Discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life?

Institute on Religious Life website is an amazing source of various information!  It contains a directory of various religious orders for men and women all over the country, with descriptions of the apostolate and their charism.  You can search by area, or contemplative vs active, what you'd like to do.  Information for the vocation director(ess) as well as the link to their website is easily available.  It also contains announcements of any events coming up that may be of interest!

Check it out!  religiouslife.com

Virtual Vocation Discernment Retreats:   https://religiouslife.com/discernment/virtual-vocation-retreats


Also, you can watch these videos on discerning a vocation by Fr. Mike Schmitz! 
He's got some great videos where he talks about how to discern.  Here's the links!  Check them out!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EMOgG7lfmE&t=41s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne8n-1ATd1s


This video is done by Norbertine priests and they talk about how do we know if we're doing God's will or not.  They offer some sound advice, meditations, prayers helps and peace for your mind.  They also have many other webinars that you may enjoy on the same website!  Click here to view

Would you like to check out an order and learn more?

This is a series of videos that give you a virtual tour of different religious orders of either men or women.  They really explain the charism of the Order, give a look at where they live, study and pray as well as their apostolate.

Behind the Habit #1 introduces the Canons Regular of St. John Cansius. Click here to view.


Behind the Veil #1 introduces the Cloistered Dominican Nuns of Corpus Christi. Click here to view


Also, #1 episode introduces the active Dominican Sisters of St. Cecelia. Click here to view
(it is a Zoom webinar, but at minute 10, you won't see the panel of others who were watching)

-What is a vocation?

A vocation is God actively inviting - or calling - us to “share in his own blessed life.” In other words, God is calling us to a relationship with Him, and holiness means choosing to live and grow in that relationship. In the universal sense then, our vocation is holiness.

Having created us, God knows exactly how our particular gifts and passions can draw us and others closer to Him, and so our particular vocation will look a bit different from those around us. It’s in our particular vocation that we can find out how God is inviting us into a state of life where we can generously encounter the needs of others. A young woman who is gifted with compassion for the sick might be called to the consecrated life within a community of religious sisters who minister in a hospital. A young man who is gifted with leadership might be called to be the leader in a parish as a priest. A young woman or man who is gifted in teaching could be called to the married life to teach their children about the faith.
Just so we’re clear, we’re not talking about your occupation here. We’re talking about the state of life in which God can use you to bring others to heaven along with yourself.
Remember, since we are called to be in relationship with God and those around us, every vocation is about serving others. A great question to start the pursuit of your vocation is “What is the most generous thing I can do with my life?”

For I know well the plans I have in mind for you… plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.
-Jer. 29:11

WHAT IS DISCERNMENT? THE TWO HALVES OF DISCERNMENT

The term “discernment” comes from the word meaning “to sift.”  It involves sifting through the different voices that call to us, in order to listen to God’s voice.  It also means sifting through our own thoughts, feelings, desires, and motivations to discover where God is leading us.  Discernment isn’t simply a thought exercise, though!  It is first and foremost about seeking not an answer, but a Person, the One who is the Answer.  Discernment requires a relationship with God that is watered constantly through prayer.  That prayer then leads us to take steps to respond to what the Lord is inviting us to.  Prayer naturally leads to action, then--and that action leads back to prayer.  A good discernment will always have both of these elements.-

• Prayer
• Action

Information from: Diocese of Austin
Austin Vocations