FSLF: Becoming a Franciscan Sister

Steps in Becoming a Sister

Call
The search for a Franciscan Way of life begins when you feel a call rising from within. After you make contact with the vocation minister, she will assist you and provide opportunities for visits and prayer with sisters, participation in community gatherings and live-in and ministry experiences. She will offer you a sister prayer companion who will pray for you in particular. Most important is that you be at peace as the process unfolds while you come to clarity for your call.

Candidacy
During this six-month to two-year period of living a simple lifestyle with the sisters, sharing prayer and community life, you will remain financially independent and continue to work at your job.

Novitiate
This 2-year period allows time for further discernment and discovery. It is a time for you to get to know more fully the Franciscan way of life through in-depth prayer and study, community living, and some ministry experience.

Do you have questions?

We can help you discern
your vocation in life.
Click here for tips.

Contact Sister Grace Skwira:
(320)632-0652
vocations@fslf.org

Helpful books to aide in discernment ... Click Here.

Temporary Vows
You will profess vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience according to the way of life of the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota. For 3-6 years, you will continue to deepen your spiritual life in preparation for your permanent commitment of life vows.

Life Vows
After completing the time of temporary vows, you will profess life vows, a public, permanent commitment to live the Gospel life with the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota.

Experience community living at
Franciscan Welcoming House ...click here.

Tips for Discernment

So you have begun to think that you might have a call to be a sister. What should I do? How do I begin discerning to discover God’s desire for me?

Discernment is a process of making a decision about your life with the help of the Holy Spirit. Here are a few steps that will help you:

Pray - Spend time in prayer each day, specifically seeking clarity for your life. Ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Reflect - Reflect on your life experiences. Take a look at how God has been guiding you all along in your life. Consult significant others. How do they see you? Look at your talents, gifts, limitations.

Gather Information - Make contacts with religious communities. Read and digest the information you receive from them. Do you find yourself resonating with some? Name your honest feelings. Narrow your choices.

Visit - Visit the communities to which you are drawn. Spending time with the sisters in their prayer, community life and ministry will help you discover if their way of life might be right for you. Find out all you can about the community, its spirituality and way of life. The community will also discern if you have the suitability for life in their community.

Be at Peace – A decision about becoming a sister may take some time. Let the process unfold in a peaceful way. Continue to be in contact with the community that seems right for you. You may experience anxiety and doubts, but notice if, at the same time, you feel peace and joy. Does this direction or choice give you life? Then proceed with your decision.

Through discernment, you will discover that God wants only whatever is good for you—whatever brings wholeness and leads to holiness.

TOP

Sister Grace Skwira
(320)632-0652 / vocations@fslf.org

Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota
116 8th Avenue SE, Little Falls, MN 56345
(320)632-2981m info@fslf.org

Links / Terms / Policies