Hearing the call

In February, CARA — the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University — released its latest study showing the trends among those entering religious life in 2018. As vocation ministry coordinator for the Sisters of the Precious Blood, I find the results inspiring.

We already know that vocations are on the rise — CARA and the National Religious Vocation Conference have reported that there were 240 perpetual professions in the U.S. in 2018, a 76% increase from 2015.

Of those now entering religious life, a staggering 91% participated in at least one of the following: retreats, campus ministry, youth ministry, young adult group, service or mission trip, youth conference or volunteer program. Many of the young people who are active participants in their parish are committed to growing in their faith — and they earnestly seek to know God’s plan for their life.

I continue to work to reach young people interested in religious life and share with them the mission and spirituality of the Sisters of the Precious Blood. Much outreach today happens through email and social media, but I have also attended a number of conferences and small groups, connecting with young people in person and meeting them where they are.

Fifteen students participated in the discernment group I conducted at the University of Cincinnati, where I gave them tools they can use in discerning any decision or life choice. Likewise, our faith sharing dinners, held monthly at Amherst House, aim at spreading Precious Blood Spirituality and offering a faith community for women.

The graphics included provide additional information about trends among young people today, illustrate some of my activities and provide an overview of our formation process. Please continue to pray that, in the words of Archbishop Dennis Schnurr’s vocations prayer, God will grant us — and young people in particular — the grace to know the path He has planned for us in this life, and to respond with a generous “Yes.”

– Story by Jenna Legg

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