We've provided some answers to frequently asked questions because we want you to have answers on some of the most common questions about consecrated life. We hope they will help.

These questions and answers have been reworded to be a bit more general in nature and protect the person's privacy. If you don't see your question here, you can send it to me with complete anonymity and we'll answer it on this page. If you would prefer a personal response, be sure to tell me how to contact you and Ill be happy to answer your question personally.

Yours in Christ,
Sister Elaine Lachance, S.C.I.M.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a vocation and how does it differ from an occupation?

Q: I'm not sure where God is calling me. What should I do to make sure I'm making the right decision?

Q: I'm pretty sure I want to be a religious sister, but there are so many congregations/orders. How do I choose?

Q: How long does it take to become a Servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary?

Q: Why do you go by two titles ("Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary" and "Good Shepherd Sisters of Quebec")?

Q: What about my past? For example, do I have to be a virgin to enter into consecrated life?

Q: What's the difference between a Sister and a nun?

Question: What is a vocation and how does it differ from an occupation?

Answer:

The word vocation comes from the Latin verb vocare meaning "to call".  It's a deep-seated calling to serve God in a certain capacity. Married life, dedicated single life, and consecrated life are all vocations and are designed to be life-long. An occupation, on the other hand,  is something you can do - a job that can change at any given time.

Return to Top

Question: I'm not sure where God is calling me. What should I do to make sure I'm making the right decision?

Answer:

As hard as it may seem, you're on the right track.  Seeking God's will and seriously reflecting on your vocation is the first step to a fulfilling life.  I can offer a few suggestions that may help you in your journey:

1.  Pray sincerely, ask for guidance, and reflect on your prayer experience.  Remember that prayer is a two-way conversation.  So as you pray to God, listen to what He has to say.

2.  Take the time to consult with other women who are happy with their vocation in life.  It may be your mother or an aunt, an older friend, or a religious sister. 

3.  Ask yourself when or where you have felt the deepest joy or sense of purpose.  Revisit that place if possible.

4.  Try not to fast-forward your life.  The future we imagine is often clouded by pre-conceived ideas. 

5.  Take your time.  A lifetime commitment to any vocation benefits greatly by careful consideration and an honest evaluation.  It's better to investigate all of your options than to rush into any commitment.

6.  Remember that this is between you and God.  Don't allow others, regardless of their intentions to unduly influence your decision.

Return to Top

Question: I'm pretty sure I want to be a religious sister, but there are so many congregations/orders. How do I choose the one that's right for me?

Answer:

I don't know of any congregation that would bring you into their order without a period of discernment.  Your first few years of consecrated life are a period of inquiry.  Just as you wouldn't enter Holy Matrimony with a man you didn't know, you wouldn't enter a religious congregation until you experienced the charism (the spiritual action) of that order and reached a mutual acceptance.  If it's not right, you will know.  And you will be encouraged to continue your search.

Return to Top

Question: How long does it take to become a Servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary?

Answer:

The length of the formation process depends largely upon the individual seeking the vocation. There are many stages in consecrated life.

Discernment starts with initial contact and advances to candidacy, where you become an Associate. The time frame varies with each Associate.

If you believe that this might be your call, you become a Pre-novice. This stage takes anywhere from six months to two years.

The next step is to live two years as a Novice. You would spend one year studying (Canonical Novice) and one year serving in a ministry (Apostolic Novice).

The next stage is Temporarily Professed.  Living as a Temporarily Professed Sister, you renew your vows each year for the next five to seven years. At the end of this time, you may take your final vows, becoming perpetually professed in a lifelong commitment as a religious sister in God's service.

As you can see, there is a great deal of time afforded to help you reach your final decision on your vocation. This is because we want you to be certain that you are answering God's call in becoming a religious sister. During these years of discernment, your days will be filled with gaining knowledge, developing friendships, and serving God in prayer and action. You will grow in your own spirituality and benefit from the charism of the order.

You can learn more about the formation process on our Becoming A Sister page where we have laid out, in detail, what each step involves. And as always, you can contact me if you want to know more about becoming a Sister.

Return to Top

Question: Why do you go by two titles ("Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary" and "Good Shepherd Sisters of Quebec")?

Answer:

One title, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is our official Church name. The other, Good Shepherd Sisters is the name given to us by the people. (We added, "of Quebec" to distinguish our congregation from others with the same title.)

Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary:

Return to Top

Question: What about my past? For example, do I have to be a virgin to enter into consecrated life?

Answer:

Your past will not necessarily prevent you from answering a call to religious life. However, you must be free of earthly obligations. You don't have to be perfect to become a Sister.

What you do need is a genuine desire to love God - which is necessary to live faithfully and joyously in consecrated life. The desire to be totally given to Christ with your whole being - just as a spouse would be - is what allows God's grace to help you to become faithful and loving.

Return to Top

Question: What's the difference between a Sister and a nun?

Answer:

A Sister is a vowed member of a religious community of apostolic women within the Church. She shares in the life and mission of her community.

A nun is a vowed member of a monastic community of women within the Church. As well as professing the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, nuns often also take a fourth vow of stability, that is, to remain for life in one monastery.

Return to Top

Question: What is a charism?

Answer:

A charism is a gift of the Holy Spirit given to an individual for the good of the Church.  This intangible gift begins with the founder or foundress and is evident in his or her work.  Thus it becomes something he or she is known for.  One example would be the Franciscans who are known for living a simple lifestyle.  This started with St. Francis who rejected material wealth to live and work among the poor.

Our Foundress, Marie-Josephte Fitzbach, was known for her love and goodness.  These two words make up the essence of the charism of this woman who became Mother Mary of the Sacred Heart, the first Servant of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Foundress of the Congregation of the Good Shepherd Sisters of Quebec. 

Touched during her adolescence by the distress of certain women and once even harboring in her home an unfortunate woman, Marie began spreading God's love and goodness.   Then at 43, she received the call of the Church to open a shelter for women, a place of rehabilitation.  Marie recognized it as God's will and pioneered this new ministry in Quebec City.  To direct young people towards good and so prevent problems later on, our Foundress wanted to teach them the truths of the faith.   

"By reason of the first call of the Church to our Congregation and the profound motivation of our Foundress, we are dedicated in a particular way to the ministry of mercy and faith education in social services and teaching"  (SCIM Constitutions, article 4).   "The specific mission of the community is to bring about the Kingdom by communicating love and goodness as God wills" (SCIM Rules, article 56).

Return to Top