of postulancy follows a time of getting to know the community. There are two years of novitiate before vows. Each Poor Clare house is autonomous, but joined in living the ideals with Poor Clares throughout the U.S. and the world. Join us in living a life of love of God and in loving and praying for the world. Monastery of St. Clare, 1271 Langhorne-Newtown Road, Langhorne, PA 19047-1297, e-mail: vocation@ poorclarepa.org; website: http://www.poorclarepa.org. See ad on page 20. Code #048. Poor Clares (O.S.C.) [Order of Saint Clare]—Spokane, WA Our monastery is located in the beautiful Northwest city of Spokane, Washington. We are a small, cloistered community dedicated to God through prayer and contemplation. Our community is known for its joyful spirit which is reflected in our prayer, work, and communal life. We wear a common habit and follow closely the full teachings of the Church. As Franciscans we believe in nurturing our love of God, one another, and all of God’s

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org creation. During the warm months of the year we pray together outside as much as possible and work many hours in our large garden where we grown vegetables, fruits, and flowers. We encourage each sister to develop and use her own gifts and abilities for the good of the community and the Church. We respond to many prayer requests, publish books, create web pages, and manage a 24-hour Catholic radio station. Contact: Monastery of Saint Clare, 4419 N. Hawthorne St., Spokane, WA 99205; (509) 327-44769; e-mail: srpat@calledbyjoy.com; website: http://www.calledtojoy.com. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. Code #194.

Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Associates Associates are baptized adults who make a non-vowed temporary covenant with the Associate Community in the Spiritual Family of Catherine Kasper for the purpose of mutual spiritual enrichment, development of community and promotion of service. Our commitment is based on the common call of the Holy Spirit to live the charism of Blessed Catherine Kasper, foundress of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Congregation. Together with the Fiat Spiritus Community, Associates and Poor Handmaid Sisters form the Spiritual Family of Catherine Kasper. Gayle Fiwek, P.O. Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513; (574) 936-9936 ext. 733; e-mail: gfiwek@poorhandmaids.org; website: http://www.poorhandmaids.org\associates. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #049.

Redemptoristine Nuns (OSsR) [Order of the Most Holy Redeemer] Redemptoristines hear the invitation to search for God in contemplative silence and solitude within monastic community and surrender themselves to conversion and transformation into the “Living Memory of Jesus our Redeemer.” Redemptoristine life centers on unceasing prayer begun in daily Eucharist and continued through the Liturgy of the Hours, private prayer and recollection. In silence and solitude we are a praying presence, a memory of God’s love in the Church and in the world. Solemn vows lived simply in poverty, lovingly in celibacy and willingly in obedience bring us to contemplation. Freely offering ourselves to God, to be possessed by Him, we find the enclosure an external expression of an interior value; the desire for total availability to God. Contact: Sr. Hildegard Pleva, OSsR, Mother of Perpetual Help Monastery, P.O. Box 220, Esopus, NY 12429; (845) 3856533; e-mail: ContemplativeCall@hotmail.com; website: http://www.RedemptoristineNunsofNewYork.org. Code #336. Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (R.S.H.M.) We are an international Institute, founded in France in 1849,

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Salesian Sisters (F.M.A.) “Like Mary, for Jesus and for the Young.” The Salesian Family is over 14,000 Sisters and 16,000 Priests and Brothers—changing the world one young person at a time. We are known for deep devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist, a great love for Mary, and our fidelity to the Pope. Our mission is one: We’re all about YOUTH! (We really love kids!) We serve youth in schools, youth groups, catechetical centers, youth centers, summer camps, retreat centers, and mission lands. We’re in over 89 countries. In the U.S. we are present in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. Check out our website: http://www.salesianvocations.org or e-mail us: fmavoc@aol.com. See ad on page 19. Code #117.

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School Sisters of Notre Dame (S.S.N.D.) We are women of hope who are committed to serving God’s people in order to bring Jesus’ message of love and unity to our world. As women religious, we value prayer, faith sharing, and a community life that calls us to be of “one mind and one heart.” We are a vibrant international congregation with nearly 4000 School Sisters of Notre Dame who live and minister in over 30 countries. Believing that our international presence gives us a unique global responsibility, we address the urgent needs of our time, particularly those of women, youth, and those who are poor. We are educators in all that we do, fostering the God-given potential within each person, encouraging them to use their gifts to make the world a better place. Our ministries include such areas as formal education, social services, parish and retreat ministry, health care, and missionary service. Contact us for the Vocation Office nearest you. Sr. Barbara Bacak, S.S.N.D., 5503 Rolling Dale Drive, San Antonio, TX 78228; (210) 834-3271; email: bbacak@ssnddallas.org; website: http://www.ssnd. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 125. Code #052.

School Sisters of St. Francis (O.S.F.)—[Panhandle Franciscans] Our vocation—it’s all about loving Jesus! Founded in 1723, the Congregation of the School Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis is fervently continuing the mission of our Foundress, Mother Maria Hyacintha, who gave her heart to the children of her day. Today our hearts still seek the young people who are looking for God. Our apostolate is the Christian education of youth and their parents. We especially enjoy studying and incorporating the Theology of the Body, trying to help others understand and embrace these awesome teachings! We are Franciscan religious who are excited about our involvement in the New Evangelization. We meet the Lord daily in Eucharist Adoration, living always in union with the Holy Father and the Magisterium. We depend on our Blessed Mother to intercede for us, and we strive for a deep and intimate relationship with the Holy Trinity, allowing that ongoing exchange of love to overflow into everyone we meet. Contact: Sr. Mary Michael Huseman, OSF; P.O. Box 906, 119 Franciscan Way, Panhandle, TX 79068; (806) 537-3182; e-mail: schsrs@gmail.com; website: http://www.panhandlefranciscans.org. Code #350.

School Sisters of St. Francis (S.S.S.F.) Founded in 1874, our members serve in the United States, Germany, Switzerland, India, Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. About 1,200 vowed members and associates are involved in educational, healing, pastoral, social justice and fine arts ministries. Our mission is to witness to the Good News of Jesus and the presence of the reign of God as we enter into the lives and needs of people, especially people who are poor. Prayer is central to our lives. We open ourselves to the world around us, as we commit ourselves to minister cooperatively, compassionately, and creatively to the needs of others. Together we can transform the world. Please contact: Vocation Minister, 1515 South Layton Boulevard, Milwaukee, WI 53215; (414) 385-5253; e-mail: vocations@sssf.org; website: http://www.sssf.org. Code #053.

Servants of Mary, Sisters (O.S.M.) We bring the compassionate presence of Christ to the world through lives lived in community, serving the needs of others in a variety of ministries while looking to Mary as the example of life and service. Sisters, Servants of Mary, Ladysmith, WI: Sr. Bonnie Alho, O.S.M., 1000 College Ave., Ladysmith, WI 54848; (715) 790-0475; e-mail: osmalho@gmail.com; website: http://www.servitesisters.org. Servants of Mary Omaha, NE: Sr. Ann Marie Petrylka, O.S.M., Our Lady of Sorrows Convent, 7400 Military Avenue, Omaha, NE 88134-3351; (402) 5712547 ext. 229; e-mail: sam@osms.org; website: http:// www.osms.org. Mantellate Sisters, Servants of Mary, Blue Island, IL: Sr. Maria Teresa Musto, O.S.M., Villa Santa Maria Convent, 6101 Oak Forest Avenue, Tinley Park, IL 60477; (708) 532-2241; e-mail: sr_maria@sbcglobal.net.; website: http://www.mantellatesistersmsm.

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Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ (P.H.J.C.) We are an international congregation of apostolic religious founded by Catherine Kasper in Dernbach, Germany. We minister with the poor, the sick, and children in the United States, Mexico, Germany, England, the Netherlands, India, Brazil, Kenya and Nigeria. As a Spiritual Family, we live the spirit of Catherine Kasper as Poor Handmaids, Associates and a sister community, the Fiat Spiritus Community. With prayer and community living as our foundation we minister in rural, urban, and inner city settings primarily in the Midwest. Focused on partnering in the work of the Spirit, we invite others to join us in various facets of education, pastoral and social work, neighborhood based health ministries, spiritual guidance, and care for the environment. We are recognized more by the love and simplicity with which we serve than by any particular ministry. In the U.S.A.: Sr. Kathy Haas, P.H.J.C., P.O. Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513; (574) 936-9936; e-mail: skathyh@poorhandmaids.org; website: http://www. poorhandmaids.org. In Mexico e-mail: vocacion_spjc@ hotmail.com; website: http://www.siervaspobres.org.mx. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #049.

by Fr. Jean Gailhac, to follow Jesus Christ, who came “that all may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10). Our mission, “to know and love God, to make God known and loved,” calls us to be women of prayer and to put ourselves and our resources at the service of those most in need of justice. We live in varied community settings according to our ministries which include: education, social services, pastoral work, health care, retreat work, legal services and other ways of promoting life, especially in those situations where it is denied or diminished. Internationality is a gift from our origins. We are in Brazil, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Mali, Mexico, Mozambique, Portugal, Scotland, USA, Wales, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Please contact: Sr. Loretta Ruvo, RSHM, 50 Wilson Park Drive, Tarrytown, NY 10591-3023; (914) 631-8872; e-mail: loretta@rshmeap.org; Sr. Miriam Tiburcio, RSHM; 441 North Garfield Avenue, Montebello, CA 90640-2901; (323) 887-8821 ext. 215; e-mail: vocations@rshm.org; Sr. Virginia Garza, RSHM; 52 (751) 348-0149 (Mexico); e-mail: intercorazon@prodigy.net.mx; website: http:// www.rshm.org. See ad on page 130. Code #273.

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org hearts and lead them to Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Could this be that “something more” you’ve been seeking? Contact: Vocation Director, 11 Aspen Avenue, South Portland, ME 04106; (207) 775-1128; e-mail: scimvocation@gwi.net; website: http://www.scimsisters.org. See ad on page 43. Code #309.

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Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (I.H.M.)—Immaculata, PA Animated by our charism of love, creative hope, and fidelity, and in imitation of Mary, we proclaim the Gospel message in the spirit of Jesus the Redeemer. Strengthened by a life of vowed consecration, nurtured by prayer and the Eucharist, and sustained by community living, we radiate joyful service and promote Gospel values, offering compassion to all God’s people through our mission to evangelize, to catechize, and to teach. In the spirit of St. Alphonsus, we promote peace and justice in addressing the needs of the most abandoned poor. For information contact Sr. Carmen Teresa Fernández or Sr. Rose Bernadette Mulligan, Villa Maria House of Studies, 1140 King Rd. Immaculata, PA 193450200; (610) 889-1553; e-mail: ihmvoc@aol.com; website: http://www.ihmimmaculata.org. See ad on page 166. Code #187.

enter #162 at VocationMatch.com org. Mantellate Sisters, Servants of Mary, Plainfield, IL: Sr. Gesuina Bongiorno, O.S.M., Marian Lake Convent, 16949 South Drauden Road, Plainfield, IL 60544; (815) 436-5796; e-mail: sgesosm@msrml.org; website: http:// www.mantellatesistersmsm.org. See ad on page 74. Code #159. Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary (S.S.C.M.) A religious congregation serving the needs of the church through parish ministry, health care, teaching, counseling, and human services. The sisters serve in the dioceses of Belleville, Chicago, Rockford, Joliet, and Peoria. The heart of the ministry of the SERVANTS OF THE HOLY HEART OF MARY is the support and challenge of their lives of PRAYER AND COMMUNITY. It is personal prayer, as well as through the liturgical prayer of the church, that the sisters are impelled to ministry and community. For more information please contact: Vocation Office, Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary, 717 North Batavia Avenue, Batavia, IL 60510; (630) 879-1296; e-mail: vocation@sscm-usa.org; website: http://www.sscm-usa.org. See ad on page 132. Code #055. Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (S.C.I.M.) Better known as Good Shepherd Sisters of Quebec have at heart to bring about the Kingdom by communicating God’s love and goodness. Prayer, Community Life, and Ministry mark the rhythm of our lives. We are dedicated to the ministry of mercy and faith education in social services and teaching. Whether in the United States, Canada, Africa, Haiti, or Brazil, we primarily serve women, youth and the poor. In Maine, we help parenting young women with infants, assist families by providing international and domestic adoption services, counseling and outreach services. We help women prisoners transition back into society, teach and share Scripture with inmates. We seek to touch

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Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (I.H.M.)—Monroe, MI We are a progressive, visionary faith community of 451 sisters, as well as 120 associates, and volunteers who join our God quest leading us along new pathways today. Our mission has evolved and grown in response to the pressing global, social, and ecological injustices in the world. Those needs offer us various opportunities in ministry, including traditional and nontraditional education, justice advocacy, spirituality and sustainability. We build community that sustains us as individuals, as sisters and as interdependent members of the entire community of life. We are willing to take risks for the sake of the future and trust in divine providence. Contact us at our Membership Office, 610 West Elm Avenue, Monroe, MI 48162; (734) 240-9821; e-mail: membership@ihmsisters.org; website: http://www.ihmsisters. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 63. Code #258. Sisters of Charity (Federation) The Sisters of Charity Federation is comprised of 12 religious congregations, representing more than 4,000 members in the United States and Canada, who recognize their particular character and spirit in the tradition of Charity founded by St. Vincent de Paul, St. Louis de Marillac and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Impelled by Christ’s love and joined together in the mission of Charity they respond to the cries of those who are poor and marginalized with lives of extravagant love. To learn more and for contact information for vocation directors of member congregations visit www. sisters-of-charity-federation.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. Code #059. Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati (S.C.) We are an active apostolic congregation, following in the footsteps of our foundress, St. Elizabeth Seton. For contact information and to view our DVD “Extravagant Love: The Vocation of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati” visit our website at http://www.srcharitycinti.org/vowed.htm or write to Vocation Coordinator, 5900 Delhi Road, Mount St. Joseph, OH 45051. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #059. Sisters of Charity of Halifax (S.C.) The Sisters of Charity of Halifax are seeking young adult women who wish to make the love of God visible by giving joyful witness! Our spirituality is rooted in the tradition of Saint Elizabeth Seton, Saint Vincent de Paul, and Saint Louise de Marillac. We are committed to standing in the fire of Gospel values and responding to a world wounded by violence and stripped of hope. While many of us are in Massachusetts, New York, and Nova Scotia, we also serve in other parts of the United States, Canada, Bermuda, Peru, and

the Dominican Republic. Our ministries include education, pastoral ministry, social service, health care, earth ministry, social justice, community service, and outreach. We welcome those whom God calls to share our life of community, prayer, and service. Considering religious life? Call Sr. Maryanne Ruzzo at (781) 997-1355; e-mail: mruzzo@schalifax.ca; website: http://www.schalifax.ca. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #059. Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth (S.C.L.) We are an apostolic community of 300 women committed to love the poor, to love one another, to live simply, and to unite the whole of our lives in the poor and loving Christ. We serve in the West (California, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming), Midwest (Kansas and Missouri), and Latin America (Peru). We serve in a variety of ministries including: Health care: hospitals and clinics for the uninsured poor; Education: college, high school, elementary; Pastoral ministry: parish administration, religious education, spiritual direction, campus ministry, youth ministry; Social services: Catholic Charities, AIDS ministry, social justice advocates. Sr. Sharon Smith, 4200 South 4th Street, Leavenworth, KS 66048; (913) 758-6522; e-mail: ssmith@ scls.org; website: http://www.scls.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #059. Sisters of Charity of Nazareth, KY (S.C.N.) We are an international congregation founded in 1812 in Kentucky. We and our associates are committed to work for justice in solidarity with oppressed peoples, especially the poor and women, and to care for the earth. We engage in diverse ministries in the U.S., India, Nepal, Belize, and Botswana. Sr. Nancy Gerth, S.C.N., P.O. Box 10, Bardstown, KY 40048; (502) 331-4516; e-mail: snancy@scnazarethky. org; website: http://www.scnfamily.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #059. Sisters of Charity of New York (S.C.) An apostolic congregation of women living in community in the tradition of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac. Founded by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, we are called to reveal God’s love in our lives with and for all in need, especially with persons who are poor. We serve particularly in the New York area, and among the people of Sololá and Quiché in Guatemala. Our ministries include education, health care, social services, pastoral care and housing. We collaborate with organizations working for peace/justice. We invite women to join us for the sake of the Gospel. To find about more about us, please visit our website at www.scny.org or call (718) 543-4898 at the Office of New Membership, Box 1167, 6301 Riverdale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10471; e-mail: vocationsc@scny.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. Code #059. Sisters of Charity of Rolling Hills (S.C.R.H.) The Sisters of Charity of Rolling Hills were founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California. Our foundresses envisioned a community of Sisters working in different professions, living in community, praying together, and sharing a passion for serving Christ in the poor and needy, principally in the Los Angeles area. Some of the professions: artists, musicians, microbiologists, teachers, college professors, librarians, office workers. If you see yourself fitting into this, perhaps you can add to the list..., contact us! Sr. Tracey Sharp, SCRH, Vocation Director, 28600 Palos Verdes Dr. East, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275; (310) 831-4104 or (310) 831-5385; e-mail: SCRHVocatn@aol.com. See ad on page 22. Code #007. Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill (S.C.) Prayer, service, and life in community are the primary principles upon which the sisters carry out their mission, which is to reveal the reality and beauty of God’s love to people in need. The sisters administer and staff educational institutions from preschools through universities; serve in Christian

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org formation; chaplaincy, counseling, pastoral and social services. They are represented primarily in the Dioceses of Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Arizona. The Korean Province offers opportunities for foreign mission work. Contact: Sr. Maureen O’Brien, S.C., Fidelis House, 120 Underwood Avenue, Greensburg, PA 15601; (724) 454-8601; e-mail: mobrien@scsh.org. or Sr. Rachel Blais, S.C., 740 Elysian Avenue, Morgantown, WV 26501; (304) 685-7733; e-mail: rachelwv2001@yahoo.com; website: http://www.scsh.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. Code #059.

Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida (S.C.S.J.A.) Gifted with a 200-year tradition of vowed service with and among the poor, we choose again to be one with Jesus Christ and the powerless. We are rooted in the Gospel by dedicating ourselves to the love, empowerment, service and evangelization of the poor through a fourth vow. As an international community, we minister in 27 countries in a diversity of ministries. Committed to living in community, we invite women of daring love and faith to come join with us as we stand with and work among the powerless and the poor. Sr. Theresa Rozga, S.C.S.J.A., 8560 North 76th Place, Milwaukee, WI 53223; (414) 354-9233; e-mail: srtheresa@scsja.org; website: http://www.scsja.org. Code #060. Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (B.V.M.) BVMs are vibrant women who are passionate about life and ministry. We value relationships and the mutual support of community. The search for spiritual growth is at the heart of who we are. We are women who hunger for justice and peace. We work for a global community. BVMs educate at all levels: pre-school through college, special education, ESL, adult education, administration. We minister as hospital, hospice and prison chaplains, as well as with those suffering from addictions or AIDS. We take leadership roles as parish ministers, spiritual directors, theologians, counselors and therapists. BVMs serve in justice and peace centers, environmental initiatives, housing programs, shelters for women and the homeless. BVMs serve in the U.S., Ecuador, Guatemala, and Ghana. Contact: Sr. Lou Anglin or Sr. Kathleen Carr, 1100 Carmel Drive, Dubuque, IA 52003-7991; (563) 588-2351; e-mail: newmember@bvmcong.org; website: http://www. bvmcong.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #296. Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception (SCIC) We are an apostolic congregation of women living in Canada and Peru. Founded in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1854 by Honoria Conway, we serve and advocate with others for those who are sick and/or living in poverty. Committed to social justice and peace locally

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Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word (CCVI), Houston, TX We are an international, multicultural, apostolic congregation. We commit ourselves to being “gospels of love,” by creating communities that are gospel based and supportive. We respond with others in faith to the pain and brokenness of our world, risking new pathways in direct service to the sick, the elderly, the orphaned, in education and to unmet needs and challenging oppressive structures. Our ministries extend to the United States, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ireland, and Kenya. If you feel “CALLED TO SERVE” please contact Sister Mary Patricia Driscoll, e-mail: mpdriscoll@ccvi-vdm.org or Sister Kim Phuong Tran; e-mail: kimccvi@yahoo.com; (713) 9286053; website: http://www.sistersofcharity.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 34. Code #061. Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word (C.C.V.I.), San Antonio, TX The Word dwells among us! Inspired by the life and love of Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word, we profess a spirituality that challenges us to make the unconditional love of God real and tangible in today’s world. Responsive to the needs of the most vulnerable, sisters, associates, and lay missionaries live the mission of love in health care, education, advocacy, pastoral ministry, spirituality and the arts, and social work. We assist the elderly, the poor and abused women and children. We bring a loving presence to God’s people in the United States, Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, and Zambia. We welcome persons who hear the call to bring God’s love into people’s lives in a very real and visible way. For more information please contact Sr. Rose Mary Forck at the New Membership Office, 4503 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209; 210-828-2224; e-mail: join_incarnateword@ amormeus.org; website: http://www.amormeus.org. See ad on page 95. Code #062. Sisters of Christian Charity (S.C.C.) The Sisters of Christian Charity, an international, active apostolic congregation exist to live and make visible the love of Christ today. The charism of Blessed Pauline von Mallinckrodt, foundress, impels the sisters to be women of deep faith who will refresh the millennium with “joyous, youthful enthusiasm and energy, the fruit of intimacy with Jesus in the Eucharist,” (S.C.C. Documents). Like Mary, the community seeks to be open to the formative power of the Holy Spirit, which transforms it into the bread and wine of Christ’s love. Pauline’s Eucharistic vision leads the Sisters into the future as a community of love, a people commissioned to bring “good news to the poor . . . sight to the blind . . . liberty to captives” (Luke 4:18). Contact (Eastern Province) Sr. Bernadette McCauley, S.C.C., Mallinckrodt Convent, 350 Bernardsville Road, Mendham, NJ 07945; (973) 543-6528 ext. 274; e-mail: sbernadette@scceast. org; website: http://www.scceast.org. Contact (Western Province) Sr. Carol Bredenkamp, S.C.C., 1801 Forest Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091-1533; e-mail: callscc@ sccwilmette.org; (847) 251-5855; website: http://www. sccwilmette.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide. org. See ad on page 147. Code #212. Sisters of Green Mountain Monastery We are a new monastery in the Catholic tradition, whose founding mis-

Become a Peacemaker with us in prayer, community, and service to all.

The Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity HOLY NAME PROVINCE Sr. Ann McDermott, osf vocationoptionssf@yahoo.com 716.754.4312, x 9701# franciscans-stella-niagara.org

Enter #142 at VocationMatch.com sion gathers its inspiration from our mentor, Fr. Thomas Berry, cp; monk, scholar, cultural historian and geologian. Rooted in the long lineage of our tradition we engage with it at this new “Moment of Grace,” as it enters into its cosmological/planetary phase. We do this by understanding ourselves within the larger context of the Universe Story and by celebrating Earth as a Single Sacred Community. Here at our monastery we place the ancient monastic values of prayer and silence, simplicity and scholarship, manual labor, organic farming and the cultivation of the arts at the service of the entire Earth community. We would like to invite women with founding energy and a passion for the healing and protection of the Earth Community to join us in this grand venture. If interested please contact: Sr. Gail Worcelo at srgail@together.net. Website: http://greenmountainmonastery.org. Code #345.

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Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth (S.C.) ”The purpose and spirit of the Community is embodied in its symbol, the pelican, who feeds her young with her own substance. In Christian history the pelican is a symbol of Christ in his life of unconditional giving. He is the source and model of love for us.” We render Christ every temporal and spiritual service in our power, “in the persons of the poor, either sick, prisoners, insane, or those who through shame would conceal their necessities.” We are called to a life of giving of our talents, our resources, ourselves, without condition and without reservation. In the tradition of St. Vincent de Paul the Sisters of Charity participate in the mission of the Church fundamentally through ministry supported and nourished by prayer and vowed life in community. LOOK FOR THE LIFE YOU WERE BORN TO LIVE! LIVE BOUNDLESS CHARITY IN YOUR LIFE AND WORK! Sister Patricia Dotzauer, S.C., P.O. Box 476, Convent Station, NJ 07961-0476; (973) 290-5331; e-mail: vocations@scnj.org; website: http://www.scnj.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #059.

and globally, we honor the integrity of creation. Our ministries include social service, health care, education, liturgical and music ministries, addictions counselling, spiritual direction, journalism, and religious and spiritual care. We are active members of the Sisters of Charity Federation. We seek to nurture a vocation culture flowing from Christ’s love for us and all creation. For more information: Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception, P.O. Box 2266, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada E2L 3V1; (506) 847-2065; e-mail: cpscic@nb.sympatico.ca; website: http://www.sc-ic.org. See our web ad at www. VocationGuide.org. Code #059.

Sisters of Jesus Our Hope (S.J.H.) Our mission is to proclaim the living Person of Jesus Christ and to be His instruments of healing and hope in a world that is beset with fears and uncertainties. We live poverty, chastity, and obedience in a spirit of joyful hope and servant love within a strong community life centered on Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Our community apostolate is the proclamation of Jesus Christ through evangelization, catechesis, and faith formation of children, youth, and adults. Based on the Augustinian tradition of religious life in the Church, our spirituality emphasizes a special love for the Eucharist. Our daily prayer includes Holy Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, meditation on Sacred Scripture, the Rosary, spiritual reading and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. We place a high priority on our shared faith life as well as on mutual respect and love within community. The preferred age is 21-35. Contact: Sister Judith Andrews, SJH; e-mail: sisterjudith@sistersofjesusourhope. org; website: http://www.sistersofjesusourhope.org. See ad on page 43. Code #251.

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Sisters of Nazareth Mother St. Basil founded the Sisters of Nazareth in 1851 to bring love, respect and dignity to those in need by providing a home built on the example of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Loving care and support is given by the sisters to all who struggle in a world filled with many challenges, especially children and those elderly too frail to care for themselves. These prayerful, dynamic religious women live and work in Nazareth Houses around the world. Jesus asked us to care for and bring the Word of God to the young and elderly through prayer, apostolic example and education. If you are ready to answer Christ’s call to religious life and are a single Catholic woman, please find out more about the Sisters of Nazareth. Contact the vocations director, 3333 Manning Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90064; (310) 839-2361; e-mail: vocations@nazarethhousela.org; website: http://www. sistersofnazareth.com. See ad on page 16. Code #244.

enter #085 at VocationMatch.com Sisters of Loretto (S.L.) We are an active community of faith and service. We face the emerging needs of today’s world in the fields of education, environment, women, rights of marginalized, global concerns, and non-violence. Our community consists of Sisters of Loretto, Loretto co-members, and Loretto volunteers all affirming that we are people called by God to share community faith and mission through works of peace and justice, prayer and hospitality. If this is your call or if you want to know more about religious life, contact Sr. Mary Kay; 4000 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Littleton, CO 80123; 1-877-LORETTO; e-mail: marykay@lorettocommunity.org; website: http://www.lorettocommunity.org. Code #264. Sisters of Mercy of the Americas (R.S.M.) We are an international community of women religious vowed to serve people who suffer from poverty, sickness, and lack of education, with a special concern for women and children. In innovative and traditional ways, Sisters of Mercy address human needs through collaborative efforts in education, health care, housing, and pastoral and social services. Among Sisters of Mercy one can find doctors, lawyers and paralegals, theologians, immigrant advocates, missionaries, justice advocates and peace activists, and foster mothers. The Institute includes over 4,100 sisters who serve in North, South, and Central America, the Caribbean, Guam, and the Philippines. More than 2,800 associates, several Companions in Mercy, over 700 Mercy Volunteer Corps alumni, and thousands of co-ministers in Mercy-sponsored programs and institutions also share in our mission, following the example of Mercy foundress, Catherine McAuley. We invite you to visit our website: http://www.sistersofmercy. org/vocations and contact us at 877-50MERCY; e-mail: newmembership@sistersofmercy.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 26. Code #063.

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Sisters of Notre Dame [Our Lady], (S.N.D.) We are an international, active apostolic community centered in Jesus Christ and dedicated to Mary, the first disciple. Through lives of simplicity and joy, we seek to bring the Gospel message of God’s goodness and provident care to others. Our ministries of education, pastoral care and social outreach, health care and catechesis reflect our desire to respond to the needs of the times and to share God’s compassionate love, particularly with those who are poor and marginalized. We live our vocation in community, supporting one another in our following of Jesus and in our ministries. The daily celebration of Eucharist, communal prayer and encounters with God in personal prayer are indispensable to our lives. For those considering religious life we offer discernment helps, retreats, service opportunities and live-in experiences. For more information: California Province: Sister Valerie Roxburgh, e-mail: sistervalsnd@gmail.com; website: http://www.sndca.org. Kentucky Province: Sister Jean Hoffman, e-mail: vocations@sndkentucky.org; website: http://www.sndky.org. Cleveland Province: Sister Kathleen Hine, e-mail: khine@ndec.org; website: http://www. sndchardon.org. Toledo, OH Province: Sister Marilyn Marie Ellerbrock, e-mail: mellerbrock@toledosnd.org; website: http://www.toledosnd.org. International website: http://www.sndl.org. Code #064. Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (S.N.D.deN.) Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, women with hearts as wide as the world, make known God’s goodness and love of the poor through a Gospel way of life, community, and prayer. Continuing a strong educational tradition, we stand with the poor, women, and children. We commit ourselves to work with others to create justice and peace for all. As an international religious community, founded in 1804 by St. Julie Billiart and Françoise Blin de Bourdon, we continue their mission today in Africa, Europe, Japan, North and South America. Our ministries include: education, parish and youth ministry, spiritual direction/counseling, and other developing ministries which respond to today’s needs. Notre Dame Associates and the Notre Dame Mission Volunteers also share our charism. Sr. Angele Lewis, 30 Jeffreys Neck Road, Ipswich, MA 01938-1398, (978) 380-1571; e-mail: Angele.Lewis@SNDdeN.org; website: http://ASKanSND.org or http://www.SNDdeN.org. See ad on page 35. Code #065. Sisters of Providence (S.P.)—Holyoke, MA We are a community of women with a passion for life and meeting the needs of our times. Through our lives of prayer, community, and service we are called to reveal the loving care of God’s Providence through ministries of hope and healing with particular emphasis on women, the earth, and those who are poor. Our sponsored ministries include soup kitchens and shelters, health care facilities and a spiritual life center. We are a community of women rooted in the past and open to the future. We, like you, are committed to making a difference in our world. If you would like to join us in that effort contact Sister Ann Horgan,

S.P., Sisters of Providence, 5 Gamelin Street, Holyoke, MA 01040; (413) 536-7511, ext. 558; e-mail: ahorgan@ sisofprov.org; website: http://www.sisofprov.org. Code #066. Sisters of Providence (S.P.)—Saint Mary-of-theWoods, IN Through prayer and commitment to living in community, our sisters witness to their Catholic family by living deeply spiritual and faithful lives to God in service to others. Our foundress, Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, was canonized the eighth United States saint October 15, 2006. Embracing her spirit, we honor Divine Providence by serving in various ministries in 20 states, Washington, D.C., Taiwan and China. Our sisters are educators, parish life coordinators and social service professionals. Sisters help low-income families, foster children, migrant worker families and the elderly—all who may need affordable food, housing, health care and prescriptions. Other sisters support our ministry commitment to eco-justice and practice actively in being good stewards of God’s natural resources through preservation, restoration and reverent use. We invite women between the ages of 18-42 to join with us in serving God, and God’s people, as a sister of Providence. Contact us for more information at Sisters of Providence, Vocation Office, Owens Hall, 1 Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876-1089; (812) 535-2895; e-mail: bkuper@spsmw.org; website: http://www.sistersofprovidence.org. Code #068. Sisters of Providence Mother Joseph Province (S.P.)— Seattle and Spokane, WA The Sisters of Providence are an international congregation founded by Emilie Gamelin of Montreal in 1843. As women religious, our ministries are diverse, fulfilling, and needed. They include education, parish ministry, health care, community service and support, housing, prison ministry, pastoral care, spiritual direction and retreats, and foreign missions. The community is composed of four provinces and one viceprovince spread across Canada, the United States, Chile, El Salvador, Argentina, Egypt, the Philippines, Haiti, and Cameroon. Living in community enables us to support and enrich personal and communal growth and witness gospel values. Our life of prayer includes quiet moments and faith sharing as we journey to wholeness. Contact the Vocation Director for Mother Joseph Province, in Seattle at (206) 923-4028, or in Spokane at (509) 474-2323; e-mail: vocations@providence.org; website: http://www. sistersofprovidence.net. See ad on page 114. Code #067. Sisters of Reparation of the Sacred Wounds of Jesus (S.R.) This Reparation family includes religious women and lay Donnes assisted by their priest associates, who strive to enrich their own spiritual lives by daily prayer and accepting in a spirit of reparational love, all that life holds in store for them. They eagerly spread the spirit of sacrifice and God’s gentle healing to all with whom they come in contact. Apostolic works include liturgy and worship, healing and music ministries, nursing, teaching, counseling, catechesis, spiritual enrichment, ministering to the home bound, and hospital visitation. They are making a difference in the Pacific Northwest, not just in helping people but by bringing the Word and the Love of God into their lives! Sister Mary Immaculate, S.R., 2120 S.E. 24th Ave., Portland, OR 97214-5504. Phone: 503236-4207; fax: 503-236-3400; e-mail: repsrs@comcast.net and SMImmaculate@comcast.net; website: http://www. ReparationSisters.org. See ad on page 148. Code #205. Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius (SS.C.M.) The Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius were founded in 1909 in Scranton, PA. Our spirituality is Christ-centered and Mary-modeled and flows from our motto, “ Thy Kingdom Come.” We are a presence of Christ in the world through our vowed communal life, our spirit of prayerfulness and simplicity, and our joy in the service of the Kingdom. We live out our call and charism by

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org witnessing to, proclaiming and building God’s Kingdom, dedicating our prayer and ministry to: evangelization, education, elder care, and ecumenism. We are based in the U.S., serving in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Texas, and South Carolina. If you feel God may be calling you to a lifetime of service, or simply have questions about consecrated life, please contact: Sr. Deborah Marie, SS.C.M., at Villa Sacred Heart, Danville, PA 17821; (570) 275-1093; fax: (570) 275-5997; e-mail: debbiesscm@hotmail.com; website: http://www.sscm.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 62. Code #181.

Sisters of St. Francis (O.S.F.), Sylvania, OH Women of Peace. Seekers of Justice. Called like Francis of Assisi to live the Gospel as joyful servants, the Sylvania Franciscans are a diverse community of 202 vowed religious and 80 Associates who express their commitment to all people through the way they live and in a wide and varied range of ministries in 13 states and the island of Haiti. Committed to lives as messengers of peace, the Sylvania Franciscans are active in ministries that reverence human dignity and embrace the poor and marginalized. Their advocacy efforts include respect for life, social and economic justice, the Earth Charter and ecological integrity, democracy, nonviolence and peace. For further information, go to: http://www.sistersosf.org or e-mail: vocations@sistersosf.org. See ad on page 162. Code #085. Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi “Women of faith touching a world in need.” Our Franciscan Congregation is committed to bringing the teaching, healing, reconciling, and liberating power of Jesus to every life we touch. We stand in solidarity with women and those who are poor, oppressed, and disenfranchised. We promote social justice, preservation of the earth, harmony and world peace. We seek to deepen our Franciscan identity. Our ministries are as diverse as the women who serve them: administrators; teachers; health-care providers; social workers and counselors; campus, prison, and parish ministers; child care workers; artists and musicians. Community members are located across the United States and in Taiwan. We invite women who are seeking the simplicity, meaning, and heartfelt joy of a Franciscan lifestyle to risk their future with us. Sr. Kathy Cairns or Sr. Rose Sevenich, 3221 South Lake Drive, St. Francis, WI 53235; (414) 744-1160; e-mail: vocdir@lakeosfs.org; website: http://www.lakeosfs. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 84. Code #072. Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate (O.S.F.) Led by the Spirit, we, as Joliet Franciscans, embrace the Gospel life by commitment to Franciscan values and respond to the needs of our time through prayer, community, and ministry. We minister in preschool through adult education, in parish ministry, health care, social services, religious education, and as musicians and artists. Ministering in 13 states and in Brazil, we invite inquiries from women who feel called to our Franciscan way of life as

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Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity (O.S.F.)—Holy Name Province We are a worldwide congregation striving to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi, and Magdalen Damen, our foundress. We contemplate the Word of God, living community together with the sisters God gives us. We live as Sisters minor, vowing obedience, poverty, and celibate chastity. Within the United States and Chiapas, Mexico we serve wherever needed, with special attention to the poor and marginalized, reflecting gentle courtesy toward all creation. New or experienced we walk together with courage, open to risk and trusting God’s goodness and providence. We invite you to join us as we bring a Franciscan presence of simplicity, joyful service, and peacemaking to the world of today. Contact: Sr. Ann McDermott, St. Francis House, 2647 Pierce St., Hollywood, FL 33020; e-mail: sannmcd@bellsouth. net; (954) 925-5875 or; Vocation Office, 4421 Lower River Rd., Stella Niagara, NY 14144; (716) 754-4312, ext. 9701#; e-mail: vocationoptionssf@yahoo.com; website: http://www.franciscans-stella-niagara.org. See ad on page 161. Code #142. Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration (O.S.F.) Western Province (Colorado Springs, CO) We are women who strive to live in a contemplative relationship with God and with all of creation through our prayer life, especially Perpetual Adoration. We seek to live simply while serving in a complex world, anchored in our prayer life, supported in community, and responding to the unmet needs of our times, especially to women and children, with generous love, justice, mercy, and compassion. Discover who we are via our website: http://www. nunsarewe.org and contact Sr. Frances Sedlacek, O.S.F., 7665 Assisi Heights, Colorado Springs, CO 80919; (719) 955-7015; e-mail: frances@stfrancis.org. Code #073. Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia (O.S.F.) Are you called to make a difference? Join our committed risktakers! Committed to the needs of others, especially the economically poor, marginal, and oppressed. We are willing to take necessary risks to be a healing, compassionate presence in our violent world—especially for women, children, and those who have no voice. A community of nearly 700 Catholic women religious, we choose a Gospel way of life lived in community. We uphold a long tradition of loving God and being in relationships through loving service. Today we minister in the U.S. and beyond in various ministries—wherever God’s people need us most. Contact: Sr. Mary Beth Antonelli, Vocation Director, East, 609 S. Convent Rd., Aston, PA 19014; (610) 558-6789; Sr. Patricia Novak, Vocation Director, West, 2408 SE 16th Avenue, Portland, OR 97214; (503) 233-1878; e-mail: vocations@osfphila.org; website: http://www.osfphila.org. Code #139. Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception (O.S.F.) Called to make God’s compassionate presence known through our vowed life in community, the Sisters of this diocesan religious congregation dedicate themselves to prayer, community life, and service in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, whose personal lifestyle was expressed in prayer, joy, and simplicity. The Sisters presently serve the people of God throughout Illinois through prayer and community witness, and a variety of ministries to all ages. These include caring for the aging, teaching, religious education for adults and children, adult literacy, parish ministry, social work, chaplaincy, teen and adult retreat programs, spiritual direction, and campus ministry. Sr. Paula, 2408 West Heading Avenue,

Enter #189 at VocationMatch.com West Peoria, IL 61604; (309) 674-6168; e-mail: srpaulav@ yahoo.com; website: http://www.westpeoriasisters.org. Code #279. Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities (OSF) As women of vision, rooted in the Gospel and energized by the spirit of Francis and Clare, we live in right relationship with God, one another, and all creation. Ministries: education (infant to post graduate), religious education, health care, child care, elder care, care of the dying, care of the homeless, care for the earth, peace and justice, pastoral care, spiritual care, retreat ministry, prayer ministry, social ministry, music ministry, art ministry, technology, clinical psychology, law and theology. As one of the largest Franciscan communities of women religious, we serve internationally in 32 dioceses including the Hawaiian Islands, Kenya, Peru, and Puerto Rico. You are invited to join us in serving people who are most in need. Become a vowed Franciscan woman who spreads the good news of God’s love through word and deed. Contact: Sr. Kathy Adamski, OSF, (412) 215-7708; e-mail: guidance@nauticom.net; website: http://www.sosf. org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 31. Code #294.

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Sisters of St. Casimir (S.S.C.) The Sisters of St. Casimir invite a new generation of women to share their lives of prayer, community, and service. We are women religious who follow Jesus and offer the hope and joy of a deep faith life to those whose lives we touch. We are involved in education, health care, parish, prayer, and social ministries, journeying with others toward the gospel vision of a peaceful, loving and just world. Presently we serve in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas and Argentina. We thank God for the many blessings of our vocation and for our foundress, Servant of God Maria Kaupas, whose vision and spirit continue to inspire us to greater compassion and service in meeting the needs of our world today. Please contact: Sr. M. Janine Golubickis, SSC, or Sr. M. Dolorine Lopez, SSC, 2601 W. Marquette Rd., Chicago, IL 60629; (630) 243-8349; e-mail: sscvocation@yahoo. com; website: http://www.ssc2601.com. Code #071.

vowed members. Inquiries are also welcomed from both men and women interested in the Associate relationship. Vocation Minister: Sr. Barbara Kwiatkowski, O.S.F., 1433 Essington Road, Joliet, IL 60435; (815) 725-8735; fax: (815) 725-8648; e-mail: bkwiatkowski@jolietfranciscans.org; website: http://www.jolietfranciscans.org. See ad on page 115. Code #252.

Sisters of St. John the Baptist (C.S.J.B.) We are an international group of consecrated women in the Catholic Church living together in community to give hope and prophetic witness to Jesus of Nazareth. We work for the glory of God in the service of our neighbor—especially the youth and children who are poor, abandoned, marginalized and at risk of losing their faith—through evangelization, education, and human promotion. As women religious, we serve as teachers, administrators, pastoral and social workers, health professionals, and care givers. Founded in Italy in 1878 by Blessed Alfonso Marie Fusco, our religious family continues to move in

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time with the Holy Spirit in responding to the challenges and needs in our society. In sixteen countries, our sisters strive to live the Founder’s words: “I wish that even my shadow might do good.” Is God Calling you to respond to these challenges? What is your answer? For more information see: http://www.baptistines.org or contact our Provincial Office (718) 518-7820. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 154. Code #075. Sisters of St. Joseph (S.S.J. and C.S.J.)—Federation Does loving God and neighbor without distinction stir your heart and energize you for living in today’s world? In 1650, six ordinary women came together to share their gift of God’s love. They prayed daily, lived simply in community and responded to the needs of their area. Over 350 years later, this same mission continues in over 50 countries worldwide. We are vowed religious women from all walks of life who share the mission of Jesus that all may be one. We do this through prayer, living in community, and responding to the needs of our time. Our mission calls us to work toward union of God and neighbor without distinction. Together with our Associates and Volunteers we respond to the needs of our Church and world with compassion, creativity, and courage by using our individual and collective gifts in a variety of ways. Would you like to live the challenge of the Gospel with us? For more information please contact one of our Vocation Ministers Albany, NY: Sr. Joan Mary Hartigan, CSJ, (518) 783-3605; e-mail: jhartigan@ csjalbany.org; website: www.csjalbany.org; Baden, PA: Sr. Dorothy Pashuta, CSJ, (412) 661-2528; e-mail: dpashuta@stjoseph-baden.org; website: www.stjosephbaden.org; Boston, MA: Sr. Mary Theresa O’Reilly, CSJ, (617) 746-2045; e-mail: vocation.office@csjboston.org; website: www.csjboston.org; Brentwood, NY: Sr. Mary Walsh, CSJ, (516) 483-6799; e-mail: vocationcsj@aol. com; website: www.brentwoodcsj.org; Buffalo, NY: Sr. Patrice Ryan, SSJ, (716) 759-6454; e-mail: pryan@ ssjbuffalo.org; website: www.ssjbuffalo.org; ChamberyWest Hartford, CT: Sr. Elaine Betoncourt, CSJ, (860) 233-5126; e-mail: vocation@sistersofsaintjoseph.org; website: www.sistersofsaintjoseph.org; Concordia, KS: Sr. Beverly Carlin, CSJ, (785) 243-2149: e-mail: srbevc@csjkansas.org; website: www.csjkansas.org; CSJ Volunteer Program: (785) 243-2149; e-mail: cdoman@ csjkansas.org; Congregation of St. Joseph: Sr. Ileana Fernandez, CSJ, (225) 388-2262; e-mail: vocations@ csjoseph.org; website: www. csjoseph.org; St. Joseph Worker Volunteer Program (in New Orleans): (504) 909-0091; e-mail: sjw@csjoseph.org; Erie, PA: Sr. Linda Fusco, SSJ, (814) 836-4127; e-mail: formation@ssjerie. org: website: www.ssjerie.org; Honolulu, HI: Sr. Eva Joseph Mesina, CSJ, (808) 244-8123; e-mail: sevajm@ msn.com; website: www.csjhawaii.org; Los Angeles, CA: Sr. Anne Davis, CSJ, (310) 889-2117; e-mail: vocations@ csjla.org; website: www.csjla.org; Orange, CA: Sr. Mary Elizabeth Nelsen, CSJ, (714) 633-8121 ext. 7108; e-mail: vocationcsj@csjorange.org; website: www.csjorange.org; Philadelphia, PA: Sr. Kathy Claflin, SSJ, (215) 248-7236; e-mail: kclaflin@ssjphila.org; website: www.ssjphila.org; Rochester, NY: Sr. Donna Del Santo, SSJ, (585) 7334422; e-mail: vocations@ssjrochester.org; website: www. ssjrochester.org; Sisters of Saint Joseph Volunteer Corps, (585) 529-5689; e-mail: volunteercorps@ssjrochester.org; Springfield, MA: Sr. Natalie Cain, SSJ, (413) 536-0853 ext. 249; e-mail: ncain@ssjspringfield.com; website: www. ssjspringfield.org; St. Augustine, FL: Sr. Kathleen Power, SSJ, (904) 610-9228; e-mail: ssjflvocations@bellsouth. net; website: www.ssjfl.org; St. Louis, MO: Sr. Marianne Keena, CSJ, (314) 678-0315; e-mail: mkeena@csjsl.org; website: www.csjsl.org; St. Paul, MN: Sr. Jill Underdahl, CSJ, (651) 696-2872; e-mail: junderdahl@csjstpaul.org; website: www.csjstpaul.org; St. Joseph Worker Volunteer Program, (651) 690-7049; e-mail: bkelly@csjstpaul.org; website: www.stjosephworkers.org; Watertown, NY: Sr. Gregory Munger, SSJ, (315) 782-3460; e-mail: smgssj@ yahoo.com; website: www.ssjwatertown.org. See ad on page 57. Code #024.

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Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace (C.S.J.P.) The Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace are an international community built on a rich heritage of promoting social justice as a way to peace. Our founding spirit calls us to further the work of peace, and our call to peacemaking pervades our prayer and leads us to a life of simplicity and service. In accord with our tradition we commit ourselves to promote peace in family life, in the church, and in society. We minister in education, health and hospital services, religious education, parish ministry, social justice, spiritual direction, and peace ministry in the U.S., U.K., and El Salvador. Community life sustains us in ministry. Likewise ministry enlivens and enriches our life in community. Recognizing gospel peace as both gift and task, we believe that prayer is fundamental to our life. We rely on the love and fidelity of God to lead us in the way of peace. Vocation Contact: Sr. Jo-Anne Miller, CSJP, Vocation Director, P.O. Box 248, Bellevue, WA 98009; (425) 451-1770 ext. 118; e-mail: jmiller@csjp-olp.org; website: http://www.csjp.org. See ad on page 121. Code #227. Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis (SSJ-TOSF) The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis are a community of more than 300 Franciscan women who are dedicated to Gospel living. In the spirit of Jesus and Francis, we seek to serve the minores—the little ones who often fall through the cracks in society through a variety of ministries. Our Franciscan charism calls us to reach out to all members of the human family and, in a special way, to the poor and the outcast. The missioned presence of the Congregation continues today in 13 states, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Peru. The congregation has a strong associate relationship for men and women partnering in prayer and ministry. Contact the Director of Vocation Ministry, P.O. Box 305, Stevens Point, WI 54481-0305; (715) 3418457; e-mail: vocation@ssj-tosf.org; website: http://www. ssj-tosf.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 37. Code #154. Sisters of St. Mary of Namur (S.S.M.N.) Are you fascinated by God? We are. Are you challenged to deepen your spiritual life and values? We are. Is God urging you to serve the poor of your neighborhood, your country, your world? The Sisters of St. Mary of Namur are an international congregation of religious women, consecrated by vows, and living together in community to transmit the Word of God. In eight provinces throughout both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, we find our service among the poor and marginalized of the world with special commitment to women and young people. We share community life, prayer, the Eucharist, and a life united to the joys and sorrows of the human family. Ready to search further? Contact Sr. Carol Ann Kleindinst, 241 Lafayette Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14213; (716) 884-8221; e-mail: carolk391@verizon.net; website: http://www.ssmn.us. Code #348. Sisters of St. Rita (O.S.A.) We, the Sisters of St. Rita, are an international community who follow the Rule of St. Augustine and the example of St. Rita, our patroness. St. Augustine’s heart was on fire with the love of God. We, too, want to live our community life and our mission that flows from a burning heart passionately in love—”a heart which sees where love is needed and acts accordingly” (Deus caritas est.). We are “not linked together through law but in freedom held together through grace” (Augustinian Rule). Rejoicing in the gifts God has given each one of us, we minister where we are needed, faithfully keeping to our founding mission of spiritual/social family care with all its diverse ministries. Is your heart burning also? We invite you to walk the journey with us to make a difference. Contact Sr. Angelica Summer, O.S.A., 4014 N. Green Bay Rd., Racine, WI 53404; (262) 639-1766; e-mail: sr.angelica@sbcglobal. net; website: http://www.sistersofstrita.org. Code #163. Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (S.B.S.) We are a multiracial community of vowed women who were founded by Saint Katharine Drexel. We are called to be a

sign of the power of the Eucharistic Christ to effect unity and community among all peoples. Through education, parish ministry, social and health services, and spiritual ministries, we challenge injustices and share the Gospel message with the poor and oppressed, especially among the Black and Native American peoples. Our ministries take us to Native American reservations, inner cities, and rural areas in the United States and Haiti. Vocation Director, 1663 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, PA 19020-5796; (215) 2449900, ext. 327; e-mail: sbsvocof@aol.com; website: http:// www.katharinedrexel.org. See ad on page 165. Code #076. Sisters of the Divine Compassion (R.D.C.) As Sisters of the Divine Compassion we are women of the 21st century called to be God’s compassionate presence among the marginalized and oppressed in our midst. For 123 years we have gathered in community, prayer, and service to respond to the brokenness of our world. Our current ministries include elementary and secondary education, pastoral ministry, spiritual development, health care, rural and migrant ministry, and social services in both rural and urban New York State. As our co-founder, Monsignor Thomas Preston reminds us, “. . . to think that not only may we be the recipients of the divine compassion, but that God will let us take this divine compassion into our hands and extend it to others.” (1888). Susan Becker, R.D.C., 52 N. Broadway, White Plains, NY 10603; (914) 798-1109; fax: (914) 949-5169; e-mail: snbecker2000@ yahoo.com; website: http://www.divinecompassion.org. Code #277. Sisters of the Divine Savior (S.D.S.) [Salvatorians] The Salvatorians are an international religious community of sisters, priests, brothers, and lay Salvatorians. We were founded by Father Francis Jordan and Blessed Mary of the Apostles in Rome in the 1880s. Our mission is to make Jesus our Savior known so that all may experience the fullness of life. We minister in Alabama, Arizona, California, Tennessee, Wisconsin and in 30 other countries in the world. Our apostolic work includes parish work, education, health care, advocacy, Anti-Human Trafficking, social work, art, law, secretarial, and retreat ministry. If you are a single women between the ages of 20-50 we invite you to contact us: Sister Carol Jean Zais, SDS, 4311 North 100th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53222-1303; (414) 466-0810, ext. 229; e-mail: czais@salvatoriansisters.org; website: http://sistersofthedivinesavior.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 21. Code #315. Sisters of the Holy Cross (C.S.C.) We, Sisters of the Holy Cross, are a dynamic international congregation of sisters, who are part of the Holy Cross family of sisters, brothers and priests. Striving to live out Jesus’ gospel and mission in the 21st century, we minister to people in eight countries on four continents. Compelled by Love, we continue to address the unmet needs of these communities as educators, health care workers, administrators, counselors, pastoral ministers, social workers, retreat leaders, writers, attorneys and social justice advocates. We have committed ourselves as a congregation to promote right relationships wherever we serve. Walk with us in our life and mission. Sr. Mary Margaret Weber, C.S.C., 2017 Quail Forest Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609; (919) 878-0741; e-mail: marymargaretcsc@yahoo.com or Sr. Mary Ellen Johnson, C.S.C., 11133 51st Ave., South, Apt. 53, Seattle, WA 98178-2142; (206) 725-6505; e-mail: mejohnson@igc.org; website: http://www.cscsisters.org. See ad on page 31. Code #269. Sisters of the Holy Family (S.H.F.) For more than 135 years the Sisters of the Holy Family have responded to the Gospel call to seek out the poor and the needy, especially families, for the Kingdom of God. Founded in San Francisco, CA, and serving the western United States, the diversity of our ministries reflects our historical commitment to provide meaningful services to the communities in which we live and work. Some of our current ministries include:

VISION 2010

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org gang prevention, child care, religious education, social services, grief counseling, teachers, special education, parish administration, social work, and home visiting. Our doors are open to those exploring membership as vowed members or associate members. We invite you to explore membership with the Sisters of the Holy Family. Vocation Director, P.O. Box 3248, Fremont, California 94539; (510) 624-4500; fax: (510) 624-4550; e-mail: vocations@ holyfamilysisters.org; website: http://www.holyfamilysisters.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 129. Code #036.

Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (S.N.J.M.) Are you seeking a vibrant community in which to live out your Gospel call? Consider joining an international congregation of women religious, called to be prophetic witnesses to the Gospel, who believe that liberating action that aims at the full development of the human person is at the heart of our mission. Our commitment is rooted in community, prayer, and service. In the spirit and vision of our foundress, Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, we serve as educators, pastoral ministers, retreat guides, social workers, campus ministers, health care providers, and community organizers in the U.S., Canada, Southern Africa, Central America, and South America. Information is available for men and women about associate opportunities. Please contact: Sr. Janet Ryan, S.N.J.M., (503) 777-1419 ext. 231; e-mail: janetmryan@comcast. net; website: http://www.holynamesvocations.org. Code #078. Sisters of the Holy Redeemer (C.S.R.) The Sisters of the Holy Redeemer are compelled to bring the healing presence and compassion of the Redeemer to those who suffer in body, mind and spirit. We strive to be witnesses to hope and joy as we serve Jesus in the most vulnerable. Our inspiration flows from our relationship with Jesus, our Redeemer as we follow the example of Mother Alphonse Maria Eppinger who founded the congregation 160 years ago on the principal that “Love of God and love of neighbor are but one single love.” Through our sponsorship of the Holy Redeemer Health System, we provide health care, social services, and pastoral care, with a special emphasis on older adults, women and children. Contact us: American Province; Vocation Ministry Office, 521 Moredon Road, Huntington Valley, PA 19006; (215) 914-4114 or 4109; e-mail: vocations@HolyRedeemer. com; website: http://www.SistersHolyRedeemer.org. See ad on page 15. Code #079. Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate (SHSp) The Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate are a pontifical community of religious women—with the celebration of the Eucharist and communal prayer as the center of our lives. We were founded in 1893, in San Antonio, Texas, by Mother Margaret Healy-Murphy. We follow the original mission of our foundress who was moved to respond to the urgent social needs of her times—the spiritual and educational

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Sisters of the Humility of Mary (H.M.) Fidelity to God’s Spirit challenges us to be a prophetic presence in today’s world by bringing more abundant life to God’s people. As a community of religious women we care for those in need through a variety of ministries in education, health care, social service, pastoral ministry, works of peacemaking, justice, and care for Earth. Our founders, Marie-Antoinette Potier and John Joseph Begel, responded to the needs of the time in France with vision, courage and generosity, eventually emigrating to the Cleveland, OH diocese in 1864. The heart of our commitment to religious life is a radical love and following of Jesus Christ grounded in a life of prayer and compassionate service. Mary’s humility inspires us to say “YES” to God’s call, whatever it asks of us, in joyful simplicity. We number 178 Sisters serving in Midwestern states, Florida, and Haiti. Associates and HM Volunteers share in our mission. Sr. Toby Lardie, HM; (440) 356-5711; e-mail: tlardie@hmministry.org or Sr. Cheryl Rose, HM, (440) 356-6130; e-mail: crose@ hmministry.org; website: http://www.humilityofmary.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 124. Code #329. Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary A religious congregation that seeks to unite prayer life with apostolic activity in the spirit of our founder Blessed George Matulaitis. We serve the Church, especially the poor, and help others on their journey to God. We are consecrated to God by public vows and are committed to follow Jesus by observing the evangelical counsels and living in our religious community. In the USA, Canada, and Lithuania we serve in diversified ministries: education, youth ministry, health care with the aged, social, pastoral, and parish work, communications, and hospitality. God is calling today as always. Come, talk and walk with us. Vocation director: Sr. M. Bernadette, 600 Liberty Highway, Putnam, CT 06260; (860) 9285294; e-mail: sbernadette1@yahoo.com. Code #144. Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament (I.W.B.S.)—Corpus Christi, TX We are a community of consecrated women following the call of Jesus to spread His love and presence through prayer, community life, and ministry. Our mission is to worship Jesus and to make Him visible in the world through a life lived in the spirit of the Beatitudes. Joy, simplicity, gentleness, obedience, and the spirit of mission are our special charisms. Currently, our Order ministers in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Brownsville, Galveston-Houston, and Beaumont serving in education, adult faith formation and catechesis, ministry to the homeless, hospital chaplaincy and prison ministry. The IWBS Sisters of Corpus Christi are part of eleven independent groups of Incarnate Word Sisters with ministries in North, Central and South America, Europe and Africa. Women who are interested in a contemplative/apostolic community, between the ages of 21 and 50, who have completed a high school education are invited to contact Sr. Rosa Ortiz, IWBS, 2930 S. Alameda, Corpus Christi, TX 78404; (361) 882-5413; e-mail: srmortiz7@ yahoo.com; website: http://www.iwbscc.org. See our ad on page 66. Code #274. Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament (C.V.I.)—Houston, TX We, the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament of Houston, Texas continue

Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Founded by S K D

We are called to be a sign of the power of the Eucharistic Christ to eﬀect unity and community among all people, especially among the Native American and Black peoples. C: Vocation Director 1663 Bristol Pike, Bensalem, PA 19020

www.katharinedrexel.org

sbsvocof@aol.com 215-244-9900 ext: 327 enter #076 at VocationMatch.com the inspiration of our saintly foundress, Venerable Jeanne de Matel, to extend the Incarnation of Christ. Central to our spirituality is the Eucharistic Presence of Christ which impels us to serve others with humility, simplicity, and charity. In addition to daily Eucharist and each Sister’s daily personal and communal prayer, this centrality is reflected in a communal celebration of Eucharistic Adoration on the first Sunday of each month. We accomplish our mission of evangelization through Christian education especially the faith formation of young people, by outreach to the elderly, and by discerning other needs which call forth the gifts and talents of the Sisters. Women who are interested in a contemplative/apostolic community, are 18 years of age or above and have completed a high school education are invited to contact us. Sister Mary Margaret Rosberg, C.V.I., 3400 Bradford Place, Houston, TX 77025-1398; (713) 668-0423 ext. 107; e-mail: mmrosberg@incarnateword.org; website: http:// www.incarnatewordsistershouston.org. Code #346.

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Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (C.S.F.N.) In a world marked by individualism, we choose family! Our lives, rooted in prayer and in the example of the Holy family of Nazareth, speak to the world about love, sacrifice, and true joy. Believing that charity begins at home, we create communities where lives are nurtured and shared. Empowered by this gift, we reach out to the Church and world through diverse ministries, striving to uphold the value and dignity of the human family. Founded in Rome in 1875 by Blessed Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd, we are an international congregation, presently serving in the continental United States, Puerto Rico, Australia, Eastern and Western Europe, Israel, and the Philippines. Make a life-giving choice today and explore what God may have in mind for you! For more information, contact: Sister Michele Vincent Fisher at voc4naz@aol.com; website: http://www.nazarethcsfn.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 113. Code #155.

needs of the poor. We are called by the Spirit to work with people of diverse social and ethnic backgrounds and dedicate our lives to promoting the human dignity of those neglected or marginalized. The Sisters teach the message of the Gospel and work on Christian education, spiritual direction, immigration reform, homelessness, peace and justice, housing, health care, and homes for the aged and abused children. We minister in the U.S., Mexico, and Africa. Contact: Sr. Gabriel Hession, SHSp, 301 Yucca St., San Antonio, TX 78203; (210) 533-5149; e-mail: sghession@hotmail.com; website: http://www.shsp.org. Code #331.

Sisters of the Living Word (S.L.W.) Our community was founded in 1975, in response to the call for renewal in religious life at the Second Vatican Council. We focus our energies on situations where the Living Word of God needs to be spoken and reflected, to help free the oppressed and bring new life. We do this through education, pastoral care, parish ministry, spiritual direction, social work, creative arts, and more. We invite generous and courageous women to join us in continuing to shape this new community. Check us out at our website, or come and meet us at a location near you. Or participate in a Living Word Retreat to experience our spirituality and passion for mission. For more information contact: Sr. Kathleen Heer, 800 N. Fernandez Ave.-B, Arlington Heights, IL 60004; (847) 577-5972; e-mail: connect@slw.org or Kathleen_slw@ yahoo.com; website: http://www.slw.org. See ad on page 14. Code #173.

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Consecration ~ vows of Chastity Poverty Obedience Daily Prayer Community Life Service in Catholic Education and related ministries Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Immaculata, PA

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Contact: Sister Rose Bernadette, IHM Sister Carmen Teresa, IHM Immaculata, PA 19345 610-889-1553 ihmvoc@aol.com 166

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Sisters of the Most Holy Soul of Christ the Lord We are the religious institute of apostolic character, founded by the Servant of God, Mother Paula Sofia Tajber, approved by the Holy See in 1981. We participate actively in the Life of the Mystical Body of Christ. Our deep spirituality concentrates on the truth of Christ living within the soul. The awareness of possessing God and intimate communion with Him fill our souls with happiness. This happiness nurtures a joyful spirit that animates our prayer and community life. In accordance with our charism we foster divine life among the faithful, educate children and young people, care for the sick, support services for God’s poor and needy, and assist the parish in various ways. A deep prayer life, living in a community, and wearing our habits are our priority. If you have a heart to love, unquenchable thirst for Christ, and hands to serve please consider joining us (age 18-30). Contact us: Sisters of the Most Soul of Christ the Lord, 1042 SE 9th Street, Stuart, FL 34996; (772) 286-5720; e-mail: sschusa@yahoo.com; website: http://www.sistersofthemostholysoulofchrist.com. Code #317.

values and makes a difference in the lives of other people? If yes, then, listen to the Spirit’s stirrings in your heart, ask for wisdom and pray for courage to take the next step. Visit the Sisters of the Presentation website: http://www. dubuquepresentations.org and contact the Vocation Office, 2360 Carter Rd., Dubuque, IA 52001; (563) 588-2008; e-mail: vocations@dubuquepresentations.org. Code #327.

Is the heart of Christ speaking to your heart?

Sisters of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S.) We are an apostolic community rooted in Eucharistic prayer and motivated by the Precious Blood of Jesus. As Sisters of the Precious Blood we are urged to be a life-giving, reconciling presence in our fractured world. A vibrant apostolic community celebrating 175 years since our foundation, we serve in the United States, Chile, and Guatemala, bringing hope and redeeming love. We carry on the legacy and mission of our foundress Maria Anna Brunner in diverse ministries: education, pastoral ministry, prisons, and health care. We minister in rural, urban, and innercity settings. Community, personal prayer, and Eucharist form the cornerstone of our life and ministry. Learn more about us and how you can help us respond to the hungers of our world by contacting: Sister Carolyn Hoying, C.PP. S., 4960 Salem Avenue, Dayton, OH 45416; (937) 2780871 ext. 1303 or 937-231-1244; e-mail: Vocations@ PreciousBloodSistersDayton.org. Please visit our website: http://www. PreciousBloodSistersDayton.org. See ad on page 120. Code #318.

Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (P.B.V.M.)—Fargo, North Dakota Prayerfulness/Spirituality, Hospitality, Zeal, Simplicity, and Professional Competence. These are the characteristics that define our lives as Presentation Sisters. Inspired by Jesus, and in the spirit of our foundress, Nano Nagle, we respond to the needs of people, especially the powerless and materially poor. We are an apostolic community of Sisters rooted in the North Dakota plains but connected to the wider world through the International Presentation Association, collaborating in ministry and social justice issues. Our ministries are oriented towards spiritual formation and education to justice. For more information please contact Sr. Shawna Foley, PBVM, Vocation Director, 3001 11th St., S., Fargo, ND 58103; (701) 235-8246; e-mail: srshawna@hotmail. com; website: http://www.presentationsistersfargo.com. Code #314. Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (P.B.V.M.)—San Francisco Presentation Sisters of San Francisco today serve throughout California and in Central America. Their sponsored ministries include: Presentation High School, San Jose, Presentation Retreat and Conference Center, Los Gatos, Learning and Loving Center for immigrant women, Morgan Hill, El Proyecto de las Rosas literacy center, Tipton, The Lantern literacy center, San Francisco, and SafeHouse, a residential program for women seeking to leave prostitution, San Francisco. In keeping with the charism of the Presentation founder, Nano Nagle, the Presentation Sisters of San Francisco work for justice and structural change, especially in issues related to women and children, immigrants and ethnic communities, the environment and sustainable living, human rights. The Presentation Sisters of San Francisco collaborate with Presentation Sisters in North America and around the world in ministry, justice projects, and educating others about global conditions and issues. For more information, contact Sister Stephanie Still, PBVM, (415) 422-5020; e-mail: sstill@pbvmsf.org; website: http://www.presentationsisterssf.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 153. Code #266.

Consecration ~ vows of Chastity Poverty Sisters of the Presentation of Mary (pm) To follow Obedience Jesus Christ and act according to his Spirit was the rule of life that fashioned the heart of our foundress, Blessed Daily Marie Rivier, and continues to be our inspiration. Our Prayer vocation is to know Jesus Christ in the Gospels, to live Jesus in His mysteries, to reveal and teach Jesus by our Community Life very lives. We live in community and our relationship with God in prayer is at the heart of our existence. Our Service in apostolic works include education at all levels, pastoral Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin ministry, chaplaincy, retreat work, outreach to the poor, Catholic Education Mary (P.B.V.M.)—South Dakota We are enthusiastic the disabled, children with AIDS, and immigrants. We are apostolicministries women eager to make the world a better place. an international congregation with sisters ministering andinrelated We live lives consecrated to God through the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. As apostolic women we are contemplative in action. Following the example of the apostles, we live in communities among the people, with an emphasis on service. Prayer, faith, and sharing our lives in community fire us with energy for mission and ministry. We serve in range of ministries as broad as the needs of those we serve: from health care and education, to advocacy and our ministry with Hispanic immigrants. The ministries we serve are determined by the needs of the people and the gifts of each individual sister. We Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary encourage women who are seeking God through ser(P.B.V.M.) Dubuque, IA Sisters of the Presentation vice grounded in prayer to discover the possibilities of of Dubuque are women religious inspired by the faith Presentation life! Sr. Phyllis Gill, 1500 N. Second Street, and life of their foundress, Nano Nagle. In 18th century Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401; (605) 229-8414; fax: Ireland, working against religious, political and economic (605) 229-8412; e-mail: vocoff@presentationsisters.org; oppression and with great personal risk, Nano launched Bernadette, IHM website: http://www.presentationsisters.org. See our web an underground school system, visited theSister poor andRose ad at www.VocationGuide.org. elderly in their homes, and spent hours in prayer and Carmen Sister Teresa, IHM Code #050. adoration of the Eucharist. Her charism of hospitalImmaculata, PA 19345 ity lives today in the sisters, associates and friends who Sisters of the Resurrection (C.R.) God called a mother reflect God’s love for the world, live the Gospel value of and daughter to form a religious congregation of women welcoming all, and carry Nano’s lantern of hope to strug- 610-889-1553 immersed in the spirit of Jesus’ Resurrection. As Sisters gling people in the United States and Bolivia. Are you ihmvoc@aol.com of the Resurrection, we are women of prayer and of the interested in a life of service that gives witness to Gospel 22 countries throughout the world. Contact: Sr. Linda Mae Plourde, pm, 10 Evans Rd., Biddeford, ME 04005; (207) 284-5671; e-mail: pmvocations@yahoo.com; website: http://www.presmarymethuen.org OR Contact: Sr. Lorraine Aucoin, p.m., 495 Mammoth Rd., Manchester, NH 03104; (603) 668-1791; e-mail: srlorrainea@yahoo. com; website: http://www.presentationofmary.com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #219.

Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Immaculata, PA

www.ihmimmaculata.org

Contact:

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Search these Women’s Communities online at VocationGuide.org church who believe deeply in the presence of the Risen Christ. We have given our lives to God in joy through a vowed commitment of chastity, poverty, and obedience. In our education and health care ministries, we strive to imitate the example of Jesus’ love, compassion, and concern for others. We believe that God continues to call women to live as Sisters of the Resurrection and we invite you to prayerfully consider whether this could be true for you. New York Province: Sr. Teresa Grace, C.R., 35 Boltwood Avenue, Castleton, NY 12033; (518) 7322226; e-mail: vocation@resurrectionsisters.org; website: http://www.resurrectionsisters.org. Chicago Province: Sr. Kathleen Ann, C.R., 7432 W. Talcott Avenue, Chicago, IL 60631; (773) 792-6363; e-mail: callres@yahoo.com. See ad on page 151. Code #215.

Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi (S.S.M.) We are an internationally diverse group of Franciscan women committed to prayer, community, and service. With Mary, the Mother of Sorrows, we bring a compassionate presence to the world by focusing on the needs of those who are suffering. We have missions in ten countries: the USA, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, St. Lucia, Trinidad; Austria, Germany, Italy; Brazil and Africa. Are you yearning to make a difference in a suffering world as did Mary, Mother of Sorrows? If yes, take the first step in exploring the process of becoming one of us by contacting Sister Dorothy Ann Dirkx, 40 Morris Ave., Denville, NJ 07834; (973) 627-0424; e-mail: ssmvoc@aol.com; http://www.ssmfranciscans.org. See ad on page 36. Code #034. Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis (O.S.F.)—East Peoria, IL We are personally called by the Most High God to live the Franciscan way of life. With the Holy Virgin Mary as our mother and model, we strive to follow examples of St. Francis of Assisi and Mother M. Frances Krasse. We travel this earth as pilgrims, walking through life together, strengthened by the Eucharist, praising our God in the Liturgy of the Hours, and allowing Him daily to transform us by our life of penance. In emptying ourselves for others, in humble sharing of the gifts we have received from our Father, we bring the peace of Christ among men. Our community apostolate includes health care and education. Our primary commitment is to care for the sick and poor. The special spirit of our community is the loving simplicity which our holy Father St. Francis practiced to a very high degree. Vocation Director, 740 NE Glen Oak Ave., Peoria, IL 61603; (309) 655-4840; e-mail: vocation.info@osfhealthcare.org; website: http://www.franciscansisterspeoria.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 36. Code #081. Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart (S.D.S.H.) God called Sister Ida Peterfy through her personal relationship with Him and through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to

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Society of Helpers (S.H.) The Helpers are an international community of women religious who have been urged by the love of Christ to respond to a world in crisis by bringing hope to the human journey. We work in solidarity with the forgotten, those wounded in human dignity, those suffering injustice, those surviving without hope, those searching for God. We share with them in the life and death situations of the human situation moving towards fullness of life. To learn more contact: Sr. Jean Kielty, 2043 N. Humboldt Blvd., Chicago, IL 60647; (773) 405-9884; e-mail: jeankielty@yahoo.com or Sr. Anna Maria Baldauf, 4721-I S. Woodlawn, Chicago, IL 60615; (773) 548-8526; e-mail: anna.maria.baldauf@sbcglobal.net. Visit our website at http://www.helpers.org. U.S. Provincial House: 4721-J S. Woodlawn, Chicago, IL 60615; (773) 548-5026. Code #223. Society of St. Teresa of Jesus (S.T.J.) The Teresian Sisters are an international congregation of women religious called to “know and love Jesus and make him known and loved” through the apostolates of prayer, education, and sacrifice. Founded in 1876 by St. Henry de Osso, the Teresian Sisters serve in 24 countries in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. In the U.S. we minister in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida in education, youth ministry, retreats, and parish ministry. Our life of prayer and community strengthen us for mission and enable us to proclaim Christ to all people. Mindful of the needs of the poor, we are called to go wherever the interests of Jesus are most in danger. Discover if God is calling you to witness to his love in our world. Contact: Sr. Clarice Suchy, S.T.J., 18158 St. Joseph Way, Covington, LA 70435; (985) 893-1557; e-mail: teresianvocations@ yahoo.com; website: http://www.teresians.org. See ad on page 39. Code #261. Society of St. Ursula (S.U.) The Sisters of St. Ursula, following in the footsteps of our foundress, Anne de Xainctonge, are women religious called to work with and among women and young people especially the poor. Through education in the broadest sense, we are to enable all people to appreciate and desire Gospel values. We minister in schools, parishes, retreat centers, and social service agencies. It is through the witness of our lives consecrated to Jesus Christ that we desire to make Him known and loved. We are called to live lives of discernment, to find God in all things, and to manifest the magis (the more) in every aspect of our lives. Sisters of the SU Federation serve on four continents in 10 countries. Contact: Sr. Rosemary McNamara, SU, (914) 466-3599 or e-mail: rgmsu@aol. com; website: http://www.societyofstursula.org. See ad on page 60. Code #021. Society of the Holy Child Jesus—American Province (SHCJ) Founded by Cornelia Connelly, the Society of the Holy Child Jesus is an international community of women religious. Our mission is to help others believe that God lives and acts in them and in our world, and to rejoice in God’s presence. Our life of prayer and community

330-835-5690

enter #338 at VocationMatch.com strengthens us for diverse ministries. Since the Society’s founding in 1846, education has been at the heart of our mission. Today, we continue to serve as educators in the broadest sense of the word through ministries in teaching, spirituality, health care, social work, pastoral care, parish administration, and law. In the U.S., the Society sponsors 15 schools, including Rosemont College, and several social service organizations. Holy Child Sisters serve on four continents and in 16 states. For more information, please contact: Carmen Torres, SHCJ; 460 Shadeland Avenue, Drexel Hill, PA 19026; (610) 626-1400, ext. 304; e-mail: ctorres@shcj.org. Visit our website at http://www. vocations.shcj.org. See ad on page 42. Code #172.

woMen’s coMMunities sarch woMen’s coMMunities

Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (S.S.H.J.) We were founded by Blessed Maria Schinina of Ragusa, Italy in 1889. Following the command of Jesus “obey my ministers,” she rejected worldly pleasures and dedicated herself to the destitute, homeless, and unwanted. The aim of this Congregation is the glory of God and the sanctification of its members by the practice of Evangelical Vows and spiritual and temporal works of mercy. Our motto is “Live Jesus” and our Spirituality is “Love and Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” lived through “Love and Service to the Poor.” Our ministry extends to the destitute, in orphanages, social work, rest homes, pastoral work, parish ministry, schools, missionary lands, and in propagating the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Prayer and Community life are highly esteemed and we dress in a full religious habit. We serve in Italy, Madagascar, Nigeria, Philippines, Romania, India, Equatorial Guinea, Canada, and United States. Age limit is 18 to 39. Contact: Sister Grace Dike, SSHJ, Sacred Heart Villa, 5269 Lewiston Rd., Lewiston, NY 14092; (716) 284-8273; e-mail: sshj_vocation@yahoo.com; website: http://www.shvilla.org. Code #165.

begin our Community in Hungary in 1940. Our Community is characterized by: ONENESS WITH GOD s daily personal and communal prayer s daily Eucharist s adoration of the Blessed Sacrament s GENUINE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER s community life s teamwork in the mission s recreation together s LOVING SERVICE FOR HIS CHURCH s a joyful apostolate s ZEALOUS LOVE TO SERVE OUR LORD s we serve in the United States, Taiwan, and Hungary in catechetics, evangelization and medical work s VIVID FAITH LIFE s HUMBLE RELIANCE ON GOD s we profess Vows of Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience s “With our hearts and minds anchored permanently in Jesus Our Lord, we surrender ourselves to Him to be filled with His transforming love.” Sister Ida. s We are one in Christ. s Contact: Sacred Heart Novitiate: 10480 Winnetka Ave, Chatsworth, CA 91311; (818) 831-9710; website: http://www.sacredheartsisters. com. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #343.

Society of the Sacred Heart (R.S.C.J.) The Religious of the Sacred Heart invite you to join in our mission of discovering and making God’s love known. Our members share life together in small communities and seek, through prayer and contemplation, to be drawn ever more deeply into intimacy with God, who is alive and active in our hearts and minds and who challenges us to make choices for justice and peace in response to the Gospel and the needs of the world. In the United States, we live out our educational mission in a wide variety of settings, including schools and colleges, social agencies and shelters. Linked with our sisters in 45 countries, and led by the Spirit, we strive to live courageously in the traditions of our founder, Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, and our pioneer educator Saint Philippine Duchesne. Visit us at http://www.rscj. org and http://www.rscjinternational.org or contact us at: 1-888-844-7725 (toll free) or vocation@rscj.org. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. See ad on page 111. Code #027.

Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland (O.S.U.) As Ursuline Sisters we are called to live the Gospel values and to

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deepen our relationship with Christ, both individually and with the support of one another in community. We were founded by St. Angela Merici whose compassion led her to serve the Church and God’s people as needs and circumstances dictated. Today, imitating St. Angela, we offer a compassionate presence in schools, neighborhoods, retreat centers, prisons, shelters, and health care facilities. We serve primarily in the Greater Cleveland community and on the Diocesan Mission Team in El Salvador. If you have an interest in using your gifts within a religious community that values contemplation, compassion, and justice, we invite you to contact us. Women seeking Vowed Membership or Associate Membership contact Sister Juliana Beck, 2600 Lander Road, Pepper Pike, OH 44124; (440) 449-1200 ext. 138; e-mail: jbeck@ursulinesisters.org; website: http://www.ursulinesisters.org. Code #311. Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph (O.S.U.) We are Ursuline Sisters committed to “Freeing and nurturing women and children.” Founded in 1874 in western Kentucky, our congregation embraces the core values of Prayer, Service, Empowerment, Justice, and Contemplative Presence, in the spirit of our founder, Saint Angela Merici. We minister in Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Chile, South America. Our focus is in four areas: education, from primary grades to college; ecclesial or church ministry; social outreach and justice advocacy with the poor, children, the elderly, immigrants, and the homeless; and ministries of body, mind, and spirit. We sponsor two institutions, Brescia University and Mount Saint Joseph Conference and Retreat Center. More than 500 Ursuline Associates join us in prayer and ministry. Vocations: Contact Sister Alicia Coomes, (270) 229-4103, ext. 214; e-mail: vocations@ maplemount.org; 8001 Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356. Visit us at http://www.ursulinesmsj.org. See ad on page 156. Code #222. Ursuline Sisters (O.S.U.)—Roman Union Contemplative urgency is one way to describe our life. We are rooted in the gospels, which give purpose and vision to our lives. We serve in the spirit of our foundress, St. Angela Merici. Our ministries are many and varied: social service, education, pastoral ministry, campus ministry, retreat ministry, and missionary work. We empower individuals, with special care for women and children in poverty. For more information, please contact: Sr. Francis Kearney, O.S.U. 639 Angela Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95403; (707) 524-1130 ext. 116; e-mail: sfkearney@yahoo.com; Sr. Elisa Ryan, O.S.U., 353 S. Sappington Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122; (314) 825-9773; e-mail: elisaosu@gmail.com; Sr. Angela Krippendorf, O.S.U., 45 Lowder Street, Dedham, MA 02026-4200, (781) 326-6219; e-mail: provosu@verizon. net; Sr. Mary Sullivan, O.S.U. 1338 North Ave., New Rochelle, NY 10804; (914) 712-0060; e-mail: msosu@

aol.com; websites: http://www.osueast.org; ; http://www. osucentral.org. Code #218.

Visitation Sisters of Holy Mary (V.H.M.) Visitation Sisters are women committed to personal and communal prayer as they seek to be a gentle presence in an often violent world. Their monastic vocation, nurtured in community, is a dynamic call to live prophetically the Will of God in the spirit of their Founders, Sts. Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal. Each monastery is unique and all are centers of contemplative prayer and hospitality. For more information, please contact the Visitation Monastery at one of the following locations: 2455 Visitation Drive, Mendota Heights, MN 55120; (651) 683-1700 • 1500 35th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007; (202) 337-0305 • 410 Washington Ave., Wheeling, WV 26003; (304) 232-1283 • 1527 Fremont Ave., No., Minneapolis, MN 55411; (612) 521-6113 • 3020 North Ballas Road, St. Louis, MO 63131; (314) 625-9214 • 8902 Ridge Blvd., Brooklyn, NY 11209; (718) 745-5151. See our web ad at www.VocationGuide.org. Code #086.

discernment programs LifeChoices® Are you unsure of your future? On the fence—and stuck there? Consider LifeChoices®, a spiritual discernment program designed to help young adult Catholics answer big-picture questions of career, lifestyle, spirituality, and vocation. This decade-old program is the first of its kind. The information and processes will allow you to challenge your insecurities, befriend your self-doubts, and provide a path for you to step into the infinite possibilities of your true and authentic self. More than 2,800 women and men have benefited from LifeChoices®, which pairs you up with an experienced vocation minister to ensure that the big decisions you make are the right ones. There’s no pressure to choose religious life, just a commitment to uncovering the path of your heart’s desire with God’s help, where you will find fulfillment and happiness. For more information about LifeChoices®, log onto www.adorers.org or contact Sr. Rita Schilling at 1-877-236-7377 ext. 1409 (ADORERS) or schillingr@adorers.org. See ad on page 33. Code #002.

secular institutes Caritas Christi, Secular Institute of Pontifical Right Founded in Marseilles, France, in 1937 by Fr. Joseph-Marie Perrin, OP, and Juliette Molland, Caritas

Christi is now one of the largest secular institutes for single women in the United States and has members in over thirty countries. The purpose of Caritas Christi is to form and give to the Church contemplative apostolic laywomen who, in every condition of life, strive to live as consecrated Catholics by loving God and making him loved where he has placed them. All members have a sponsor to help them live a life in which God comes first even though they are working in the heart of the world. After three years of initial formation, members take a vow of celibate chastity and promises of poverty and obedience at a first dedication, followed by a definitive dedication five years later. For further information write: Jo Ann Ballinger, joannbear@gmail.com; website: http://www.ccinfo.org. Code #347. Secular Institute of Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ (SIM) Consecrated single women professing poverty, chastity and obedience. Founded in 1919 in Assisi, Italy by Agostino Gemelli, OFM and Armida Barelli. In 1948 approved as a Secular Institute of Pontifical Rite. Established in the United States in 1953 by Fr. Stephen Hartdegen, OFM and Barbara Ottinger. Our purpose is to evangelize where we work, live and pray in the Spirit of St. Francis. We strive for a Franciscan Spirituality, living the Gospel in our Franciscan tradition with Christ centered humility, joy, simplicity, poverty, peace, generosity, love of the church and her teachings. A close bond is created among the members through monthly Days of Recollection, annual retreats, publications, correspondence, and e-mail. Requirements are a commitment to celibate life, desire to grow in love of Christ, desire to promote Christian values in today’s society, a self-supporting occupation, and freedom to live our way of life. For more information contact: Charleen Dahlin, 54 George’s Loop, Raynham MA 02767; (508) 386-1417; e-mail: cdahlin@aol.com; website: http://www.simkc.org. Code #337. United States Conference of Secular Institutes (USCSI) The United States Conference of Secular Institutes is an association of all the Secular Institutes in the United States. Its mission is to provide education, resources, and support for member institutes, and to assist inquirers in finding the Secular Institute that is right for them. USCSI is committed to making known, understood, and appreciated the call to consecrated secularity in the Catholic Church. Total consecration to God through the evangelical counsels of poverty, celibate chastity, and obedience is the hallmark of all Secular Institutes. Institutes are for single women or for single men, and some are for diocesan priests. It is the newest and fastest-growing vocation in the Church today. For more information see http://www. secularinstitutes.org. Inquirers may be helped by writing to or talking with Sharon K. Lewis, Vocation Committee, 26673 Franklin Pointe Drive, Southfield, MI 48034-5615; (248) 352-8425; e-mail: sklewis@comcast.net. Code #147.

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Index to relIgIous communItIes advertIsIng In vIsIon ’10 Log onto VocationGuide.org to request information from any of the religious communities advertising in Vision Vocation Guide. to read about communities and request information in spanish, go to VocacionCatolica.org

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Men’s 141 Alexian Brothers, p. 2 207 Augustinian Friars, p. 64 328 Augustinians of the Assumption, p. 135 254 Barnabite Fathers, p. 65 308 Basilian Monks, p. 135 247 Benedictine Monks, Conception Abbey, p. 135 217 Benedictine Monks, Mount Savior Monastery, p. 135 182 Benedictine Monks, Newark Abbey, p. 139 204 Benedictine Monks, Saint Anselm’s Abbey, p. 135 349 Benedictine Monks, Saint Gregory’s Abbey, p. 135 132 Benedictine Monks, Saint John’s Abbey, p. 73 332 Benedictine Monks, Saint Louis Abbey, p. 137 088 Benedictine Monks, Saint Mary’s Abbey, p. 11 014 Benedictine Monks, Saint Meinrad Archabbey, p. 54 243 Benedictine Monks, Saint Vincent Archabbey, p. 81 256 Benedictine Monks, Subiaco Abbey, p. 79 342 Brothers of Charity, p. 137 206 Brothers of Christian Instruction, p. 63 100 Brothers of the Christian Schools, p. 137 203 Brothers of the Sacred Heart, p. 106 091 Capuchin Franciscan Friars, p. 97 307 Carmelite Friars, St. Elias Province, p. 143 112 Carmelites, Most Pure Heart of Mary Province,` p. 66 092 Claretian Missionaries, p. 138 123 Comboni Missionaries, p. 30 095 Congregation of Christian Brothers, p. 101 097 Congregation of Holy Cross, p. 109 096 Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, p. 138 178 Congregation of the Mission, p. 112 230 Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 71 046 Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata, p. 44 099 Crosier Fathers and Brothers, p. 138 177 Divine Word Missionaries, p. 115 228 The Dominicans, p. 128 119 Edmundite Fathers and Brothers, p. 75 049 Fiat Spiritus Community, p. 139 102 Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, p. 98 281 Franciscan Friars-Assumption of the BVM Province, p. 139

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313 Franciscan Friars-Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, p. 78

145 Salvatorians (Society of the Divine Savior), p. 59

283 Franciscan Friars-Province of the Most Sacred Heart, p. 139

118 Servants of Charity, p. 74

233 Franciscan Friars-St. John the Baptist Province, p. 139

300 Servants of the Paraclete, p. 70

098 Franciscan Friars, Conventual, p. 139

136 Society of African Missions, p. 44

232 Franciscan Friars, T.O.R., p. 99

107 Society of Mary (See Marists), p.144

295 Franciscan Friars, T.O.R., Immaculate Conception Province, p. 27

149 Society of St. Paul, p. 144

003 Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, p. 69 276 Franciscan Friars of the Holy Land, p. 120 103 Glenmary Home Missioners, p. 12 104 Jesuits, p. 140 192 Josephite Fathers and Brothers, p. 129 226 Legionaries of Christ, p. 35 158 Little Brothers of Saint Francis, p. 137 344 Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd, p. 75

120 Somascan Fathers and Brothers, p. 15 164 Spiritans, p. 81 121 Trappist Cistercian Monks, p. 138 122 Trinitarians, p. 39 246 U.S. Army Chaplain Corps., p. 127 094 Viatorians, p. 122 178 Vincentian Priests and Brothers, p. 112 198 Xaverian Brothers, p. 135 137 Xaverian Missionaries, p. 118

334 Marianists, Province of Meribah, p. 99

Missionaries

105 Marianists, Society of Mary, p. 80 298 Marist Brothers, p. 98 107 Marists Fathers and Brothers, p. 144 199 Maryknoll Congregation and Society, p. 103 129 Missionaries of the Holy Family, p. 133 108 Missionaries of the Precious Blood, p. 55 130 Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, p. 141 133 Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 79 249 Missionary Benedictine Priests and Brothers, p. 100

267 214 203 013 092 123 178 230 168 177 125

109 Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, p. 105

056

284 Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, p. 72

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289 Norbertine Fathers and Brothers, Daylesford Abbey, p. 141 110 Norbertine Fathers and Brothers, p. 53 285 Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, p. 56 111 Oblates of the Virgin Mary, p. 77 271 Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 141 339 Our Lady of Guadalupe Franciscan Province, p. 71 239 Pallottines, p. 117 113 Passionists, p. 143 114 The Paulist Fathers, p. 172

103 127 041 128 199 042 299 129 108

195 Piarists, p. 143 134 PIME Missionaries, p. 104 115 Presentation Brothers, p. 70 116 Priests of the Sacred Heart, p. 100 135 The Redemptorists, p. 41 117 Salesians of Don Bosco, p. 19

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159 Servants of Mary (Friars), p. 74

130 133 249

Apostles of the Sacred Heart, p. 85 Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, p. 22 Brothers of the Sacred Heart, p. 106 Carmelites, Congregation of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, p. 17 Claretian Missionaries, p. 138 Comboni Missionaries, p 30 Congregation of the Mission, p. 112 Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 71 Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, pp. 61, 63, 65, 67 Divine Word Missionaries, p. 115 Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, p. 154 Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth, p. 119 Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, p. 45 Glenmary Home Missioners, p. 12 Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, p. 158 Little Sisters of the Poor, p. 94 Marist Missionary Sisters, p. 156 Maryknoll Congregation and Society, p. 103 Medical Mission Sisters, p. 104 Medical Missionaries of Mary, p. 157 Missionaries of the Holy Family, p. 133 Missionaries of the Precious Blood, p. 55 Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, p. 141 Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 79 Missionary Benedictine Priests, Brothers, and Sisters, p. 100

179 Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, p. 107 109 Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, p. 105 278 Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity, p. 125 284 Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity, p. 72 186 Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, p. 157 131 Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, p. 157 044 Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 3 289 Norbertine Fathers and Brothers, Daylesford Abbey, p. 141 201 Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, p. 131 113 Passionists, p. 143 292 Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, p. 87 114 The Paulist Fathers, p. 172 134 PIME Missionaries, p. 104 115 Presentation Brothers, p. 70 135 Redemptorists, p. 41 300 Servants of the Paraclete, p. 70 060 Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida, p. 161 076 Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, p. 164 136 Society of African Missions, p. 44 222 Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph, p. 156 178 Vincentian Priests and Brothers, p. 112 198 Xaverian Brothers, p. 135 137 Xaverian Missionaries, p. 118

Women’s 001 Adorers of the Blood of Christ, p. 67 267 Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 85 161 Augustinian Nuns, p. 150 004 Benedictine Sisters/ A.B.F.C., p. 83 080 Benedictine Sisters, Atchison, KS, Mount St. Scholastica, pp. 83, 145 321 Benedictine Sisters, Bristow, VA, pp. 83, 145 270 Benedictine Sisters, Colorado Springs, CO, Benet Hill, pp. 83, 111 221 Benedictine Sisters, Crookston, MN, Mt. St. Benedict Monastery, pp. 13, 83 280 Benedictine Sisters, Cullman, AL, Sacred Heart Monastery, pp. 83, 146 282 Benedictine Sisters, Duluth, MN, St. Scholastica Monastery , pp. 23, 83 310 Benedictine Sisters, Erie, PA, Mt. St. Benedict Monastery, pp. 83, 146 069 Benedictine Sisters, Ferdinand, IN, Monastery Immaculate Conception, pp. 83, 123

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Women’s (continued) 341 Benedictine Sisters, Fort Smith, AR, St. Scholastica Monastery, pp. 83, 92 319 Benedictine Sisters, Lutherville, MD, Emmanuel Monastery, pp. 83, 147 202 Benedictine Sisters, Mt. Angel, OR, Queen of Angels Monastery, pp. 83, 87 312 Benedictine Sisters, Richardton, ND, Sacred Heart Monastery, pp. 83, 147 320 Benedictine Sisters, Ridgely, MD, St. Gertrude Monastery, pp. 83, 147 152 Benedictine Sisters, Rock Island, IL, St. Mary Monastery, pp. 25, 83 175 Benedictine Sisters, St. Joseph, MN, St. Benedict’s Monastery, pp. 37, 83 293 Benedictine Sisters, Tulsa, OK, St. Joseph Monastery, p. 110 157 Benedictine Sisters, Watertown, SD, Mother of God Monastery, pp. 83, 121 143 Benedictine Sisters, Yankton, SD, Sacred Heart Monastery, pp. 83, 148 008 Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, p. 38 214 Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, p. 22 335 Canossian Daughters of Charity, p. 159 333 Carmelite Monastery of Cristo Rey, p. 13 070 Carmelite Nuns, Beacon, NY, p. 149 153 Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, p. 113 010 Carmelite Sisters of St. Thérèse, p. 20 013 Carmelites, Congregation of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, p. 17 188 Cenacle Sisters, p. 17 011 Cistercian Nuns, p. 42 084 Cistercian Nuns, Trappistine, p. 149 325 Congregation of Divine Providence, Marie de La Roche Province, p.149 257 Congregation of Divine Providence, Melbourne, KY, p. 150 012 Congregation of Notre Dame, p. 93 058 Congregation of Sisters of Bon Secours, p. 131 171 Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, p. 64 168 Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, pp. 61, 63, 65, 67 236 Daughters of Divine Zeal, p. 150 185 Daughters of St. Joseph, p. 85 263 Daughters of St. Mary of Providence, p. 91

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015 Daughters of St. Paul, p. 171 180 Daughters of the Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 150 150 Daughters of the Heart of Mary, p. 119 016 Daughters of the Holy Spirit, p. 123 262 Discalced Carmelite Nuns, p. 112 352 Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Carmel, California, p. 151 018 Dominican Sisters, p. 9 022 Dominican Sisters of Divine Providence, p. 28 351 Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of the Springs, p. 114 338 Dominican Sisters of Peace, pp. 9, 167 025 Felician Franciscan Sisters, p. 29 049 Fiat Spiritus Community, p. 153 125 Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, p. 154 126 Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows, p. 154 037 Franciscan Sisters at Springfield (Hospital Sisters of St. Francis), p. 154 189 Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, p. 163 166 Franciscan Sisters of Chicago, p. 45 193 Franciscan Sisters of Dubuque, IA, p. 154 268 Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, MN, p. 84 167 Franciscan Sisters of Oldenburg, IN, p. 28 170 Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, p. 33 017 Franciscan Sisters of Peace, p. 155 030 Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, p. 61 213 Franciscan Sisters of Rochester, MN, p. 30 056 Franciscan Sisters of St. Elizabeth, p. 119 031 Franciscan Sisters of St. Paul, MN, p. 146 211 Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement, p. 29 032 Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, p. 86 033 Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, p. 45 077 Good Shepherd Sisters, p. 62 183 Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, p. 14 035 Holy Cross Sisters, p. 156 127 Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, p. 158 210 Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, p. 156 039 Little Company of Mary Sisters, p. 130 041 Little Sisters of the Poor, p. 94 105 Marianists Sisters, p. 80 162 Marianites of Holy Cross, p. 160 128 Marist Missionary Sisters, p. 156

199 Maryknoll Sisters, p. 103 286 Mater Redemptoris Convent and House of Formation, p. 157 042 Medical Mission Sisters, p. 104 299 Medical Missionaries of Mary, p. 157 043 Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart, p. 132 249 Missionary Benedictine Sisters, p. 100 179 Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, p. 107 278 Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity, p. 125 186 Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, p. 157 131 Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, p. 157 305 Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 95 044 Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 3 340 Oblate Sisters of Providence, p. 158 196 Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 122 271 Order of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary, p. 158 201 Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, p. 131 239 Pallottine Missionary Sisters, p. 117 239 Pallottine Sisters, p. 117 292 Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, p. 87 238 Passionist Nuns, Clarks Summit, PA, p. 158 047 Passionist Nuns, Ellisville, MO, p. 158 048 Poor Clares, Order of Saint Clare (PA), p. 20 194 Poor Clares, Order of Saint Clare, Spokane, WA, p. 158 049 Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, p. 159 336 Redemptoristine Nuns, p. 159 273 Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, p. 130 117 Salesian Sisters, p. 19 052 School Sisters of Notre Dame, p.125 053 School Sisters of St. Francis, p. 159 350 School Sisters of St. Francis (Panhandle Franciscans), p. 159 159 Servants of Mary, Sisters, p. 74 055 Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary, p. 132 309 Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, p. 43 187 Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immaculata, PA, p. 166 258 Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe, MI, p. 63 059 Sisters of Charity (Federation), p. 160 007 Sisters of Charity of Rolling Hills, p. 22

060 Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida, p. 161 296 Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, p. 161 061 Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Houston TX, p. 34 062 Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX, p. 95 212 Sisters of Christian Charity, p. 147 345 Sisters of Green Mountain Monastery, p. 161 251 Sisters of Jesus Our Hope, p. 43 264 Sisters of Loretto, p. 162 063 Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, p. 26 244 Sisters of Nazareth, p. 16 064 Sisters of Notre Dame, p. 162 065 Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, p. 35 066 Sisters of Providence, Holyoke, MA, p. 162 068 Sisters of Providence, Saint Maryof-the-Woods, IN, p. 162 067 Sisters of Providence, Seattle and Spokane, WA, p. 114 205 Sisters of Reparation of the Sacred Wounds of Jesus, p. 148 181 Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius, p. 62 071 Sisters of St. Casimir, p. 163 085 Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania, OH, p. 163 072 Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, p. 84 252 Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, p. 115 142 Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, Holy Name Prov., p. 161 073 Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, Western Prov., p. 163 139 Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, p. 163 279 Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Conception, p. 163 294 Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, p. 31 075 Sisters of St. John the Baptist, p. 154 024 Sisters of St. Joseph (Federation), p. 57 227 Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, p. 121 154 Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis, p. 37 348 Sisters of St. Mary Namur, p. 164 163 Sisters of St. Rita, p. 164 076 Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, p. 165 277 Sisters of the Divine Compassion, p. 164 315 Sisters of the Divine Savior, (Salvatorians), p. 21 269 Sisters of the Holy Cross, p. 31 036 Sisters of the Holy Family, p. 129 155 Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, p. 113

VISION VISION 2009 2009

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Index

(continued from page 170)

The Daughters of St. Paul

Women’s (continued) 078 Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, p. 165 079 Sisters of the Holy Redeemer, p. 15 331 Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate, p. 165 329 Sisters of the Humility of Mary, p. 124 144 Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, p. 165 274 Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, Corpus Christi, TX, p. 66 346 Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, Houston, TX, p. 165 173 Sisters of the Living Word, p. 14 317 Sisters of the Most Holy Soul of Christ, p. 166 318 Sisters of the Precious Blood, p. 120 219 Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, p. 166 327 Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque, IA, p. 166 314 Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Fargo, ND, p. 166 266 Sisters of the Presentation, of the Blessed Virgin Mary San Francisco, p. 153 050 Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, South Dakota, p. 166 215 Sisters of the Resurrection, p. 151 165 Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, p. 167 034 Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, p. 36 081 Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, p. 36 343 Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart, p. 167 223 Society of Helpers, p. 167 261 Society of St. Teresa of Jesus, p. 39 021 Society of St. Ursula, p. 60 172 Society of the Holy Child Jesus, p. 42 027 Society of the Sacred Heart, p. 111 311 Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland, p. 167 222 Ursuline Sisters of Mount St. Joseph, p. 156 218 Ursuline Sisters, Roman Union, p. 168 086 Visitation Sisters, p. 168

Discernment programs 002 LifeChoices, p. 33

Secular institutes 347 Caritas Christi Secular Institute, p. 168 337 Secular Institute of Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ, p. 168 147 United States Conference of Secular Institutes, p. 168

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