"The decision to commit oneself..."

"...to the religious life, as with all vocations, must be the result of much prayer, reflection, and guidance. Often as men and women consider a religious vocation they are faced with difficult choices and sacrifices. However, Our Lord Himself speaks of this call to sacrifice and conversion:

"'The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.' (Matthew 13:44-46)

"Every religious house, even those that form part of a larger Order or Congregation, has its own unique personality and culture. What makes the Monastery of Saint Jude special?

• "Our smaller community offers a strong family spirit of loyalty, simplicity and love.
  Because we were founded as an interracial community we are accustomed to thinking of all as possessing equal dignity. Each candidate is evaluated and accepted based on her own gifts and merits as a child of God.
• "Our monastery offers an atmosphere of serenity and order (most of the time anyway).
• "Our goal has always been to provide an example of simple Christian love and devotion, to offer Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the recitation of the Rosary, and to pray in a special way for priests and for the conversion of the world.
• "The Blessed Sacrament abiding with us is like the hub of a wheel with spokes reaching out across the South to touch the hearts of those who do not know Him fully yet. Because He is here, we have come. Because we are here, He remains."

from the vocations website of the Monastery of St. Jude
(Dominican sisters) Alabama