God Calling: Vocation Vibes

In this episode, we explore with Montse Alvarado from the Eternal Word Television Network the beauty and richness of Latina and Hispanic religious vocations. We talk about how the cultural values of family, community, and a special reverence for motherhood might at first glance seem like deterrents to a young Latina or Hispanic woman’s discernment of consecrated life, but how these values—in their own special way--actually form the very foundation of religious life as well.

We also discuss the tender question of motherhood—both the cultural expectation of becoming a mother and the spiritual motherhood lived so profoundly by religious Sisters, and we look at how Latina and Hispanic women can navigate this attraction with courage, joy, and trust in the Lord’s call.

Speaking in Spanish, Mother Maria--the Superior General of the Little Sisters of the Poor--joins the podcast with a message of encouragement for all young women discerning the religious Sisterhood.

God never skips any culture when He invites women to the consecrated life! Viewers and listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of how the cultural gifts of Latina and Hispanic women who are called to religious Sisterhood can prepare their hearts in a unique way for their truest and most radiant flourishing.

Questions? Wish to be connected with resources? Desirevocation accompaniment? Contact us at [email protected] - and thanks in advance to those who kindly like/share/follow our podcast and leave us a comment; we Little Sisters of the Poor are so grateful!

Ever wondered about the role of Mary in the consecrated religious life? In this episode, we explore how the French school of spirituality—and particularly that of St. John Eudes, with which St. Jeanne Jugan (foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor) was deeply imbued—invites us to see Mary not only as the Mother of Jesus, but also as the formator of Christ’s life within each of us. As Mary gave flesh to Jesus in her womb, soshe continues to form Him spiritually within our hearts.  

Through her maternal tenderness and perfect cooperation with the Holy Spirit, Mary helps us interiorly “put on” Jesus—His thoughts, virtues, and desires. This formation is not sentimental devotion, but a transformative union: to live as Jesus lived, love as He loved, and offer ourselves as He offered Himself to the Father. 

Ultimately, this episode invites vocation discerners, consecrated religious, and all seekers of holiness to let Mary be their teacher and mother in the interior life; to allow her, with the Holy Spirit, to fashion Jesus within each of us.  

Questions? Wish to be connected with resources? Desirevocation accompaniment? Contact us at [email protected] - and thanks in advance to those who kindly like/share/follow our podcast and leave us a comment; we Little Sisters of the Poor are so grateful!

What happens when the call to serve one’s country converges with a special call to the Lord’s service? In this episode we dive into what vocational discernment looks like in the military--where duty, discipline, and divine calling can sometimes surprisingly intersect!

Our guides in this exploration are Fr. Paul-Anthony Halladay, Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of the Military Services and Sr. Deirdre Byrne, subject of the book Sister, Soldier, Surgeon: The Life and Courage of Sister Deirdre Byrne, M.D.You’ll be inspired as they unpack this topic and pull back the curtain on the exciting adventure of those dedicated young service members in whom God begins to awaken the sense of a “higher call”!

Questions? Wish to be connected with resources? Desire vocation accompaniment? Contact us at [email protected] - and thanks in advance to those who kindly like/share/follow our podcast and leave us a comment; we Little Sisters of the Poor are so grateful!

In this episode we’ll hear from an eyewitness of the Jubilee of Consecrated Life in Rome who is also uniquely positioned toshare with us some behind-the-scenes insights on the event. Sr. Rosemary, a Little Sister of the Poor who joins us from the Eternal City, cares for needy older persons there and also serves the Church at the Vatican. Sister relates how she was privileged to help with the planning of the jubilee and has subsequently been deeply moved by the vibrant, joyful energy of so many thousands of consecrated men and women from diverse backgrounds and charisms who converged on the city for the celebration.

In the midst of the Jubilee Year of Hope, this episode invites you to advance in your own pilgrimage of discernment. May you be inspired by Sister Rosemary’s account of the powerful witness of so many consecrated women and men who have already found their way, and may this celebration serveas a sign of what is possible when God’s people say "yes" to His plan!

Questions? Desire vocation accompaniment? Contact us at [email protected] - and thanks in advance to those who kindly like/share/follow our podcast and leave us a comment; we Little Sisters of the Poor are so grateful!

Links of interest:

https://www.uisg.org/en/news/

https://www.vitaconsacrata.va/en/eventi/iubilaeum2025/documenti.html

https://www.vitaconsacrata.va/en/eventi/iubilaeum2025/documenti/g-0.html

https://popesprayernetwork.info/consecratedlife/#jubilee-consacrated-life

https://www.vitaconsacrata.va/en/eventi/iubilaeum2025/news-jubilee.html

Taking the next step in your vocational discernment can feel intimidating—but it doesn’t have to be! In this episode we sit down with real vocation directors who share about their mission to support you and to journey with you—not pressure you. Whether you’re curious, nervous, or somewhere in between, this is your chance to:

·        Get to know vocation directors as real people who are in your court;

·        Hear how they accompany discerners—no strings attached!

·        Learn about God’s gift of freedom which you always retain in your discernment. 

Discover why a conversation with a vocation director might be the gentle next step you’ve been waiting for. If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not ready to talk to a vocation director…” this episode is for you! 

Questions? Desire vocation accompaniment? Contact usat [email protected] - and thanks in advance to those who kindly like/share/follow our podcast and leave us a comment; we Little Sisters of the Poor are so grateful!

OVER A MILLION VIBRANT YOUNG ADULT CATHOLICS IN ONE PLACE! From Italy, France, and Spain our three guests join us to tell of their recent pilgrimage to the “Jubilee of Young Adults” celebration in Rome, where God’s grace touched so many young people along their path to holiness and to the specific vocation to which He might be calling them. Little Sisters of the Poor Marie Sandra and Noeline Bridget relate their experience with effervescent enthusiasm, and young adult volunteer Nicka from the Little Sisters’ Home in Madrid states that she “went to the Jubilee celebration as ‘Nicka’ but came back ‘Nicka Plus.’” Press PLAY to find out why!

Questions? Desire vocation accompaniment? Contact us at [email protected]. (And thanks in advance to those who kindly like/share/follow our podcast and leave us a comment; we Little Sisters of the Poor are so grateful!)

GOT A BURNING QUESTION that you wish you could ask a religious Sister? So did these young women! In this episode Mother Michele, the formation director for the postulants and novices of the Little Sisters of the Poor, answers questions that have sprung from the hearts of vocation discerners.

Be sure to check out this episode…You just might find yourself among them! 

Questions or suggestions regarding the podcast? Desire vocation accompaniment? Contact us at [email protected]. (And thanks in advance to those who kindly like/share/follow our podcast and leave us a comment; we are so grateful!)

DO YOU SOMETIMES FEEL LIKE YOU’RE "RUNNING BEHIND" IN DISCOVERING YOUR VOCATION? Or like God is late in showing up to reveal it to you? Mary and Marian, young adult women who are good friends and also companions in vocational discernment, share their experience. Along with Sr. Veronica Susan, who recounts her own journey with sensitivity and candor, they offer somepractical tips for embracing the struggle and the wait while moving their discernment steadily forward toward its fruition in God’s perfect time.

How can such widely known—and truly classic!—principles of discernment be like a “best-kept secret”? Especially when vocation discerners could benefit so greatly of the light and clarity they offer? Fr. Brendan Gottschall, a young Jesuit priest, joins us to present the Ignatian principles of discernment in a down-to-earth and user-friendly way. If you sometimes feel anguish or confusion in your vocational discernment, this episode will be a gift for you! 

Questions or suggestions regarding the podcast? Desire vocation accompaniment? Contact us at [email protected]. And thanks in advance to those who kindly like/share/follow our podcast and leave us a comment; we Little Sisters of the Poor are so grateful!

What can a saint from the post-French Revolution era teachtoday’s seekers about the secrets to fruitful vocation discernment? Meet St. Jeanne Jugan and learn from her some timeless tips that perdure through the ages. Make her your friend and she can be a powerful intercessor for you onyour journey with Jesus!

Questions or suggestions regarding the podcast? Desire vocation accompaniment? Contact us at [email protected].(And thanks in advance to those who kindly like/share/follow our podcast and leave us a comment; we are so grateful!)