Advice?

[be_thou_my_vision]

[quote name='philosobrat' post='1296957' date='Jun 16 2007, 07:25 PM']Well, there are a lot of communities that visit you at Stubie, so that will give you a chance to meet different religious. I will probably be there once or twice during the next year, visiting with Sr Colleen.[/quote]
I'll be there too with Sr. Lois and the novitiate! Look out for us! (Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration)... it's great to meet more of the pham!

[chelsea]

[quote name='EJames' post='1297032' date='Jun 16 2007, 10:52 PM']i dont think its too early to visit, many communities in the USA dont normally accept women vocations before 21, and a couple 25!..so you have time, taking it gently, writing, asking lots of questions, [u]and[/u] visiting...just a thoght though, since you plan to go to Steubenville, quite a few people in this forum have been stuck with debts,i have 2 friends who have massive university debts, postponing there strong monastic a calls for years because of it,,,so be wise, and prudent...anyways, God does have alot of money......since all my own College debts were paid off,suddenly, before i entered by a women i didnt even know really!
pax![/quote]


Debts are a major concern for me. Steubenville is definitly expensive compared to my state school (UMD) and I'm going to be needing major loans to afford it. However, I totally know that God's got it all under control.

[chelsea]

Communities that I'm interested in:

[url="http://www.sistersoflife.org/"]Sisters of Life[/url]
[url="http://www.franciscansisterscfr.com/"]Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal[/url]
[url="http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/"]Congregation of Charity of the Miraculous Medal (proposed order in formation)[/url]
[url="http://home.catholicweb.com/franciscandaughtersofmary/index.cfm"]Franciscan Daughters of Mary[/url]
[url="http://www.ascjus.org/"]Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus [/url]
[url="http://www.sistersofmary.org/"]Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist[/url]
[url="http://www.sistersolg.org/index3.html"]Sisters of Our Lady of the Garden[/url]
[url="http://www.ssvmusa.org/ssvmhome.htm"]Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara[/url]
[url="http://www.cjd.cc/index.html"]Sisters in Jesus the Lord[/url]
[url="http://dmml.org/default.aspx"]Daughters of Mary, Mother of Healing Love[/url]
[url="http://www.homeofthemother.org/spir/servantsisters.html"]Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother[/url]


I know that these are a LOT of communities to be looking at... once again, I've just started gathering information/seriously discerning. Many of these communities have very different charisms and apostolates.

[Starets]

Sounds like you are doing fine at the moment. Gathering information is a good thing to be doing. gives you something solid to look at.

[onlygrace08]

[quote name='chelsea' post='1296934' date='Jun 16 2007, 07:37 PM']I am very involved in an active community that is cloistered, and very centered on the Eucharist. I love working with the homeless and youth. At Steubie, I hope to major in Social Work as well as Theology with a Youth Ministry concentration. Also, I think if i wanted to visit a community, my parents wouldnt be too thrilled :-/[/quote]

I understand what you mean about your parents not being too thrilled.... I know that if I asked to visit a convent, my father would be like, "What!?!? You're gonna be a nun??" Right now, I don't see that as being very helpful for discernment... perhaps, though, it will be easier for you to visit when you are at college and more on your own. However, in the mean time, Eucharistic Adoration is extremely helpful. You can just go and "chill" with Jesus. Then you might be readier when you are able to visit some communities.

God Bless!

[the lords sheep]

[quote name='chelsea' post='1296934' date='Jun 16 2007, 07:37 PM']Also, I think if i wanted to visit a community, my parents wouldnt be too thrilled :-/[/quote]

I completely understand what you mean about parents. Mine don't know I've been visiting communities I just tell them I'm doing "service", which is usually true anyway, since most Sisters will put you to work when you visit them. Some of the orders you mentioned below are close enough that you could go for the day to "work" and pray with them. See if you can get a friend to go as well. That takes the edge/ pressure off of you. Sisters know where you are, they understand you're just trying to get a feel for the life, since they have ALL been in your position before, wondering if the Lord was calling them to a community.

[quote name='chelsea' post='1297371' date='Jun 17 2007, 04:17 PM'][url="http://www.sistersoflife.org/"]Sisters of Life[/url]
[url="http://www.franciscansisterscfr.com/"]Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal[/url]
[url="http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/"]Congregation of Charity of the Miraculous Medal (proposed order in formation)[/url]
[url="http://home.catholicweb.com/franciscandaughtersofmary/index.cfm"]Franciscan Daughters of Mary[/url]
[url="http://www.ascjus.org/"]Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus [/url]
[url="http://www.sistersofmary.org/"]Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist[/url]
[url="http://www.sistersolg.org/index3.html"]Sisters of Our Lady of the Garden[/url]
[url="http://www.ssvmusa.org/ssvmhome.htm"]Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara[/url]
[url="http://www.cjd.cc/index.html"]Sisters in Jesus the Lord[/url]
[url="http://dmml.org/default.aspx"]Daughters of Mary, Mother of Healing Love[/url]
[url="http://www.homeofthemother.org/spir/servantsisters.html"]Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother[/url]
I know that these are a LOT of communities to be looking at... once again, I've just started gathering information/seriously discerning. Many of these communities have very different charisms and apostolates.[/quote]

Sounds a lot like my list when I was first beginning (a fair number are still around). While they are quite a varied list, they do have a lot of things in common: a habit, a structured prayer life, a strong community life, and an active apostalate. You know somewhat what you are looking for and that is good. I know the Servants of the Lord are close to you, as I believe some of the Apostles are as well.


On another note, something to consider when you are looking at schools is to find a school which would be accessible to visit orders. Check out scholarships at other schools, as well. FUS is a good school, but so many people walk out with MOUNDS of debt. There are other schools out there, where you can recieve good (albeit different) formation. Find a school with a Catholic community, frequent Mass, and a good spiritual director, and you can make it anywhere.
You could be really surprised what you'd find at other Universities. I wouldn't trade the formation I've recieved at my school for anything, not even FUS.

Good luck to you! Prayers!

In Jesus and Mary,
Lauren

[chelsea]

[quote name='the lords sheep' post='1298297' date='Jun 19 2007, 04:23 AM']I completely understand what you mean about parents. Mine don't know I've been visiting communities I just tell them I'm doing "service", which is usually true anyway, since most Sisters will put you to work when you visit them. Some of the orders you mentioned below are close enough that you could go for the day to "work" and pray with them. See if you can get a friend to go as well. That takes the edge/ pressure off of you. Sisters know where you are, they understand you're just trying to get a feel for the life, since they have ALL been in your position before, wondering if the Lord was calling them to a community.

Sounds a lot like my list when I was first beginning (a fair number are still around). While they are quite a varied list, they do have a lot of things in common: a habit, a structured prayer life, a strong community life, and an active apostalate. You know somewhat what you are looking for and that is good. I know the Servants of the Lord are close to you, as I believe some of the Apostles are as well.
On another note, something to consider when you are looking at schools is to find a school which would be accessible to visit orders. Check out scholarships at other schools, as well. FUS is a good school, but so many people walk out with MOUNDS of debt. There are other schools out there, where you can recieve good (albeit different) formation. Find a school with a Catholic community, frequent Mass, and a good spiritual director, and you can make it anywhere.
You could be really surprised what you'd find at other Universities. I wouldn't trade the formation I've recieved at my school for anything, not even FUS.

Good luck to you! Prayers!

In Jesus and Mary,
Lauren[/quote]

I feel like I'm decieving my parents if i were to visit a community without telling them. i might just have to wait until i get to college. And i know, FUS will lead me to huge amounts of debt. This is another concern of mine. I just feel such a desire to go there, and I pray that the Lord will give me the money. However, if it comes down to it, I know there are other secular schools where i can get a good education and find other catholics.

Do you know which communities you are leaning towards?

[the lords sheep]

[quote name='chelsea' post='1298425' date='Jun 19 2007, 12:42 PM']I feel like I'm decieving my parents if i were to visit a community without telling them. i might just have to wait until i get to college. And i know, FUS will lead me to huge amounts of debt. This is another concern of mine. I just feel such a desire to go there, and I pray that the Lord will give me the money. However, if it comes down to it, I know there are other secular schools where i can get a good education and find other catholics.

Do you know which communities you are leaning towards?[/quote]

Yes... I understand the deceiving, but in my case, prudence outways the guilt. Their knowledge and the subsequent unapprovable would make discernment extremely difficult, if not impossible for me.

Let's see, communities... I've visited with the Sisters of Life and loved them, and I am spending a month this summer with the Servants of the Lord in Argentina. I also really love the CFR sisters, but I'm pretty certain I am not called there.

Depending on your grades and test scores, you could also get really good scholarships to some Catholic schools. Something to look into.