Mass to Pray for Vocations
Join us to pray that more young people will respond to God's call to the priesthood and religious life. Refreshments served after Mass.
Join us to pray that more young people will respond to God's call to the priesthood and religious life. Refreshments served after Mass.
Religious brothers and sisters from across the Archdiocese joined together with Archbishop Cushley in Edinburgh to mark World Day of Consecrated Life. Watch the video below or on YouTube.
If you are interested in exploring the Religious Life contact our Director of Religious Vocations Sr Mirjam Hugens FSO at religiousvocations@staned.org.uk
Scotland has one of the lowest rates of women entering religious life in the world. Ahead of World Day of Consecrated Life (Thursday 2 February), Sr Mirjam Hugens FSO explains why she is determined to change that...
I was studying engineering at the University in Wageningen in the Netherlands when the thought of becoming a religious sister came to me.
At that time, I could not picture myself as a nun so I dismissed it.
When the thoughts kept returning, I kept saying ‘no’!
I wasn’t convinced that this desire in my heart was actually God’s voice. Was it really His invitation to follow Him more closely? Despite dismissing these thoughts, they remained with me. It was a quiet desire.
Scotland has one of the lowest rates of women entering religious life in Europe. Sr Mirjam Hugens FSO explains why she is determined to change that. https://t.co/YwiruFqo5P
— The Scottish Catholic (@TheScotCatholic) January 13, 2023
The big issue for me was this: could the religious life be something I could commit to for the rest of my life? Like so many people, men and women alike, I struggled to discover God’s will.
My older sister Karin had already decided to follow God’s call to religious life. I was happy for her, but I still kept saying ‘no’ to the Lord.
One day she gave me a prayer card of St Thérèse of Lisieux and I still remember the French saint’s words: “Aimer c’est tout donner et se donner soi-même [“To give everything (to the Lord) and to give oneself”].
I have the privilege of helping young women discover what their vocation is, through prayer and gentle encouragement, just like my parish priest gave to me.
That really made me think. I knew that while I was ready to give everything to the Lord, I was not quite ready to fully give myself! My journey discerning a religious vocation raised questions and doubts, but eventually led me to joyful discovery.
How did I start? I prayed more. I asked the Lord to show me His plan for me.
In the beginning, I did not want to share these thoughts with anyone.
But I realised I could not figure this out on my own—I needed support. I spoke to my parish priest and he became my spiritual director.
Through regular meetings he helped me discover where the desires of my heart were. Most importantly, he encouraged me to trust the Lord.
The result? I am happy in my vocation as a religious sister! I’m based at St Columba’s in Edinburgh and work in the curia for the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh. I was asked by Archbishop Leo Cushley to become the director of religious vocations in 2019.
That means I have the privilege of helping young women discover what their vocation is, through prayer and gentle encouragement, just like my parish priest gave to me.
Begin with prayer. Then have a conversation with someone you trust for advice. God sends us His help; we need to look for it.
God calls women to follow him in different ways. It may be in the sacrament of marriage, in the single life or as a religious sister. Whatever the vocation, I help young women say ‘yes!’ to God.
The fact that there are few religious sisters in Scotland now can be a barrier: There aren’t as many examples with which young women can identify. It also shows how great the need is.
The Church here needs religious sisters desperately.
My tips? Begin with prayer. Then have a conversation with someone you trust for advice. God sends us His help; we need to look for it.
I’m starting a group in Edinburgh in January for young women to explore how they can discover God’s will more deeply. Our starting point is this: God has a plan of love and happiness for each person.
It is a unique plan for you and where you will find fulfilling happiness. The foundress of our religious order (The Spiritual Family The Work), Mother Julia Verhaeghe, often said: “God wants your happiness and we do too!”
Join other young Catholic women to chat and explore God’s will for you at St Columba’s Church, Upper Gray Street, Edinburgh, from 4-7pm on the following dates. February 26, March 26, April 30, May 28. Contact Sr Mirjam Hugens at religiousvocations@staned.org.uk
Sr Mirjam Hugens is the Director of Religious Vocations for the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh. Article first published in The Scottish Catholic.
Are you a young woman thinking about a vocation to the religious life?
Join other young Catholic women to explore and discuss God's will in five monthly get-togethers in Edinburgh.
It is a chance to pray, share and discuss in a relaxed environment, and refreshments will be served.
Led by Sr Mirjam Hugens FSO, the first one takes place on Sunday 29 January, 4-7pm at St Columba’s, 9 Upper Gray Street.
The series continues on the last Sunday of each month at the same time/venue: 26 Feb, 26 Mar, 30 Apr, 28 May.
▪️ To register/find out more: religiousvocations@staned.org.uk
Are you a young woman thinking about a vocation to the religious life?
Join other young Catholic women to explore and discuss God's will in five monthly get-togethers in Edinburgh.
It is a chance to pray, share and discuss in a relaxed environment, and refreshments will be served.
Led by Sr Mirjam Hugens FSO, the first one takes place on Sunday 29 January, 4-7pm at St Columba’s, 9 Upper Gray Street.
The series continues on the last Sunday of each month at the same time/venue: 26 Feb, 26 Mar, 30 Apr, 28 May.
▪️ To register/find out more: religiousvocations@staned.org.uk
Are you a young woman thinking about a vocation to the religious life?
Join other young Catholic women to explore and discuss God's will in five monthly get-togethers in Edinburgh.
It is a chance to pray, share and discuss in a relaxed environment, and refreshments will be served.
Led by Sr Mirjam Hugens FSO, the first one takes place on Sunday 29 January, 4-7pm at St Columba’s, 9 Upper Gray Street.
The series continues on the last Sunday of each month at the same time/venue: 26 Feb, 26 Mar, 30 Apr, 28 May.
▪️ To register/find out more: religiousvocations@staned.org.uk
Are you a young woman thinking about a vocation to the religious life?
Join other young Catholic women to explore and discuss God's will in five monthly get-togethers in Edinburgh.
It is a chance to pray, share and discuss in a relaxed environment, and refreshments will be served.
Led by Sr Mirjam Hugens FSO, the first one takes place on Sunday 29 January, 4-7pm at St Columba’s, 9 Upper Gray Street.
The series continues on the last Sunday of each month at the same time/venue: 26 Feb, 26 Mar, 30 Apr, 28 May.
▪️ To register/find out more: religiousvocations@staned.org.uk
Are you a young woman thinking about a vocation to the religious life?
Join other young Catholic women to explore and discuss God's will in five monthly get-togethers in Edinburgh.
It is a chance to pray, share and discuss in a relaxed environment, and refreshments will be served.
Led by Sr Mirjam Hugens FSO, the first one takes place on Sunday 29 January, 4-7pm at St Columba’s, 9 Upper Gray Street.
The series continues on the last Sunday of each month at the same time/venue: 26 Feb, 26 Mar, 30 Apr, 28 May.
▪️ To register/find out more: religiousvocations@staned.org.uk
Join us to pray that more young people will respond to God's call to the priesthood and religious life. St Columba’s, 7 Upper Gray Street, Edinburgh, Monday 5 December at 6.30pm (followed by tea and biscuits in the church hall).
Holy Mass was celebrated at St David's Parish in Dalkeith on Monday to launch Vocations Awareness week
It was celebrated by Fr Andrew Garden, parish priest of St David's and our Director of Vocations, who was joined by Fr Paul Lee, of St Agatha's in Methil.
Aso there were several seminarians from the Archdiocese who are preparing to return to Rome later this month to continue their studies at The Pontifical Scots College.
Every year, the Church in Scotland sets aside a week in which we are all asked to reflect on our vocation within the Christian family, a vocation which flows from our shared Baptismal vocation to grow in holiness and in service of others.
This year we are asked to reflect on the meaning and importance of the Eucharist.
We pray that we will always have sufficient priests to offer Holy Mass for and with us and parish communities rooted in the Eucharist and in the faith that Jesus is with us, really present, when we come together.
Sr Mirjam Hugens FSO, our Director of Religious Vocations, said: "I would like to encourage you to take some time this week to think and pray about your future.
"You might be busy studying or working right now, but where is the Lord leading you to? What plan does He have in store for you?
"Do you find it scary to think that the Lord might be calling you to follow Him more closely as a priest, or as a religious sister or brother? The founder of the order I am part of, Mother Julia Verhaeghe, said, ‘The Lord wants your happiness and we do too!”
"Feel free to contact me or Fr Andrew Garden if you like to chat about your plans, your questions or worries. Discerning what the Lord might be saying to you is not so easy, so we are here to help. It is worth exploring an we are here to help.
Interested in the priesthood? Contact Fr Andrew Garden on 0131 663 4286 or at vocations@staned.org.uk. For the religious life contact Sr Mirjam Hugens on 0131 623 8902 or at religiousvocations@staned.org.uk