Section:
vocations
October 2008 Retreat on Franciscan Spirituality
Who are you, O God, and who am I?"
Do you ever wonder what God is asking you to do with your life?
Do you want to make a difference?
St. Francis had the same questions when he asked,
"Who are you, O God, and who am I?"
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Three young women came to our motherhouse in Aston, Pennsylvania, the weekend of October 24-26 to explore those same questions and to learn more about the richness of Franciscan Spirituality. It was a weekend of prayer, input, and recreation as the young women spent time getting to know our sisters and also learning more about our Franciscan life together.
It was a wonderful opportunity to spend some time away from the busyness of everyday life, to enjoy the surroundings of our motherhouse and the beauty of nature, and to meet and share with other women who are asking the same questions and seeking direction in their lives.
Time was spent learning about St. Francis and St. Clare and the richness of our Franciscan identity and values—thanks to the generous sharing of the gifts of two of our sisters.
- On Saturday Sister Elise Betz shared a short video by Father Bill Short on our Franciscan identity and the gift that this is to us as people of faith. She also shared with us the lives of St. Francis and St. Clare and how each of us is called to follow in their examples by being the person that God created us to be.
- On Sunday morning Sister Julie McCole did a presentation on “The Dignity of the Human Person,” which is an excerpt of a much longer program called “God’s Extravagant Love.” The piece she shared focused on the idea that each of us is made in the image and likeness of God and that we are God’s Beloved!
Friday and Saturday evenings allowed more time to get to know some of our sisters, to enjoy pizza, and to play a competitive game of “Catch Phrase.” We also prayed with our sisters, experiencing the different types of prayer. The entire weekend was a powerful and prayerful experience for all who attended. It helped me realize how all the sisters are devoted to helping others.
Why come to a Discernment Weekend?
For young women discerning a religious vocation, it’s a good idea to spend some time getting to know the sisters. One great way of doing this is to attend one of our discernment retreat weekends. Stay tuned for more information on upcoming weekends of retreat and discernment.
