“Whom Shall I Send? Here I am Lord, send me!” – Isaiah 6:8

I love this “call and response” verse from Isaiah. It is the question and answer at the root of every vocation call (religious or lay) when God is truly part of the discernment process. God is still calling and inviting women and men to consider religious life, but the invitation may go unnoticed in the busyness and noise of today’s society. However, Pope Francis has helped to energize people’s interest in viewing religious life as a viable option for their future. Francis has encouraged young people to pray about God’s call for their life. The Church is, indeed, finding that there are young people responding with a willingness to be “open and sent” in answer to God’s invitation. Continue reading →