God loves you and has a plan for your life .... YOUR VOCATION
Have you ever considered "Religious Life" as your possible way of life?
Explore this page to learn more about God's call to consecrated life with the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother. Please click on the + tabs below to learn more.
Remember that your life is a gift from God and each one is called into this world for something greater than we can simply see with our physical eyes so if you feel a nagging in your heart, pay attention as God may be calling you to a specific way of life.
Here are few points to guide you in your prayer and discernment:
- Do you feel a yearning desire to know God, Love Him, and serve Him more?
- Do you feel that God may be inviting you to use the gifts and talents you have in His service and for His people in a very specific way?
- Do you find that a career is not enough but you are looking something more?
- Are you familiar with Consecrated Religious Life? and/or what they do? https://www.ihmvocations.org/copy-of-national-vocation-awareness-week
- On this website you can find some materials to help you as you make this journey. https://nrvc.net/374/publication/4808-discernment
Here are other suggestions to help you in this process:
- If you feel that the Lord may be calling you, that means you have to find time to pray a little more with the intention; to know what way of life He is calling you to? https://www.usccb.org/prayers/prayers-vocations
- Do you have a spiritual director? or other person with whom you can share with, your spiritual journey?
- Are you still unsure about what could be your potential vocation and your future? e-mail or talk with a Sister. A Sister can help you talk through these thoughts and your questions and concerns about being called to a religious life. Sister Katherine Marie would be happy to chat with you. You can e-mail her at vocations4ssm@gmail.com or call 920-230-2050. or at 920 385 8192
Religious formation is a lifelong process. During this time, we make our commitment to God, to the Church, and to the SSM Congregation. It is a process of continual renewal that needs to be nurtured and sustained - fostering personal and communal spiritual growth. Initial formation is a 9 year period consisting of several formative stages.
Who are the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother?
Who can become a Sister of the Sorrowful Mother?
- To love and serve the Lord by standing with Mary Our Sorrowful Mother as She stands under the Cross of Jesus who continues to suffer in our brothers and sisters in todays' world.
- To live and work with others who share the same love and passion for the Lord and within His Church by: healing, teaching, comforting, strengthening, encouraging others on the faith journey and striving to seek God’s will above all.
- To engage in embracing diversity as we minister in the U.S., in the Caribbean (Grenada, St. Lucia, Trinidad), the Dominican Republic, Austria, Germany, Italy, Brazil, and Tanzania.
- Personal and Communal prayer times
- Personal prayer time – a time to come closer to the Lord; to speak to Him, listen to Him and to enter into a conversation with Him.
- Spiritual reading time
- Daily attendance at Mass
- Sharing of, as well as preparing, meals with the Sisters with whom she lives
- Socializing/having fun times/leisure times usually with with Sisters with whom she lives but can be with others as well
- Exercising (whatever contributes to a Sister staying healthy for her own sake, the sake of becoming her best self and enhancing her ability to be a life-giving person in community and ministry)
What are the Entrance Requirements for becoming a Sister of the Sorrowful Mother?
- Age: Not younger than 20 or older than 45 at the date of entrance into the postulancy
- Marital Status:
- Single
- If previously married, the person may begin postulancy two years after a valid change in marital status, widowhood or annulment.
- Family responsibilities:
- Free of dependents or minor children
- No financial or legal responsibilities for a family member or relative
- Faith:
- Baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith
- If a convert to the Catholic faith, one must live the faith for at least two years prior to entering postulancy
- Health:
- Must be physically, emotionally and mentally healthy, that is, able to participate in ministry and community life
- Must have completed three years of recovery after treatment of an addiction
- Education:
- U.S. Citizens: High School education with a year’s working experience following high school; prefer completion of an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent
- English-speaking Caribbean Citizens:
- Five General Certificates of Education *(GCE) or Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) subjects required
- An associate degree, bachelor’s degree or equivalent is preferred
- Spanish-speaking Caribbean Citizens:
- The ability to speak and understand the English language
- Secondary education or is equivalent
- An associate degree, bachelor’s degree or equivalent preferred
- Citizenship, immigration, and naturalization
- Birth certificate, naturalization papers required
- A valid passport required
- For other requirements and further questions do not hesitate on contacting SSM Director of Vocation Ministry, Sister Katherine Marie, at vocations4ssm@gmail.com
“God was speaking very strongly in my head. Every evening my mother told stories of different people in the world who did not know Jesus…This was really the beginning of my vocation. I loved Jesus so much that I felt sorry that others did not know him. This desire was deepening more and more in my heart. Then I met the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother in Rome. They were very welcoming and announced Jesus by their simplicity, humility, hospitality.”
“I had the SSMs in school. In my little town of Villanueva, the Sisters were a quiet, yet powerful presence. One quality of the Sisters that was greatly appreciated was their respectful acceptance of who we were and of our culture. I was attracted to their prayerful presence. Each morning I would sit in church and listen to them praying in their chapel, right off the sanctuary. As I saw them in the community among us and visiting the elderly, the sick, teaching us I grew more and more in my desire to BE LIKE THEM. I believe the deep, simple faith, and prayer at home, and the lives of the Sisters were what God used to call me to religious life.”
–Sister Margaret Mary Troy
You can contact our Vocation Director, Sr. Katherine Marie at vocations4ssm@gmail.com or via cell (920)385-8192.
Interested in learning more about religious life? We would love to hear from you!
Contact us @
920-385-8192 (cell)
Read Sister Dorothy Ann’s Blogs:
Locations:
The St. Clare of Assisi Region of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother has ministries across Wisconsin; in Tulsa, Okla.; Denville, NJ; and the Dominican Republic. Internationally we have locations in Germany, Italy, Austria, Brazil, Tanzania and the Caribbean islands of Grenada, St. Lucia and Trinidad/Tobago.
What It Means to Be a Sister
Watch the video below, which includes interviews with Sisters on the meaning of religious life.