Let us light up the sky with bold goodness of prayer ...

We learn by asking questions…lots and lots of questions. 

When someone wants to learn more about membership with our congregation, we receive and answer some common questions time and again. And, to help answer those, we've created a reflection guide (learn more and reserve your copy!) ... 

"... 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."

Let us remember, celebrate, pray.

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

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

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

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

Praying for religious life on April 22: who will you invite to the conversation?

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

Let us celebrate Jesus and the joyfulness of his resurrection. 

He fills our spirits with joy!

Sisters Amy and Kathy reached out to hundreds of people with "Discernment of signs along the way: your story of service in the Catholic Church" at the recent Los Angeles Religious Education Congress.

"The time is blooming with opportunity, and craving what we have to offer."

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

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

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.

When desire to be of service is present, are we ready to love like Christ?

Let the 2018 FSPA Jubilee celebrations begin!

Will we live with eyes wide open or avert our glance, ignoring our brothers and sisters in need?

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

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

Like a scientific finding, discernment starts with a question.

Wishing you all the joy and inspiration of discernnment in 2018 and a lifetime to come.

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

Discipline and commitment in our hearts: not just in Lent but Advent and discernment too.

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

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

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

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

Call to mind the boldness of wearing orange when the world encourages you to blend in.

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

Active vs. contemplative discernment: visiting communities and meeting sisters equally essential as praying for wisdom and direction.

Sister Rita Mae Fischer finds sanctuary, centering, connection and courage in the heartache of death through painting.

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

There may not be assembly instructions for completing the perfect household project or the future, discernment included.

Movement ... mindfulness ... self ... love ... presence: Sister Jean's Franciscan Way.

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

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."

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Your obituary: will it speak to your courage, service, voice, gifts?

FSPA: living modern lives, sacred traditions.

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

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

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

Community gathers, grateful for prayers, all is gift!

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

Sisters Kristin and Laurie celebrate religious vows: rejoice and pray with us!

Commitment to prayer, service polishes their priceless lives.

What are you finding within the diversion of distraction in discernment?

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Love: it's also what discernment—and religious life—are all about.

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

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

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

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

Is it snowing in your world of discernment?

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

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

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

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

Discernment: following the light of daily reflection

How long will this take? How will I know?

God recognizes and welcomes us, costumed or not.

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

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

Searching and serving--every day--those on the periphery.

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

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

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

Discerning through the dust of spiritual earthquakes: a readiness and responsiveness to what becomes unearthed.

Are you building bridges in discernment?

Are external sources determining your interior disposition in discernment?

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

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.

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

Are you nurturing the coals and fanning the flames of discernment?

Discerning in a hurting world: when our faith asks us, in difficult times, to look again.

Would your life be different if Jesus and your relationship and your beliefs were unwrapped?

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

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

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

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

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

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

How are you dealing with the storms of life that can be part of discernment?

Ask yourself: are you seeing discernment from new heights? A different point of view?

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 ...

Your journey to religious life starts with your story... and a step. 

Relying on the now moment to find mystery in the fog.