Sisters of Divine Grace began as do so many beautiful works, with inspiration from the Holy Spirit and a courageous person to step out for God.  That is how it works  to become a Sister as well. There are women of all ages throughout the United States who are being prompted by the Holy Spirit to consecrate their lives to God as Spouse of Jesus Christ and to live as a Sister of Divine Grace. Now they must grab hold of the courage the Lord is offering and step out. Some are young while others are older, perhaps having raised a family.  

There is so much to think through when considering the possibility of a vocation to Religious Life, so many questions.  It is important to enter into an ongoing dialogue with someone who can address the unknowns.  Contact the Community and begin a  discussion sooner rather than later. Talking can simplify it all!

 

When a woman is interested in possibly pursuing this life she can come for a short visit.  If still interested she can return to delve deeper.  There should be no fear, as if visiting is equal to being trapped forever!  We begin to discuss how this works, what the process might look like.  Each woman is unique and thus the process, although somewhat standardized, will look a bit different for each.    We talk about all kinds of things: family, possessions, time line, needs and expectations, formation process, finances, health insurance. These short visits are followed by entrance into the postulancy where the basics of the life as a Sister unfold.  The novitiate follows this stage, affording another 2 years to explore and assess. There is time. There is freedom. There is guidance. There is no need to panic or worry. As humans, we never do what we really do not want to do!!

 

We are quite excited to experience the unfolding of our long awaited Kingdom Dream into fruition.  We welcome women who have considered religious life but thought themselves too old or not capable, or the process too complex for any number of reasons, or are plagued with questions about finances, family or job.  As a Private Association of the Faithful we maintain a great measure of flexibility and can work with women in all of these areas.  Religious Life as a Sister of Divine Grace is a most wonderful opportunity to enter into a deeper union with the Lord Jesus.  The world needs Consecrated Religious women to nurture and care for it, to teach it the ways of God's love, to witness to the value and beauty of a life lived for God.

We are developing a deeper and more intimate relationship with our Beloved Lord Jesus, as Brides should indeed be doing,  and find that we have increasingly more of His beautiful and healing love to share with His people.  Our healing prayer  apostolate is expanding.  We are seeing the signs and wonders of God's glory unfolding before us as hearts and bodies are made whole.  We are ready to set up the atrium for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  Sisters are needed to enter into the Kingdom Dream that the Lord has inspired in our hearts. Each day we take another step forward in complete surrender to all that the Lord has set before us.

I thought myself quite crazy when I began pursuing religious life.  Truly I thought I was too old, too unworthy, not capable, and I would never be able to succeed.  Without guidance I had only myself to listen to, and so I crept along trying to figure out how this works.  It has been a long and circuitous road to here, but I am here.  And I love being here, me and the Lord.  I encourage you to explore, ask questions, and ponder your desires with a hopeful and trusting heart.  Dare to take a risk and seek to find out how this works for you as a Sister of Divine Grace.  A renewed mind in Christ, which St Paul exhorts us to acquire, thinks thoughts of possibilities and promises of God and, like Blessed Mother, asks in complete hope and surrender, How does this work?