Exploring God's Call

Can I risk giving my life to God?

This is an ancient question! Throughout history, women and men have been nudged by the Spirit to entrust their lives to God totally. They made their relationship to Jesus their primary relationship. St. Benedict called it “preferring nothing to Christ”.

"Let them prefer Nothing whatever to CHRIST, and may CHRIST bring us all together to everlasting life."

Rule of Benedict 72:12

Through dedication to prayer, reading and meditating Scriptures, they fine-tuned their awareness of God’s presence in their lives. This is also called discernment. The process of discernment helped them to sift through their many questions, doubts, fears, desires. Often, they were accompanied by a person who gave them direction and helped them with the sorting through. This is also called spiritual direction. Be assured, God will provide you with a way of knowing what to do!

The women today who choose to explore becoming a Benedictine Sister of Virginia offer God a variety of talents, backgrounds, and experiences with which to bless the world. They are answering the call at different stages of their lives. Some are students, some have worked for several years, and some have raised a family. They all want to respond to God’s call in their lives.

How is God Calling me?

God is calling you. Your life is precious and many avenues are open to you. God always elects the way of happiness for you. God’s call can take on different forms. Is your call to become a Benedictine Sister of Virginia? God’s call starts deep within your life, giving you glimpses of who you are, seeking to catch your attention. God is speaking to you through the daily events in your life. As you experience something that is touching you deeply, take into account that this is God’s way of communicating with you.

Exploring God's Call

What happens first? Inquiry is an important first step. As you search for God’s will in your life, we invite you to participate in any of the discernment opportunities we offer. This will help you know yourself better and learn more about religious life and the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia. We offer you different ways to discern a call to monastic life and ways to get to know the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia. These include:

Frequent contact and meetings with our vocation director, Sister Andrea Westkamp, OSB.
Monastic Discernment Weekends, which are offered several times throughout the year for single Catholic women. An added bonus is that you will meet other women who are seeking God’s will in their lives. Many women find the support of other women in discernment to be particularly helpful. Contact Sister Andrea Westkamp, our vocation director, at vocations@osbva.org if you are interested in attending the next discernment weekend for new seekers. Download our flyer for the next discernment weekend.
Visits to the Monastery to meet with our vocation director, meet the sisters, participate in prayers. This can be arranged with Sister Andrea Westkamp. Please contact her at vocations@osbva.org.
Real Time in the Monastery, a one week program in August. This time will give you a taste of what it is like to live in a monastery by immersing yourself in the daily monastic schedule. Contact Sister Andrea Westkamp for more info at vocations@osbva.org.

In addition to our discernment events, we offer two programs that have been very helpful:

Affiliation ~ a woman's expressed desire to enter into relationship with the community as an exploratory stage; a time to visit regularly while living independently. There will be frequent contact with our vocation director, Sister Andrea Westkamp, as well as some reading and discussing of Benedictine life and Benedictine spirituality.

Live-In ~ an optional opportunity for a woman to live with the community for an extended period of time, while remaining financially independent and either continuing your current employment or volunteering in community ministry. There is participation in the daily monastic rhythm of prayer, work, and community. Acceptance into the Live-In Program requires an application, letters of reference and an interview.

If you would like more information regarding our discernment opportunities or the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia, we invite you to contact us by email: vocations@osbva.org or call 703-298-5337