Vocation Awareness Week!

The first and most important thing about any man is his vision, his conception of existence. Upon this depends whether he will paint a gorgeous picture or a sad one. Upon this also depends whether he will paint a sad picture or merely jump over London Bridge.

— G.K. Chesterton

I got a sweet email last week from one of the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, wondering if, in honor of Vocation Awareness Week, I could give a little publicity to their upcoming Vocation Discernment Retreat. Writes Sister:

Typically, we welcome over 100 young women from all around the country. The retreats are short, but packed with grace, and the main emphasis is on all-night Eucharistic Adoration, as the girls are encouraged to listen to God’s plan for them.

You can see a brief slideshow of their last such retreat, here.

A discernment retreat is not a PR event, but a real time of seeking for anyone: Lord, what is your plan for me, what do you want me to do? Holy Marriage? Priesthood? Life as a Religious? A Single Life? Consecrated Virginity?

In my experience, if you ask God what He wants you to do, He will tell you. Retreats such as these give young people a chance to break away from the noise of all their friends, their portable electronics and so forth, that they may hear “the small still voice,” with which God answers our questions.

Nun News Network International
Logo by reader Brian J

Of course, this blog is not known as the Nun News Network for nothing. Regular readers know I am passionate about promoting all vocations, because it’s all good for the life of the world! Living one’s life with the sense that one is “called” to live it in a certain way begets a kind of stability to the whole society, so let’s do some quick updates:

Since we’re already talking about the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, it’s worth mentioning they are celebrating the scholarly publications of two of their sisters.

The Benedictine Nuns of St. Walburga’s Abbey are also hosting a discernment retreat

The Poor Clares of Our Lady of Solitude Monastery in Arizona share pictures of Sr. John-Mark Maria’s investition, and they also have a terrific slideshow showing the construction of their monastery. I can’t believe the dome!

After three days watching destruction and despair, it is so good to see new construction, hopefulness and joy. People mistakenly think that monasteries are off-putting and unwelcoming places. In truth, most monasteries -although the cloistered areas a off-limits- do open their chapels to the public, and if they have the space and resources to do so, they generally try to create a welcoming, peaceful place for people to come and take some time to be quiet. To walk in a garden or sit in a grove and indulge themselves in the luxurious privilege of silence. We need it. Badly.

Click on the Nun News button, for this sister-monastery to the Arizona Poor Clares and you see another new postulant!

The Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church are also scheduling vocation events, as are the Franciscan Sisters of the Martyr St. George.

A feature article on the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming, otherwise knowns as our beloved Monks of the Incredibly Delicious Coffee, and their need to build, quickly, to house all the young men clamoring (yes, really) to live their austere, mostly-silent and reverent life.

Videos: Professing vows here and here

The Passionists have a new postulant, who entered right after all the Christmas fun and prayer. A great way to begin a new year?

We already covered the festivities at Summit, NJ, but if you missed it, they clothed Sr. Mary Magdalene recently.

All kinds of vocation stories can be found here

Update the photo: Sr. Benedicta wears a black veil, now. So does Sr. Concordia

The Nashville Dominicans are celebrating their Jubilee; 150 years (pdf file)

It’s all good. I could go look for more, but it’s late. Goodnight.