The grace of perseverance

"Life with God and in God will always be an adventure."

Sister Amy's 6 Word Story of Hope

How are you discovering, building, learning ... discerning?

Spiritual dust in the season of spring cleaning

Under the clutter, are you uncovering invitations to religious life?

Thirst

How do you walk with thirst in your own desert experience?

Reflection 12: gaze, consider, contemplate, imitate ... discern [video]

Do I have unanswered questions that God can guide me through?

Joy in the waiting

Advent in action: are you living in the glow of discernment?

Discerning from both sides of the river bank

Advent in action: are you recognizing division in your life?

Celebrating the work of making room

Advent in action: Are you willing to make room for Jesus and the world in your life?

In the spirit of thanksgiving to God

Let's gather around the table full of blessings and prayers.

Sister Janet to discerners: 'Say yes. You won't be sorry.'

"There was fun, excitement and challenge in all of it."

Sister Laura to discerners: 'Do not be afraid to trust ...'

Have faith "in your deepest desires and God's grace."

Sister Rita Mae to discerners: talk, explore, pray

"I had several strong influences to inspire me."

Listening, exploring and discerning like Francis

"No matter where discernment takes you, carry today's Gospel acclamation as you journey forth ..."

Sister Clarone to discerners: '... listen to your heart.'

‘My delight has been being spirit led to an ever-deepening relationship with God.’

Sister Linda to discerners: 'I thank God every day for my vocation.'

"I just knew since second grade," shares Sister Linda about her discernment.

Sharing wisdom with women discerning religious life ...

“It just seemed to be my way,” says Sister Lorraine.

Sister Rosile: "Kindness attracted me to FSPA."

Sister Rosile's advice to discerners: “Trust in God — you will be making the right choice.”

Sister Beth: "Pay attention to your dreams and desires."

"I love companioning people as they live into the fullness of God's invitation for their life."

Sister Celesta: "What more could I ask?"

"The most exciting realization ... is that I'm not finished!"

Rejoice in love and resurrection

Celebrating eternal goodness of God's love and Christ's resurrection this Easter Sunday.

Discerning action, new adventure in Lent and religious life

What adventure God is offering for you to consider?

There's more to Sister Sarah's discernment story ... [video]

"You can't say yes to religious life until you can say no to it. It must be a free choice."

Discernment iridescent this new year

Is the spark of religious life guiding you?

Discernment and Advent: is your heart ready for the celebration?

Hope is there like a long, invisible chain, linking the moments until the celebration can begin.

Discernment and Advent: called to new life

How has God been with you ... every step of the way?

Discernment and Advent: what are you preparing for?

How will we make the time to give our attention to prayer, not only during the season of Advent but throughout the whole year?

A new career in religious life?

Ask any Catholic sister: a "yes" to religious life can open more doors than ever imagined.

Mary, Clare, a novice and an associate: discerning pathways to God

Where do these pioneers, blazing their own paths to religious life, inspire you to go?

Sounding the bell for 140 years of 24/7 prayer [video]

FSPA celebrates the ministry, since Aug. 1, 1978, of perpetual adoration to the world.

Discerning wisdom in words

Are you carrying and comprehending security, delight and love through the doors to religious life?

Finding God at the wheel with Sister Laurice

"... each new shape of clay," shares Sister Amy about her time with Sister Laurice at the potter's wheel, "mirrored my own transformation as a religious sister."

Stepping into bright futures

Sister Amy celebrates "... all the ways that God has brought you to this milestone in your life."

Called to the right now of the journey

Discernment: "... when a walk becomes a gateway to prayer that soothes our souls."

Sister Sandra celebrates, contemplates religious life in jubilee

"... living religious life is a journey," shares Sister Sandra, who learned in ministry that "miracles happen."

Sister Cormarie celebrates, contemplates religious life in jubilee

"In my heart," shares Sister Cormarie, "my vows were final the first time I spoke them."

Sister Marla celebrates, contemplates religious life in jubilee

Tending to discernment requires prayer, guidance, openness ... risking the goodness when found.

Praying for a blessed Holy Week

He fills our spirits with joy!

What inspires Sister Janet about about religious life today?

"The trust lay people put in me with their personal lives." 

These are our own Meribah moments

How can the invitation to discern help you develop your own heart of flesh?

Temptation and transformation in the desert

God guides us to explore the depths of vocational discernment even in the most dreaded circumstances, with us as we confront the temptations that threaten our fidelity to live in communion with God.

It's where I pray

In a chair, near a window, Sister Maris prays and receives stability, change and connection.

Pray as you pray

Silent, spoken, individual, communal, mindful: Sister Clarone reflects on fruitful paths to prayer.

Discovery in discernment: breakthroughs of mind and heart

Like a scientific finding, discernment starts with a question.

Beacons of hope

Spiritual blisters: symbols of joy discovered in risking the journey.

Journey of Advent

How is your discernment part of the pilgrimage experience? Are you willing to enter the passage?

This day of thanks and giving

Gathering, contemplating and praising as we celebrate Thanksgiving.

A transformative moment

In discernment, abundance is recognizing that God provides more than we could ever consume.

Sister Sue: nature is prayer

Creation, says Sister Sue, is a small footprint of God's capacity.

What did you say?

From novice to the common good: the language of discerning religious life.

Sister Antona: comfort, joy and security in prayer

"I thank God daily," says Sister Antona, "for His companionship and love."

Sister Anita: the soul searching question

Calling through quiet to her innermost spirit and that of God, and listening "to find the courage and RESPOND" is, for Sister Anita, prayer. 

Discerning, igniting a revolution of peace

What would happen if we woke up and fostered peace and positivity instead of hate and greed?

Sister Karolyne: God's sacred creation in morning and evening prayer

Simple and natural and wonderful, the astronomical gifts of all creation call Sister Karolyne twice daily to most profound prayer. 

Tuning in to God, discernment

Sister Amy, in her own discernment, found that "Each community carried individual tones and music of life."

Sister Lucy Ann: expression of my time with Jesus

Poetry as prayer: Sister Lucy Ann is "experiencing deep and profound insights about who I am and how to live more fully into the mysteries of life."

Crisis reveals goodness

Walking together — through life changers like discernment — takes courage and conviction but also generates power to shape the future.

Sister Sharon: Letters to God

"A letter to God," writes Sister Sharon in Franciscan Way, "turned out not to be penance at all."

Imagination inspires vision in discernment

Discernment: imagining yourself in new climates, cultures an invitation from God. 

Sister Georgia: A morning offering

May the warmth of the cup, transferred to my hands, be a reminder of the warmth and love I am to extend to all who I meet today.

Viewing relationships in a discernment eclipse

What happens when parents, friends experience their own moments of obscurity in your discernment?

Sister Katie: ordinary day, invitation to pray

Intimacy with God is not separate from day-to-day life.

New horizons ahead

What would happen if you contacted the community whose website is open in your browser?

Sister Kathy: The cup and the tube

"Good Morning Jesus" -- my soul's connection with the presence of God.

Sister Amy: grateful for the ways I'm inspired to pray

The Holy Spirit is really good at getting my attention, inviting me to contemplation.

Prayer anniversary sparks compassion

As each bell chimed, my vision of the world widened; I've prayed for people around the globe.

"Yes" to God's invitation

Witness what it means to walk the Gospel-centered journey of life as a religious sister.

Where are we going?

Road of discernment: your gifts and talents may be precious fuel for propelling us into the future.

Diamonds in our midst

Commitment to prayer, service polishes their priceless lives.

What if it's you?

The circle of discernment: even wider when you consider that the whole Catholic church is praying for you.

Unpredictability, overwhelming beauty coexist

Discernment: soaking up spring storms and the greening world around us.

Mantle of grief

Easter alleluias always come: God will not abandon you on your discernment journey.

A promise to build a new life upon

By choosing to distract ourselves from listening—particularly when we are called to rise to the potential already within us—we can hide from God.

Commitment doesn't emerge overnight

Are you ready to allow God--not a stagnant statue of your own creation--to be the form you follow?

Mary and our "Yes" to mystery

When we say "Yes" to vocation we—like Mary—must walk the road, learning as we go, trusting God is always there.

Grumbling through the desert of discernment

Traveling through your own Egypt experience for the cool waters of friendship, understanding and companionship in discernment.

Kindness: we are all called to be Esther

On the Lenten road of kindness and spiritual growth, Esther is a model for discerners.

Sharing courage to walk in darkness and light

Does love want others to lose in order for someone to win?

World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life

Will you be part of the next generation of consecrated life?

Service Saturday: mutuality at its core

Service and discernment: are you open to the idea that God co-creates with you the future?

Open eyes can change world views

What if your dream is the one the world needs now?

Resolutions and reflection in discernment

Trust—on the days you feel like you aren't measuring up to your discernment resolutions—in the power of prayer.

Advent light and joy: the vocation that may shine from deep inside you

The searing questions we hear on the lips of Jesus are held in tension with this sense of Advent joy.

The hope and conversion in Christmas

The clear invitation of the Advent season: amidst the work make way for hope in our hearts, hope in discernment.

Awake and ready in discernment?

Discernment: How you wait is just as important as the waiting.

Thankfulness, flaming rolls and the illusion of perfection

Leaving your illusions at the door: who you are and why God calls you to discern religious life.

Discerning in the face of fear

God recognizes and welcomes us, costumed or not.

Trying on your metaphorical lenses

Religious discernment: scrutinizing, eliminating and finding the right fit.

Surrendering to the task at hand

Have you invited God into the task you're putting off?

Documenting discernment

Journaling by hand or tweeting by phone: are you documenting your discernment?

Unplugged

Running from silence: when we plug in are we silencing God?

Carrying the wounds of the cross

How is your life marked--celebrated--as a discerning follower of Jesus?

Bridges of peace built with prayer

Are you building bridges in discernment?

St. Clare of Assisi: model, mentor, friend

What if, like St. Clare, you lived your life steeped in prayer?

Blisters, discipline, perseverance and joy

Olympics and religious discernment: to win not a gold medal but a relationship with God, you don't have to be a skilled athlete of prayer.

Doorways to celebration

Crossing 800 and 138-year-old thresholds to love, acceptance and forgiveness.

Franciscan family reunions

Are you called to join a family of Franciscans working in service of the Gospel?

A jubilant life

The jubilee of your life: is discernment leading you to enjoy it rather than endure it?

Use words when necessary

Words, vows, renewing commitment: what does your life call you to today?

Trailblazers and touchstones along the path

Who are the trailblazers in your life? Are you willing to go where God leads?

Listening with a discerning ear

Sometimes we have to wait in a state of contemplative silence to really know what to do next ... 

The chronos and kairos of our lives

How does your calendar tell the story of chronos and kairos in your life?

On the road of discernment?

When I am discerning I’m not always sure where I’m going, and often times someone else is driving. That someone else may be God ...


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