Sister Colette Toler, S.C. writes “As society changes, the Sisters of Charity adapt their ministries to meet new needs. And, as women’s roles change, the sisters have sought new ways to cultivate vocations. Today, both the women and the sisters speak of discernment as their way to “perceive or recognize clearly” where God is calling them.
A chat with the retired sisters reveals that many knew as early as second grade that they wanted to be sisters. Often, they were taught by sisters, and many entered religious life when they were in their late teens or early twenties.
Today, the decision to discern religious vocation often is made later. Some of the contacts and friendships with sisters still originate in a classroom; more can be attributed to vocation retreats. There, women can learn solid discernment skills and talk to others probing the same questions.
Other contacts can be attributed to an Internet search, participation in volunteer ministries, various spiritual growth experiences, and storytelling gatherings at convents which include dinner and community prayer. The primary source, though, is what Sister Mary Clark calls the “Sister of Charity Connection”–an informal network of sisters who, through their ministries, are in contact with young women.
For the rest of the story visit
http://www.scsh.org/Vocation/1Vocation-Cultivation.htm
