Just Curious...

[NovemberFourth]

As far as I know. I can go back quite a few generations I am the only one in my family who has (nearly*) fully discerned a religious vocation. I know that, for example, my Mother thought abut it. But she dismissed it almost instantly as she wished for marriage.

I say "nearly" as I believe I am still discerning - and am not quite sure one ever really stops....

N4

[Queen'sDaughter]

So interesting to see all of the replies! The basic thing that I can gather from this: Vocations run is some families and not in others!

In my own family there have been several distant cousins that were priests, but my brother was the first for several generations. (Many of the family on Mom's side is fallen away). On my Dad's side, there are two Methodist ministers, a father and son, who both died at the pulpit while preaching! Those must have been SOME sermons! We tease my brother by telling him never to give a fire and brimstone sermon, as his family history looks a little dangerous.

[i<3LSOP]

[font=comic sans ms,cursive] I think it runs in the family but, I don't have any cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters etc. that are religious (that I know of!)[/font]

[font=comic sans ms,cursive] Wow then that means I might be the first! [/font]

[font=comic sans ms,cursive] Also, I'd like to meet your little sister since I'm 12.... [/font] [font=comic sans ms,cursive] [/font]

[LadyOfSorrows]

Interestingly enough...my father (who was Jewish and is now a non-practicing Catholic), felt drawn to the contemplative life of the Trappists. Although that was short lived, it's fascinating to think that we both have an attraction to contemplative life...

But other than that, I wouldn't know, considering I'm the only Catholic in my family.

[Chiquitunga]

my bro's in the seminary

[Little Flower]

My uncle was a Missionary of Charity priest. I had a great-aunt or something who was a nun I think. I want to be a nun and three of my brothers are thinking about the priesthood. My younger brother (14 - he's the closest sibling to me in age incidentally!) is pretty convinced he's gonna be a priest. Now I'm trying to convince him to be a Dominican! But he wants to be diocesan

and I would just like to point out that she is obviously a Dominican

she's Dominican too

sorry vee no carmelites here!

[Nunsense]

I'm fortunate just to be able to claim a Catholic grandmother (I'm named after her) because apart from her (and she didn't practice her faith after she married my lapsed Presbyterian grandfather)... I have nothing religious in my background!! Go figure why God would call someone like me. Maybe he just wanted to get some Catholicism back into the family again?

[the171]

[quote name='LaPetiteSoeur' timestamp='1319745636' post='2327839']
Well, if one goes back far enough, there were some Protestant ministers (and I mean way, way back).

Most of my family wasn't allowed to enter into religious life. As poor cajuns, they had little education, and education was needed to enter the seminary or a convent. Even today, there is a lack of "Cajun" priests.
[/quote]

I know that. My cousin is in seminary, but he's a Yankee. haha I haven't met him, but I will be in contact with him soon.

[the171]

[quote name='the171' timestamp='1320290969' post='2330664']

I know that. My cousin is in seminary, but he's a Yankee. haha I haven't met him, but I will be in contact with him soon.
[/quote]

Just to make sure I don't sound condescending, I said "I know that" as a way of showing how I have observed this as well. There's a groth down here. Come on down to this diocese or any of the SLA dioceses. Lotta Cajuns, sha.

[the171]

Mom: convert
Dad: fallen-away catholics
Step-Dad: convert.

I only know of one other discerner in my family. He's a diocesan priesthood seminarian. Close, but far, cousin. Jonathan. I hope to meet him soon. For me, religious vocations do not run in the family. My Irish-French-(etc. etc.) blood doesn't carry much religious vocation roots.

[LaPetiteSoeur]

[quote name='the171' timestamp='1320291402' post='2330670']

Just to make sure I don't sound condescending, I said "I know that" as a way of showing how I have observed this as well. There's a groth down here. Come on down to this diocese or any of the SLA dioceses. Lotta Cajuns, sha.
[/quote]

Now it's so much better that Cajuns can be educated! And that schools are accessible so Catholic Cajuns have that opportunity. And it's growing here, too, thank God!

[the171]

[quote name='LaPetiteSoeur' timestamp='1320327709' post='2330765']

Now it's so much better that Cajuns can be educated! And that schools are accessible so Catholic Cajuns have that opportunity. And it's growing here, too, thank God!
[/quote]

I think I read about a Cajun from those days where they experienced a lot of discrimination and suppression, who did become a priest. It was an epic story. Wish I could remember it. xD

[she_who_is_not]

My dad told me that there was a lot of prejudice towards cajuns when he was growing up. He said that the public schools in rural areas had segregated classrooms.

[the171]

[quote name='she_who_is_not' timestamp='1320364199' post='2330992']
My dad told me that there was a lot of prejudice towards cajuns when he was growing up. He said that the public schools in rural areas had segregated classrooms.
[/quote]

Yeah, sometimes Cajuns weren't allowed to even attend schools. I know this was very true in my area. I hear stories from the elderly and it shocks me.

They weren't even allowed to speak Cajun-French.

[FutureCarmeliteClaire]

Bumping this. I believe my great-aunt entered (or was a live-in or something) a convent. She is now a fallen-away Catholic and (obviously) left the convent. I have no idea about anything in that situation at all.

[ToJesusMyHeart]

No vocations in my family, but I have some relatives who are nurses at a retired nuns home. :)

[Gabriela]

Actually, several of the sisters I talked to had parents (father, mother, or both) who had thought they were called to religious life, but then got married instead. Each of those sisters had exactly one sibling enter religious life. I ran the theory by them that, when a parent doesn't answer the call, God takes two kids instead. They looked pleased at that.

 

But I'm sure it's not a science. ;-)

[OnlySunshine]

No vocations in my family to the priesthood or consecrated life...yet!  ;)

[PadrePioOfPietrelcino]

I believe that any family who seeks after God and strives after Him will be blessed with Many Vocations to Married, Religious, Priesthood, and Single Life in short order :)

My Grandfathers were both ordained Protestant ministers, my brother has gone to an Assemblies of God seminary for a brief period, my sister got her degree in Youth Ministry, and my parents met while my mom was in seminary and my dad was a Chaplains Assistant. I'm the only Catholic, but when we look at the attempt to follow God within a family it is not surprising that we get many vocations from them.

[nikita92]

Queen's daughter- my perspective...if one was lacking in exposure to religious modeling and or guidance in spiritual direction one wouldn't have the tools for building a early foundation for human formation and growth concerning religious vocation(s). I also submit that it seems (to me) that young discerners getting ready to or have already entered have (more than one) sibling(s) When I read vocation stories ( I've seen many community websites) they usually mention their brothers and sisters. The generation of sisters/nuns from the 30's, 40's 50's mention in their stories of coming from families with 7,8,9,10,11,12,13 siblings. Personally...my mother immigrated from Germany, was a only child, baptised Lutheran, and could of cared less about religion. My father and step-father the same. I was baptised Catholic because
Of my paternal grandmother. In my teen years..I didn't even know about religious youth camps/groups existing. As Catholic as my grandma was...she neglected to educate me on opportunities exhisting for becoming a religious. On my own...I rediscovered my faith late last year. Oh yeah...I also discovered Pope Leo the 13 is my cousin.