Sources for the March 2012 Issue

Regula Benedicti (63:12)

RC Community Group (Facebook Secret Group)

- ask to be invited to this group

(email your name and Facebook url).

Sky News Reports

Personal experience

News Feed and Prayer Requests

Please pray for the repose of Mother M. Edmund Campion’s soul. May she rest in peace. Amen.

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Please also remember the Diocese of East Anglia as we do not have a Bishop at the moment. Please pray that the Lord may send us a new shepherd to guide us, His sheep. Amen.

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Emily Ann Francis’ friend went to the Lord after an accident with her boyfriend. Please pray for the repose of her soul.

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

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Please pray for all those discerning vocations at the moment, especially those who are encountering opposition from family and friends as it is particularly hard for them to endure such trials and stay strong in the faith and following God’s will. Amen.

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Please also pray for all those who have been in cruise ship accidents this year, and for all their families and friends who have been affected by such tragic accidents. Amen

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Please also remember your family, friends, and the intentions of all your brothers and sisters in Christ this Lenten Season. Amen.

God Bless you all. :)

Featured

Angeli Christian Books and Gifts, Cambridge, UK

16 Magdalene Street

Cambridge CB3 0AF

Tel: 01223 361651

Manager: Ivona

Open: Tuesdays - Saturdays 10.30—17:00

(closed Thursday mornings until 13:00)

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The Vocation Operation Blog by Emily Ann Francis and Kim Lee:

This blog contains a list of communities, most of which are Religious communities, although we also have a few lay communities too. Most link to websites of congregations, but for those that do not, we have most of their phone numbers and addresses, so if you need them, please email our blog email on the back of this newsletter. We also feature communities and share vocation stories.

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LET US KNOW IF YOU WANT TO FEATURE A GROUP OR COMMUNITY HERE.

CONTACT: Kim Lee

(contact details can be found on page four of this issue).

On Regula Benedicti 63:12

I find it very interesting that in the Rule, St Benedict writes about “Rank in the Community”. He writes that the “elders are to call the juniors brother” and the “younger call the elders nonnus, which means reverend father”.  (RB 63:12)In the same way, the Adorers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Montmatre (more commonly known as the Tyburn Nuns, or the Mothers of Tyburn due to their motherhouse having been located at the site where the Tyburn Martyrs were executed in London after their foundress, Mother Marie Adele Garnier moved there from France) apply this to their female Religious community. Their juniors are referred to as “sister” and their late sisters are referred to as “sister”, but all the Mothers who have taken perpetual vows or solemn profession are addressed as “Mother”, although sister is used in a loose way in the community, and by visitors.

What strikes me as intriguing is that many other Benedictine communities, in particular, women's’ communities do not seem to follow this. If anyone knows why, please do let me know. Email the contact details on the back of this newsletter.

Prayer

Jesus, Help Me Prayer
In every need let me come to You with humble trust, saying:
Jesus, help me!
In all my doubts, perplexities and temptations:
Jesus, help me!
In hours of loneliness, weariness and trials:
Jesus, help me!
In the failure of my plans and hopes, in disappointments, troubles and sorrows:
Jesus, help me!
When others fail me, and Your grace alone can assist me:
Jesus, help me!
When I throw myself on Your tender Love as a Father and Saviour:

Jesus, help me!
When my heart is cast down by failure, at seeing no good come from my efforts:
Jesus, help me!
When I feel impatient, and my cross irritates me:
Jesus, help me!
When I am ill, and my head and hands cannot work and I am lonely:
Jesus, help me!
Always, always, in spite of weakness, falls and shortcomings of every kind:
Jesus, help me and never forsake me. – Amen

Community Spotlights

On our blog, The Vocation Operation, we have been compiling a list of communities, most of which are religious communities for men and women, although we do have a few lay communities as well. As well as the directory, we have been writing about vocation stories and setting up profiles on communities called “Community Spotlights”. These “spotlights” allow us to feature communities and give a bit more insight on them before the discerner reads the full website of the community. It gives them the opportunity to get an idea of the community featured, and any recommended resources for that community.

Should you wish to have your community featured as a “Community Spotlight” on our blog, please provide the following details:

Spirituality, Apostolate/Charism, Eligibility, Formation, Vows, Practices, History, and any recommended articles/DVDs/CDs/books that discerners may be interested in.

Please email: vocationoperation@live.co.uk

Vocation Discernement

Sometimes I think that one of the most daunting things is getting in touch with communities for the first time, but then I come to think of it, and I realise that I am probably not the only one asking about vocations, and that their vocation directors will probably have heard it all before. I remember the first time I got in touch with the Mothers at Tyburn when I was about 14 or 15. It was a bit of an accident. I entrusted them with my deepest prayer intentions, things I generally never shared with people. I told them that there was a very deep desire within my heart for prolonged prayer and I often found myself awake, just praying for the intentions of others during the night or in the early morning. I loved going to Mass and since I was about 13, I told myself I wanted to develop my prayer life and that when I was older, if I ever had the chance to, I would go to Daily Mass. In summer last year, I actually did! However, as I have college and family commitments, I can only go on a Friday. Weekends are spent caring for my family, in particular, my adoptive mother who is very sick with stress-related illnesses and other problems. I am usually at Church  twice a week, on Wednesdays for the Toddler Group (before you start worrying, I don’t have children. I just know the mums there) and on Friday for the Daily Mass. I know a number of parishioners there and have spoken to them briefly about exploring vocation, and the project with my friend, Emily in London, The Vocation Operation. Many people have said to me that I am someone who is “already spoken for” - and then when people ask what they mean, they simply say “she is spoken for by the one who is everywhere” - implying that it is God calling. It’s fascinating to think that God could be calling me to something so blessed as the religious life.  I have visited some convents and monasteries, and somehow I found that the thought of becoming a sister can never leave me—believe me, I’ve tried the most outrageous things to try and “run away” from it all. It just doesn’t work. The thing is, due to family opposition, I am still not a Catholic in full communion with the Church, although I practically live like one! I go to Mass, pray regularly, adore the blessed sacrament, read the Bible, and although strictly speaking, I can’t go to confession, I have been known to speak to priests about my sins.

I have thought about all the options open to me, and there are very many paths I could go down, but what God is calling me to is the most important consideration I take into account. Every time I think about vocation, I think and pray about whether it is God’s will for me to do something, whether God wants me here or there, doing this or that.  I have a fair bit of work experience for a 17 year old, and a lot of hobbies and interests. I also do fairly well at school, and although I may not be a straight A student, I still have many talents and skills that I intend to make the most of. Many people have said to me that I have a lot to GIVE. That is ultimately what I think keeps this emptiness and lack of fulfillment in my heart—the waiting to GIVE myself WHOLLY and DEVOTEDLY to Him in service. I want so much to be able to offer myself to Him in obedience, and I guess that is another reason why I am considering the religious life—one of the vows taken by religious is obedience. I thought about marriage and having a family of my own, and have “dated” boys before. Somehow, the idea of that just wasn’t right. Looking at different communities, and getting in touch with them has made me realise that maybe I would be better suited to one of two: Benedictine contemplative (and yes, I have read Regula Benedicti) or perhaps a Salesian vocation. It seems so different, but I almost believe I will end up at either one or the other, so that is why I am now in touch with the Salesian Sisters (London) as well.