By Sarah Harbaugh, candidate with the Adorers of the Blood of Christ
As I explained in my blog post last month, my attending a Theology on Tap proved to be a pivotal moment in my journey of discerning a religious vocation. I had gone with the hope of meeting other young adults. But no one else showed up and the presenter spoke about vocations. Suddenly, that little voice inside that I had been trying to squelch demanded to be heard.
I finally told myself I would discern whether I had a religious vocation, and good things started happening. I reconnected with friends, who encouraged me. I went from substitute teaching in a small farming community to teaching second-graders full time in Wichita.
Things didn’t develop overnight of course. At first, I couldn’t sleep – too anxious and wondering what people would say to me. To my surprise, all their reactions were positive. It seemed that everyone but me knew I should pursue religious life.
My saying yes to discern happened just as I was to be on a retreat team for post-high school Teens (who) Encounter Christ. The priest that weekend happened to be vocation director for the diocese and we spoke about what steps I needed to take. He helped me find a spiritual director to guide me as I explored this possibility.
I began looking at different communities of religious women, participating in a “nun run” that involved visiting the Poor Clares, Adorers of the Blood of Christ, School Sisters of Notre Dame, and the Daughters of St. Paul in one day.
On my own, I looked at the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. The more I prayed and talked to people, though, the more I felt called to the Adorers. People kept telling me “you will just know” when the right community comes along, and I found that annoying.
I wanted a more concrete answer than that. But it is true enough. After meeting with Adorers Vocation Director Lori Benge, I knew I wanted to learn more about the Adorers and whether I had a future with them. Something just felt right.
My strong desire to do good in the world drives me to religious life.
I want to be a positive person in a world full of negative things.