God Calling: Vocation Vibes

Episode #14 - God's Instrument: A Conversation with Music Artist Sarah Hart

Sarah Hart, a talented Catholic music artist who has performed across the country and has even sung for the pope at the Vatican, shares with us how her initial response to this calling was a definite and repeated “no.” Secular careers beckoned and greatly attracted her, but eventually she responded to her call to be God’s instrument through music, and she fell in love with it.
Sarah tells of the joy of seeing God touch people through her gifts over the years, inspiring young men and women to discover and respond to their own call in turn. In a number of those individuals the call has revealed itself to be a vocation to the consecrated life or to priesthood.
Listeners are invited to ponder their own calling and to discern in what way God might desire to use them as His instruments in the song of salvation for His people in need.
To inquire about general vocation resources or about the Little Sisters of the Poor, or for young women who desire accompaniment in their vocational discernment, please contact lspusapodcast@gmail.com. And for the sake of greater vocation awareness, kindly consider liking/sharing/subscribing/following our podcast; we’ll be so grateful!

Episode #13 - Called? ME, Gen Z?

In this ephemeral landscape of fleeting images we all long for happiness that lasts forever. We are wired for it, always seeking for something eternal. Sr. Sophia Peters, a Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist who is a marriage and family therapist and also a formator for your women entering her religious community, walks us through the generational characteristics of today’s young people (“Gen Z”). She shows us how those traits and tendencies can present not only as challenges, but also as blessings for these individuals as they seek their path to happiness.
Everyone has a vocation. And in each generation, there are some individuals whom God calls to walk closely with him in the priesthood or consecrated life for the service of their brothers and sisters. But considering current societal pressures and generational factors, how can they hear and respond to the call? Sister Sophia shows us how profound silence, listening, and presence to God can lead to a clear vision of the path to which he is calling us, and how his grace is ever-present to support us in engaging on that path and ultimately in discovering our greatest joy and fulfillment.
For further information about the Little Sisters of the Poor or for young women who desire accompaniment in their vocational discernment, contact lspusapodcast@gmail.com. And for the sake of vocation awareness, kindly consider liking/sharing/subscribing/following our podcast; we’ll be so grateful!
 

Episode #12 - Religious Sister: Spiritual Mother

Discerning young women often hesitate to follow their call to the religious life because they fear that their desire for motherhood will not be fulfilled—and yet it is quite the contrary! “And everyone who gave up homes, brothers or sisters, father, mother, children, or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life.” (Mt. 19:29)
Sr. Amy Kristine from the Little Sisters of the Poor relates the many ways in which a religious Sister exercises a very real spiritual motherhood on behalf of those whom she serves. She illustrates, moreover, how the spiritual motherhood a woman experiences in living out the consecrated religious life has profound and enduring significance in both time and eternity.
For further information about the Little Sisters of the Poor or for young women who desire accompaniment in their vocational discernment, please contact lspusapodcast@gmail.com. And for the sake of vocation awareness and of the Kingdom, kindly consider liking/sharing/subscribing/following our podcast; we’ll be so grateful!

Episode #11 - A Vocation Within a Vocation: Lay Associates

Description
The Little Sisters of the Poor treasure their lay “Jeanne Jugan Associates,” men and women at least 18 years of age who embrace both the spirituality and the mission of their foundress, St. Jeanne Jugan and of their religious family. Meet our new Associates who have just made their promises for the first time and listen as they relate what drew them to the charism of this religious family, as well as the joy that they experience as they now set out upon this special “vocation within their vocation.” While the role of the laity has received greater emphasis since Vatican II, many vowed religious families have long had formally organized lay associations; please enjoy this glimpse into ours!
For further information about the Jeanne Jugan Associates or the Little Sisters of the Poor, please contact lspusapodcast@gmail.com. And for the sake of vocation awareness, kindly consider liking, widely sharing, and subscribing/following; we’ll be so grateful!

Episode #10 - Brothers to Us All

WHAT IS A RELIGIOUS BROTHER? As we highlight Religious Brothers’ Day which is celebrated in May of each year, Brother Tom Osorio from the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God relates his experience of the vocation to religious brotherhood. In conversation with Sr. Carolyn from the Little Sisters of the Poor, Brother Tom describes the sacred space where the religious Brother and those whom he serves both enter into an encounter with God. In living the vowed life of a religious (and particularly the vow of hospitality which Brother Tom’s and Sr. Carolyn’s communities both share), Brother Tom speaks of the movement from “doing” to “being” to “embracing”.
Among the many different ministries in which various communities of Brothers labor in the Church, Brother Tom’s religious family brings Jesus’ healing wherever there is a need—from the care of the weakest and most forgotten to serving as Brother nurses for the Pope at the Vatican.
For comments, questions, or connection to additional resources, or for vocation accompaniment, contact: lspusapodcast@gmail.com.

Episode #9 - Commitment Today: Is It Possible?

“COMMITMENT TODAY: IS IT POSSIBLE?” Sr. Carolyn and Sr. Veronica Susan from the Little Sisters of the Poor explore this question with Erin, Claire, and Julie--three Christ in the City Missionaries who articulate some of the thoughts and concerns of today’s young adults around this issue--including societal pressures and the internal battle of wanting to love and be loved. Sr. Veronica illustrates the challenges discussed by taking us through her own transformative journey, along with its struggles. She narrates the beauty of surrendering to God and the importance of embracing sacrifices in following one's vocation. The episode builds up to her 'yes' to God’s call, leaving listeners with a profound perspective about commitment, sacrifice, and unconditional love for God and others. If you're someone facing major decisions regarding your vocation in life, this episode could provide valuable guidance and inspiration.
The listener is invited to Like/Share/Follow this podcast so that more of today’s young men and women may learn of the very real possibility of commitment and may feel emboldened to step forward and answer God’s call for their lives. Contact: lspusapodcast@gmail.com.
 

Episode #8 - From Service to Sisterhood

“IT WAS MEANINGFUL…I FELT USEFUL. MY SERVICE HAD A SPIRITUAL SENSE.” Listen as Sr. Bernadette Rose, who recently made her perpetual vows as a Little Sister of the Poor, describes how service led her to religious Sisterhood. The witness of her parents who took in foster babies and volunteered entertaining in nursing homes, of those whom she encountered in high school service settings, of the monks at Benedictine College, of the Little Sisters serving Jesus in the person of His elderly poor, all helped expand her heart and drew her to personal experiences of self-gift in service--through which God ultimately revealed her vocation to her. The Little Sisters invite you to like/share/follow this podcast for the sake of vocation awareness and of the Kingdom. They can be reached at lspusapodcast@gmail.com.

Episode #7 - Sister Stories

“HOW DID YOU HEAR THE CALL?” is the question so frequently asked of priests and consecrated persons by today’s discerners. Listen as Sr. Kathleen and Sr. Jessica Marie from the Little Sisters of the Poor share their vocation stories—each one unique but both stories leading to the joy of discovering the Lord’s awesome plan for these women's lives. The Sisters also invite you to consider liking/sharing/following this podcast to increase vocation awareness so that more of today’s young men and women might be inspired to discern and embrace their calling. The Little Sisters can be contacted at lspusapodcast@gmail.com.

Episode #6 - Spring into Service

SPRING INTO SERVICE! Sr. Carolyn from the Little Sisters of the Poor invites Katie and Michaela, who have served as live-in volunteers sharing in the Sisters’ ministry with the elderly poor, to tell of their experiences of serving with the Sisters. Listen in and be touched by the “Jesus moments” that Katie and Michaela share.
The Little Sisters’ Spring into Service program is explained and interested single college-age women are encouraged to apply. For the sake of the Kingdom and to raise interest in service and in vocations, the Little Sisters invite you to like, share, and follow this podcast. Sr. Carolyn can be reached at lspusapodcast@gmail.com.

Episode #5 - Sisters and SEEKers: Encore

MORE REFLECTIONS FROM OUR YOUNG FRIENDS! In this encore episode, faith-filled college students at the SEEK24 Conference in St. Louis share with the Little Sisters of the Poor their thoughts on “being the light” (conference theme from Matthew 5:14) and their observations of the witness given by Sisters, Brothers, and Priests at the conference. Listen as Sr. Carolyn and Sr. Mary Alexandra discuss the insights shared by these awesome young adults—and thank you in advance for liking, sharing, and following this podcast so that more and more of today's young people can learn about the beauty of Church vocations and be inspired to discern their calling.
The Little Sisters of the Poor can be reached at lspusapodcast@gmail.com.