Each year, the Missionary Sisters participate in the Gift of Mission interactive vocation program for high school juniors. Yesterday, over 60 students hailing from Bishop Shanahan H.S., Pope John Paul II H.S., York Catholic H.S., and McDevitt H.S. in PA and Gloucester Catholic H.S. in NJ joined an inter-congregational team of vocation directors for the workshop.
The Gift of Mission
The Gift of Mission
Each year, the Missionary Sisters participate in the Gift of Mission interactive vocation program for high school juniors. Yesterday, over 60 students hailing from Bishop Shanahan H.S., Pope John Paul II H.S., York Catholic H.S., and McDevitt H.S. in PA and Gloucester Catholic H.S. in NJ joined an intercongregational team of vocation directors for the workshop.
NRVC Delaware Valley Member Area Holds Winter Meeting
The Delaware Valley Member Area of the National Religious Vocations Conference (NRVC) met on Tuesday, January 14th at the Motherhouse of the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary located in Immaculata, PA.
Sr. Debbie Borneman, SSCM, the Director of Mission Integration of the NRVC, joined the members and gave a presentation on “Risking Hope: Countering the Narrative of Completion”. Additionally, there was a panel presentation of discerners and new members who shared their stories of vocational call and discernment.
A business meeting followed the morning session. Plans are in process for a Life Awareness Retreat for young adults ages 18 – 45, for those women and men who are contemplating a major decision in their lives such as job opportunities; post-baccalaureate volunteer service; graduate school and/or life vocation – single, married, vowed religious and priesthood. (Please see the flyer on the next page. ) The Delaware Valley Member Area will also hold three Gift of Mission days for high school juniors on February 4th and 13th and March 5th. The MSCs will have representation at each of these vocational outreaches. 
A Vocational Accompaniment Course
This summer, Sr. Martha Lopez, MSC attended a Vocational Accompaniment Course at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. She shares her experience with the Cabrinian Community…
“Hope is the dream of the waking man…”
… And we awake, we await the dawn and the flowering of new vocations in the Church and in our Institute. I want to share with you that I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in an interesting Vocational Accompaniment Course, taught by the Vocation Animation Services of the Diocesan Operative priests, whose charism is to promote vocations today.
The Workshop was held at the facilities of the University of the Incarnate Word, in San Antonio, Tx., led by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, who gave us a beautiful and generous welcome. We were around 35 participants who, aware of the urgent task of promoting Hispanic female vocations, arrived from different parts of the southwest of the country, with the conviction that we need formation to “accompany” our candidates. It’s about knowing how to walk with them, of being true companions. Many young people are hungry for spiritual life, for faith (they need to believe in “something”) and also hungry for vocational accompaniment.
It is motivating for all of us to verify that there is a resurgence of the religious vocation today. Today this concern has re-emerged strongly in youth and there is more sensitivity to this approach. Perhaps because we have heard the voice of Pope Francis who constantly invites us to go out to meet others.
The experiences of service, of the mission, of being touched by reality, are spaces in which young people discover their vocation because they question and uninstall them. That is why sisters and brothers, let us continue to be in the middle of town, in the middle of people, in parishes, with immigrants, with those who suffer. Young people want to see in the face of the religious today, the joy of Consecration, the joy of service, the joy of living the Gospel. They thus realize that their lives make sense and that it is worth playing their whole lives in response to Jesus. Let’s continue to show the beautiful face of our vocation!
Gift of Mission Vocation Workshop for High School Juniors
With a cheerful “heart” theme for the day, eighty high school junior girls participated in a Gift of Mission vocation awareness program held in Immaculata, PA, sponsored by an intercongregational team of vocation directors – including the Missionary Sisters – from the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC). Young ladies from Bishop Shanahan H.S., West Chester, PA; Mount St. Joseph Academy, Chestnut Hill, PA; York Catholic H.S., York, PA; and Glouscester Catholic H.S., Glouscester City, NJ entered into a fun and interactive day learning about vowed religious life, prayer, and ministry. [Read more…]
Cara Survey Shows Uptick in Those Taking Perpetual Vows
CARA Survey Shows Uptick in Number of Women and Men Taking Perpetual Vows
~by Jacob Comello of Catholic News Service
When you head to Mass this Sunday, chances are you will hear the intention “an increase in vocations to the religious life” lifted up before the gifts are presented. A recent survey suggests those prayers might be getting answered.
The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University, a nonprofit that conducts and publishes social-science research on the Catholic Church, just released findings of a national survey of men and women who in 2018 professed perpetual vows in monasteries, provinces or religious congregations based in the United States, and the results suggest an increasing number of Catholics are willing to pursue this kind of obligation.
Senior research associate Mary Gautier told CNS in a phone interview that CARA “(was) able to identify 240 persons” taking perpetual vows, “up from 200 the last time we did the survey.” Of these 240 identified women and men religious, a total of 92 sisters and nuns and 70 brothers and priests responded to the survey. [Read more…]
World Day for Consecrated Life
In 1997, Pope Saint John Paul II instituted a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd. This Feast is also known as Candlemas Day; the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples. The celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life is transferred to the following Sunday in order to highlight the gift of consecrated persons for the whole Church.
World Day for Consecrated Life is celebrated on February 2nd. In 2019, this day is celebrated in parishes on February 2-3. Let us keep the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and all those in consecrated life to celebrate the gift they bring to the Church and to the world. [Read more…]
World Day of Prayer for Vocations
The purpose of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publically fulfill the Lord’s instruction to, “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). As a climax to a prayer that is continually offered throughout the Church, it affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life. While appreciating all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the ordained ministries (priesthood and diaconate), to the Religious life in all its forms (male and female, contemplative and apostolic), to societies of apostolic life, to secular institutes in their diversity of services and membership, and to the missionary life, in the particular sense of mission “ad gentes”.
2019 marks the 56th Anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations
National Catholic Sisters Week
Join us as we celebrate women religious from March 8th through the 14th. But be sure to check in at SisterStory for more events throughout the year. Discover their unwavering spirit, experience their powerful ministries, affirm and honor the women who have meant so much to us.
World Day for Consecrated Life
About World Day for Consecrated Life
In 1997, Pope Saint John Paul II instituted a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd. This Feast is also known as Candlemas Day; the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples. The celebration of World Day for Consecrated Life is transferred to the following Sunday in order to highlight the gift of consecrated persons for the whole Church.
World Day for Consecrated Life is celebrated on February 2nd however, it is observed in parishes on the Sunday after February 2nd. In 2019, this day is celebrated in parishes on February 2-3.