To state the obvious, we as MGL Sisters love the opportunity to share about the gift of consecrated life and the privilege that it is to be able to live our lives in this way. One of the most beautiful opportunities we get each year is our Consecrated Life Weekends.

Today we have another installment in the series of blogs which encourages us to be inspired by the stories in the scriptures which feature fire. We turn to the story of Nehemiah, a faith filed man who no doubt helped many see the gift of muddy water.

Today, Katherine shares a story about her love for her favourite saint - who jsut happens to be one of our patrons.

Over the weeks since Pentecost, we have been journeying with key people in scripture who had powerful experiences with fire. So far, we have reflected with Abraham, Moses, the wandering Israelites and Isaiah. Today, we turn our attention to Elijah for inspiration.  

Whether you loved sprinkles as a kid or not (and even if you still do), this blog shares a great way to pray imaginatively with Jesus. Check it out.

Just after Pentecost we began some blog posts about keeping the fire burning. These traced the story and experience of key people in scripture who had powerful experiences with fire. So far, we have reflected with Abraham, Moses and the wandering Israelites. Today, we turn our attention to Isaiah to see how his experience of being anointed with a coal upon his lips can inspire us in today’s world.

As National Vocations Week draws to a close, we encourage you to spend some time with Jesus - ponder the question - Where are you going? He has an amazing plan for you - take some leaps of faith today!

Today we hear a story from Rachel - she shares about how she was drawn from a career in marketing to consecrated life.

Here is another great tip for discerning your vocation.

Its not easy to know the direction you are meant to take in life. Its normal to find this daunting and Pope Francis acknowledges this when he compares this to the vital job of a helmsman keeping a ship going in the right direction. You need help to know how to follow what God is showing you through your life. You were never meant to do that discerning on your own.

People often ask us how experiences from other times in our lives have strengthened us to live our call as MGL Sisters. Here, Patti shares an example of that from her life. 

Here is another tip - it is really a whole heap of great ideas all rolled into one - there are so many ways to take a step in your discernment.

Our sisters have a broad range of experiences which helped them to discern their call to consecrated life. Today, Rosie shares with us a great story from her life which contributed to her realising that God had chosen her for this life.

People who are discerning often ask us for some tips to help. Today, Therese shares about the importance of geting to know Jesus.

Today marks the beginning of National Vocations Awareness Week. Over the ensuing days, we will celebrate this by posting a blog every day. There will be reflections from Christus Vivit, stories from sisters and discernment tips.

Today, Mel introduces this for us.

Today (July 31) is the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola. He is one of the ten saints that we as MGL Sisters take as our patrons. He has left some timeless gifts to the church, no doubt inspiring many people down through the ages to discover God in new and life-changing ways. Here are just four of them – note to reader - this blog is a little longer than usual, but St Ignatius has so much to offer us that I felt it necessary to share each one of these gifts with you…..

“… we will have bread to offer that is warm from the oven of our own intimacy with God”.

One of my favourite things to eat is hot, fresh, crunchy, white bread with lashings of butter, even more so when it is dipped in some creamy pumpkin soup on a cold winters day. It has a way of warming my insides, and is for me, a simple experience of joy.

Keep the Fire Burning is a series of blogs tracing the experiences of Abraham, Moses, the wandering Israelites, Isaiah, Elijah and Nehemiah and their encounter with fire! How might their stories will encourage us to consider what it means to keep the fire burning in our own hearts and lives.

33. This time, we turn to the wandering Israelites, lead and encouraged by a pillar of fire.

In my life before joining the sisters I was a barista – well I never officially trained as one, but in the café that I worked during high school and university I spent many shifts making cappuccinos, flat whites, mochas, hot chocolates, long blacks and more. Believe it or not, my job making coffees has many great life lessons not just for sisters but for anyone, whether or not you are an avid coffee drinker.

Recently I have been spending my down time re-reading some of my favourite books from when I was growing up. I’ve enjoyed some of the adventures of the Famous Five as they climb through caves, catch smugglers and go away for a week by themselves in a horse drawn caravan. I have reminiscently climbed the Magic Faraway Tree, visiting Silky and Moon Face and discovering the lands of Tea Parties and Secrets. I’ve been to boarding school at Trebizon, hoping alongside Tish and Rebecca that their school will win the hockey and tennis tournament and that they will all end up in the same boarding house, and I have entered the magical land of Terebithia with Jesse and Leslie as they build the treehouse of their dreams and frequently escape to their fantasy world where anything is possible.

Two years ago, Kathryn and I (Mel) attended a weeklong retreat experience with 10 other young people aimed at exploring and deepening in the gift of the Holy Spirit. It was led by Jim Murphy. One night, we experienced a powerful time of prayer, where we traced the experience of those that had been touched by fire throughout the scriptures, with fire being understood as an experience of the presence of God.

This series of blogs - Keep the Fire Burning - will trace through the experiences of Abraham, Moses, the wandering Israelites, Isaiah, Elijah and Nehemiah with the thought that considering their stories will helo encourage us to consider what it means to keep the fire burning in our own hearts and lives.

This time, we turn to Moses and his experience with the burning bush,

Retreats are an important and precious part of our lives as MGL Sisters. Read a little bit more about the Melbourne Sisters recent retreat!

Two years ago, Kathryn and I (Mel) attended a weeklong retreat experience with 10 other young people aimed at exploring and deepening in the gift of the Holy Spirit. It was led by Jim Murphy. One night, we experienced a powerful time of prayer, where we traced the experience of those that had been touched by fire throughout the scriptures, with fire being understood as an experience of the presence of God.

This series of blogs - Keep the Fire Burning - will trace through the experiences of Abraham, Moses, the wandering Israelites, Isaiah, Elijah and Nehemiah with the thought that considering their stories will helo encourage us to consider what it means to keep the fire burning in our own hearts and lives.

Today we celebrate Pentecost! May we all be set on fire with the power of the Holy Spirit to spread the news of the love of God to the ends of the earth. 

Today is the last day of the Pentecost Novena - not long until we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us all.

Today, we reshare a previous blog written by Mel about the call to be on fire - consumed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Traditionally in the Church, a novena is prayed in the leadup to Pentecost. Consequently, over the next nine days, here on our blog, we will share readings and prayers to join with others from across the world in praying for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

We will also share reflections from different sisters focused on aspects of deepening in relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Today, we consider one of the fruits of the Spirit identified by Paul in Galatians - gentleness.