Hello All,
I just signed on to this site a few minutes ago! I am going to be 23 years old and I have been for about 4 years now. I will be honest, I did not read all of the entrees up to this point, but I read a few. It is really refreshing to hear about people who are seriously discerning the religious life. I look forward to being glued to this sight and reading all the interesting things you have to offer!!


God Love You,

Carolyn

Welcome to Phatmass! I have a question. You have been, for about 4 years, what? Discerning religious life? God bless you!

I have been discerning the religious life. Specifically, I am discerning with the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. They are amazing sisters from Immaculata, Pa! I am planning on entering the convent in September of 2008. I want to finish College before I enter.

God Love You,

Carolyn

Yes, to the Vocation Station. Grab an empty seat in the choir and make yourself at home. Breviaries in front of your seat (we need a :religious chanting in choir: icon...!)

Time zones mean that it's always a combination of Vespers and recreation in here, so do share a little about yourself!

Love and prayers,

PP

Dear Fellow Seekers,

I am not sure what you want to hear. My story isn't much. I went to catholic school and graduated from 8th grade. Instead of going to a catholic highschool, I decided to become homeschooled. I graduated from a homeschooling association in 12th grade. I went to a community college and graduated with an Associates in Engineering and Mathematics. I attending a University to double major in Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics. I have been discerning the religious life (Specifically the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Mary) since my senior year of highschool. I think it is very important for myself to graduate college before I enter. I think I have learned a great deal about myself while making my way through college. All of the knowledge I have learned has only increased my desire to become an IHM Sister. I think the vocations in this country will increase but the age that women enter the religious life will increase. That is my opinion.

God Love You,

Carolyn

Mea culpa - I didn't mean to come across as "demanding" an intro or anything from you. I should have worded my post better.

Besides, hurrah for undergrads doing maths! That's what my first degree was in and I still have some lovely books in my bookcase.

Love and prayers,

PP

Welcome to the board. I love the IHMs. There is another thread about them little further down the page. I know a sister in the IHMs, she went to school with me (a year ahead of me) and she worked with me, and lived down the street. The IHM are such an awesome order, I have a lot of classmates and friends at the seminary who were honored enought to have been taught by them growing up.
God Bless

Dear Friend,
No worries about how you wrote! I took no offense. I should have been more clear when I first wrote. Thanks for pointing out what was absent in my posting. I do love Math!!! I wish there were more Math people!!

God Love You,
Carolyn

Welcome to the vocation station. I hope that the board helps you in your discernment.

God bless-
LGLG

Thankyou all for the warm welcome!!


Carolyn

Welcome to the Pham!!! You are in for a real treat with these wonderful people I have been part of this site for not even a month and I have gained sooooooooo much!

God Bless,

Allison

Carolyn

to the phamily. This is the place to be. Happy to see and hear your discerment process. Thank you for sharing.
Mr. Ray

New discerners are always welcome here! Your IHM's put out a fine online vocations newsletter that I started a thread about awhile back, but it's only recently that we have had real IHM discerners here. Enjoy!

Welcome Carolyn! That's great that you've been discerning. I'm assuming that you've probably visited the IHMs. Do you think you'll be applying to enter soon?
I'm about your age and am finishing up law school before I enter...which sometimes feels like an eternity!

College does feel like an eternity! I am looking to sign on January 4, 2008. (That is a tentative date that me and my vocation Directress has set.) I will then graduate from colllege in may of 2008 and then enter September of 2008. I do feel your pain when you talk about college taking an eternity to finish. It is a strange feeling, being in school, trying to complete a major when all the while you truely desire to enter that amazing community that touched your heart. We have to remember that finishing college really helps us learn who we are and it really has solidified my desire to become a sister. If you can talk to immature college students about wanting to be a sister, you can talk to anyone!

Just know, that I do completely understand what you are going through, and yes it is completely normal!!

God Love You,
Carolyn

Is anyone else struggling with the aspect of college and the religious life? If so, how are you dealing with it? Any thoughts?

Carolyn

Yes, I did struggle, but since my parents were paying for my education I decided that I had nothing to lose if I went. So I did and I love it. I would not change it.

God Bless you.

What I have found to most important is to always stay connected with the religious community that is so important to you. You can complete college, but be smart. Know your weaknesses! If it is hard for you to be away from the sisters, schedule meeting times with them. What I love the best is setting up individual retreat days with my community vocation directress. It gives you a little personal time with them, and with God.

Does anyone else have any thoughts?

God Love You

Great point Carolyn. I'm too far away to visit regularly so I keep in contact with the VD and I have a great SD. God has put some wonderful people in my life to help me through and I've been extremely blessed. Plus, during the actual semester, I'm so busy that I don't have enough time to do much else but school and prayer!

Welcome Carolyn! (my smilies aren't working!) You will find a wide range of discerners here...Some are in HS or college & there are some like me who are older & are attempting to pay off loans in order to enter religious life....This is a really neat place...

Okay...it will let me manually create a

The diversity here is a very beautiful thing! Are you paying off your loans because you choose to, or because it is required before you enter?

I was just curious.


God Love You,

Carolyn

Cannon law requires that one be free of debts before entering a community...

That is very true. But some religious orders (Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) will pay the loans that you can enter when you are ready. It could years and years to pay off those loans! That is why I was asking.

God Love You,
Carolyn

Yes, it is required before I enter & for most others too...One community that I looked into will not let me further discern with them until I am debt-free...Right now I am discerning with Dominicans who will let me discern while I try to get rid of my loans...So far so good! I did not know that about SsIHM...I do know that the Handmaids of Nazareth will let you be in debt & work it off during your noviate...They live & work independently & do their noviate independently too, from what I hear...