Do you have a hunger for something more?
Are you seeking a deeper relationship with God?
Do you desire, with all your heart, to serve God?

The word vocation comes from the Latin vocare, to call. We tend to think of it as a special call to a special ministry, but in fact, vocation is something each of us is called to by God.

What Is Vocation?

Our Christian vocation begins with our conception. God calls us into being. “For you yourself created my inmost parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139.12).

In our baptism, we are called to participate in the ecclesia, the “called out”, the body of Christ made up of those who acknowledge that Christ is Lord and who work and pray for the coming of Christ's reign.

Within our baptismal vocation, God may call us to many vocations-within-vocation. The religious, or “monastic” life is one of those. A vocation to such a life does not supplant or transcend our baptismal vocation. Rather, it is one way of living it out, the way in which God calls those of us who are members of such communities.

(Above right) Sr. Dorothy reciting her Profession of Vows at her Life Profession.

Discerning a Call

Those who feel called to the religious life will be those who have a special call to pray and also to live in intentional community. Whatever else we do in the way of active ministry, our call to pray, and our call to model Christian community for the church, are the central aspects of our life.

This is true of all religious communities. Some of them, including the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine, might be described more specifically as “monastic” because of the strong values we put on communal life and ministry. If you feel strongly called to a very specific ministry, then a monastic community like ours is probably not for you, because we expect members to be free and willing to participate in any work which the community discerns we are called to do. Some of that is exciting and up-front “public” work; some of it is keeping the home-fires burning; much of it is hidden in our private life of prayer.

We try to develop and nurture the gifts that God has given each member of the community. But the active ministry we do is always secondary to our call to pray and to be a Christian community.

(left) Sr. Patricia Marion at her Reception as a Novice in SSJD just after she had put on the new habit. April 20 2008.

Like all vocations, a call to the religious life must be carefully and prayerfully discerned within the body of Christ. That discernment may take place both with the community a person feels attracted to, and also within one's other Christian communities: family, parish, Bible study or prayer group, or other place where a person regularly gathers with other Christians, including in conversations with a priest or spiritual guide.

“Where two or three are gathered”, Jesus said, “there am I in the midst of them”.

Our Discernment Program is offered every summer for all women who are at a crossroads in discerning new directions in their lives. We also offer the opportunity for an individualized Discernment Program at other times for those who specifically are interested in exploring the religious life. This customized program provides an opportunity to experience the life of the sisters by joining with us in our life and work, and receiving individual mentoring from a sister.

Guidelines for applicants to the Religious Life

• Do you have a desire to give yourself completely to God?
  
  
• Are you willing to let go of everything that might hinder a deeper relationship with God?
  
  
• Are you between 25 and 55 years of age?
  
• Are you in good physical, emotional and psychological health?
  
  
• Are you free of all addictions (alcohol, drugs, tobacco, etc.)?
  
  
• Are you a baptised Christian and currently involved with a church family? Before First Profession you would need to received into the Anglican Church.
  
  
• Are you free of all family obligations (marriage, dependent children, sole responsibility for an aging parent, outstanding debts or contracts, pets, etc.)?
  
  

Postulancy and Novitiate

A woman who believes that God may be calling her to test her vocation to the religious life may apply to be admitted as a Postulant (from the Latin word for “seeker”), normally after having been on a Discernment Program or having visited at the Convent a number of times. Because a vocation can only be discerned by actually trying it out, Postulants promise to be open, to the best of their ability, to the guidance of the Holy Spirit as it is discerned by themselves and the community.

After six months, if the Postulant and the community agree that she should go ahead, she receives the Habit of the community in a ceremony called “The Reception of a Novice”. At that time the new Novice promises to be faithful to the SSJD Rule of Life, and is free to leave at any time during the three years of the Novitiate. Postulants and Novices participate fully in the life of the community but have time for special study and meet regularly with the Novitiate Director for spiritual direction and help in discerning God's will for their lives. Part of the three-year Novitiate is spent at one of our branch houses.

The Vows

The traditional monastic vows of Poverty, Celibate Chastity, and Obedience are specific ways of living out the baptismal covenant which we share with all Christians.

Poverty

The vow of poverty is grounded in the simplicity of life which Jesus lived and taught. In poverty we bear witness that God is our whole support. In our community, poverty means that we hold all of our possessions in common. We try to live a simple life-style, conscious of the great division in the world between rich and poor.

Chastity

The vow of chastity is grounded in the wholeness of life with which Jesus embraced humanity and all creation. In chastity we bear witness that God is our whole love. It commits us to the celibate life, as the way we are called to live out our baptismal promise to love God above all else, and to love others as we love ourselves. Friendship is honoured as a gift of God, and an important part of community life, to be developed responsibly and thankfully, for the enrichment of the whole community.

Obedience

The vow of obedience is grounded in the singleness of purpose with which Jesus lived to accomplish the will of the One who sent him. By our obedience we bear witness that God is our whole life. Obedience is our way of working out our baptismal promise to seek and follow God's will. We seek the divine will through our Rule of Life and our Statutes; through our elected leader, the Reverend Mother, and her representatives; through our Chapter (the decision making body of our community); and through our ongoing common life.

Are you interested in discerning a vocation to the Sisterhood?

Please contact us by e-mail at convent@ssjd.ca or by phone at +1 (416) 226-2201, ext. 301, or complete the initial questionnaire [download pdf here] and send it to Sister Elizabeth Ann at our Toronto address (below).