Vocations Team

One of the most popular questions that Vocation Ministers are asked is, "What is the daily life of a Sister like?" Serious discerners are also interested in knowing what it's like living in a particular community of Sisters? How do you pray? What are the community and vocation stories that Sisters share among themselves and with others? To help women in serious discernment with the Dominican Sisters of Peace gain more insight into these questions, we offer them a "mini-immersion experience" among some of our Sisters in mission. Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity of traveling with two discerners, LaKesha and Helen, to visit some of our Sisters and mission sites in New Haven, CT, and Watertown, MA. It was a whirlwind visit, but an enriching experience for both the discerning women and the Sisters.

In February 2013, Ministry of Welcome hosted the "Peace Leadership Think Tank" (see March 21 blog). One participant at that event was Associate Professor of Sociology and Peace and Justice Studies at Ohio Dominican University Dr. Julie Hart. Julie also is part of Christian Peacemaker Teams. You may be familiar with CPT's work. They seek to build partnerships that transform situations marred by violence and oppression. Christian Peacemaker Teams value and honor the presence of faith and spirituality, seek to strengthen grassroots initiatives, desire to transform structures of domination and oppression and do this by attempting to embody in their actions creative non-violence and liberating love.

You may have heard the expression, "It takes a village to raise a child." The thought acknowledges that a child's development is not only influenced by parents. The extended family and other relationships also impact their growth. In the language of vocation ministry, the same sentiment is expressed when we maintain that every Sister of the congregation is responsible for vocations, not just the "designated" vocation personnel. Just as a child's development is enhanced by all the positive influences in their lives, a congregation remains energized and viable when the concept of vocation awareness is shared among its members.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life."
John 3:16