FMDM Advent Vocation Retreat – a time to listen to God’s call

Participants at the Advent Vocation Weekend in Ladywell

On 28-30 November 2014, a group of young women from London (and one from Coventry) arrived in Ladywell Convent, Surrey for a weekend retreat. The theme is ‘Embracing God’s Love’.  Sisters Jacinta Kow, Mary Burke and Hazel Buckley presented various aspects of this theme.

The young women joined the community for prayer/liturgy and meals. The Sisters in Ladywell Convent were most hospitable and this provided opportunities for the young women to chat with individual sisters. The common questions asked were: “when did you decide to become a sister?” “how did you know that God is calling you?” By asking these questions, they felt consoled to know that God calls each person in very ordinary ways, so ordinary – that it is so easy to miss ‘hearing the call’! The participants found it a challenge to get away from their busy schedule (especially as a student or working adult in London!). When they eventually made the decision to ‘come away’ and set aside time for themselves and God, they appreciated the time spent for the retreat. The women discovered for themselves that they felt drawn to prayer and found themselves walking more slowly and mindfully.

The participants described the Vocation Weekend experience as ‘joyful, inspiring, insightful.’   They were very happy to be in Ladywell which is an idyllic conducive place to take a slower pace to allow oneself to be embraced in God’s Love. To read more about the Advent Vocation Retreat click below.

FMDM Advent Vocation Retreat. To read more about it, click here.