family relationships - Related Content

"What a blessing and grace-filled way of life that I’ve grown to know.”

Last week, we kicked off our Show me a sign video series premiere with the story "Sister Lucy, 'What if my family doesn't agree with my choice?'"  

There's much more to Sister Lucy's discernment story including "Growing a strong foundation of faith," in which she says, "Being a part of community has clearly amplified what I can do with my life in ways that I could never do as a single Catholic woman. Being an FSPA enlarges, enables and enhances, as well as supports and encourages, my work for the cosmic, common good. As an FSPA, I continue the tradition started by St. Francis of Assisi and continued by Pope Francis to care for creation. What a blessing and grace-filled way of life that I’ve grown to know.” Click here to read more.

And, in case you missed it -- or the discernment story is calling to you again -- here is the video "Show me a sign: Sister Lucy, "What if my family doesn't agree with my choice?

Are you discerning religious life? Walking with someone who is? Connect with membership@fspa.org to be added to our future premiere list. You’ll receive a sneak peek of our future Show me a sign video premieres. 

Welcome to the Show me a sign series premiere! Throughout the next several months, you will meet five Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration who share the joys and struggles they experienced in personal relationships as they walked their own pathway of discernment. 

Today, meet Sister Lucy Slinger and her sibling Eileen. About the family relationship, Sister Lucy admits, “I don’t always go and get to see her … because I have responsibilities. It’s no different than when I was a professional woman and a university professor. But if someone needs something—it’s kind of fascinating—I think I have more support in community than I would have had in the flexibility and freedom to do as a single professional woman.”
 

Are you discerning religious life? Walking with someone who is? Connect with membership@fspa.org to be added to our future premiere list. You’ll receive a sneak peek of our future Show me a sign video premieres. 

Synod of Bishops, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration develop new tools for discerning religious life

On Oct. 3, the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops “Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment” began in Rome, Italy. Through the 28th, bishops from around the world are discussing ways to help young people navigate the numerous choices placed before them — clearing vocation hurdles — in discerning their path in life. 

Image courtesy www.pixabay.com

Youth were selected from around the world to gather March 18 - 25 to share their perspective and offer insight for the bishops to consider. During their time together, participants were provided with tools by the Vatican to aid in the development a variety of resources like videos for social media and a working document (available for study prior to the synod) about their opinions and experiences — a collective of the voices of the young women and men who are modern prophets of the time to come. 

I am listening, and something I’m hearing clearly from the next generation is that discouragement in discerning religious life often starts at home. Parents always want what is best for their child but sometimes big dreams — often those of being grandparents — turn conversation into conflict. Parents may also fear separation: long-distance missions that make visits difficult. Siblings sometimes fear the loss of relating to their sister in vocation, and can struggle to understand why she would choose to make such a counter-cultural choice.

Coming soon: Show me a sign to premiere FSPA discernment video series!

Our congregation, Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, is providing support for discerners by bringing these hidden obstacles to conversation in a new video series which will premiere right here in November! Throughout the next several months, you will meet five sisters who share the joys and struggles they experienced in personal relationships as they walked their own pathway of discernment. Perhaps their stories will help you or someone you know who is discerning and looking for ways to build bridges of conversation — clearing vocation hurdles — with family and friends.

Stay tuned!

**Do you know someone experiencing discernment of religious life? We invite you to share this link, www.fspa.org/showmeasign, and join the conversation.

"How will religious life affect my relationships?"

As we continue to celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week, Nov. 3 - 9, we invite you to experience Sister Dawn's story about the importance of maintaining relationships with her family and friends as a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration.

National Vocation Awareness Week is a big opportunity to take a bold step in your discernment by meeting a sister (or a brother, priest, or deacon) and discover how they live their vocation. Communicators for Women Religious is offering several opportunities for you to do just that throughout the week with the #2019 Meet Our Sisters Tour in Chicago, Illinois. Sister Kristin, a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, will be at Su Casa Catholic Worker House (5045 S. Laffin St.) today (4:30-7 p.m.), Tuesday (10-11:30 p.m.) and Wednesday (4:30 to 7 p.m.). Stop by to see her, learn more about Su Casa’s mission of hospitality and intentional community, and discover how religious sisters serve a society rooted in simplicity, free of violence, and abounding in love there.

And, stay tuned to Show me a sign as we continue to celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week!

Are you discerning religious life? Walking with someone who is? We invite you to share this link, www.fspa.org/showmeasign, and join the conversation.