​2025 FIAT Retreat Day: Young women exploring discernment of God’s Will

This fall, ten young women accepted the invitation from the Religious and Consecrated Sisters of the Diocese of Calgary to deepen their understanding of how to discern the Will of God in their lives. The day offered an opportunity to meet others on a similar journey and to encounter Sisters from various communities who have dedicated their lives to following Jesus and serving His Church. Each participant began by sharing a grace she had received, helping everyone get to know one another a little better.

Newly ordained Fr. Peter An offered an engaging presentation on discernment, drawing from his own journey to the priesthood. His reflections resonated deeply: “I got so much direction from his presentation,” said one participant. Another shared, “It helped me know the importance of knowing who you are and of God’s calling.”

Prayer was central throughout the day. We began the retreat with the morning Mass with the parish. During the time of Adoration, passages of Scripture were provided for reflection, so the participants were able to engage deeply with the Lord. One reflected, “A benefit I received was being close, very close to Jesus,” while another added, “I got the right Scripture to answer my question.”

Lunch and refreshment breaks, sponsored by the Assembly of Women Religious and a generous donor, were filled with conversation and informal questions over pizza and snacks.

In the afternoon, the Sisters led sessions exploring the rich traditions of discernment and prayer within their spiritual families. They also shared about their own communities, emphasizing the importance of spiritual direction. Participants described the sessions as enlightening: “So helpful, really made me understand how to go about my discernment journey,” said one. “I enjoyed hearing about each Order’s methods of discernment,” shared another.

The retreat concluded with the Liturgy of the Hours, prayed in choir with the Sisters. For many, it was their first experience of the Church’s official prayer. One participant called it “the most impactful part of the day,” while another shared, “There was a spark stirring and you gave it a space to grow.”

It was a joy-filled day of prayer, learning, and encounter. Please keep these young women in your prayers as they continue to discern the Will of God for their lives, and pray for the Sisters of our Diocese and for more vocations to Religious and Consecrated life in service of our local Church.

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Written by Sr. Dianne Turner, OSE. Photos courtesy of ​Sr. Mary Fernanda of the Providence Sisters.