Women have made and continue to make incredible contributions to our Church, Society, and Culture as professed members of Religious Communities. These women, dedicated and gifted, have made a decision to live the Gospel values through vows and/or promises of chastity, obedience, and poverty, and for some stability. These vows or promises are made after a period of inquiry and discernment. For some communities, these vows are renewed every year and for other communities vows are taken solemnly once in a lifetime.

Throughout our history, women have stepped forward, hearing the call of Jesus to serve the poor, the outcast, the disenfranchised, the people with no voice, willing to meet the needs of others. In so doing they have come to know more deeply the Christ with and for whom they serve. Other women have chose to further the education and professional needs of our people. They have become teachers in Universities and Colleges, nurses, doctors, and lawyers. They too have heard the call of Jesus and have said, "Yes" as a whole hearted response to the question, "Will you follow me?" Other women have heard the call to serve God’s people through a vocation of prayer.

The question is now yours to answer.

The following website provides links with Women Religious who are currently serving in the Diocese of Cheyenne: www.wyomingsisters.org

www.visionguide.org is the site for Vision Magazine, a yearly publication for Vocation Discernment.

www.catholic.org/colweb/links.html is the Catholic Directory site.

www.cs.cmu.edu/web/people/spok/catholic/organizations.html is the Catholic organization site.

Feel free to contact Fr. Ray Rodriguez at vocations@newmancenter.org for further assistance regarding a vocation to religious life.

Religious Men, Choosing a Life of Service

Men throughout the centuries have searched for the living God in a variety of ways. Many men have said yes to an invitation to live life as a celibate within a community of other men. This tradition traces its origins back to the early Church. Today this tradition continues in a variety of forms. Some follow the example of St. Francis of Assissi, others St. Dominic, St. Benedict, St. Francis de Sales. Whoever their founder, these men seek to serve God through lives of dedicated service. They serve in the United States, and throughout the world as teachers, doctors, nurses, social workers, lawyers, parish administrators, youth ministers, etc.. Wherever there is a need, religious men are there, serving in the name of Jesus, the Christ.

You may have experienced this invitation yourself. You may be yearning for something more in your life, desiring a more full and joyous expression of your gifts and talents, hearing the Lord’s invitation to a radical lifestyle for the sake of the Gospel. If so, then you will want to further your understanding of Religious life. Feel free to contact me at rrodriguez@dioceseofcheyenne.org for more information and/or assistance. The following websites may also be of help to you.

www.visionguide.org is the site for Vision, an annual publication for Vocation Discernment.

www.catholic.org/colweb/links.html is the site for the Catholic Directory

www.catholic-forum.com is the site for Catholic forum.