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REFLECTION SMG VOCATIONS INFORMATION
REFLECTION
July, 2008
July Reflection
JUBILEE
Frances Taylor/Mother Magdalen had a great desire to gather the Sisters together in large groups. These gatherings included retreats, formation events, and general chapters and in later times jubilees. Golden jubilees have become almost a common event now as each year we celebrate with a group of Sisters who have reached this wonderful milestone in their lives. Yet in another sense each jubilee is unique. Though the overall pattern of the celebration is the same, the personality and history of each Sister gives each celebration a very special and uniquely different flavour. It is a time of remembering and rejoicing and renewing the commitment that has been such an important part of the life of each sister and of the Congregation. Whoever said Religious Sisters are as alike as peas in a pod got it very wrong! This year we have the privilege of celebrating nine golden jubilees. Three of these were celebrated in Ireland: Dublin, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork, Moate, Co. Offaly and the remainder at the Kairos Centre, Roehampton, London. It is phenomenal in its breadth and wealth to name but the countries where the sisters have ministered during the past fifty years; in England, Ireland, Kenya, Venezuela, United States in a variety of ministries; teaching, nursing, child care, hospitality, pastoral and chaplaincy work not to mention the second and third ministries they have undertaken as they wind down from their main ministry. What added a special flavour to this year's celebration is the golden jubilee of four members of the same family. Their older sister is also a Poor Servant of the Mother of God, so the five sisters in all have offered 260 years of ministry in the church. Glory and thanks to God for the wonder of His Ways in calling and sustaining them through the vicissitudes of life.
Choosing Religious life is sometimes described as choosing the road less travelled. It certainly does not mean that you travel alone. God provides a wonderful variety of companions for the journey. The thumb-nail sketch of our jubilees in 2008 bears ample testimony to the amazing grace of taking the invitation of Jesus "Come and See" seriously and tentatively taking the first steps to explore where it may lead. To our younger readers and seekers of all ages we say "Do not be afraid". The Lord is both with and ahead of you!
Sr. Mary Forrest SMG
Use the following links to view recent Reflections:
REFLECTION SMG VOCATIONS INFORMATION
SMG VOCATIONS INFORMATION
“For I know the plans I have for you” says the Lord, “plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” Jeremiah 29:11
It is not by chance you are reading these words addressed to Jeremiah thousands of years ago and addressed again to you today. As you allow these words to speak to you it is important to remember that God’s desires for your life are the same as yours – God desires your happiness.
Here we hope to help you discern if a vocation to RELIGIOUS LIFE is God’s call for you?
Each of us has a vocation – firstly to be the human being God created us to be. Then in Baptism we are members of the body of Christ – the Church, and help to make present the reign of God in our time. Within our Christian vocation, we choose the way of life we discern God is calling us to live out our baptismal commitment – married, single, priestly or religious life.
DISCOVERING YOUR CALL
The experience of the call is rarely in a dramatic or extraordinary way. God’s call for most people is a quiet, gradual one, - an inclination, a thought, a recurring idea. You begin to get in touch with these stirrings as you pray, reflect, find moments of quiet.
What are your deepest desires? What is your vision and dream for your future? What kind of person do you want to grow into?
When you think about Religious Life how do you feel? Are you excited? Energised? Peaceful? Hopeful?
Maybe you feel quite the opposite- scared, apprehensive, doubtful? These are normal feelings too. These will come and go but as you listen to God in prayer, your predominant feeling is one of peace.
It is important that you find someone who can accompany you on your journey as deciding whether God is calling you to Religious Life can be a slow process.
The Formation Process
Formation for us is a lifelong process through which we respond to God’s call to be a Poor Servant of the Mother of God ( S.M.G ) – continually growing and open to life and active in apostolic ministry. Initial Formation takes place in stages.
Enquiry Stage
This is the stage during which you look at and gather information about Religious Life and SMG life in particular. You meet some SMG Sisters, hear our story. Experience some ‘Come and See’ weekends. See if you feel this way of life is for you.
DURATION DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL.
Candidacy (pre-novitiate period: approx. 6-12 months)
This is a time of personal spiritual growth where the candidate experiences apostolic religious life sharing in the prayer, community and ministry of SMG life. Sometimes candidates keep their jobs while living with the community. This period usually ends with a retreat when the candidate and the community agree to move to the next stage.
Novitiate
The novitiate is a two year period in which you withdraw from full time active ministry to concentrate on the study of our Catholic tradition, Catholic social teaching, scripture, history, life and spirit of the congregation. It is a time to deepen ones prayer life, study the constitutions and integrate one’s life experiences so as to find God in all things. The second year continues this but with an experience of ministry in one of our local communities.
Temporary Profession.
This period usually lasts for 5-6 years and gives the newly professed Sister an opportunity to work in ministry or continue her professional education as well as her religious formation. It is a time to deepen your commitment to SMG life and mission and avail of congregational and inter-congregational formation programmes.
Tertianship
The tertianship is the year leading up to Final Profession when SMG’s gather for a time of spiritual reflection, deeper study of Religious Life, constitutions and history of the congregation. It also includes a thirty day experience of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. It is a time to deepen our vocation to be ‘contemplatives-in-action’ for our mission in the church and the world.
Ongoing Formation
Final Profession is the occasion when you commit your life in a lifelong commitment as an apostolic vowed religious sister as a Poor Servant of the Mother of God. Life is a continual learning experience and as SMG’s we are encouraged to ‘begin anew each day in the hope of what we can become’. At intervals during our life we are encouraged to avail of sabbatical time when we take time to deepen our spiritual life and renew our dedication to the Lord, in our mission in the Church and the world.
Frances Taylor exhorted us: To serve God always but not always in the same way.
Would you like to be part of this uncommon adventure?
To request further information click_here
Or contact:
Sr. Mary Forrest SMG
St Philomena’s
70 Euston Square
London NW1 1DJ
Tel: 020 7387 5855
Email: info3@psmgs.org
