Vocation Discernment Events

We invite Catholic young adult single women discerning consecrated life to begin with watching our Called to Be Franciscan youtube channel, tuning into Instagram , listening to our Franciscan Moment Podcasts and contacting us to begin a conversation at any time along the way. Like St. Francis and St. Clare, who were called at a time of social upheaval, we are here to help provide discernment helps for you. A special retreat experience or vocation visit can be an insightful and inspiring step forward, moving from discernment to action in following God’s will. Honest questions about Franciscan Life and a calling as a consecrated religious are most welcome.

Career or Calling

If you’re a young adult woman, you are at a decisive time of life. Our Sisters respect your life experiences, perspective and gifts of those with professional responsibilities and educational goals while still young adults. Talents and background in a variety of areas, from social services to health care to education to IT skills may be part of God’s plan in a Franciscan ministry.

Phone Conversation

We are all experiencing a new normal. It is not unusual in these times of transition that new stirrings or old feelings of desire rise up in hearts. As you take time for quiet and personal prayer, we are here willing to listen. If you have questions about the call to be a Franciscan Sister or would appreciate talking to a trained spiritual director, please complete this survey or call or text Sister Julie Ann at 920-323-9632. We are ready to respond. Now is a good time to take steps in discernment. God is near!

Design Your Own Convent Visit

You are invited to come visit us at our Wisconsin Motherhouse or one of our convents in various geographic locations for a portion of a day or a few days while discerning God’s call. It is our best way of sharing our spirit with you. Not only will you meet those in Initial Formation, but also many of our Sisters who have lived our Franciscan vocation and have experiences to share. Our homes also speak of our history and the many members who are part of our legacy as Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. Dates can be quite flexible. Register here or call or text Sister Julie Ann at 920-323-9632.

Coming Discernment Opportunities

Our discernment experiences can be as varied as your life allows. We invite you to design your own visit with us. Let us know the days or the hours that you would like to come. If you are interested in a retreat with a particular topic or an event in our Community of Sisters, please continue reading for more specific dates. All in-person events in Wisconsin take place at our Motherhouse, 2409 South Alverno Road, Manitowoc, Wisconsin. If you have transportation needs e.g. airport, ferry or Amtrak pick up, we are here to arrange the best time with you. Please call or text Sister Julie Ann at 920-323-9632 with your questions or concerns.

Breaking bread, awakening to your call

Single Catholic Discerning Women ages 20-35: You are invited to come for prayer and a meal with our Sisters at our Motherhouse or at one of our convent homes in Bapchule, Arizona; Cambridge, Ohio; Chassell, Michigan; Imperial, Nebraska; Kaukauna, Wisconsin; Tucson, Arizona; West Point, Nebraska; Yuma, Arizona and Zanesville, Ohio. Help us set a date so we can invite others to consider the discernment experience as well. Register here and we’ll connect you to the place of your choice.

January 19 or February 23: Come Rebuild the Church with Saints Francis and Clare

The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Catholic faith. During this period of Eucharistic Revival, might God be calling you to build up the Church as St. Francis and St. Clare were called? Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Anne Marie Lom leads on this discernment retreat. Sister Pam Biehl assists with the closing prayer. We welcome your questions, your discernment, and your insights.

Join us in person or via Zoom at 6:30 PM Central Time on January 19 or February 23. Register here.

March 15-17 Discernment of Spirits Retreat

Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity offer you this special mostly silent retreat on March 15-17, 2024 at our Motherhouse, 2409 S. Alverno Road, Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Led by Sister Jacqueline Spaniola, the Discernment of Spirits Retreat offers insight to discern how the Holy Spirit speaks to you and informs and inspires intentional life decisions.

Sister Jacqueline is currently the Pastoral Associate Minister at St Albert the Great University Parish at Michigan Technological University in Houghton MI. As Sr Jackie explained “The Retreats are based on Discernment of Spirits – St. Ignatius’ twenty-two rules for discerning a calling and understanding God’s will in one’s life. Young women said ‘if it’s a quiet retreat I will go’ and I think young people in their twenties and early thirties are seeing that they need that quiet that the society is not giving them. They just want some quiet time to really reflect on what God is asking them to do.”

Include Us in Your Young Adult Discernment Pilgrimage

Are you feeling you need the intercession of the saints in your discernment journey? Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Motherhouse is in an ideal Young Adult Pilgrimage location whether for the day or part of a trek that includes other holy places. We are just 40 minutes from The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion and about the same number of miles from St. Joseph Shrine, De Pere, Wisconsin. An hour and a half south of us is Holy Hill Basilica and National Shrine. Our own sacred founding spot, our Motherhouse, has beautiful chapels and an outdoor environment where friends of St. Francis and St. Clare would feel quite at home. For those who wish to travel three and a half hours more to Bishop Baraga’s tomb, we are on the way. Call Sister Julie Ann at 920-323-9632 and plan on coming to see us. Register.