Spiritual Discernment In The Initial Formation Programme Of Evangelizing Sisters Of Mary

Abstract

My topic is based on spiritual discernment as l see it being applied to the initial formation programme of the Evangelizing Sisters of Mary. (ESM)., I have been prompted to do this topic from reflecting on my personal experience of religious missionary vocation starting in my family, through aspirancy, postulancy, novitiate and early years of my religious life. The purpose of my research is to look at the contribution spiritual discernment could make to our formation programme. Part of this will include some comments and observation on the discernment of vocation from our Sisters To assist me in the collection of some ideas and comments regarding discernment of vocation, I sent some of our Sisters a simple questionnaire and interviewed about twenty Evangelizing Sisters of Mary, to find out how they discerned their vocation in each stage, the difficulties they encountered and how free they were, when they discerned their vocation. I also interviewed some of the members of the Apostles of Jesus since we share the same Charism. I sent questionnaires to the mistresses of each of the initial Stages of Formation in the countries where our formation houses are based; Jinja-Uganda, Moshi-Tanzania, Nakuru- Roneai and Ongata Rongai-Kenya The work is divided into four chapters starting with the general introduction. Chapter one handles the general information of ESM and the role they play in the church. Chapter two gives the church's mind on formation in relation to the ESM, „— Chapter three looks at the spiritual discernment and it could be used in the initial formation of the ESM. Chapter four brings this work to its end with recommendations and conclusion The Appendix presents questionnaires, some guidelines on discernment and some photos to elaborate my work. The work will serve as an informative undertaking aimed at clarifying the ESM a discernment process for our initial formation that will help candidates and sisters discern their vocation more clearly.