Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul West Central Province
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul West Central Province
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul West Central Province
Below are several passages from the Scriptures that may
help give you direction:
Abraham
Genesis 12:1-4
Moses
Exodus 3:1-14
Esther
Esther 4:14-25
Samuel
Samuel 3:3-10
Jeremiah
Jeremiah 1:4-8
Christ's vocation
John 10:10-18
Mary's response
Luke 1:26-38
Night in prayer
Luke 6:12-15
Mary Magdalene's call
John 20:15-21
Rich young man
Luke 18:15-30
The apostles
Matthew 4:18-22
As Daughters of Charity, we are called to live our lives “Given to God…In Community…and For the Service of the Poor.” We live our lives not cloistered behind closed walls, but rather among the poor, immersed in service to them. Whatever the task, at the root of it is our dedication to promote human development and effectively address complex social issues.
Given to God…
Our spiritual life is built on a relationship with God that overflows into service for those who are in need.
In Community…
We support each other by living together in community, sharing a common call.
For the Service of the Poor…
We minister to persons who are poor in many ways and we collaborate with others to provide support and opportunities to society’s most vulnerable members, striving always to create a more just society.
As you search for God’s will for your life, it is important to remember that His goal is the same as yours—your happiness. That may mean a life as a single or married person, as a consecrated religious or as a Daughter of Charity. To discover where God is leading, you must take time to discern. You might find the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section helpful.
Take the time to know yourself—your likes and dislikes, hopes and dreams, abilities and limitations. Then, accept yourself. Everything about you is equipment God gave you to fulfill a purpose.
Try to develop a life of prayer, learning to listen to the Lord. We have to spend time with God and be willing to wait on God’s answer in order to clearly know what we are to do. God speaks to us and guides us through prayer, Scripture, nature, other people and events that come into our lives.
Deciding whether or not God is calling you to a life of service in a Religious Community may take a while. A spiritual director can be helpful with this process. You might want to contact one of our Sisters either by phone or email and discuss your questions with her. We keep all of you in our prayers as you seek to answer God's call for your life.
The feeling that God is calling you to a life in Religious Community may surface while praying or reading the Bible. Maybe you've heard God's voice in the people around you. Maybe it's a growing desire to respond to God's love by serving Him through serving others. You may have felt it for a long time or it could be something that has recently come to you. However you feel this call, listen carefully - God may be calling you!
Ask yourself these questions:
If you answered yes to one or more of those questions, it could be that God is calling you to a fuller life lived in service to others. You might consider participating in a Discernment Retreat.
If you would like to speak with someone about discovering what your call might be, please feel free to contact Sr. Marguerite Broderick and she will be happy to help in any way she can.