Hi, been lurking a while - call me Dame Agnes (my favorite book is In This House of Brede, and my confirmation name is Agnes - there you go!)

Love the board and I love reading about all of your discernments and hopes. I am married, myself (came thisclose to becoming a Poor Clare in Sauk Rapids (this gang: http://www.religiouslife.com/vocsearch/sea...&criteria=d but knew when I met the husband that I was supposed to marry him, instead) but am keenly interested in praying for increases in vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. These are some of my favorite communities to watch/correspond with, and perhaps some of them might interest you.

http://carmelitegeneralate.homestead.com/ - joyful Carmelites of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles. Found them through a testimonial here: http://www.labourefoundation.org/ and just love to read their recent events and see the joy they take in their work!

http://www.walburga.org/ Benedictines of the Abbey of St. Walburga in Virginia Dale, CO
http://www.abbeyofreginalaudis.com/ Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, CT
http://www.stceciliasabbey.org.uk/ Benedictines of St. Cecelia's Abbey, Isle of Wight (a particularly beautiful website - this abbey, and Stanbrook Abbey (which is moving, sadly) were two of the inspirations for In This House of Brede) http://www.stanbrookabbey.org.uk/
http://www.stemma.org/ Benedictines of St. Emma Monastery, Greensberg, PA
http://www.ihmwestfield.com/ Benedictines of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Westfield, VT

http://www.adorationsisters.org/ Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters (love the online Adoration they run here: http://www.savior.org/newdevotions.htm
http://www.poor-clares.org/ Poor Clares of Bethlehem Monastery, Barhamsville, VA

http://www.op-stjoseph.org/nuns/olgrace/olgrace.htm Dominican Nuns, Our Lady of Grace Monastery, Guilford, CT
http://www.op-stjoseph.org/nuns/ws/index.htm Dominican Monastery of the Mother of God

http://www.torsisters.com/ministry.shtml Franciscan T.O.R. Sisters, Steubenville, OH
http://www.missionarysistersofstbenedict.org/ Missionary Sisters of St. Benedict
http://www.fsecommunity.org/ Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist

http://users.erols.com/carmel-of-port-tobacco/ Carmelites of Port Tobacco, La Plata, MD
http://www.mississippiabbey.org/ Trappistines of Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey
http://abbey.msmabbey.org/ Mt. St. Mary's Trappistine Abbey (a clunky website) Wrentham, MA

Welcome!!! We're glad to have you!
These are some great communities! Thanks for sharing!

Yay Carmelites! :D They're such a beautiful order. And the TOR sisters are sweet--I go to Steubenville so I see them occasionally, but especially this past semester in Austria, since you really just have a whole lot more interaction with everyone.

I stayed at Stanbrook last summer, and yes, it's beautiful. The move has been planned for ages, though, and the sisters are used to the idea - they don't mind much, although I hear that maybe some of them will remain in what's now the retreat house.

Welcome Dame Agnes, from another old married gal! You listed quite a few fine communities, thanks for bringing them to the attention of the discerners here .