I googled 'catholics single life vocation' and some people say there is and others say there is not. Lifelong singleness as a lay person is rarely a positive choice, but a state in which people remain by circumstances. If a person chooses to stay single, or get married, for the wrong reasons - such as out of selfishness - do they have a vocation ( Read more... )

When Sister Veronica entered her convent, the Poor Clares of Lerma, it had not had a new vocation in 23 years.

Now, under the 43 year old Prioress, the community is 140 strong with a median age of 35! And 100 women waiting to enter!

Click to view

The video is from an Italian television station so the women are dubbed into Italian. The Franciscan is Father ( Read more... )

In response to the Holy Father's recent call to use the internet as a means of positive communication of the Church's mission, I've decided to start offering an occasional, perhaps weekly podcast. I just uploaded my second one, which discusses the relationship between vocation and prayer. If anyone is interested, it can be found here.

For anyone who is interested, here is a detailed description of the Augustinian formation program into which I have just been formally accepted. I am at the pre-novice stage. Next comes the novitiate, in Racine, WI, after which I make my first profession of vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and at which time I am officially considered a ( Read more... )

All week long I have been volunteering at our annual church carnival. It's been an absolute blast, as it is every year. It was at the carnival that I received a call from the Provincial informing me of my acceptance into the Order. What has struck me all week in relation to this is the profoundly communal nature of a vocation. Most of my parish ( Read more... )

Praise the LORD! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament!

Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his exceeding greatness!

Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!

Praise him with timbrel and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!

Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud ( Read more... )

They met at 3 p.m. My nervousness was causing some serious nausea. Around 3:45 I began the Litany to St. Rita, since, if you don't know me, after the Blessed Virgin I count on her intercession above anyone, even St. Augustine. She's just special to me, and as she too was an Augustinian it seemed appropriate. By 4:30, no word. 5:30 came around ( Read more... )

Oh boy. Just received an e-mail from my vocations director. The vocations board meets at 3 p.m. tomorrow afternoon, Monday, June 22, 2009, Feast of the Martyrs St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, the hour of our Lord's death (how's that for being melodramatic!), to decide my fate. Upon reaching a decision, Fr. Kevin will first call the ( Read more... )