A Sister Reflects - Reflección de una Hermana

For Jarelyn, timing was important in her discernment process. First the questions started rising in her and she tried finding the answers within herself. At some point the answers stopped coming as easily and then they stopped coming at all. She felt stuck.

She tried talking with friends and one of her co-workers that she was close to, but they only helped a little. The wisest friend mentioned to her that she was meeting every month with a spiritual director at her church and how much it was helping her focus and be at peace. Her friend suggested she contact this person to see if she could help her move forward in her search.

What Jarelyn discovered was that the spiritual director was trained to listen deeply to people on a spiritual search, to ask perceptive questions and to offer suggested practices that could help Jarelyn with the life decisions that lay before her at this moment. 

As disciples of Jesus on a journey together we are in a common search for what God is calling us toward in order to become who we were created to become. The good news is that the Spirit accompanies us in this journey and leads us toward companions who give us just the help we need at the time. Blessed be the grace of the Holy Spirit!

Blessings as you walk with the companions who are sent especially to help you,
Sister Tarianne

To contact one of our spiritual directors, click here.

Cómo Pueden Ayudar Las Directoras Espirituales

Para Jarelyn, el momento oportuno era importante en su proceso de discernimiento. Al principio las preguntas comenzaron a surgir en ella e intentó encontrar las respuestas dentro de sí misma.Después de un tiempo, las respuestas dejaron de llegar tan fácilmente y luego dejaron de llegar.Ella se sintió estancada.

Intentó hablar con sus amigas y una de sus compañeras del trabajo con la que estaba cerca, pero solo ayudaron un poco.La amiga más sabia le mencionó que se reunía todos los meses con una directora espiritual en su iglesia y cuánto le ayudaba a concentrarse y estar en paz.Su amiga le sugirió que se comunicara con esta persona para ver si podía ayudarla a avanzar en su búsqueda.

Lo que descubrió Jarelyn fué que la directora espiritual estaba entrenado para escuchar profundamente a las personas en una búsqueda espiritual, para hacer preguntas perceptivas y para ofrecer prácticas que le podrían ayudar a Jarelyn con las decisiones de la vida que le enfrentaban en este momento.

Como discípulos de Jesús juntas en una jornada, estamos en una búsqueda común hacia a lo que Dios nos está llamando para convertirnos en lo que fuimos creadas a ser.La buena noticia es que el Espíritu nos acompaña en esta jornada y nos guía hacia compañeras que nos brindan la ayuda que necesitamos en ese momento. ¡Bendita sea la gracia del Espíritu Santo!

Bendiciones mientras camina con las compañeras que son enviadas especialmente para ayudarle, Hermana Tarianne

Para comunicarse con una de nuestras directoras espirituales, haga clic aquí






Blessings on the journey,
Sister Tarianne

This week’s blogger is Sister Ellen Burkhardt, OP.

“I don’t believe you brought me this far to leave me.”

These words are from a hymn we sing in my parish in Detroit, one of my favorites. We sang it one week while I was discerning a call to religious life, and honestly, I thought the words were jumping off the page and into my heart with a message specially formulated for me! God seemed to speak directly to me through the words “I haven’t brought you this far just to walk away from you now. Trust me, now and into the future.”

As is often the case for those struggling with a discernment issue, I was filled with questions: How can I know that this is where God is leading me? Why won’t these questions go away? I also had concerns about giving up my home and a career I loved. I worried about entering religious life and then discovering that it doesn’t fit me. What would I do then?

Over time, with the help of prayer and spiritual direction, I came to a deeper trust that the same God who led me this far, will accompany me today and each day that follows.


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Sister Tarianne DeYonker, OP
Sister Katherine Frazier, OP

Co-Directors Vocations

Adrian Dominican Sisters
1257 East Siena Heights Drive
Adrian, Michigan 49221-1793

Visit the Adrian Vocations Team on Twitter @ASisterReflects

