Discernment houses—places to discover God's dream for your life
Every day we are faced with making decisions, some major and some minor. A decision that will affect the direction of one's life calls for discernment, a prayerful listening to God's call. Sometimes a woman needs a prayerful, supportive community, such as a house of discernment, to ponder God’s call.
Women live in a discernment house for varying lengths of time, usually several months. They share opportunities to grow in their relationship with
Jesus,
experience community, and discern their vocation in life. Sisters of Notre Dame live in the discernment house to help create a discernment community.
Marcela Machicote found her experience of living in a discernment house helpful in discerning God's call to religious life. "Sharing my life with the sisters without a formal commitment gave me a wonderful opportunity to discern about religious life with a real sense of freedom. I am deeply thankful for that opportunity." Nan Zeimet relates, "I felt called to the Sisters of Notre Dame when I moved to Chardon [Ohio], and living at a discernment house confirmed that feeling. I feel blessed living with such wonderful sisters."
At various times the discernment house community invites individuals and groups for meals, prayer, Bible reflection, retreats, spiritual direction, and short stays.
Discernment houses are located in the U.S. and in Germany. Other opportunities for discernment, such as weekend retreats and prayer experiences, also exist in most areas where the sisters are located.
If you are a single woman interested
in a discernment experience with the Sisters of Notre Dame, please contact
a vocation
director in one of the
countries in which we are located or fill out the form to request more information. Find out about one discernment house that opened in July 2006.
