DiscerningCatholic Posted February 1, 2014 Author Posted February 1, 2014 (edited) :hijack: Edited February 1, 2014 by DiscerningCatholic
vee Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 whatever I never ever hijack threads!!! and 70f... too cold!! i haaaate you
loveletslive Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 dcs porch I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE porches with rocking chairs haha. actually that looks like the porch in nashville! even the sweet tea is accurate :)
DiscerningCatholic Posted February 1, 2014 Author Posted February 1, 2014 whatever I never ever hijack threads!!! and 70f... too cold!! i haaaate you Not cold to me. You should see the rest of the Floridians, tho.
maximillion Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 Oh goodness, here we are flooded, freezing and swamped! Severe weather warnings for Devon and I am praying for all those folk affected by the vagaries of our lovely temperate zone!!!!
IgnatiusofLoyola Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 DC--I think the idea of you talking to the ND's is great! You may decide to visit and you might not. But, in any case, it can't hurt to learn what other Communities are like, especially the ND's. Getting to know the ND's a bit should help you understand the DSMME's better. After all, the DSMME founders were originally part of the ND's, so at minimum, you will better understand the origins of the DSMME's, as well as how and why the Communities are different. Although the ND's are different than the DSMME's, they are still Dominican. If you decide to visit, if nothing else, you will learn even more about Dominican spiritituality, which can only help. Especially if you go to one of the ND retreat weekends, you would be making no commitment, but simply exploring. Also, I'm pretty sure there are VS posters who have discerned with the ND's, and if I am not mistaken (which I might be--I'm not positive about this), I think we have at least one VS poster who was a postulant with the ND's who might be willing to talk with you privately if you have questions. Personally, I also think it wouldn't hurt to go on other discernment weekends, or go on a "nun run" if you have the opportunity. For example, I suspect it would be interesting to visit a Dominican Community that did not have a teaching mission. Or, if feel quite sure that that you are called to teaching, go on a weekend retreat with a teaching Community that is not Dominican, but one that you still find interesting and dynamic. Obviously, if you visited other Communities, you would still stay in touch with the DSMME's and even talk to them about this. The DSMME vocation director might even be a good source of suggestions of other Communities that she knows and likes. Of course, visiting other Communities takes time and incurs travel costs, so I don't know whether visiting or attending retreats at other Communities is even a possible option for you. To me, the worst that could happen is that you would spend a few weekends with Jesus, strengthening your spiritual life. But, ideally, visiting a few other Communities, with the ND's being an obvious choice, since they are also a Dominican teaching order, will help you understand the DSMME's much better, and help you know why you feel called to that Community specifically. Good luck!!
TheresaThoma Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 Visiting other communities is a great idea. It can help you learn if you are called to that specific community or just to religious life in general. It gives you something to compare the community you are considering with.
Sr. MMcM RSCJ Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 I recall you were also applying to colleges for next year? How is that going? I imagine you completed your applications by now, but have you been visiting any campuses?
domenica_therese Posted February 1, 2014 Posted February 1, 2014 (edited) Hey hey now! Just because Nashville's in the South doesn't make it a huge, girly tea party. I object very strongly to that foul insinuation. :P Also, I second that visiting other communities is very helpful. I only knew where I wanted to go when I visited somewhere else and the only fault I could find with it was that it wasn't the other place. Also, it's very important to distinguish the difference between the teaching apostolate and the charism of why they teach. Even Franciscans teach -- it's not exclusively a Dominican thing! Furthermore, the Nashies have a really beautiful, prayerful 5 day retreat that is generally limited to a smaller number of girls than come on the DSMME ones, so it's a very nice, prayerful environment in which to discern. :proud: Plus if you go in May all the postulants are super happy because they're getting ready for their home visits! Edited February 1, 2014 by domenica_therese
vee Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 Hey hey now! Just because Nashville's in the South doesn't make it a huge, girly tea party. I object very strongly to that foul insinuation. :P objection noted, and overruled!!! :P
vee Posted February 2, 2014 Posted February 2, 2014 (edited) hey dc why dont you go to Aquinas college?????????????? http://www.aquinascollege.edu/ edited cos i messed up poor thomas' name Edited February 2, 2014 by vee8
DiscerningCatholic Posted February 3, 2014 Author Posted February 3, 2014 Yes; applying to colleges. Yes; visited campuses. No; can't go to Aquinas (too expensive and out of state). And yes, one of the reasons I want to visit the Nashies is because I know they're different from the DSMME and I'd like to "experience" that difference. At this point, I can say with a lot of certainty that I AM called to a Dominican community and I feel very strongly that it's meant to be a teaching community. And traveling to visit various communities is limited for me, so I'm trying to stick to ones that I feel drawn to. Sr. Rita Marie (SsEW) made a good point when I emailed her a while back that it's usually better to only visit communities that you think you could possibly be called to in order to keep from getting confused, especially if you're seriously discerning with a specific community. (At least, that's what I understood her to say.) I'm still waiting to hear back from the Nashies. I guess I'm used to Sr. Joseph Andrew's answer-every-email-within-30-seconds deal. :hehe:
domenica_therese Posted February 3, 2014 Posted February 3, 2014 I'm still waiting to hear back from the Nashies. I guess I'm used to Sr. Joseph Andrew's answer-every-email-within-30-seconds deal. :hehe: Yeah, Nashies can take a bit to respond, esp. since Sr. Peter Marie is currently on the road visiting different places. :)
AnneLine Posted February 4, 2014 Posted February 4, 2014 Still think you might want to try going to visit a few other communties. If you are right, it will only become more clear. But sometimes seeing things through a different set of lenses can be a very powerful thing. I'm a much better member of my Secular Order because I discerned with several other religious families... I know why I am called to my family, but I have also learned to value things that are important to the other traditions. For example, I've really learned to love and value the LOTH and study from the Dominicans, even though I am not called to be one of them -- if God has asked ME it would have been my preference! -- but God had other ideas! God has given you this year for a reason... take advantage of it!
DiscerningCatholic Posted February 4, 2014 Author Posted February 4, 2014 Still think you might want to try going to visit a few other communties. If you are right, it will only become more clear. But sometimes seeing things through a different set of lenses can be a very powerful thing. I'm a much better member of my Secular Order because I discerned with several other religious families... I know why I am called to my family, but I have also learned to value things that are important to the other traditions. For example, I've really learned to love and value the LOTH and study from the Dominicans, even though I am not called to be one of them -- if God has asked ME it would have been my preference! -- but God had other ideas! God has given you this year for a reason... take advantage of it! Like I said, I would if I could, but I probably won't be able to visit many other communities because of A.) the cost and B.) I'll be at college. I'll do as well as I can do.
DiscerningCatholic Posted February 6, 2014 Author Posted February 6, 2014 My heart is ready to break. :cry: #DCProblems
Spem in alium Posted February 6, 2014 Posted February 6, 2014 My heart is ready to break. :cry: #DCProblems :( Praying for you, DC.
Eowyn Posted February 6, 2014 Posted February 6, 2014 :console: My heart is ready to break. :cry: #DCProblems
SilentJoy Posted February 6, 2014 Posted February 6, 2014 My heart is ready to break. :cry: #DCProblems Hugs.
IgnatiusofLoyola Posted February 6, 2014 Posted February 6, 2014 My heart is ready to break. :cry: #DCProblems I'm so sorry. If it would help to talk about it, just PM me.
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