To Ask...or Not To Ask. That Is The Question...

[mantellata]

Email them today. Period.

Start with a brief hello and let the Sister who you speak to start from there.

This is not a job application and your feelings and wordings are more normal than you know.

Plus... entering at 17 is no biggie for the DSMME (provided the girl has a genuine vocation and is mature and ready to do so) so writing at 16 just makes sense.



Once again - pray to the holy Spirit - write the short email - [b]hit send[/b]

.

[MeteorShower]

As everyone else is saying, I think that you should definitely email them!

I first contacted the DSMMEs back when I was 16, even though I have no intention of entering any time soon - which they are pretty much aware of - as I live in Canada and have no money, so I probably won't be able to even consider entering for at least a decade. I was signed up for the retreat last February, but had to back out due to financial constraints. They were very understanding about this.

Despite all this, they were extremely encouraging and supportive, and I am so glad that I did end up contacting them. It wasn't Sister Joseph Andrew who replied to my email - I think it was Sister John Mary, if I remember correctly.

[VeniJesuAmorMi]

I remember when I first started contacting communities I was interested in when I started discerning; it was so exciting to hear back from them! I think it would be the same for you also. ... Then you could stay in contact with them, and she'll most likely have great advise for you and will help encourage you. (There's always that first step to take. )

[Clare~Therese]

Don't be afraid--just email them, and don't worry about sounding stupid.

[PhuturePriest]

I forgot to mention something. I sent an email to the Franciscan Brothers Minor in January, which is of course nine months ago. I was just a few months into fifteen, and Brother Fidelis Maria knew that since I said so in my email. Ever since then he has called [i]me [/i]about every month to check up on me and my discernment. These calls are never initiated by me, always him. If Brother Fidelis Maria is willing to call a fifteen-year old every month to check up on his discernment, why do you think a few email interactions would be too much for the Sisters you really like? Just email them, tell them about yourself like your name, how old you are, where you are from, how many are in your family, etc, and then ask them the questions you have, and add anything else you think is appropriate or that they ask you about. They may ask you questions like what your hobbies are. Brother Fidelis Maria asked me about my birth placement in my family (Youngest, if you are curious) to what my exact birthday is. They want to get to know you, so do not be afraid about telling them anything or adding too much.

[Joan Marie Wandel]

Just be yourself and if you have questions don't be afraid to ask

[emmaberry]

[quote name='DiscerningCatholic' timestamp='1346934840' post='2479357']
And what do you mean by deadlines...? Like a day when I should email them? I just feel like I'm doing this...
[/quote]

No silly! I meant that, if you want to email them soon, like today or tomorrow, but find yourself hesitant or afraid, we VSers will be happy to hound you until you do it! ...Only if you want, of course.

[DiscerningCatholic]

I am planning on writing to them tomorrow (I have to go to bed soon and can't function this late at night). Unfortunately, I realized that I don't know the address to which I should send the email. Stupid, stupid, stupid...

Does anyone know what it is???

[mantellata]

You can find it on their website: www.sistersofmary.org/index.php

.... vocations@sistersofmary.org

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

Sr. Incarnata (formerly Sister Anna) who is a new novice with the DSMME's, entered when she was 17 (or perhaps just 18). (I assume that she had graduated from high school, but perhaps her birthday is later in the year.) If she entered at age 17, Sister Incarnata must have started talking to the DSMME's before she graduated high school. If you feel called to a vocation right out of high school, how are you going to know the DSMME's are the right Community for you if you don't start talking with them?

Edited September 7, 2012 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[dominicansoul]

[quote name='IgnatiusofLoyola' timestamp='1347036601' post='2479859']
Sr. Incarnata (formerly Sister Anna) who is a new novice with the DSMME's entered when she was 17 (or perhaps just 18). (I assume that she had graduated from high school, but her birthday is later in the year.) But she apparently started talking to the DSMME's before she graduated high school. If you feel called to a vocation right out of high school, how are you going to know the DSMME's are the right Community for you if you don't start talking with them?
[/quote]

Aww, this hit my heartstrings. When I was in the novitiate, there was a temp professed Sr. Incarnata. She was one of my first friends there. (She was an amazing person!!!) She left the community.

Sometimes the re-use of old names gets me. My name has already been taken. Don't ask how I felt about that!

[DiscerningCatholic]

I just emailed them, guys... Those are my feels right now.

[dominicansoul]

lol


breathe!


...all will be well.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='dominicansoul' timestamp='1347037888' post='2479866']
Aww, this hit my heartstrings. When I was in the novitiate, there was a temp professed Sr. Incarnata. She was one of my first friends there. (She was an amazing person!!!) She left the community.

Sometimes the re-use of old names gets me. My name has already been taken. Don't ask how I felt about that!
[/quote]

That must feel very strange. And yet, it's bound to happen, especially in rapidly growing Communities.

Heck, it happens even in small Communities. Sister Deepa of the Summit Dominicans first entered the Community five(?) years ago. When she was first clothed as a novice she was Sister Veronica Marie. However, in her first novice year, she left the Community. In the meantime, a novice who is still with the Community was clothed as Sister Mary Veronica. Sister Deepa re-entered in mid-June and will be clothed on October 2. Needless to say, her name will not be Sister Veronica Marie. However, Sister Deepa said in her blog (before she re-entered) that she had already chosen a new name that she is very happy about. (Note: None of this is "personal" information. It has all been taken from public blogs.)

I'm sure it feels as if they should have "retired" your name when you left the DSMME's, just like they "retire" the numbers of some professional athletes when they retire. Or perhaps they could say that the name couldn't be used for a certain period of time.

Re-using names can also make it confusing when you are trying to track down a particular member of the Community.

Edited September 7, 2012 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[MeteorShower]

[quote name='DiscerningCatholic' timestamp='1347039085' post='2479869']
I just emailed them, guys... Those are my feels right now.
[/quote]

YAY!!!!!!










...is it weird that I'm super excited right now?

[DiscerningCatholic]

[quote name='MeteorShower' timestamp='1347040332' post='2479884']
YAY!!!!!!










...is it weird that I'm super excited right now?
[/quote]
LOL, it's fine.

This is what I wrote, by the way...

[quote]
[color=#222222][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3][background=rgb(255, 255, 255)]Hello Sister (or sisters![/background][/size][/font][/color][color=#222222][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3][background=rgb(255, 255, 255)]), [/background][/size][/font][/color]
[color=#222222][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3][background=rgb(255, 255, 255)]
My name is ___ and I'm 16 - just turned. I met two sisters from your order (Sr. Maria Frassati and Sr. Mary Magdalene) at the LifeTeen Leadership Conference in Kansas back in June. To make a long story short, I started discerning at that conference. At the very least, I opened up my heart to the fact that God might be calling me to become a religious sister. [/background][/size][/font][/color]
[color=#222222][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3][background=rgb(255, 255, 255)]
I'm writing for two reasons: a lot of my friends and my youth ministers are all telling me to get in touch with a vocations director, and I just kept feeling this nudge to just do it. Everyone says that vocations directors are great at answering questions concerning discernment or a religious vocation in general... and I have a lot of questions of both sorts. [/background][/size][/font][/color]
[color=#222222][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3][background=rgb(255, 255, 255)]
I plan on trying to attend your May discernment retreat! [/background][/size][/font][/color]
[color=#222222][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3][background=rgb(255, 255, 255)]
May God bless you![/background][/size][/font][/color]
[color=#222222][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3][background=rgb(255, 255, 255)]
In Him,[/background][/size][/font][/color]

[/quote][color=#222222][font=arial, sans-serif][size=3][background=rgb(255, 255, 255)]
_____[/background][/size][/font][/color]

[Catholicterp7]

And now you're checking your email every chance you get right? SJAB is wonderful!! She is so kind and I'm sure was happy to hear from you.
JMJ+

[Kylie Spinelli]

[quote name='emmaberry' timestamp='1346910814' post='2479320']
I know there was a 16 year old who entered the Dominicans-not saying that is your path, but you should definitely contact them! Are you the type of person who needs deadlines? I could help you with that.
[/quote]

How did that happen? Don't you have to be 18? Or get special permission from the Bishop or whatever??
That's amesome, though!!!! :D

[andibc]

[quote name='Kylie Spinelli' timestamp='1347046690' post='2479921']
How did that happen? Don't you have to be 18? [/quote]
You have to have a high school diploma or have the standard number of high school credits and take the GED. You still have to submit a high school transcript as part of your application and take the SAT or ACT before entering. The girls who entered early were homeschooled and ahead academically. The one who entered in 2010 turned 17 a few months after she entered, 2011 turned 17 during the winter before she entered and this year the youngest turned 17 a few months before entering. They are mature and articulate; not noticably younger than the other under 20 sisters.

Edited September 7, 2012 by andibc

[emmaberry]

[quote name='DiscerningCatholic' timestamp='1347039085' post='2479869']
I just emailed them, guys... Those are my feels right now.
[/quote]

So exciting! Congrats on taking that first (scary!) step. If you do find you are called to this community, then you have taken that first step and made the rest of the process much easier on yourself.

if you find you are called to a different community, then the next email to the VD you send will be much less nerve-wracking.

Congrats! Please let us know when she emails back... Not that you'll be compulsively checking your email or anything..