A:  A vocation to religious life is a gift from God that cannot be produced by man. It is something that can either be fostered or ignored. For a good working definition of vocation and some basic answers, see an explanation by the revered Fr. John A. Hardon.

A:  If our children are called to religious life, it is the choice of God, not of the parents. A vocation is a gift and parents have a duty to foster this gift. As parents, we have no choice in the matter other than to reject the gift or to foster it and the Church is very clear that it is our duty as parents to foster vocations in our children. See the catechism for more on this duty of parents. (Paragraphs 1656, 2226. and 2232.

A:Orders differ in something called "charism". Charism is defined as a unique gift or power from God given to that order's founder. Just one example is the Passionist charism defined very eloquently here by an Australian Passionist. Another example can be found on the website of the Poor Clares who are "on a mountain-top in the heart of the Arizonan desert." Consider also the so-called "pink nuns" of Missouri and their call to Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and dedication to the Holy Spirit! Charism is a specific ability given by the divine to bring the Gospel to all the world. It is performed through such means as service to others, exhortation, spiritual leadership, works of mercy and more.

A: It is unfortunately true that many parents do try to stand in the way of their child's call to religious life. If this is happening to you then your parents might be failing in their duty to you and to God to foster the gift that He has so generously given to you. You may see this as a test of the strength of your conviction and the depth of your commitment to God. Devote much time to prayer as you discern God's will for you and practice patience and humility with your parents as they struggle with their fears and frustrations even if they are horribly misguided. Do not be afraid to talk to them in a respectful tone about their misgivings and consider any objections they may have if they believe you to be unsuitable for valid reasons. Talk to your priest or spiritual director about the problem. Here are some stories which may help you to understand how to deal with parental or other familial objections: Read how A Loving Sister Explains Her Call to Contemplative Passionist Life to Her Brother, how Mother Catherine Marie experienced pressure from her friends, and also learn how Sr. Mary Ruth came from an anti-Catholic background with no family support to her answer to God's call to Catholicism and to religious life. (Note: Her particular story is the second one listed on the page.)

A:  Every diocese has a vocations office. Many of them are chock full of information. Visit the page Your Vocations Office to find the office in your diocese.  (Note: A new browser window will open when you click the link.) 

A:  See this informative FAQ page on religious vocations at Vocations.com. Visit the page Your Vocations Office (a new browser window will open) to browse the various diocesan vocations offices around the country. You may also consider emailing the vocations directors of various orders. Parents may find the Tips for Parents page helpful. If your question is related to technical issues with the site, you may send an email to the webmaster.