I had the honor to be invited to attend the Vocations Fair at Benedictine College in KS! It was a beautiful experience and I was humbled to be counted among the communities there!
I don’t know if I got any nibbles there or not,(we shall see what seeds God has planted) but it was a very good experience and worth while! I knew of some of the communities there and others were new to me. I have to say I was the newest community there having started in July 2009.
There are many vocations: Priesthood, Deacon, Religious Life (Brother or Sister), Single laity, Married Laity and Widow.
I have felt called to Religious Life and to caring for children in need of a safe home to live in since I was younger. I spent 10 years as a Sister in a community and this helped prepare me for this calling from our Lord.
I found a good definition of Religious Life on the CMSWR website.
Apostolic religious life is a form of consecrated life within the Church wherein the members profess vows of chastity, poverty and obedience within a Congregation or Community approved by the Church. Shared community life is an integral part of this form of consecrated life. In professing vows and living within community, the members individually and as a whole witness to a life of communion with Christ, the Church, and one another.
Apostolic religious congregations develop their own traditions based on the original vision of their founders or foundresses, while continuing to focus their ministries to meet the needs of the Church today. While every religious congregation is unique, together they form a rich source of inspiration for the entire Church.
Each of our Religious communities are a piece of the larger puzzle. It takes all of us in our various communities with our various apostolates to serve the needs of the Church. Along with the other vocations we make up the body of Christ.
May we pray for each other as we journey on the path Our Lord has set out for us, under the protective mantle of Our Mother, Mary!
