Tending the Fire - Religious are Enthusiastic about Vocations
More than thirty religious from fourteen apostolic religious
congregations in Britain and Ireland gathered at Emmaus House, Bristol
to discuss their vocation and formation ministries. The meeting was
facilitated by Sisters Joella Kidwell and Jane Becker OSB from
Ferdinand Indiana.
The Benedictine sisters from Ferdinand have, for over ten years, run a very successful annual vocation awareness programme but this was the first time, anywhere in the world, that there had been a follow-up to the Ferdinand meeting.
Sister Elizabeth Shaw, of the Sisters of La Retraite in Bristol, whose idea it was and who organised the weekend meeting at Emmaus House, said, “I was delighted at the response to this weekend. We were booked out, which for me is a sign of our passion for wanting this way of life to continue in the Church and in society.”
Sister Margaret Gallagher, of the Sisters of St Joseph of Annecy, said of the weekend, “It has been an excellent opportunity to meet with other religious involved in, and enthused by vocations ministry. We shared our experiences and dreams, as well as the challenges of inviting young people to consider religious life as their life choice”.
Sister Margaret added, “We are all convinced that God still calls people to the consecrated religious life - despite many negative suggestions to the contrary – and this should be a source of hope for all in the church.”
Sister Elizabeth agreed and pointed to hopes for future events in Emmaus House, “Our immediate follow-on event is this Summer, from 3 to 5 August, when Emmaus House is open to men and women wanting to come and explore whether religious life might be for them. I hope we’ll be booked out for this weekend too!”
Sister Moira McDowall
Useful URL : http://www.emmaushouse.org.uk
The Benedictine sisters from Ferdinand have, for over ten years, run a very successful annual vocation awareness programme but this was the first time, anywhere in the world, that there had been a follow-up to the Ferdinand meeting.
Sister Elizabeth Shaw, of the Sisters of La Retraite in Bristol, whose idea it was and who organised the weekend meeting at Emmaus House, said, “I was delighted at the response to this weekend. We were booked out, which for me is a sign of our passion for wanting this way of life to continue in the Church and in society.”
Sister Margaret Gallagher, of the Sisters of St Joseph of Annecy, said of the weekend, “It has been an excellent opportunity to meet with other religious involved in, and enthused by vocations ministry. We shared our experiences and dreams, as well as the challenges of inviting young people to consider religious life as their life choice”.
Sister Margaret added, “We are all convinced that God still calls people to the consecrated religious life - despite many negative suggestions to the contrary – and this should be a source of hope for all in the church.”
Sister Elizabeth agreed and pointed to hopes for future events in Emmaus House, “Our immediate follow-on event is this Summer, from 3 to 5 August, when Emmaus House is open to men and women wanting to come and explore whether religious life might be for them. I hope we’ll be booked out for this weekend too!”
Sister Moira McDowall
Useful URL : http://www.emmaushouse.org.uk
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