The former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey once described Anglican religious orders as being ‘the best kept secret in the Church of England.’ This is a great shame! Religious Life offers some of the richest experiences of Christian service and worship.

We are going to share our experiences and stories with you!

Sr Juliana – Sisters of the Incarnation

15th Jul 2020 by vocationalstories

Vocational Journey into Religious Life. The History of the Sisters of the Incarnation The Sisters of the Incarnation was founded in 1982 in the Diocese of Adelaide as a contemporary expression of the Religious Life for women in the Anglican Church. The sisters lived in a unit in Black Forest, worshipped part of the time… Read more
Br Finnian SSF – Novice Brother

16th May 2020 by vocationalstories

I left my role in L’arche Liverpool in January 2016. Since that time I have lived in 5 religious houses. I initially lived in the Community of the Resurrection as an ‘Alongsider’ for 5 months. I then moved into Alnmouth friary to ‘test’ my sense of vocation to be an Anglican Franciscan brother with the… Read more

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Vocation means what you are called by God to be and do. Finding yours starts with prayer.

A Prayer for Vocations to the Religious Life

Lord Jesus Christ

In your great love you draw all people to yourself;

And in your wisdom you call us to your service.

We pray at this time you will kindle in the hearts of men and women

the desire to follow you in the Religious life.

Give to those whom you call, grace to accept their vocation readily

and thankfully, to make the whole-hearted surrender

which you ask of them, and for love of you, to persevere to the end.

This we ask in your name.

Amen.

Image result for anglican religious life

A NOVENA OF PRAYER FOR THE RELIGIOUS LIFE

Day 1: 2 Thessalonians 1: 3

We give thanks for Religious communities throughout the world.

Day 2: Romans 14: 7–9

We give thanks for members in our communities who have died.

Day 3: Acts 15: 36–40

We pray for those who have left our communities.

Day 4: Ephesians 4: 1–6

We give thanks for our own vocations.

Day 5: 1 Thessalonians 5: 12–14

We pray for our leaders and for all who make decisions.

Day 6: Titus 2: 7–9

We pray for novice guardians and all who teach in our way of life.

Day 7: 1 Corinthians 12: 27–31

We pray that we will be faithful in our vows.

Day 8: Acts 2: 44–47

We pray for all who seek to know and to do your will and that men and women will be led to join our communities.

Day 9: 2 Corinthians 4: 16–18

We recognise the future is in God’s hands. We pray that the Holy Spirit will help and support us as we live in the Light of Christ.

(Source: Anglican Religious Life 2016–17, Canterbury Press, Norwich 2015)

Prayer of Charles de Foucauld

Father,
I abandon myself into Your hands,
do with me what You will.
For whatever You may do, I thank You.
I am ready for all, I accept all,
let only Your will be done in me,
as in all Your creatures:
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into Your hands I commend my soul
I offer it to You with all the love of my heart.
For I love, You, my God,
and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into Your
hands without reserve and with boundless confidence,
for You are my Father.

Amen

Prayer of Thomas Merton

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me
Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are with me, and you will never leave me to face my struggles alone.