Come Join Us for a Religious Life Discernment Retreat!
Experience the joy of Religious Life through:
- Mass
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Chanted Divine Office
- Conferences on Discernment
- Recreation with the Sisters
When:
College Age and UP
- April 24-26, 2009
- The Retreat begins Friday at 6:00 p.m. and ends Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
High School Age Retreat
- May 1-3, 2009
- The Retreat begins Friday at 6:00 p.m. and ends Sunday at 11:00 a.m.
Where:
- Mother of the Eucharist Convent
6100 Jacks Hollow Road
Williamsport, Pennsylvania 17702
If you feel God may be calling you to our community, or if you would just like to investigate Religious Life, this is for you!
For Information call:
Sister Kelly: 570-745-3334
Is anyone here going? I know I am!!!. Really awsome retreat, btw.:)
I am going for the first time! I am so excited!
Oh, thats wonderful!!!! Well, I’ll see you there then!!!
Well, more like meet you, haha
Yeah. Haha.
Wait, you are going to the high school retreat, right?
yup! are you?
Yes! I will see you then!
How many of these retreats have you gone to? What are they like?
Well, I have been on one, and then stayed for a week. But I am not supposed to tell you anything about it. I went on the college one, but never on the highschool one, so I dont know if it will be different. In any case, I cant wait!
I am so excited too! See you there!
have you visited them before?
No. I found out about them when I went to a retreat and one of the sisters was there and told me about them and the retreats.
their pretty awsome!
Yes, they are!
Christmas is awsome at the sister’s! btw
. They tell me about it, and I am just about druling.
What do they do for Christmas?
Well, they all head over to the mother house. They celebrate for eight days together. They have plays, eat food, pray together, give their own contributing gifts, and delight in Christ. Just so beautiful. The sisters were talking about how excited they were when I visited them in August, so they really anticipate Christmas. They get all excited just talking about it. They make their own ornaments and decorations and everything.
they said alot more about it, but I cant really remember. But I know they prepare months in advance. It is so much better than I can ever describe, and celebrating Christ in His own house must be so wonderful!…
Wow! That sounds so nice!
please pray for my daughter barbara recovering from breast cancer , i recently did a pilgrimage to the holyland 2006, and made many freinds at the bethlehem hotel , meeting the mare of the town etc , bishop mario conti from glasgow was my spiritual derector , we had very spiritual pilgrimage , god bless Peter Campbell
umm, I am running out of things to talk about…Oh yeah! They talk on a few podcast with Fr. Jay Finelli, if you want to listen to them.
They are at http://www.ipadre.net, podcast #20…and a few others.
Here are all the podcasts on the sisters, at least the ones that I know about:
http://www.ipadre.net/2008/11/ipadre-132-take-the-leap/
http://www.ipadre.net/2008/02/ipadre-podcast-99-temptation-villiage-sin-city/
http://www.ipadre.net/2006/05/ipadre-podcast-20-interview-with-capuchin-sisters-of-nazareth/
Thanks so much, Father, for all your wonderful podcasts, btw!
I heard them and they are really good! They help you know about the sisters even more! I thought it was really great how the sisters talked about how they knew they were being called to the religious life. Some of them were pretty unique!
Hi everyone!!! My name is Annemarie and I also am planning on going on the May retreat. I love reading your posts. I am looking forward to meeting you all!!!
Yeah, its pretty cool how everyone’s vocation story is so different, but so beautiful.
God has such great ways of calling people!
I heard that so far, 7 people are coming to the retreat and we still have until May for the list to fill up, so that is pretty good!
Hi everyone! My name is Annemarie. I tried posting before, but I don’t think it worked. I am going to try again. I am planning on going on the May retreat and I am looking forward to meeting all of you! I am so excited!
I know, isnt that awsome!
Hi everyone! My name is Annemarie. I tried posting before, but I don’t think it worked, so i am going to try again. I am planning to go on the high school retreat in May also! I can’t wait to meet you all!
How long have you known the Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth?
Since a priest told me about them in May, and I visited them in the summer, but I was already obsessed with them the day ofter I first visited their websight ( which was… May 26th)
. How long have you known them for?
I just met one of the sisters in October at a retreat. She told me about this upcoming retreat in May and about the website.
Hi Annemarie! I can’t wait to meet you too! How long have you known the sisters?
Hi Kat! I can’t wait to meet you too!! I have known the sisters for about a year now. I met them when i was at a youth group meeting and I have loved them ever since!!
Hey!!!! Wow, we were just talking over you! Sorry! Cant wait to meet you both!!
Annemarie,
I think that you sent your message and it didn’t come up on the website until later because when I sent one, your message didn’t show up until after I sent it. Sorry about that!
For all those reading this who are wondering whether they should not come or not, come!!!! It is awsome, this sisters are so beautiful!!! And Jesus is so present there!!!!
I just came back from the Discernment Retreat that the Capuchin Sisters offered for college women. It had a big impact in my life. Now, I have no doubt that my vocation is to religious life, thanks to their prayers, advices, talks, and testimonies. The sisters radiate so much joy, peace, love, and overall, freedom. I loved every moment that I was there. Just spending time with them makes me want to be like one of them. I thank God for this amazing experience. I encourage whoever feels called to the contemplative life to give the sisters a call and visit them. Give it a try, even if you don’t feel the call to this way of life. You never know what God has in store for you! You will not regret it! Thank you sisters for everything…for all the love you showed every one of the women in this weekend’s retreat. God bless you!
Hello Everyone! I just returned from the High School Discernment Retreat with the Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth and it was incredible! Over the weekend, I became a candidate for their order and I am happier than ever before! It was truly a beautiful experience! I want to encourage all young women out there who might think they might be called to religious life, DON’T BE AFRAID!! Being with the sisters and talking with them really helped to deepen my love for Christ and to realize that there is nothing to be afraid of. Even if you have never considered religious life, I encourage you to check it out. You will never know unless you try! May God Bless you all and know that you are in my prayers!
I also just came from that retreat and loved it! It was so great to spend time asking the sisters about how they heard their call. The sisters are so joyful, reverent, and full of God’s love! It was such a blessing to go for the weekend!Their retreat has helped me so much in my discernment and deepened my love for Christ. Make sure that if you are thinking about religious life to pray, pray, and do some more praying because it will help so much! Also, don’t be afraid, just as Annemarie said. I encourage you to either call the sisters or go on one of their retreats, because it will help so much in your discernment. Congrats Annemarie and Katherine, the new Candidates! God Bless you all!
I just came back from the Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth retreat, Oh! it was wonderful! Such beauty there in the convent. They are so intense, and yet so human! The sisters are filled with the love of Christ, and are such witnesses to His joy! I can honestly say I am never happier than when I am there.
I, like Annemarie, just became a candidate, and I cannot express my joy in this. I have taken my first little step to commiting myself to God- eternally!
Recieving this beautiful gift from God has so romanced my heart, and in coming to Him and obeying His will I am filled with such joy and purpose!
Listen to Him. If you feel that He is calling you, do not be afraid!!! He will not force you, He will never impose Himself on you…He will simply ask, and patiently wait for your yes, if you will give it to Him.
If you even feel a slight attraction towards the religious life, pray, pray, pray. How can you ever know what He wants when He is calling if you never pick up the phone and listen to Him? So praying is like picking up that phone, to listen to His call. If you really want to know, He will tell you. And it will be the greatest joy of your heart!
I would really recoment, like Kat, to call these sisters if you feel even curious about their order! Who know, it could be God on the line calling you!
¡Hello!
I want to know more about his congregation. I would also like to know if you have age limits for cantidatas. Please pray for me. I do not understand much English.
Thank you,
Vilma
Dont quote me on this, but I think you have to be in highschool to become a candidate.
I thought that a candidate was anyone who is going to enter, but has to take care of other things first, like school or pay off debts.
The sisters are apostolic contemplatives, which means that they lead a life full of prayer and then do other work such as preaching God’s Word at retreats and other places. They live a life full of poverty and rely on God for everything, even food. The sisters live as Christ’s Brides and are full of love for him and live in such joy and happiness.
I think that the youngest you can be as a candidate is high school age.
I loved what you said about a candidate being someone who wants to enter as soon as things clear up…because that makes me feel so much closer to entering the convent !!!!!
)))) <3 <3 <3
How is life as a candidate so far, Katherine? Has anyone at school or other places asked you about it yet?
Its been pretty awsome
. I mean, there are challenges in learning to give up the world, and being faithful to Jesus as my Boyfriend <3, but it is all so worth it! I just recently went to a descernment retreat and was able to wear the candidate outfit, and alot of girls had questions about what I was doing and who I was joining and why, and how I knew God was calling me. Because there is so much confusion out there over vocations to the point where it really isnt a good thing, I think teens need to see that there are others their age who are 99.9% sure about what they are doing with their lives. I have also had a few talks with kids in school about my vocation, and you get to really see how much teens are hungering for a purpose. I love being a candidate, it is such a blessing 
. And it really gives a great chance to be a witness to others and to the world. So yeah, it has been such a beautiful experiance…also I get to go steady with Jesus, which is the highlight of it all <3. I have to tell you it is so awsome to see the host raised in adoration at Mass and say “That’s my boyfriend.”
That is so great, Katherine!!! I already know that Christ wants me to be his bride and I think I know where he wants me. Therefore, I understand what you mean about having Him as your boyfriend. It brings such joy to know that the greatest lover of all wants you as His bride. Your example as a candidate is showing many people the Perfect Joy that comes with being a sister. You are definitely right about the view of the world on religious life. Many do not know about the happiness of being a sister and it is sad to think that many are called to religious life, but say no because they are afraid that they will miss out on love, even though the greatest love is found in Jesus.
As I told you before I think I know where God wants me, but I am not sure, so please pray for me. I was wondering, how did you definitely know what type of religious God wanted you to be?
I will certainly pray for you! That’s so exciting! Would you mind telling me where you are interesting in entering? I would love to know.
Well, it is never a lightning bult experiance where you are a hundred percent sure. But at first i had no real desire to be a Franciscan. This was not because I didnt like them, but because I didnt know much about them, and was not particularly attracted to the Poor Clares on EWTN. And for some strange reason I thought that St. Francis didnt like me.
I wanted to be Carmelite, because I loved St. Therese and the hidenness and mystery of thier lives. However after about a year of wanting to join them, I slowly began to feel that they would not make me happy. I began to think I’ll have to change this and this and this and this about myself, and then I will ne all set, and be a miserable nun and become a saint by offering it all up. That obviously was not His plan for me, but I was so tired of searching and being disapionted that I just wanted to find where I was supposed to enter and go there as soon as possible, telling myself all the time that that was God’s will for my life.
Then, one particularly busy and stressful night because of school, Dad’s prayer group decided to go to New York to a healing mass with Father Pio, who was a relative of Padre Pio.
Now to backtrack. I had always loved Padre Pio, and he had stalked me for a couple of years. I found him popping up in my life, and I became friends with him. I did not make the connection that he was Capuchin Franciscan, though. And I didnt know that the order was a possibility for me.
Skip ahead. So, although I was very stressed about school, I decided to come. Well, as Mass went on, two things were going on in my mind. I finally offered up my vocation to God, and basically told Him that I couldnt do it, I couldnt become a Carmelite. I entrusted my entire vocation to Him because I was so tired of searching and I just wanted to do his will. I also was blown away by the holiness of Father Pio, I had never seen such a devotion love for the Eucharist and such reverence in the way he served Mass.
At this point, due to my exhaustion and my spiritual frustration, I was very emotional and felt that this Mass was particularly special. Afte Mass, we came up to recieve a blessing. My sister went before me, and then I went up.
Father Pio stopped me, excused himself for asking, but was I or my sister considering the religious life? I was now trembling (again, it was a very emotional night for me). He said to me, fumbling in his words as if the Spirit were prompting him I, I have the perfect place for you, the perfect place. He took out his Mass notes which he had jotted down and told me to write down the Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth. (I still have that piece of paper). I knew then with of certainty that wasnt from myself that this was the convent. I knew I would enter there. I left with such lightness and of heart and joy, a great constrast from the depression and heavy heart that I had entered with.
At first I was very exciting about this, but then the thought came to me, what if I dont like them? There were certain things that I wanted from a convent that I hoped that they would have. One, I wanted a full habit, nothing comprimising of the tradition habit. Two, I wanted strict poverty. Three, I wanted a good prayer life. Four, I wanted them to be very devout.
I was nervous as I looked them up on the websight, but then the picture came up with Sr. Veronica ( a crown of thorns around her head) with Sister Theresa, both smiling with joy. This was it!
The more I learnt of them, the more I loved them, and realized that I fit in like a puzzle peice. Everything from the manual labor, the the speaking, preaching, ministering to the poor, the intense prayer life, and great poverty was an answer to everything that my heart longed for.
I remember waiting for two weeks before calling them because I was soo nervous. But I am so glad I called.
So here I am now.
I cant say that there havnt been times when I have questioned my vocation, but there is something in me that knows that I will enter there…and that if this was not the convent, then nowhere else would be.
My vocation for my life come very obviously to me, for others perhaps they will not know in the same radical way, because God was so gracious in making it so obvious to me that I could never second guess.
Anyway, sorry that was so long. I hope and pray for your vocation, Kat, and for all your vocations here on the websight.
Hello Everyone!
Katherine, thank you so much for putting up your story. It was beautiful and it makes me smile to know how happy you are! I miss you both very much and I hope you are both doing well! I am praying for you both and for the other vocations on this website!
Katherine and Kat, hello again!! I miss you both sooooo much!! Your posts have been beautiful and uplifting to me. Kat, I am extremely happy for you!!! May God bless you in your discernment and in your life as His bride!!! I hope to see you and hear more from you soon!
Hello Annemarie! I miss you soosososoooo much too!! Cant wait to see you in a few weeks with the Capuchins!
. !!!!! Would you also share about your vocation?
))))
btw, I cant wait to do apostlolic work with the sisters, how about you?!!
I miss you both soooooo much too! Thanks for all your prayers! By the way, I am going to see you all in a few weeks too!
Really? YAY!!!! I cant wait to see you guys! It seems so far off from now.
Oh! For some reason, Katherine, I didn’t see your whole story about finding your vocation. That is so beautiful!!!I love how God puts certain people in your life to bring you to Him!
Actually, its pretty funny how you asked about which order I interested in entering because they are the Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth!
I am almost positive that God wants me to enter the Capuchin Sisters, but I just want to visit them at least one more time to see their apostolate first. God has put many and people in my life sort of pushing me to go there. It all started like this…
I went on a missionary thing with my class in 5th grade and that led me to want to be a missionary of charity. I discerned for many years and in 8th grade, I went on my confirmation retreat, which was led by Franciscans! I loved the Franciscans and started discerning about them too. A few years later, I went to the Carmelite convent with my mom and we went to this St. Therese of Liseux prayer service(It was her feast day). As you know from my story at the retreat, St. Therese saved my life through her intention when I was born, so I feel like I have a special connection with her. I was in the church there and was discerning still discerning my vocation. They were giving out blessed roses so I prayed to Saint Therese that I know what to do with my life by what rose I received. I asked for a white one for missionaries of charity, red for married life, pink for another religious order, or yellow for Franciscans. I didn’t really think of becoming a Franciscan but something within me just pushed me to ask that because I saw some in the back of the church. Anyway, I went up and the man giving them out picked up a pink rose, just like with many people before me, put it back with the other roses, and gave me a yellow rose! I still have it today!
I put that aside for a while and this past year, I was in front of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, asking for a sign so that I would know where to go. I asked Him to have me meet a sister or come across a prayer card soon, of the order He wanted me to join. When I came out of the shrine, my mom told me that that Saturday, I was going on a retreat with someone we knew. I went on the retreat and met Sr. Theresa, who as you know is a Capuchin Sister of Nazareth! I also met Fr. Pio there and told him about my discerning a vocation. Sr. Theresa and I talked and she gave the phone number of the sisters(I still have the paper) and told me about the retreat in May. That night, they were having a healing service and Fr. Pio had the glove of Padre Pio(I was so excited because I love St. Padre Pio too!) . Fr. Pio said a prayer over each person and when he came to me, he said “May God help you find and follow your vocation”. I felt so filled with God’s love and started crying! It was so emotional for me. When I got back, I called Sr. Kelly and signed up for the retreat.
When at the retreat, I felt like everything was just right. I had visited other convents, but none of them never clicked. When at the retreat, I felt like it was the place for me!
Lately, I feel like everywhere, I see something that has to do with Franciscans! One time, I opened up my little brother’s history book and the first thing I noticed was the word “Franciscans”! Like I said, I feel like God has shown me where He wants me, but I want to visit the sisters again, just to be sure.
Oh! For some reason, Katherine, I didn’t see your whole story about finding your vocation. That is so beautiful!!!I love how God puts certain people in your life to bring you to Him!
Actually, its pretty funny how you asked about which order I interested in entering because they are the Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth!
I am almost positive that God wants me to enter the Capuchin Sisters, but I just want to visit them at least one more time to see their apostolate first. God has put many and people in my life sort of pushing me to go there. It all started like this…
I went on a missionary thing with my class in 5th grade and that led me to want to be a missionary of charity. I discerned for many years and in 8th grade, I went on my confirmation retreat, which was led by Franciscans! I loved the Franciscans and started discerning about them too. A few years later, I went to the Carmelite convent with my mom and we went to this St. Therese of Liseux prayer service(It was her feast day). As you know from my story at the retreat, St. Therese saved my life through her intention when I was born, so I feel like I have a special connection with her. I was in the church there and was discerning still discerning my vocation. They were giving out blessed roses so I prayed to Saint Therese that I know what to do with my life by what rose I received. I asked for a white one for missionaries of charity, red for married life, pink for another religious order, or yellow for Franciscans. I didn’t really think of becoming a Franciscan but something within me just pushed me to ask that because I saw some in the back of the church. Anyway, I went up and the man giving them out picked up a pink rose, just like with many people before me, put it back with the other roses, and gave me a yellow rose! I still have it today!
I put that aside for a while and this past year, I was in front of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, asking for a sign so that I would know where to go. I asked Him to have me meet a sister or come across a prayer card soon, of the order He wanted me to join. When I came out of the shrine, my mom told me that that Saturday, I was going on a retreat with someone we knew. I went on the retreat and met Sr. Theresa, who as you know is a Capuchin Sister of Nazareth! I also met Fr. Pio there and told him about my discerning a vocation. Sr. Theresa and I talked and she gave the phone number of the sisters(I still have the paper) and told me about the retreat in May. That night, they were having a healing service and Fr. Pio had the glove of Padre Pio(I was so excited because I love St. Padre Pio too!) . Fr. Pio said a prayer over each person and when he came to me, he said “May God help you find and follow your vocation”. I felt so filled with God’s love and started crying! It was so emotional for me. When I got back, I called Sr. Kelly and signed up for the retreat.
When at the retreat, I felt like everything was just right. I had visited other convents, but none of them ever clicked. When at the retreat, I felt like it was the place for me!
Lately, I feel like everywhere, I see something that has to do with Franciscans! One time, I opened up my little brother’s history book and the first thing I noticed was the word “Franciscans”! Like I said, I feel like God has shown me where He wants me, but I want to visit the sisters again, just to be sure.
Sorry about the double post! I fixed my first one and sent it and my computer messed up.
I used to want to be a missionary of charity,and a carmelite too! There is alot of your vocation story that has shocking similarities with mine! I have a devotion to both Padre Pio (who really helped me to find my vocation), and St. Therese. Also, I descovered my vocation through Padre Pio…and yellow roses have always seemed to show up in my life. Isn’t that funny?
And also, what is it with Father Pio, healing Masses, and finding vocations? thats exactly how I found out about my vocation!
I realized that too! Maybe God is pointing out to me that we have something in common about our vocations! It is really funny too, because since that retreat, I have been thinking about becoming a candidate. I wanted to decide after seeing the sisters’ apostolate, but now I am not sure. I am on vacation right now and I keep on getting signs, like dreams and other things like that, that keep pushing me to the Capuchin Sisters, and no other group of sisters. Have you seen the sister’s apostolate yet?
that’s amazing. Only a very very little, but not really. I am so excited to visit them! When are you visiting?
There are such strange coincidences that I have found between the Capuchins and myself, so many I dont know if I could name them all, but some are that I was born in St. Clare hospital, I used to (when I was a little girl) want to change my name to Clare, Padre Pio was a major saint stalker, in an artical about them, the title was “joy should be their middle name”…my middle name is joy, and so many other things!
I am visiting the same time as you are.
That is so funny because there were many coincidences that I have with the Capuchins too! I will make sure that I tell you them when I see you when visiting the sisters.
Raise your hand if you miss the sisters! *hand raised*
*both hands raised*
I can’t wait until I see the sisters again, even though it will be a while. I heard that the sisters already had snow in October!
Really? I wish we had snow. I know, I can’t wait to see them again either! How are you? I have been praying for you!
I have a question, is it possible for someone of 50 or 60 years young to enter the noviate? if not why not? as we are all called to god at all times in our lives, if it is because of the infirmness of the ageing body then tell me why the religious aspire to the vow of charity?
The oldest the sisters allow is usually around thirty, and only for rare, rare, situations to they make acceptions. This is not out of lack of charity, but out of prudence, for the sake of both the postulant who aspires to become a sister, and for the community. The main concern is that by the time women are at the age of thirty, they are set in their ways and no longer formable to the difficult way of life of a religious sister. Its all about molding one’s character to the particular charism, and growing in that charism as a religious sister. The postulant must be willing to obey their superiors, even if those superiors are much younger than they. They must be able to take criticism and form themselves accordingly. As one progresses in age, one is more founded in the ways in which they have been town and grown living.
Hello, everyone! Do the sisters have an e-mail adress? I need to write to them, but by post it will be too long…
No, the sisters do not have an e-mail adress. Actually, none of the convents even have a computer. Since they are a more contemplative order, it is not necessary for their work and their devotion to Lady Poverty keeps them from having anything which is unnecessary. I’m sorry no one answered you question in so long. I hope it hasn’t been to long and this information is still useful.
Hey Jordan! …and everyone else!
Katherine! How are you? I miss you so much!
What is the best address to send a donation? Thank you!
Mother of God Convent
215 Wellwood Drive
Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania 18657