What are you looking for in Religious life?

[Don Bosco]

With so many religious orders out there, how can one know which is the one for me? First, one needs to know if one is looking for a monastic or an apostolic order.
The Salesians are an apostolic order. Our ministry is the Salvation of Souls of the young.

[Marc T. X. Stockhausen]

I believe the best way to answer that question is to pray over where God is leading. Second, talk. Talk to the people who are in the life that you are looking interested in. Ask them questions, the more questions the more one finds out about the order and the order finds out about the individual. Finally, go. Go and visit. if things seem to be right, go with it. One can look for years and years, but until that individual dives into that life, he may never know where he belongs. I have found that the religious just want to help a person find where God is leading them.

Search, Talk, and Go. This can only help.

[Don Bosco]

on target. Great Job, Marc.

[Brittany]

Wow... no one has said anything for a while.

I spent eight years discerning religious orders (I started Freshman year of HS) and it took finally giving up my idea of what I wanted, for me to be able to find the joy of what God wanted for me. Once I stopped making a criteria and simply allowed myself to experience different religious families, I realized that I was supposed to be with the Salesians all along! (I have been a Salesian Cooperator since 2004.) I did not think I would fit with the FMAs because their lifestyle is very, very active, but after going on retreat and trying the life out, I saw how well the life fit me and felt like home. It took me by surprise because I was not expecting the FMAs to be "it". Part of me did not want them to be because I saw myself as being more of a contemplative!

At the basis of all of this was my experience with the Eucharist, which made me realize that like Jesus I was called to say to the world "This is my Body... broken for you...". It has been a journey, having my heart progressively be opened to the great unknown that is God's will for me, but, it is worth it. It took stepping out on a limb, trying something new, and casting myself head first "into the deep" for me to realize that God had me in the religious family where he wanted me all along. I am Don Bosco's daughter and really, I could not be happier as any thing other than a Salesian.

That's my two cents.... :o)

[Michael]

The religious orders seem like a more difficult life than a diocesen priest.

[Federico]

Hi Michael
my personal bilief is different from yours. I think that in religious orders you share your spiritual life with others, brothers or sisters and in case of weakness you can always talk to someone, there is always a brother or a sister you can rely on and grow up together. Diocesan priest, at least in Italy, are often alone and lonely. In their daily struggles they havo noone but Jesus that they can rely on. Many of them feel sometimes tired...this is because many people come to them telling them their problems all day long, but they seldom have someone to share their struggles their thoughts with... In Italian we say l unione fa la forza, union makes strenght. I think this is the same with religious life. But of course this is only my personal feeling

[Don Bosco]

I agree with Federico. In religious community one is always more faithful than if one were to be living alone.

[Brittany]

So true. The fidelity of my sisters challenges me to "step it up" and witness and live my own faith more fully and generously.

[Eric]

I find that the community life is what really draws me, There is nothing like having a good bunch of Brothers around!