It was a gradual awareness - not like Paul getting knocked off his horse. The first indicator was a sense that I was called to do something more & felt like something was missing, and the idea of religious life surfaced in my thoughts & resurfaced over time. This was about 2 years after college & being successful in my career & enjoying it. My first reaction: surprise (who me?, I loved to travel, was actively hang-gliding, taking pilots lessons, etc.). But God is a God surprises. Answer the first knock on the door and God keeps coming back. It was a gradual falling in love with God and letting God's love fuel my soul and being. I found myself becoming more aware of people and things around me. Does this help? If you are wondering if God might be calling you, email me for info at cbsvocations@bshsi.org. Peace! Sr. Pat

Explore religious life and communities that are "active - apostolic," such as Sisters of Bon Secours. Active communities are engaged in active ministries addressing important needs which require professional preparation given one's gifts/talents/skills and where she feels God's calling. One's gifts as a professional will be well used. God has need for professionals in today's world more than ever. For more info, email me at cbsvocations@bshsi.org. I'd be glad to answer and explain more fully than possible here. Peace! Sr. Pat

Click on the link below to see Cathlic coloring books. You may want to have him follow the mass (the readings and the songs) in a Sunday misselette. Is there a Mass where a catechist takes the children to room during the readings so that they hear the readings and discuss them from on their level? Some churches do this.

Taking a vow of poverty does not mean one is required to wear a habit. Some communities may associate this vow w/ wearing a habit, but many, many communities do not, but choose to wear simple clothing. Do not think it bad to remain near your family, many communities are located solely in one diocese. I hope this helps. Peace, Sr. Pat http://bonsecoursvocations.org

Good question. A question I would have is why is he distracted and what makes him distracted? If he is disruptive due to lack of attention, perhaps you could change your seating and try sitting up front to focus his attention. Also perhaps using a misselete to follow along might help. Does this help? Peace, Sr. Pat www.bonsecoursvocations.org

I didn't realize parish offices and many Catholic businesses are closed on Fridays. My guess for parishes is because of the weekend liturgies and activities that the parish staff is involved in. Or, if there is practically no staff, the parish preist may have pastoral duties elsewhere. Today, many pastors have responsibility for more than one parish and tries to split his time among them, which might contribute to parish offices closing. I'm surprised that Catholic businesses are closed on Fridays. I know on Good Friday many businesses close, but I'm not aware of the practice of closing every Friday. Perhaps you can ask at one of these businesses and post the reason for all of us. Thanks for asking the question. Peace! Sr. Pat www.bonsecoursvocations.org

Hi, thanks for the question. Wish i had a full answer for you, but I'll share what I know. the School does have a relationship w/ Haiti and have gone down there on mission trips - great opportunity. If you're asking beyond the school, I know the folks from the local health system in Richmond have a relationship in Haiti w/ some churches and have for a while I believe through the Diocese of Richmond which has supported catholic churches in Haiti. The Sisters of Bon Secours have missions in Peru and S. AFrica and we just partnered w/ several other org's to pilot an infant mortality program in Peru where we have peruvian sisters of Bon Secours. in S. Africa we work primarily w/ HIv/aIDs and refugees - tho our Bon Secours health system does not have a direct working relationship in our S. African mission - yet, its a sponsored mission of the Sisters of Bon Secours where we have sisters. The health sytem is looking at ways to get involved there too. Our various local health systems have had opportunities to get involved in mission trips through one relationship or another. I believe the national health sytem office is beginning to look at more coordinated efforts. I don't know if this addresses everything you want to know, but hope it helps. I hope you can get into the school of nursing, I've been there to talk with the students and from all that i hear it has a great reputation + I hear its now a college & has other health related programs of study. Best wishes!.

I lived in South America for a while as a missionary and saw the effects of not protecting the environment. I've seen how big business has created environmental problems with not much concern for people and have caused health issues ranging from cancer to lung diseases to rashes; poluted water; dislocated peoples; created deserts out of forests, etc. I've seen governments turn their heads knowingly to allow harmful environmental practices, and I know that governments have attempted to put standards in place to protect and hold accountable. Distorted propoganda or government intervention which only has self-interest at heart with a bent towards accepting lobbyist money to push the agenda of corportions that knowingly harm the environment serves no one vs. being of service for the common good (used this in the best sense of the term). If government, businesses, or private endeavors distort the facts or have hidden agendas that needs to be challenged. Thanks for commenting and peace.

Most likely people in general, regardless of faith, are not aware that animals on factory farms are suffering. Its not out in front us in the news every day, so awareness affects choices. Along a similar line, the use of hormones in animals has only become an issue in the public's eyes in the last couple of years because research is showing a link to cancers. Consequently, people are making healthy choices. I don't think suffering farm animals used for consumption is on people's radar screen - given that it is not focused on as "hot news" by the media unless a network does an expose. An assumption of mine though, is that no one wants to see a living creature suffer. This seems like a sensitive issue for you. Perhaps you can share how you are raising others' awareness about this topic. Peace! Sr. Pat http://bonsecoursvocations.org

I would suggest that yes, we need to proctect the environment as it is part of God's creation - and God has given us this world to care for - go back tot he beginning of Genesis. All are called to care for and defend "all" of life on earth. Aside from this, we also have limited resources and if we are generative in nature, then we need to care for the earth so that the children of the future will have a healthy, inhabitable world in which to live. Caring for the environment in many parts of the world is not a priority because of struggling economic situations and overwhelming poverty. When a people are living in a survival mode and trying to eeke out a living, the environment is not at the top of someone's list. Yet, there are small things we can do to contribute to improving the envirionment - education is needed along with reinforcement. For those who are environmentally conscience, we welcome them to take the lead. See the UN Earth Charter too - its a call to 'all' people of the world to care for the environment.

Thanks Kirsti for asking the question, its an important one to understand. Hope all's well with you.

I'm not a theologian, but I'll share two references to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). Jesus came to fulfill the Old Law. The (CCC) says, “The Law has not been abolished, but are invited to rediscover it in the person of Master who is its perfect fulfillment.” (CCC 2053).

In (CCC 582) it says about the dietary law (would include pork): “Jesus perfects the dietary law, so important in Jewish daily life, by revealing its pedagogical meaning through a divine interpretation: ‘Whatever goes into a man from outside cannot defile him . . .’ (Thus he declared all foods clean.) What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts. . . ." Hoope this helps. Peace! Sr. Pat www.bonsecoursvocations.org

Yes, I've been a Sister of Bon Secours since the beginning of my vocation. Our congregation also has had several sisters transfer to ours over the years. Transfers are not unusual. It has to do with their experiences, where they feel God is calling them. There can be many reasons for someone wanting to transfer to another community. It takes time to work through what is going on in one's heart and is not taken lightly by the individual nor the communities involved. There are processes governed by canon law that have to be followed when a transfer is considered and occurs and usually there is a three year period of living in the "new" community before the person is officially received into the this new community to make sure that it is the right thing to do for the individual and the new community. Thanks for asking. Peace, Sr. Pat www.bonsecoursvocations.org

Scientific proof? Consider the miracles of healing - what are they proof of? An abberation in nature? How did Jesus heal the people he did? He claimed it was not of himself, but that everything is a gift of God. A faith tradition of 1000s of years is part of a foundation of belief. However, I can learn dogma, doctrines, practice religious rituals, but at some point I need to deal with the question of belief and come to a "KNOWING" - not just because I've been told, or necessarily that I feel it, but because deep down within me, I "know" in my heart that God exists. It goes deeper than a feeling - feelings are fleeting. How do you "know" you are truly loved by someone? Why do billions of people have similar experiences of God? How do they come to a "knowing"? Its not mindless following. I come to this knowing because I've spent time with spiritual reading, in prayer and listening and know that what I sense is not coming from me. That is to be carefully discerned. Give yourself time and space and quiet and listen for that still quiet voice of God. Be open and ask God for the grace to "know". Blessed Charles de Foucauld (who died on this day in 1978) said: 'God, if you exist, let me come to know you.' Thanks for asking the question. Peace! Sr. Pat

You are welcome - its an important question to understand.

Interesting question, I've never given it thought, what do you think? Research archeologists place the tower of babel around 3500 bc and believe it was the first major culture located in the region of Mesopotamia (about 100- 900 years after the flood). It could be that all people of the earth understood one language as recorded in scripture. If you do some research, you'll find that the oldest religions are Judiasm and Hinduism. I imagine there has been research done aroung your question. Thanks for peaking our interest. Peace, Sr. Pat

Thanks for sharing, that's good to know re the community in FL. I hope you saw my answer to the question related to age. We've had older women enter our community too, they are a blessing. They bring many gifts and talents and life experience; and they also have had their challenges too in trying to adapt to a new lifestyle, which is normal. However they have a lot to give and share with the world and and bring energy and life. As they have said, they aren't ready to retire, they have a lot to give. Best wishes as you move toward realizing another calling. Peace, Sr. Pat www.bonsecoursvocations.org

I just created this new poll http://www.society.me/c/poll/399/view?c=p

HI, Thanks for your question. Many communities have age limits - some of the rationale for accepting only younger women are related to the difficulty that older women may have in being flexible, adaptable and being able to let go. There is some validity to this - that as one ages one becomes more set in their ways and it becomes more difficult to change (I realize this is a generalization, but none -the less there is some experience out there among communities which support this).

However, there are some communities that accept older women. Here's a link to a site that gives links to these communities: http://consecrated-life-org.maritzia.com/orders-in-the-us/co mmunities-accepting-women-over-45/

At the point where this may become a question for you, ask yourself what you are seeking - is it truly a calling from God (which can be discerned with a spiritual director or a good vocation director) or is it coming from within you for reasons that might have to do with security, withdrawal from the world or others, or safety. Ask what type of community you are drawn to and where that preference is coming from? Do you already have your mind made up or is God asking you to consider something else? How open can you be to God?

I hope this helps. Best wishes. Peace during this Easter season, Sr. Pat www.bonsecoursvocations.org

First, religious life/priesthood requires physical, emotional and psychological stability. The tests may vary by community but most use the same ones. Actually the results can be a good tool to learn about one's self and using them for growth. I wouldn't worry about them. Having a good attitude going into them is helpful. Everyone gets a bit nervous wondering what they will reveal, but there shouldn't be any "big" surprises to the person, if they know themselves fairly well. During the process, there are self-administered tests, interviewing by the psychologist or team, and usually the results are shared with you after everything is compiled. You may be asked what you think of the results. The results are considered amongst many things when it comes to making a decision about accepting someone for entrance. If there is some sort of psychopathology, this will be given weight in the decision. If there is something that could be a hindrance in entering into the formation process fully, counseling might be suggested first. This is not the end of the world though - if that's the case, look at it as an opportunity to grow and to learn about yourself before entrance. It will help down the road. Religious life requires that we have the ability for reflection and self-knowledge - if we don't have this ability, its rather hard to discern about anything. Hope this is helpful to you. Peace, Sr. Pat www.bonsecoursvocations.org cbsvocations@bshsi.org

Chaste as it relates to sex means abstinence/not indulging/restraining /absence of seductive influences - but you know that. Chaste implies purity too - to be pure in thought and deed. It also has to do with modesty and being decent - which is related to one's behavior, dress, our speech. What goes into our minds can corrupt - frankly I don't want to expose myself to certain things that print images on my mind that I don't want to be there. I'm not saying we shouldn't be aware of things, I just don't need things that aren't good for me personally. Self-gratification seems a bit self-indulgent - selfish - self-centered. THere's so much more to life than self-gratification - its not all about me anyway. I think you are on the right path - a good question. Thanks for asking it. Peace.

No you don't have to be a virgin; but if one feels called to religious life and is actively discerning if God is calling them to be a nun, then practicing abstinence helps one to understand if they can live a celibate lifestyle. And a religious community one is discerning with will want to know if you can live a celibate lifestyle by being chaste for at least a year or more before entering a community. Does this help? Peace, Sr. Pat

I became a nun because I sensed that God was calling me to this life - no regrets either. I was successful in my career and enjoyed it, yet God invited me to follow his call. I had to look at who I was and what religious life would mean for me. There were times of doubt too as I explored this life - and that's normal. It took time to understand God's call and yet over time that sense of God calling me to this life didn't go away. I felt a deeper sense of peace and rightness about it as well. Does this help? If you'd like more information feel free to email me at cbsvocations@bshsi.org. Peace! Sr. Pat

I am in the Baltimore Maryland area and am a Sister of Bon Secours. We are mostly on the east coast in the USA and are located in 7 countries. Bon Secours is French for Good Help. Peace, Sr. Pat

I know of 2 women who chose to become consecrated virgins. Vows are made directly to the bishop of a diocese. It took them a year or so. I don't know about being on SSI/D though but you can ask through the diocese about it. I hope this helps. Peace, Sr. Pat

There are lay deacons in the Catholic Church and also some seminaries actually will accept older men too. Explore it with the diocesan vocation director or a community of men near you. Its not unheard of. Peace! Sr. Pat

Thanks Mary Ann. I find that when we open our hearts to God, that God wants a relationship with us - one that matters and makes a difference in our lives. And, our relationship with God continues to grow and deepen too, just like a good friendship. I'm glad you are able to take time for prayer - and to share it with your dad is to be cherished. I'll look for your email address in my Twitter inbox. Peace, Sr. Pat

My primary focus is on discernment and helping others through theirs to figure out God's calling for a life direction - primarily to religious life. To find a spiritual director go to spiritual directors international online or call a retreat center near you. I can send you a pamphlet on what spiritual direction is (and is not) if you email me requesting one at cbsvocations@bshsi.org. You can call our spiritual center as well. Hope this helps. Peace, Sr. Pat

Find a young people's Mass with music they prefer. This isn't the best answer because going to Mass is a choice to worship God and to celebrate our love of Jesus with others. But it may be what he needs at this point in his life. Hope this helps.