December 27, 2006
Merry Christmas!
+JMJ
Feastday of St. John the Apostle
A very Merry, albeit belated Christmas to everyone! Christmas midnight Mass was awesome! First, before Mass, my mom mentioned something about this possibly being my last Christmas at home. I was surprised b/c I thought she wanted me to wait a year. She said "I know how hard it is to wait once you've made a decision." It was just what I needed to hear! A few minutes later, I saw two of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart coming into the church. I was so happy! It was Sr. Mary Ellen and Sr. Colleen Patricia who I knew from my discernment. The Mass itself was wonderful. They had a brass section on loan from the Met opera and our amazing choir. It just made you feel closer to Heaven.
I was at my aunt's house for Christmas and it was a great time. It was nice to see the family again and have some good food. I also think we made a new family record for latest time leaving my aunt's place. Well see we started playing games and before we knew it, it was 3 AM! Well I'm hoping that everyone had a blessed Advent and a wonderful Christmas. God Bless!
Feastday of St. John the Apostle
A very Merry, albeit belated Christmas to everyone! Christmas midnight Mass was awesome! First, before Mass, my mom mentioned something about this possibly being my last Christmas at home. I was surprised b/c I thought she wanted me to wait a year. She said "I know how hard it is to wait once you've made a decision." It was just what I needed to hear! A few minutes later, I saw two of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart coming into the church. I was so happy! It was Sr. Mary Ellen and Sr. Colleen Patricia who I knew from my discernment. The Mass itself was wonderful. They had a brass section on loan from the Met opera and our amazing choir. It just made you feel closer to Heaven.
I was at my aunt's house for Christmas and it was a great time. It was nice to see the family again and have some good food. I also think we made a new family record for latest time leaving my aunt's place. Well see we started playing games and before we knew it, it was 3 AM! Well I'm hoping that everyone had a blessed Advent and a wonderful Christmas. God Bless!
December 20, 2006
Saying it outloud
+JMJ
Feast of St. Dominic of Silos
Today has been good;mostly shopping for family and errands galore. During the day, one of the Sisters of Life called and asked if I was coming over tomorrow for caroling and pre- Christmas fun. I volunteer at one of their convents so I'm pretty familiar with them. Anyway, the sister asked me how my discernment was going and I didn't know what to say. I wanted to tell the sisters I was entering the Apostles in person, but now the question was just hanging there. So I told her that I'm going to enter the Apostles and she was very happy for me. She also said she wouldn't tell the other sisters so I could tell them myself.
Now it may not seem like a big deal, but it felt that way to me. I've really gotten to know the sisters and I feel very comfortable around them. I was actually dreading telling the sisters about my decision because of how they would take it. Well, I've only told one sister, but I'm sure the rest will be just as happy for me. See, that's the essence of a vocation, the inner peace that God gives you. I'm very happy hanging out with the Sisters of Life, but I feel differently when I'm with the Apostles.
With every person I tell of my decision, it becomes more real. To be honest, that feeling is as comforting as it is frightening. Of course I'm scared about the unknown, but hey, that's what trust in God is all about!
Feast of St. Dominic of Silos
Today has been good;mostly shopping for family and errands galore. During the day, one of the Sisters of Life called and asked if I was coming over tomorrow for caroling and pre- Christmas fun. I volunteer at one of their convents so I'm pretty familiar with them. Anyway, the sister asked me how my discernment was going and I didn't know what to say. I wanted to tell the sisters I was entering the Apostles in person, but now the question was just hanging there. So I told her that I'm going to enter the Apostles and she was very happy for me. She also said she wouldn't tell the other sisters so I could tell them myself.
Now it may not seem like a big deal, but it felt that way to me. I've really gotten to know the sisters and I feel very comfortable around them. I was actually dreading telling the sisters about my decision because of how they would take it. Well, I've only told one sister, but I'm sure the rest will be just as happy for me. See, that's the essence of a vocation, the inner peace that God gives you. I'm very happy hanging out with the Sisters of Life, but I feel differently when I'm with the Apostles.
With every person I tell of my decision, it becomes more real. To be honest, that feeling is as comforting as it is frightening. Of course I'm scared about the unknown, but hey, that's what trust in God is all about!
December 19, 2006
The return of the blogger
+JMJ
Feast of Bl. Pope Urban V
Well, I'm back folks and hopefully for good this time! So what in the world happened to me??? After last Christmas I did my aspirancy with the Dominican Nuns and had a wonderful time. I discerned that my vocation was not to the cloister, but I was still attracted to religious life. I came back to college after break and had a really stressful semester. I got bogged down by the demands of senior year (aka my thesis) and had a pretty rough time of it. Happily, I made it through and graduated in May, woohoo!
Since graduation, I worked at a museum but am now on the job hunt again. Discernment-wise, I did a live-in with the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and a retreat with the Sisters of Life. Both of these really helped me to see where God was calling me. After leaving the Apostles, I felt at peace, but the Sisters of Life were still nagging me. So I went on the SoL retreat in November. It was a blessed, fun-filled retreat and at the end I knew they were not for me. I knew the Apostles were having a retreat Dec. 1-3, so I went just to have some time away. God however had other plans.....During the weekend I felt a profound, lasting peace and I knew the Apostles were the order for me!
During that retreat I got to witness, two young women enter as postulants which was really awesome. At the end of the retreat, I told Sr. Maureen, the provincial superior that I wanted to enter.
What's next you might ask....well I'm looking for a job to get my student loans taken care of and working on my spiritual life. I know this is kind of a big update all at once, but I want to restart the blog with a bang!
Feast of Bl. Pope Urban V
Well, I'm back folks and hopefully for good this time! So what in the world happened to me??? After last Christmas I did my aspirancy with the Dominican Nuns and had a wonderful time. I discerned that my vocation was not to the cloister, but I was still attracted to religious life. I came back to college after break and had a really stressful semester. I got bogged down by the demands of senior year (aka my thesis) and had a pretty rough time of it. Happily, I made it through and graduated in May, woohoo!
Since graduation, I worked at a museum but am now on the job hunt again. Discernment-wise, I did a live-in with the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and a retreat with the Sisters of Life. Both of these really helped me to see where God was calling me. After leaving the Apostles, I felt at peace, but the Sisters of Life were still nagging me. So I went on the SoL retreat in November. It was a blessed, fun-filled retreat and at the end I knew they were not for me. I knew the Apostles were having a retreat Dec. 1-3, so I went just to have some time away. God however had other plans.....During the weekend I felt a profound, lasting peace and I knew the Apostles were the order for me!
During that retreat I got to witness, two young women enter as postulants which was really awesome. At the end of the retreat, I told Sr. Maureen, the provincial superior that I wanted to enter.
What's next you might ask....well I'm looking for a job to get my student loans taken care of and working on my spiritual life. I know this is kind of a big update all at once, but I want to restart the blog with a bang!
