Hi, so let me just give you some background, I’m 19 Converted to catholicism in August of 2024 Have talked to a whole bunch of sisters Before being Catholic I would play with witchcraft and other things I shouldn’t have

So when I went to SEEK25 I had this eye opening experience that religious life was for me and I felt a very strong pull to become a sister. I prayed on it for a hot minute but I still felt the pull.

I talked to a convent and I was told I had to be catholic for 3 years until I was able to start my decrement. Which is fair I get that. I understand why.

What I’m not understanding right now is why every time I pray about it I get sick.

Maybe I’m missing something but I genuinely don’t know. I pray and I ask God if I’m ment to become a religious and I either get nausea or this time I got the flu.

So then when I think about dating I also get physical sick and feel like that’s wrong. And when I think about marriage and living out my vocation as a married women with children that feels so very wrong.

When I think of missionary work I don’t feel anything at all. I don’t get happy and excited like I do when I think about life as a sister. Becoming a missionary doesn’t appeal to me at all.

So I’m really really lost and don’t know what to do. And in general every time I pray I get nauseous. If anyone can give me any kind of guidance I would really really appreciate it.

I didn't spiritually mature enough to start looking at orders until late in life (34). Four years later (at 38), I've eliminated the following orders from consideration (and/or they've eliminated me from consideration):
-Jesuits (top choice but they don't think I would be a good fit.)
-Dominican (top choice but I'm too old)
-O. Carm (applied but rejected)
-OMV (it's complicated)
-CFR (I'm too old)
-LC (it's complicated)
-FA (the top choice of my spiritual director for me, but they didn't think I would be a good fit)
-OFM (just not for me)

I will of course talk to my spiritual director, but I wanted to poll the internet for ideas for additional orders which may be good to approach. (I'm technically still in conversation with the OCD and my spiritual director is Capuchin, so no need to suggest those.)

Here is some context to help: I'm a performer at heart. I feel most alive when I'm in front of a crowd turning cynicism into earnest inspiration, gushing enthusiasm over my latest hyperfocus, and being funny as a cartoonish buffoon. (Lately, this manifests itself in the form of walking tours of NYC, interactive dinner theatre, off-off Broadway musicals, and church-choir-sponsored cabarets.) I'm also a pretty darn good writer and researcher. Thus, if God chooses the dedicated single life for me, that is fine.

However, I do like the idea of a structured program of spiritual growth in community. Thus, if an order can use my artistic gifts (and oddball sanguine-melancholic personality blend) to spread the gospel, all the better.

So, any ideas for orders which might be a good personality/talents fit?

I just finished watching the last season of The boys and looked on Wikipedia for more information then when I saw, I was at their profile in Instagram for like 40 minutes just seeing thein pictures and posts. By that time, I was like submerged into all of the content that they shared and seemeds really nice all of their jobs and life (they have fame, hangout with their cast, have a lot of nice events, travel etc). Sometimes I wish that I could be a Actress but I don't do anything about it, I just have this sad feeling that I'm to old for that, or that I would never have the same chance (because you have to start as a kid and have a great networking, luck, etc), that I'm very shy a lot of times, so how can my mind wants something that I dont even have chance for?! And its been like years that I have this feeling, like from times to times, when I spend some time on Instagram, looking for famous people. Why fame is so important for some of us and why having a carrer in that is something that always comes across my mind but I really dont make any moves for that? Maybe because if I dont try I'll never fail, or maybe when I think about all of the work and effort that I would have to put on it, I just stick with my carrier as it is in IT. Idk, some times fells like some people just know right ahead what is their vocation, and can be very happy and successfull in that. Others, get lost, even if I am good at my job right now, aways think what life could be if I did something artistic and was good at it.

Hello, i have received a conditional baptism in 2022, however i haven't done a general confession, i only confessed the sins after the baptism because i have thought wrongly that the conditional baptism could wash all my sins, even if my baptism was valid (we don't have evidence that it was valid). Yesterday i was called to be wrong, i didn't know i should've done a general confession because there was miscommunication between the cathechists, the priest and i. So i probably got everything wrong... I know that i was not receiveing unworthily if i had no knowledge of this.

Should i refrain from communion until i do a general confession? Or can i confess my actual sins, receive communion and prepare to a general confession?

Click here: ---> It began as a boyhood dream . . .

So I’m thinking about religious life but want to get married. I want to be able to have a physical job, working with my hands or body to make money, but being a priest, hearing confessions, counseling people, saying mass would be really cool to. I want to travel the whole world, so thought of missionary work. But I don’t know how all these things could tie in together. I’m Ukrainian Catholic and they can get married, but I don’t want to be a diocesan priest, I would rather be a missionary who brings God to people abroad and does physical labor. I need to find someone to marry too:)

Any suggestions? Whatcha think?

Young Catholic Single Professional Women – Join us for a special Zoom Event.  Maybe you’re discerning your calling or beginning to consider your life, purpose, career and vocation after college. Then this Zoom Encounter is for you.  Your questions are most welcome.

https://fscc-calledtobe.org/discern-your-franciscan-calling/june-23rd-fulfilling-your-purpose-encounter/

This feels like it actually needs to be two posts in separate threads but as I'm new to reddit, I'm just posting here. If there is another better place to post this please let me know. I know vocations evokes images of priests. I am a 33 yo Roman Catholic female. Raised in the faith, albeit a sorta folk mass progressive parish which plays into this a bit later. My family left the church when I was in HS- a year later, I followed and went with my then bf to his Church of Christ church. We were together six years, and I suppose, as far as the day to day stuff went, it wasn't all bad- except that politics and religion and family were definitely forces against us. His church pretty well told me I was going to hell. I didn't get baptized in it anyway, because why would I? One baptism for the forgiveness of sins. 1 Cor 1. Also, my parish growing up had taught love for all, God loves all. I had never encountered such an idea that he was going to be Rigid and Only Love this one group or that. That wasn't my Catholicism. In the end, it really really really needed to end. His brother called Catholics trash, used racial slurs on the regular and it was just exhausting. My experience with that church caused me to leave all church for another six years. And it is only by the grace of God that I am back- it is not my own doing and I know it. I've dated a few people over the years, lapsed Catholics and agnostics mostly and nothing at all serious. So now, I'm in a new city with a lot more Catholics. I probably dated way too soon after moving here, but I got involved in the singles group at my parish. That short lived relationship was almost as not way more stressful than my previous boyfriend. Some of that was me- feeling like the church has certain gender roles I'm not going to fit. Some of it felt like him- the familiar creeping of control that makes me sick just thinking about it.

So ok, all that to say, this boils down to two questions. The first is whether or not I'm supposed to be married in the first place. I never really felt the need or desire to marry and marrying for loneliness sake doesn't seem like a good reason. However being single it feels like my meaning in life is to work til i die, and I think there might be more to life than that.

The second question, is if I SHOULD get married, how would I ever know to whom? Strangely I've started to feel like- as a Catholic- I'm supposed to marry a Protestant. And not "to convert him" either, that ideology is dangerous.

I just feel like the disagreements actually fueled the relationship to a point, I mean, to a breaking point sure, but they kept us talking and in tune with each other.

How did any of you figure out what it is God wants you to do with this life?

To make a long story short, I felt called at 12 to “be a priest” but I am female. I’m 32 now, but that longing hasn’t really diminished. What I did decide some yrs ago is that since it’s outside of what the church allows, I need to be prayerful about accepting that. I was considering entering a convent earlier this year and spoke with my former seminarian uncle and godfather about it. I didn’t but I haven’t yet ruled it out. I did look enough into it to learn it’s an 8 yr process! I’ve never wanted a husband or children, but I’m currently in a singles group at my parish. It occurs to me this is something I need to “figure out” rather than leading on some marriage seeking guy. I do work- and I enjoy my job. But I keep thinking, is that all? Work and then die? I’ve sort of desired that nonexistence for too long. This morning I had an epiphany of sorts. I think in part my desire is to help the poor and outcast, but I would also say I have a sort of misanthropic view of people. I realized that to seek the religious life is not to hate people but to LOVE them. I have no idea where the journey is taking me from here. I’d appreciate your prayers- and advice or experiences! I will pray for you also. In Christ, Your sister

This summer, Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity offer special discernment opportunities for Young Adult Catholic Women. Retreats at Holy Family Convent on Silver Lake near Manitowoc include:

- Discernment of Spirits (based on St. Ignatius Discernment principles)

- I Believe in the Communion of Saints Retreat

-Action of God in Our Lives (A silent retreat)

- “What I Long For with All My Heart” Retreats (individual retreat schedule at your convenience)

Women are also invited to join the sisters for their Mini-Camino Pilgrimage, and a the class “Introduction to St. Bonaventure

Visit https://fscc-calledtobe.org for more dates or information, or text/call Sr. Julie Ann at 920-323-96432