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We are committed to loving Jesus in the Eucharist and spreading that devotion.
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I remember a saint I read about that would go out and scream: "God is not loved."
We Mercedarians experience that pain of Jesus in the Eucharist - of not being loved!
That's what our community, the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, is all about. It all started with a wife, mother and widow who became the foundress of our congregation. Her name was Maria del Refugio.
The main goal in the mind of Maria del Refugio was to found a congregation that would make acts of reparation, but above all LOVE Jesus in the Eucharist.
In other words, she wanted Eucharistic souls who set the world on fire, a Eucharistic fire.
Our Devotion Fuels a Worldwide Mission
While our apostolate - the education of children and youth - is certainly important, it is secondary to Eucharistic devotion. Education is the means to achieve our goal of forming Eucharistic souls.
If you dream of doing something great, this is your invitation, to join the community of Mercedarians. The harvest is plentiful and the laborers few. We are about 680 sisters striving to live Maria del Refugio's dream in 83 schools and a few missions.
There is too much evangelization to do and we need more women to tell Jesus that he is our all. We need women who are ready to become Eucharist: total surrender to the Father, obedient unto death, not afraid to give it all. In return, we receive Christ's gift of eternal life.
We are in 12 countries in Central and South America, Europe and Africa. But wherever there is a tabernacle, there is home. Here in America, we live at the shadow of the Eucharistic presence of Jesus in San Diego, Cleveland, San Antonio and Baton Rouge.
But... Am I Called?
Discernment is a process that should take place before we make a decision. We cannot make decisions in the impulse of the moment, even though sometimes life puts us in that situation.
We are always to choose good and avoid evil, and we are naturally inclined to the good. The problem is that sometimes our perception of what is good is distorted. But if we have a good conscience, then as painful as this decision making can be, we do it. The world is so good at lying to us. It falsely tells us what freedom is.
The most difficult is when we have to decide between two good things, such as religious life and marriage. In my experience, I could distinguish very clearly between lasting joy and momentary joy.
We are having a discernment retreat in Baton Rouge this coming October 11-13. We will go over ways to discern a vocation, along with taking some of the advice of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and Teresa of Avila.
If you think you may be called to become a Mercedarian Sister of the Blessed Sacrament, take our simple Test Your Call survey. I'll write a personal response.
Be sure to like our Facebook page for more updates and news!
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If you have any questions or would just like to talk, email me at eucharistvocations@yahoo.com.
Yours in Christ,
Sr. Jeanette Marie
Vocation Director
Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
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