One Year's Time

"Dear Brooke, Have a nice retreat and may your heart be open
to hear what God is saying to you! Love, Chris"

       One year ago, I went to Nashville for a retreat with the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia. My brother had secretly slipped this note into my suitcase for me to find when I arrived. He had no idea how important the message would become!

       In the months leading up to the retreat, I had been becoming more and more absorbed by my college classes. I was looking forward to applying to a few nursing programs and everything was going well. I had been discerning whether I felt called to religious life since I was fourteen or so, but it had been pushed to the back of my mind. When I finished high school, I slipped right into college classes and didn't try to seek out answers about my discernment. I'm so glad it was that way. (All in God's timing, not ours...) Though religious life wasn't on my mind, I knew I needed a retreat, and I arranged to go to Nashville. I also arranged to visit a nursing school while in town, and was looking forward to that even more!

St. Joseph with the child Jesus

       By the second day of the retreat, however, I was confronting myself about all my plans and hopes. I couldn't ignore that I still might be feeling a call, and I had to see what it meant. I realized that all those plans I had for my future, good as they were, were mine. I had asked God what He desired of me, but I hadn't given given Him a chance to answer.

       During the retreat I began to work on changing that, though it took me a long time to fully let go. It was difficult, but it wasn't a grudging sort of change. You can not doubt that God's plans for you are the very best, and you will never regret letting Him lead. I entrusted my discernment to St. Joseph, asking him to lead and guide me as he had led the Blessed Mother and infant Christ according to God's will and the angel's direction.

       Between May and November I visted four different religious orders, and God brought me to the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word in late October. I, in fact, only begrudgingly submitted because I wanted to visit the Dominicans nearby, and because my pastor so highly recommended them. Even though I wasn't particularly excited, I left the mental door open in case God wanted to bring something out of the visit. It is truly breathtaking to watch what He will do for us when we give Him the opportunity! Everything began to slip into place. I had a very short visit, and though I didn't quite trust myself, I was fairly sure I knew the answer. I went back in February, at which time I asked to apply.

The Sister Servants of the Eternal Word

       On the feast of St. Joseph  I received the call that Mother Mary Gabriel had accepted my application! I will be entering as a postulant in July, to begin the eight-year formation process in hopes of God-willing making life-long vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

        I know that it is possible that God only desires I come to the order for a short time, and then show me that He has other plans. But I know that this is exactly what He is asking me to do at this time, and it is very possible that this could be my calling for life. Whatever He asks, I pray that I continue listening for and following His call.  

        I am so, so happy. Just the same, this will likely be a very difficult time for my family and I. Please keep us in your prayers as July approaches.

May it please the supreme and divine Goodness to give us all abundant grace

ever to know His most holy will and perfectly to fulfill it.

- St. Ignatius of Loyola