I have spent the last year or so in intense prayer, trying to figure out where God is calling me. I have read some vocations materials from a few communities, and... I don't know, but I think I'm at a point where I think that I may be called to the religious life.

My question is: what now? No matter what, it will be at least a few years before I am out of debt from my student loans.

Should I just put discerning my vocation aside until they are paid off? Should I be talking to my priest? I'm not sure.

Thanks.

I'm still in debt because of my student loans, but I went ahead with discerning. If a certain community reall interests you (or a few of them), go visit it or them and tell them about your situation. They will let you know whether to discern further or wait. You never know, a benefactor might come forward, and I think those things happen easier if you are somehow in the final stages before you enter.

I was planning to wait a year or two while I paid off my loans, and the Sisters encouraged me to apply and see what happens with a benefactor.

over here we are lucky cause if you have debts, you don't need to pay them back unless you earn more than £15000 a year, so if you enter a religious community you can run up all the debts you want and you won't have to pay them back!

over where?

The UK, I think... Northern Ireland specifically... I think...

continue discerning, never put that out of your mind. if God calls you to the Religious life, your debts will disapear in good time. for now, just visit Religious Communities and ask for their advice. shop around the communities and see which one you feel called to.