Vocations Partners

The Youth In Theology and Ministry program of Saint John’s University School of Theology•Seminary has developed partnerships with the following religious communities and dioceses to promote vocations. Our vocation partners are providing youth scholarships to help sustain YTM and are also providing resources to help youth and young adults discern their vocations. We are most grateful and thankful for this assistance. Please contact these YTM vocation partners for more information about vocational discernment. Check out their websites for more information.

St. Paul's Monastery

S. Mary Fujan, OSB
Vocation Director
St. Paul's Monastery
2675 Larpenteur Ave. E.
St. Paul, MN 55109
651-288-3258
651-777-4442, Fax
srmarie@stpaulmonastery.com
Web: www.osb.org/spm

If you yearn for a life of prayer, then St. Paul's Monastery is for you.

We are a community of 64 Sisters who seek God together. We celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours three times a day, attend daily Eucharist at the monastery, and we take time for personal prayer and Lectio.

Through the Gospel and the Rule of St. Benedict, we respond through ministries of prayer, hospitality, and the present needs of the Church. Our outreach is to women and children in need. We staff a retreat center for women and men of all faiths.

We work in education, spirituality, pastoral care, health, and child care. We welcome women who are seeking a balanced life of prayer, work and leisure. You are welcome to Come and See at the monastery.

Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, MN

S. Grace Skwira, OSF
Vocation Director
Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, MN
116 8th Avenue SE
Little Falls, MN 56345-3597
320-547-0013
gskwira@fslf.org
Web: www.fslf.org

Our Franciscan roots go back to Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi who lived in the 12th century. They, because of their love for Christ Jesus, gave their money and possessions to the poor and witnessed to a life of energy, spirit and peace. We, the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, MN, are a community of women who dedicate ourselves to a life of prayer and service to others. In the spirit of Saint Francis, we follow the Gospel of Jesus as our highest rule. We are part of the world-wide network of Franciscans, making efforts to be a Gospel presence among all cultures and races.

School Sisters of Notre Dame

S. Julie Brandt, SSND
Vocation Director
School Sisters of Notre Dame
170 Good Counsel Drive
Mankato, MN 56001-3138
507-389-4296
jbrandt@ssndmankato.org
Web: www.ssndmankato.org

Over 150 years ago, five School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) arrived in America from Bavaria, Germany. Answering the call of a young and growing nation, the sisters came to teach the children of German immigrants.

Under the leadership of Mother Theresa Gerhardinger and Mother Caroline Friess, the young congregation flourished and grew. Sisters have continued to acknowledge and identify urgent needs of the times, responding to those needs in classrooms, parishes, dioceses, hospitals, homeless shelters, and developing countries.

The School Sisters of Notre Dame are members of an international congregation made up of over 4,000 vowed women within the Catholic Church. Today, they are educating in the broadest sense. Throughout the world our sisters help people come to a deeper understanding of themselves, their abilities, and God’s unconditional love for them. We commit ourselves to promote justice and to educate with the conviction that the world can be changed through the transformation of persons.

SSND from the Mankato Province minister primarily in the upper Midwest, Africa and Latin America.

The Jesuits, Wisconsin Province

Fr. Tom Lawler, SJ
Vocations Director
Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus
3400 W Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53208
800-537-3736, ext. 231 or
414-937-6949, ext. 231
Vocations@jesuitswisprov.org
Web: www.jesuitswisprov.org

As members of the Society of Jesus, Jesuits endeavor to help people grow more deeply in love with Jesus Christ, moving them to serve others. Emphasizing education and justice ministries, we work with our lay colleagues to build a more just and humane world, especially for the poor and the marginalized. There are more than 300 Wisconsin Province Jesuits working in over 23 states and numerous foreign countries. We offer many opportunities throughout the year for men to explore life as a religious or priest, and we invite you to contact us to learn more.

Crosier Fathers and Brothers Province

Fr. Jude Verley, OSC
Vocation Team
Crosier Fathers and Brothers Province
PO Box 500
Onamia, MN 56359
320-532-5241
judeosc@yahoo.com
Web: www.crosier.org

The Crosier’s invite Catholic, single men 18-35 discerning God’s call to consider religious life, and live in community at our discernment house, Augustine Commons in St. Paul MN!

While we go by the name, Crosier, our official name is Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross. As canons regular, we have three key elements that define our religious life: 1) living in community; 2) praying the liturgy of the Church together, and 3) serving the needs of the Church through our ministry. We have served the Church since 1210 AD. A distinct feature of our Order is our emphasis on community life and incorporating Christian community values in our various ministries. Our value of community life is expressed in our enthusiasm and team approach to ministry. It is also expressed in our common prayer and love for the liturgy of the Church.

There are approximately 85 Crosier brothers and priests in the USA and 500 world–wide. Our numbers are growing internationally and nationally! Currently we have three communities located in Minnesota, and Arizona and our discernment house – for men considering religious life in St. Paul, MN. Our international communities are in Indonesia, Brazil the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa, and across Europe.

One of the best ways to know if you are called to Crosier life in particular is to experience us and our ministry first hand. We offer awesome discernment weekends every first Friday of the month. Please consider a visit to our national headquarters and Priory in St. Paul. Give us a call at 1-800-407-5875.

Thank you for your interest in the Crosiers. May the Holy Spirit guide your heart and mind to know God’s will.
Check out our web site at: www.crosier.org

Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers

Fr. Joe Bruener, MM
Vocation Ministries
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
PO Box 305
Maryknoll, NY 10545-0305
Telephone: 914-941-7590, Ext. 2416
Fax: 914-944-3615
Jbruener@maryknoll.org

Webs:

Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
Maryknoll Sisters
Maryknoll Lay Missioners
Maryknoll China Service Project

Maryknoll was established in 1911 as the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America by the Bishops of the United States. Today there are over 550 Maryknoll priests and Brothers serving in countries around the world, principally in Africa, Asia and Latin America. As missioners, we are touched by the triumph of the human spirit and enriched by encountering people's faith experience. We join with them announcing the healing, reconciling and liberating Jesus.

National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) Region VIII

S. Kathleen Atkinson, OSB
Region VIII Co-Chair
National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) Region VIII
7520 University Drive
Bismarck, ND 58504
701-255-1520
vocations@annunciationmonastery.org

The National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) is an organization of men and women committed to the fostering and discernment of vocations within the context of the Catholic Church. It gives emphasis to the vision and concerns related to shaping religious life within the United States. There are fourteen regions in the national organization. Region VIII consists of the states of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

For more information, visit the NRVC Region VIII website.

Franciscan Friars Third Order Regular

Fr. Patrick Foley, TOR
Vocation Director
Franciscan Friars Third Order Regular
3811 Emerson Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55412-2038
1-800-220-0867
frpattor@hotmail.com
Web: www.franciscanfriarstor.com

The Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular have served the Church in the United States since 1925. Our roots began in a lay-movement inspired by St. Francis’ zeal for gospel living. In this regard, our Province continues to be committed to the development and animation of the spiritual lives and mission of all the baptized. Our Province is distinctive in its small, family-like spirit. Our friars are dedicated to the Franciscan ideals of prayer, fraternity, and constant conversion of life. We do this in the context of serving others as parish priests, retreat directors, educators, chaplains, campus ministers and pastoral ministers. The strength of our formation program is in its flexible response to each person’s diversity. The strength of our Province is our support and encouragement of each friar’s unique gifts. In 2003, for example, a consortium of friars-for-the-arts was formed to support and encourage the creative talents of our friars. Our priest and brother friars serve in Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Virginia, Florida, and Minnesota. A one-year, volunteer associate program is also now available in Florida for college graduates, 22-30 years old.

Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

S. Jill Underdahl, CSJ
Jennifer Tacheny
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
1884 Randolph Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105-1700
651-699-2873
651-690-7039, Fax
junderdahl@csjstpaul.org or
jtacheny@csjstpaul.org
Web: www.csjstpaul.org

Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet are filled with love of God—a love for all people and all life. We are a people who say, "We can!" Through prayer, advocacy, education, health care, and a variety of other ways—we make a difference in the world.

Celeste’s Dream: Spirituality for Young Adults nourishes Spirit and inspires Social Action. We are a ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Rooted in the Catholic, Christian faith, we welcome people from all spiritual traditions.

We offer young adults 20-35 years old an opportunity to integrate their education, values, spirituality, and work.

We also offer programs for high school and college students.
Some programs welcome intergenerational participation.

Go to www.csjstpaul.org and learn more about:
Girls' Spirit! Girls' Power! A spirituality series to affirm and bless young women, in the 10th-12th grades, on the journey to becoming...

POWER Summit: Claim your power. Impact the world. June 19-23, 2006, for students entering 10th Grade through First Year of College

2006 POWER (Peace, Organizing, World, Environment, Reflection) Summit
Go to www.goodgroundpress.org and learn more about SPIRIT, a series of weekly magazines that inspire teens to talk about their faith, challenge their commitments, and develop closer relationships with God.

Saint John's Abbey

Br. Paul Vincent Niebauer, OSB
Vocation Director
Saint John's Abbey
Collegeville, MN 56321-2015
320-363-2548
320-363-2504, Fax
Vocations@osb.org
Web: www.saintjohnsabbey.org

The Benedictine monks commit themselves for life to three vows: stability in community, conversion through a monastic way of life, and obedience. Monastic stability means that a monk belongs to Saint John's Abbey. He casts his lot with this particular group of brothers for his spiritual and material needs; he shares in the community's work and joins his future to that of the monastery. The vow of conversion embraces the essential aspects of monastic Christianity: dedication to prayer, celibacy, sharing of material goods in community, a life of simplicity. Benedictine obedience is willingness to live according to the guidance of the Rule of Benedict, steady listening to the teaching of the abbot and attentiveness to one's brothers in community.

Since 1856 the monks of Saint John's have served one another and the local, national, and worldwide Catholic Church by our prayer and by our work of manual labor and pastoral, educational, and publishing ministries.

Saint Benedict's Monastery

S. Mary Catherine Holicky, OSB,
Vocation Director
Saint Benedict's Monastery
104 Chapel Lane
St. Joseph, MN 56374-0220
320-363-7100
mholicky@csbsju.edu
Web: www.sbm.osb.org

Women have been following the Rule of Benedict since the sixth century. In that Rule, Benedict of Nursia, Italy (480-547 A.D.), invited his followers to seek God in a communal way of life, characterized by the balanced interplay of prayer and work. Through their presence and service to the people of God, Benedictine women have been influencing the Church and society for fifteen centuries.

Our history dates back to 1852 when Mother Benedicta Riepp and two other sisters made their way from Eichstatt Germany to the colonial town of St. Mary’s, Pennsylvania. Known for her strong faith and independent spirit, young Mother Benedicta went on to establish a small Benedictine community of six women in St. Cloud, Minnesota, in 1857. In 1863, the sisters settled in the monastery’s current location of St. Joseph, MN. Today our membership numbers 321.

We the Sisters of Saint Benedict have served in central Minnesota, in places throughout the country, and abroad for over 145 years. We are administrators, artisans, educators, gardeners, health care professionals, homemakers, mentors and spiritual guides, pastoral ministers, receptionists, scholars and writers. Inspired by the faith and courage of countless Benedictine women who have gone before us, we seek to enter the 21st century with vision and vitality.

Visitation Sisters of Minneapolis

S. Katherine Mullin, VHM
Vocation Director
Visitation Sisters of Minneapolis
1527 Fremont Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55411
612-529-8215
mullinkf@aol.com
Web: www.visitationmonastery.org/minneapolis

The first monastery of the Visitation was founded in 1610 in Annecy, France, by St. Jane de Chantal and St. Francis de Sales. The Order has expanded to be worldwide and had its early beginnings in the United States in 1799.

In 1989, several American Visitation communities provided for the foundation of the Visitation of Minneapolis as a way of expressing the Sisters' contemplative vocation in a new way:

A commitment to love, prayer and be among those who are often marginalized in society. The monastery began with four founding sisters and has doubled in size. We are presently in the inner city to "Live Jesus" by being part of this multi-cultural community - to share prayer, hope and hospitality. We and our friends in the neighborhood are drawn into a circle of faith that brings us all to a clearer vision of the face of God.

Franciscan Poor Clare Nuns

S. Elizabeth Lynn, OSC
Formation Director
Franciscan Poor Clare Nuns
Saint Clare's Monastery
8650 Russell Avenue South
Bloomington, MN 55431-1998
952-881-4766
bethlynn1@juno.com
Web: www.poorclare.org/minneapolis

The Sisters of St. Clare in Bloomington, Minnesota are the local face of the world wide Franciscan family. We live the Franciscan form of Gospel life begun by Clare and Francis of Assisi in the 13th century. The Franciscan life here is as fresh and challenging today as it was for our early friars and sisters. St. Clare encourages us to name our treasure: to stop scurrying about long enough to look within our hearts to see what really matters; to find the bedrock of a life lived in dependence on God; to discover that we are deeply loved. In God’s love is our peace. St. Clare teaches us to live at peace and share that peace with those around us. She calls us to live in gratitude because all life is a gift and, in so doing, we find the way to true joy.

Archdiocese of Saint Paul/Minneapolis

Fr. Tom Wilson
Director of Vocations Office
Archdiocese of Saint Paul/Minneapolis
2260 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105-1094
651-962-6890
vocations@archspm.org
www.archspm.org

The diocese was established by the Vatican in 1850 (originally Minnesota and the Dakotas), and elevated to archdiocese 38 years later. Now comprising a 12 county area, the Archdiocese has 222 parishes and is home to over 800,000 Catholics (roughly 25% of the population). During the past ten years, 100,000 new members have joined the Archdiocesan Catholic family. Approximately 12,000 infants and 300 adults are baptized annually in Archdiocesan parishes.

Mass is celebrated in eight different languages each Sunday within Archdiocesan parishes. Within the area are six Catholic nursing homes, two Catholic hospitals, ten retreat centers, and six monastic communities. Currently, 295 priests, 1,400 religious sisters, brothers, deacons, and thousands of lay personnel and volunteers serve in the parishes and in many other ministries Youth Ministry in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis provides a framework for Catholic youth and their adult leaders. The framework is connected very closely within the structure of the Renewing the Vision document as promoted by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops. The goals of this youth ministry are as follows: 1) To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today; 2) To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the Catholic faith community; and 3) To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person. These goals are written as stated in the Renewing the Vision: A Framework for Catholic Youth Ministry. United States Catholic Conference, 1997

Mother of God Monastery

S. Adrienne Kaufmann, OSB
Vocation Team
110 28th Avenue SE, #214
Watertown, SD 57201
605-886-4181, Ext. 4
vocations@dailypost.com
www.watertownbenedictines.org

We are 65 Benedictine women, a monastic community with rural roots and a pioneering vision. Open to the Spirit, we empower one another to witness our monastic values through our diversity of gifts and ministries.

We express our mission to the church and world through a balanced life of prayer, work, study and leisure. With listening hearts, we hear God speaking through ourselves and our world. Our search for God leads us to responsive service to our Sisters and others through prayer, hospitality, education, holistic caring, and reverent stewardship of creation.

We believe our world needs women religious who are focused on seeking God within community and committed to serving God's people. We invite women who desire to joyfully seek God in community to join us in living out our mission.

Presentation Sisters - Fargo

S. Shawna Foley, PBVM
Vocation Director
1101 32nd Ave S.
Fargo, ND 58103
701-235-8246
srshawna@hotmail.com

Presentation Sisters - Aberdeen

S. Phyllis Gill
Vocation Director
1500 N 2nd St
Aberdeen, SD 57401-1238
605-229-8414
vocoff@presentationsisters.org

Youth in Theology and Ministry Program
Saint John's School of Theology·Seminary
Box 7288, Collegeville, Minnesota 56321

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