GUIDE QUESTIONS IN DISCERNING VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE

Do you feel called to a life of commitment to serve God and neighbor? 

Do you feel called to share your life with other men in community 

as they participate in Christ's ministry?

Few people are really aware of their vocational calling. It takes much reflection, information and discernment to know if religious life is truly the right vocational choice for you. Take time to reflect on the following vocation questions take them to prayer, and search within yourself for answers.  Try to find somebody that can guide you through your vocation discernment. Confer with your parish priest and start looking for Spiritual Director.

• What is your hearts desire? Is it to serve God through serving those in need? 

• How is your prayer life helping you to grow in your awareness of God's presence in your personal life and in the life of others? 

• Is there any compelling need to make a difference in your life and to be a part of something bigger, like a group that tries to make a difference in the world by their personal and communal witness? 

• How do you work and participate in ministries? 

• What is your over-all health condition? Are you physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually equipped to handle stress, conflicts, uncertainties and the ambiguities of life? How is your self-esteem and your self-discipline? 

• How generous are you with your time and talents? 

• Are you at the brink of making major life decisions? 

• What is invoked in you when you think of a "Brother?" 

• Do you have the capacity to live with others and to be an actively involved in life-giving endeavors? 

• How do you value ethnic and racial diversities? How do you reverence the uniqueness of persons ? 

• What are your gifts, talents, interests? What are your limitations? What do you intend to bring to religious life, particularly into community living and ministry? 

• How do you deal with conflicts, uncertainties and ambiguities in your life? How do you witness to make our world a better place? Are you an agent of peace and justice?

If you are drawn to seek answers to these questions, then we believe that God is beckoning you to  consider religious life. Get to know us somebody from religious congregations in your area, go to Catholic congregational websites and explore what a vowed religious life has to offer you in the context of the healing ministry of Christ.

AWAITING

PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

from Diocese of Rapid City, SD
www.Gods-call.org

My Lord and my God,You are Love itself, 
the Source of all Love and Goodness!

Out of love you created me
to know you, to love you and to serve you
in a unique way, as no one else can.

I believe 
that you have a plan for me
that you have a mission for me alone.
Your plan and your mission
are far better than any other that I might choose:
they will glorify you, fulfill the desires of my heart,
and bring salvation to those souls 
who are depending on my generous response.

Lord, grant me the light of grace 
I need to see the next step in your plan;
Grant me the generosity 
necessary to follow your call;
and grant me the courage 
required to take up my cross and follow you!

Show me your will, O gentle and eternal God,
and help me to say with Mary,
"I am the servant of the Lord, let it be done
unto me according to your word!"
Let me say with Jesus,
"Let not my will be done, but yours."
AMEN

I DEEPLY LONG FOR YOU, MY GOD!

THE LORD IS NEAR

(Ps. 16) 
by Nan Merril, Psalm for the Praying: An Invitation to Wholeness

Remain ever before me, O Living Presence,
for in you am I safe.
You are my Beloved; 
In You and through You I can do all things!

I look to those who are One with You,
and learn from them of your ways.
My delight increases,
each time I sense your Presence within me!
Songs of Praise well up from my heart!

I bless the Counselor who guides my way;
in the night also my heart instruct me.
I walk beside the Spirit of Truth;
I celebrate the Light.
I bask in the Oneness of All!

Thus, my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
I shall not be afraid,
nor fall in the pit of despair;
For in Love's presence I know the fullness of joy.

You are my Beloved and in you will I live forever!

May we always find our light attuned to 

God's Light

and all together
may we radiate back that God's Radiance

to those around us!

May we all set the whole world on Fire!

If you have become what you have been called to be,then you will set the world on fire! 

(St. Catherine of Sienna)

AS GOD'S EYES ARE FIXED ON THE SPARROW, GOD IS LOVINGLY WATCHING OVER YOU.

EVEN THE HAIRS ON YOUR HEAD ARE COUNTED.

SO DO NOT BE AFRAID, YOU ARE WORTH MUCH MORE THAN THE SPARROWS!

LUKE 12:7


MAY WE ALWAYS RECOGNIZE 
and TRUST in
GOD'S GREAT LOVE 
FOR US!

MAY OUR GOD,
THE PROVIDER OF

ALL THINGS THAT ARE GOOD
TOUCH YOU 
AND 
STRENGTHEN YOU

WITH LOVE, COMFORT AND HEALING!

...I have heard your prayer,

I have seen your tears; indeed,

I will heal you...  2 Kings 20:5

Rest and Be Well

God is taking care of you!

Caring thoughts 

are being sent your way 

bringing hope

that tomorrow will find you

FEELING BETTER!

"Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you"

1 Peter 5:7

LIFTING YOU UP IN PRAYERS!

May you continue to be strengthened

by God's gentle touch!

"And all in the crowd were trying to touch him,

for power come out from him and healed all of them."

Luke 6:19

Pleasant words are like honeycomb,

sweetness to the soul and health to the body - Proverbs 16:24

WORDS OF CHEER

ARE SENT YOUR WAY

WRAPPED WITH

THE WARMEST WISHES 

AND PRAYERS!



Know that I am with you 
&
that I am praying for you!

MAY GOD'S HEALING SPIRIT

TOUCH YOU

AND 

RESTORE YOU
TO WHOLENESS!

Those who hope in God

will renew their strength...

Isaiah 40: 31

MAY GOD BLESS AND STRENGTHEN YOU

ON YOUR JOURNEY 
TOWARD

RENEWED WHOLENESS.

THINKING OF YOU

WITH

WARMEST WISHES AND CARING THOUGHTS!

SAYING A PRAYER

THAT GOD WILL BLESS YOU

AND STRENGTHEN YOU.

God's Peace and Love Be With You!

Thinking of you

and 

praying for your fast recovery!

With God, all things are possible!  Mt 19:26

ALWAYS BELIEVE 
THAT 
IN EVERY MOMENT 
OF OUR LIVES
SOMETHING WONDERFUL
IS ABOUT TO 
HAPPEN!

If what we said during our entire whole life was,

"Thank You!,"

that would be more than enough."

Meister Eckhart

MAY WE ALWAYS HAVE

A GRATEFUL HEART

With the gift of listening

comes 

the gift 

of 

HEALING!

Catherine de Hueck

THANKS FOR BEING THERE FOR ME,
I AM TRULY GRATEFUL!

"When we keep listeing attentively to the voice calling us "BELOVED,"

it beomes possible to live our brokenness...as an opportunity

to purify and deepen that BLESSINGS that rest upon us..." H. Nouwen

"Many people have a wrong idea  

OF WHAT CONSTITUTE 
HAPPINESS...

HAPPINESS

IS NOT AN ATTAINMENT 

THROUGH SELF GRATIFICATION... 

 BUT THROUGH FIDELITY 

TO A 

WORTHY PURPOSE."

HELEN KELLER


MAY WE ALWAYS BE SUSTAINED BY
GOD'S ABIDING LOVE 
ON OUR LIFE'S JOURNEY!

Madonna and Child Statue at Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky, TN

CELEBRATING MOTHER'S LOVE 

ON MOTHER'S DAY

MOTHER'S LOVE 
BY HELEN STEINER RICE

A mother's love is something that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain,

It is endless and unselfish and enduring come what may.
For no one can destroy it or take that love away...

It is patient and forging, when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falter even though the heart is breaking...

It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty of the rarest, brightest gems...

It is far beyond defining, it defies all explanation,
And still remains a secret like the mysteries of creation...

A many splendored miracles, man cannot understand
Another evidence of God's tender hand.


MOTHER'S LOVE 
Author Anonymous

"There are times when ONLY a mother's love 

can understand our tears, 
can soothe our disappointments

and calm our fears.

There are times when ONLY a mother's love

can share the joy we feel,

when something we dreamt about 
quite  suddenly is real.

There are times when ONLY a mother's faith 

can help us on life's way and inspire in us confidence

we need from day to day.

For a mother's heart and mother's faith

and a mother's steadfast love 

were fashioned by the angels and send from God above."

BLESSED MOTHER'S DAY!

GRATITUDE

is the

fairest blossom

which 

springs 

from the

soul!

Thank you for being there!

I THANK MY GOD

every time 

I think of you,

Every time I pray 

for you,

I pray with joy!

Philippians 1

Your warmth, generosity and thoughtfulness

touched my heart...

THANK YOU!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

Just like in the Emmaus story, let us pray that

we may experience our Risen Lord

more profoundly 
in our lives 
and in our daily ministries!

ALLELUIA, CHRIST IS RISEN!

During this Easter Celebration,
may we be more empowered in our life witness
by PROFOUNDLY EXPERIENCING THE LOVE OF THE ONE
who has conquered sin and death!

EASTER EXULTATION

LET US BE AWAKENED FROM OUR SLUMBER

AND GREET THE BREAKING DAY,

CHRIST HAS BANISHED DARKNESS
AND TURNED THE NIGHT AWAY!

ALLELUIA, THE LORD IS RISEN!

May Joy of Easter

dwell upon us all!

HEALING MINISTRY PRAYER

MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA'S PRAYER
(Healing Ministry Prayer)

Dearest Lord, May I see you today and everyday 
in the person of Your sick,

and while nursing them, 
minister unto You.

Though you hide Yourself behind the unattractive disguise of the irritable,the exacting, the unreasonable, 
may I still recognize you and say,
"Jesus my patient, how sweet it is to serve you."

Lord give me this seeing faith, 
then my work will never be monotonous.

I will ever find joy in humoring the fancies 
and gratifying the wishes of all poor sufferers.

Oh beloved sick, how doubly dear you are! 

MAY WE BE BROKEN OPEN TO SEE OPPORTUNITIES AND BLESSINGS BEYOND OUR CHALLENGES, FEARS & DISCOMFORTS AND BE A SOURCE OF GOD'S BLESSINGS
TO THOSE WHO SEEK FOR GOD'S LOVE & MERCY
IN THEIR BURDENSOME PREDICAMENTS!

JESUS' THRIUMPH OVER DEATH

May Christ's Light 

that has overcome death and darkness

shine brightly through our hearts

and dispel everything that blocks us

from being transformed by God's Grace! 

CHRIST BE OUR LIGHT,
SHINE THROUGH OUR DARKNESS!