We may think that vocational discernment is about good decision making. Often discernment actually gives us a clearer sense not so much of what to do but about who we are meant to be.  

I think the silver lining to the cloud of COVID-19 could very well contain traces of technology. Thanks to platforms like Zoom, Facebook Live, Youtube Live, Skype, Facetime etc, we’ve been able to connect with each other online as I don’t think has happened in previous global pandemics.

Sometimes on retreat we go to a house with a fireplace for winter inspiration.  Watching flames can remind us of the deep mystery of God’s intimate and perfect love for us.  Our key symbol in the Missionaries of God’s Love is the Cross and Flame.  The flame represents the fire of God’s love seen most clearly in Jesus’ dying on the cross for love of us all. 

I painted this image on retreat. I was at the beach watching the huge waves crashing against the rocks. There was a chasm in-between the rocks that stood in a circular shape, and the water was constantly rushing as if to fill this gap. It also created white foam when the water was hitting the rocks. As I was watching it, I had an insight that the love of God fills the gulf in me, just like the water in the ocean rushes into the vacuum in- between rocks. Nature works as such that when there is an empty space, air, water or other atomic contents hurry to fill the chasm. Similarly, the love of God fills the gaps in me.

 As MGL Sisters, when we take our Initial Vows, we begin to wear the Cross and Flame - a symbol that speaks deeply of our charism and the life we have chosen to live. In this two-part series, Sarah-Jane unpacks the impact of the Cross and Flame for her life. This second part focusses on the flame.

On the World Day of Prayer for Vocations earlier this year, Pope Francis identified four key words - pain, gratitude, encouragement and praise  - richly weaving them into the story of Peter in the midst of a storm with Jesus (Matthew 14:22-22). This seems very fitting for our own reflection as this National Vocations Awareness week concludes. Perhaps the invitation for us is to take these words of Pope Francis to prayer, allowing him to highlight these four vocational words in our own lives

During National Vocations Awareness Week, we want to share with you about the gift of our life as sisters. Today it is Sarah-Jane's turn to share the three things she loves about being an MGL Sister. 

Today Kathryn asks us which movie we are going to see. Intrigued? Have a listen to her sharing in this video - and it really does link to National Vocations Awareness Week!

As Missionaries of God's Love Sisters, we take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Often young women who are discerning ask us questions about what these vows really mean. Here, Berna shares with us about the gift of them in a simple, yet profound way. 

During National Vocations Awareness Week, Kat shares with us three things that she loves about her vocation as an MGL Sister.

Relationship with Jesus is at the heart of discerning your vocation. Today, Rosie shares with us a beautiful song she wrote that expresses the gift of her relationship with Jesus. 

In this blog, Mel shares about her love of geocaching and what it can offer to anyone discerning.

One of the latest things that I love to do is to go geocaching. In case you have never heard of it, geocaching is a GPS based treasure hunt where you search for containers of various sizes that are hidden at particular coordinates. (for more info, go to www.geocahing.com). People all over the world do it, and there are literally thousands and thousands of them to find. At the start of this year, I set a goal to find 366 throughout the year – the equivalent of one each day – but Covid has put a stop to that goal for the time being. 

Today marks the beginning of National Vocations Awareness Week. In this short video, Mel explains what it is all about. Spend some time in prayer and keep connected with us this week as we will be posting content every day - blogs, videos, sister stories, discernment tips and more. We will be praying for you!

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 three 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…..

If you live in Melbourne like me, then you are currently in Lockdown 2, with the added requirement to wear a mask whenever you leave your house. I was reflecting on this and it brought a wry smile to my face – not that you could see it because of my mask. Why a smile?  - because perhaps, you, like me, have heard many people say that as we journey in our life with Jesus, it is essential to take off the masks we wear so that we can embrace who God is calling us to be.

Praying imaginatively with Scripture is a gift. Grab your bible and read the story of the blind man being healed in Mark 8:22-26. Then slowly and prayerfully read through the reflection, pausing where the Spirit leads you to stop awhile. 

As MGL Sisters, when we take our Initial Vows, we begin to wear the Cross and Flame - a symbol that speaks deeply of our charism and the life we have chosen to live. In this two-part series, Sarah-Jane unpacks the impact of the Cross and Flame for her life. This first part focusses on the cross. 

You may have seen Facebook and other social media that a current ‘challenge’ is for people to post covers of music albums that have shaped or influenced them in some way. Such posts always seem to include a line which says something like, ‘no explanations, just album covers’. Since this is a blog and not a social media post as such, I am going to take up the idea and talk about musicals I love, but buck the system by giving an explanation.

Recently, I read a book called What a Wonderful Word (written by Nicola Edwards and Luisa Uribe). Basically, it brought together a collection of words from other languages which cannot be easily translated into English. Several of them struck me, for both comedic relief and for deeper reflection. For instance, in Finland there are apparently a whole host of words related to reindeer. One that caught my eye is poronkusema – defined as the distance a reindeer can walk before needing the toilet.

Exploring areas here in Canberra these past months has been part of this exciting, new Godventure I call transition. Funnily enough, in my walks, in driving around- I always get lost. I have been reflecting on a particular experience when I got lost, and looking up to check the street name I read where I was - Grieve Place. I read it again, and then it struck me. God wanted to speak to me about something and this was where the Holy Spirit led my feet.

Keen for a hug? Maybe a good book will do… Finding it hard to read lately? Need something inspiring to get you off a screen? Keen for some recommended titles? Here’s five uplifting easy-reads to wrap yourself up in.

Mabuhay! (Be Alive) It has been a great blessing to me to be with the Missionaries of God’s Love Sisters for seven years now.  My yes to consecrated life was a slow journey. It all started from my spark of interest in joining a choir in our parish. I was a rather a desperate singer, and out-of-tune when I was a child, but I eventually became a choir leader for three choirs for around eleven years. I had thought that I just wanted to become a singer for mass and weddings but things turned out to be beyond that.

Recently as I was scrolling through my Facebook feed, I saw a recipe to make stretchy dough. Perhaps it was my pre-Sisters history as a childcare worker that came out, but my immediate response was a desire to make some as soon as possible. The particular recipe I found had two ingredients – cornflour and hair conditioner, so I pulled out a bowl and a few short minutes and green food colour later, I had myself some stretchy dough. I began kneading it with my hands, its softness and coconut scent bringing my senses alive.

Here is the next video in our Fan the Flame series - In this time of uncertainty, Sarah-Jane explores the faithfulness of God as an anchor that can carry us through.