At Baptism, we become part of a way of life called Christian. To be Christian means that we choose to live and believe the way Jesus lived, loved and prayed. As we grow in our Christian identity, we discover that we are united with brothers and sisters all over the world through shared belief and compassion. We begin to pay attention to God, to the earth, to the people who live on this globe with us, and to wonder how it is that we are called to be responsive, generous witnesses to the faith we profess.
Every Christian has a vocation to make a world of difference by living the Gospel in her or his time. With my unique gifts, talents and desires, how is God calling me to "choose life" for the sake of God's mission of renewing the face of the earth?
Does life as a sister offer the best way for me to witness with my life to the love, justice and compassion of Jesus Christ?
Lifestyle
The focus of a sister's life is intimacy with God, service of God's people and care for God's universe. This commitment is lived in community and expressed in the vowed life of poverty, celibacy and obedience. Poverty is understood as simplicity of life. To fulfill the vow of poverty, sisters hold all things in common. In living simply, sisters choose to share their time, talent and resources to fulfill their mission of service to those in need. The vow of poverty is a witness against greed and aspires to a just distribution of resources.
Celibacy is a valuable way of loving. A sister commits herself to a personal and prayerful relationship with God within her community and for the sake of a mission and lifestyle she values. Celibacy encourages supportive and enriching relationships. It is a witness against possessiveness and for faithfulness to commitment.
Obedience is understood as prayerful listening to God, community, the needs of the church and the world, and one's own heart. It means entering into shared conversation in which all involved are open to the Spirit and actively responding. The vow of obedience is a witness against individualism through shared decision-making for the greater good.
Prayer is the core of a sister's way of life. It is a lifetime relationship with God in faith, trust and love, which gives vitality and meaning to this life choice. Listening and responding to God in personal and communal prayer gives direction to mission.
Community life offers a shared vision and mission, and provides support and challenge. Together, sisters create their goals and visions in the hope of healing and transforming the world through Gospel values.
Ministry
Ministry is a compassionate response to those in need. It is the way sisters "act justly" (Micah 6:8) and strive to make a difference in the world. The challenge today is to live as Jesus did, with a clear vision of God's care for all creation.
Depending on the gifts each Sister has to share and the focus of her community, she may minister as a teacher or health care professional, social worker, artist, or parish administrator. She may be involved in a host of other ministries as a lawyer, university professor, writer, community organizer or chef. It is not so much what she does, but the person she is within her ministry that is a witness to the value of her life of service.
Sisters make a world of difference by their faithful commitment to living the Gospel. Consider being part of this adventure.
More Information
Sisters Make a World of Difference, 1995, was prepared for the National Coalition for Church Vocations (NCCV) with the help of Dominican Sister Clare Wagner.
Want to know more about how you can make a world of difference as a sister? Contact a sister you may know, or the:
National Religious Vocation Conference
(NRVC - www.nrvc.net)
5420 South Cornell Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60615-5604
