Frequently Asked Questions

Being a Sister means living in a community of caring that supports you from your youngest days until your last breath. Together, we set our minds and spirits to change the world for the better. We spend a lot of time in prayer; it grounds us. We spend a lot of time in service; it uplifts us. We spend quality time working on personal development and forming close personal bonds. And yes, it IS fun; it’s being surrounded by your closest friends all of the time, sharing in hospitality and holiness.

When it comes to celibacy, it helps to think of it as any other form of human discipline. To think of celibacy as not having sex is like saying that all marriage means is that you have sex with only one person.  Celibacy is a rich way of life that involves relating, loving, being, just as marriage is about loving, vulnerability, service, and family. And just like marriage, this richness plays out differently for each individual. Among the many things that celibacy means are these:

• I choose God as my first love, believing that God’s love for me will be my support, my strength, and my joy.
• I choose to live in a community of like-minded women who will support and challenge me in my prayer and ministry.
• I choose a way of life that frees me to attend to the needy, the little ones at the school down the street, or the immigrant at the border.

And so, while the struggle is real, we may not have physical intimacy, but we make up for it with emotional intimacy, spiritual fulfillment, and an enriched life— well-lived.

God is all, the rock and foundation of our life. We entrust our lives to Him and know he has our best interests at heart. If God is calling you to grow into the best person you can be, religious life will help you fully become it and heed the call to serve God’s people. Nuns respond to the problems of today’s world through education, health care, social advocacy, and ministries to those in need—and we do it together with one heart and one soul.

Get global or stay local, the world is your oyster. Sisters work all over the world in high-level positions and make an impact. There are no limits on where you can take your career as a religious woman in the world today. We’ve had Sisters who are college presidents, Ph.D professors, Directors of Nursing, psychologists, artists, musicians and on and on. We also have people who find that gardening and cleaning provide that rhythm of life that is best for them to connect with God.

Discernment is a personal journey of listening deeply to God who might speak to us in silence. If you think God is calling you, He probably is. Don’t just discern in a vacuum; perhaps you need to start talking to other people about the call you are sensing and start visiting religious orders.  Many current Sisters have said, “When I walked into the Chapel, I knew that this is where I would be happy.” Take the first step.

It makes no difference where you are on your Spiritual Journey. If you’re seeking God, that’s enough. We got you from here. God doesn’t call the ‘qualified,’ He “qualifies” the called.

Maybe they are seeing something in you that you don’t see from the inside. Maybe they see that you care about people and have gifts that can serve the Catholic Church’s mission of praising God and helping those in need. Why you? Why NOT you?

In Benedictine life, we share everything, the common life of “one heart, one soul.” All our money goes into one pot and we share living space, meals, and daily necessities. We have resources to put into our work and outreach that helps others. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to a religious order that shares your passions and supports you in ministry.

When people refer to The Habit, they mean religious garb. Adopting this traditional style is a choice made by each unique community; not every community adopts that way of dress. Here at Sacred Heart Monastery, we wear the clothes of the day, following the Rule of Benedict that says to “use what is available in the vicinity at a reasonable cost.”

 Becoming a Sister is a process. Discernment continues in the many stages of Formation; you have plenty of time to figure out if you are a good fit for The Religious Life.

 That’s true, but…..community supports and challenges you. Seeking God in a community is transformative, there’s just nothing like it. You are absolutely filled with grace and gumption while building God’s kingdom together. One heart, one soul is a way of life.

Giving up the hope of having kids and grandkids isn’t easy, but it’s doable. There’s more to growing old than having grandkids. We focus on making close personal bonds with our sisters and communities, making lifelong friendships with people zero-to-110. Your family becomes our family. These relationships/ministries don’t take the place of children, but they bring completeness to our lives. Plus, parents will get more joy and satisfaction out of seeing you live a fulfilled life.

Sisters don’t leave one life and swap it for a completely different one… we blend them in one big, divine ‘Smoothie of Happiness’. Jesus, of course, said it perfectly, “I have come that you might have life, and have it abundantly.

God works in mysterious ways. It just might be that this sense of dissatisfaction is saying that you really are looking for a deeper connection with God. Ask God in prayer to help you figure it out with His help. Furthermore, it may be helpful for you to explore this dissatisfaction with people who know you and can offer spiritual guidance. Be open to God’s plan for you, wherever it might lead.

Sounds like you are looking for a simplified religious life with the monastic balance of prayer and work, solitude and community. We can share the wisdom of the Rule of Benedict with you.