Become a Sister
We are ordinary women who live the Gospel in a manner that witnesses to God’s inclusive love. We do this by living a life in community committed to prayer and serving others “in any way of which woman is capable.”
If you are searching for a deeper meaning in life, desire to make a difference in the world and long for community, you may be experiencing a call to this way of life.
Inquiry - If you believe God is inviting you to explore the possibility of becoming a Sister, get in touch with the vocation director below.
Candidacy | 6 months - 2 years - A time for you and us to look at your desire and call to religious life.
Novitiate| 2 years - A time for you to deepen your relationship with God and the community through prayer, study and self-reflection. You continue to discern your desire for community life and vowed commitment and participate in apostolic activities.
First Profession | Usually 1 - 3 Years - Extendable to 6: You profess the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Final Profession | Lifetime - Having lived these vows, you make a perpetual commitment to live them for the rest of your life.
by Sister Kristine Fernandes, CSJ
Our God of mystery and wonder works in unconventional ways. I got my vocation call not in a church or a chapel but in a pub.
At the time, I worked in internet sales in the advertising industry. I travelled a lot. I owned a condo in one of the high-rise buildings on Toronto’s waterfront. I volunteered in my parish and neighbourhood. I had a great circle of friends and had an active social life. I had everything I’d ever dreamed about and so much more.
However, deep down I sensed that something was missing. I was not satisfied and there was a feeling of restlessness. I wanted more but I didn't know what that more was. The more accolades and promotions I got at work, the more restless I became. By then, I had started volunteering at the Out of the Cold program at St. Patrick’s Church. I also found myself attending theology talks in my parish and going to various young adult events organized by Ignite and Faith Connections.
It was at one of the Theology on Tap sessions where I first encountered the Sisters of St Joseph. I was chatting with Sister Rosemary Fry and I recall being fascinated by the Sisters because they were totally different from my preconceived notion of what a nun was. In the course of our conversation she asked me if I had thought about becoming a Sister. I burst out laughing and said "No, never. I’m not holy enough."
And it was true. It had never crossed my mind. Yes, I had priests and religious men and women in my family, but not once did I think about following in their footsteps. I considered myself to be a "Sunday Catholic" and not a prayerful pious person.
Sister Rosemary's question however gnawed at me and I couldn’t get it out of my mind. It would creep into my head at the most unexpected and often inconvenient times — on the subway, during a work meeting, or when I was out with my friends.
At church, I found myself getting emotional and moved to tears as I listened to some scripture reading, or certain parts of the Mass or even some hymn — things I’d heard all my life.
I always thought of myself as being level headed and in full control of my emotions, but now all of a sudden I was so emotional. I thought I had some deep psychological problem that was now surfacing.
I decided I needed professional help and started seeing a therapist.
I heard about a weekend retreat that the Sisters were offering and decided go. It was a way to re-connect with Sister Rosemary without being obvious. I later found out that she was the vocation director for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto.
After the retreat, I continued to meet with her every month or so. I wanted to find out more about religious life and prove to myself that it was totally ridiculous to even entertain the idea. I knew I was definitely not cut out for religious life. After all I had a good life and a great career, I earned a good salary and I travelled wherever and whenever I wanted to. I did not want to give all that up. I prayed about it and asked God to help me figure out a way where I could serve God but still keep my job and lifestyle.
I began seeing a spiritual director who helped me recognize how God was acting in my life. I started seeking out Sisters in other congregations. I found I still had an inexplicable curiosity about religious life. I would regularly listen to A Nun’s Life podcasts as well as look up vocation stories on YouTube.
I started volunteering at Mustard Seed and In Good Company, ministries which were started by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto.
Over the next few months, I continued to discern this attraction to religious life with my therapist and my spiritual director, as well as Sister Rosemary. I was able to talk through my doubts and fears. My family had sowed the seeds of my faith and they continued to encourage and support me while I was discerning.
After many more months, I told Sister Rosemary that I was ready to take another step. In November 2015, I was accepted as a candidate and moved into their formation house where I lived with five other Sisters. They welcomed me into their home and created a space for me in their lives.
I retained my day job and tried to find a balance between my work life, my social life and community life. On the weekends, I attended various events and community gatherings where I got to meet other Sisters.
The transition was surprisingly smooth and comfortable. I expected it to be bumpy because of differences in age, culture and lifestyle. Instead, I found the Sisters very progressive in their thinking and we shared the same core values, beliefs and opinions. Living with the Sisters gave me an opportunity to observe first-hand how each of them lived out the spirituality and charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph.
Every Sister I met was so full of joy and I wanted to share in that love and joy.
I spent a year and a half as a candidate during which I was able to discern together with the Sisters my call to religious life. In April 2017, I joined them as a novice. I spent time learning about the history, mission, spirituality and charism of the Sisters. I also spent time on church history and teaching, scripture and religious vows. Central to this time was self-reflection and prayer both as a community and by myself.
After two years of novitiate on May 1, 2019, the Feast of St Joseph the Worker, I professed for the first time the vows of celibacy, poverty and obedience for three years. After three years, I will renew my vows. And at the end of the renewal period, I will profess my vows for the final time.
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
- Pray: Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Deepen your relationship with Jesus. Read and reflect on scripture.
- Be open to listening to what God wants for you.
- Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings, doubts and desires. What are they telling you?
- Look back on your life. Where has God been leading you? How has God acted in your life up to this time?
- Look at your life today. How do you enjoy using your gifts and talents? What gives you energy and joy?
- Journal about all that is happening within you.
- Explore all this with a wise mentor or spiritual guide.
- Gather information about religious life. Get to know different Congregations and the way they live. Read blogs, watch videos, listen to podcasts.
- Meet some Sisters. Visit them, volunteer with them. Attend events they sponsor and organize. Find out about the work they do, their charism, mission and spirituality.
- Get in touch with some vocation directors. They can give you more information about religious life and their congregation. Meet with them a few times and let them get to know you.
- Pray some more, continue your discernment and trust God’s action in your life.
Julie Cachia, Vocation Animator: jcachia@csj-to.ca
Julie Cachia, our CSJ Vocation Animator, has a question for you.
You are God’s beloved child. He loves you very much! You were wonderfully and uniquely created to love and serve others through your gifts and talents.
Regardless of your state of life, God is continually awakening a desire within you for something more, to be who you were created to be out of love and for love. A vocation is an attraction moving you towards expressing your potential to live it out and serve others.
So, I ask you: do you feel called by God to serve?
Do you have:
- Special gifts and talents that you want to share with others?
- A desire to live a life of service, spirituality and faith?
- A sense that you are called by God?
As Vocation Animator for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto, my role is to share the life and ministries of the Sisters with you through an invitation of prayer, reflection and conversations. Let’s listen to the movements of your heart as you journey with us to be and to become, what God wants you to be in nature, in grace, in love and service to others.
Perhaps you are a person who feels drawn to social justice;
someone who feels empathy and care for those who suffer due to systemic inequalities in our society and economy, someone who wants to spend more time nurturing God's creations, and you are looking for volunteer roles and meaningful opportunities to make a difference in this world.
Perhaps you are someone searching for spirituality;
you wish to continue to live the life you have built, but are seeking Christ's unifying love in the world around you, and you are searching for a faith community that is guided by the Sisters mission & values and love for God and neighbour even as you pursue your own path.
Perhaps you feel called to do something special;
you are drawn to a life of service to God, you feel stirred to be a part of community that is committed to prayer and discernment, dedicated to the Gospel, and devoted to serving people in need.
Perhaps you are looking for ways to share your gifts;
to find all the ways in which your talents can bear fruit for everyone living on our troubled planet, searching for a place in this post-pandemic world where you can make a difference.
Perhaps in reading this,
you feel a connection and longing, a desire to take a first step on a journey that may lead you to a volunteer role, a community of faith that you might want to join, or even possibly a life of service among women religious.
Perhaps you should get in touch
with me via email, over the phone or even by post, and together, we can discuss and explore how the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto might walk with you as you seek faith, love, spirituality and community in your life.
God has shown you,
O people, what is good.
And what does God, ask of you?
To act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with your God. - Micah 6:8
Julie Cachia, Vocation Animator
T: 416-467-2646 | jcachia@csj-to.ca
101 Thorncliffe Park Drive Toronto, ON M4H 1M2