Becoming a Good Samaritan

Becoming a Good Samaritan Sister

The media tell us we can have it all. Why, then, would a woman decide to forego career and family? Why would she choose a simple life-style and ignore an ever escalating consumerist trend? In a sex-saturated world, why would she choose to be celibate?

The Sisters of the Good Samaritan are women who have made such choices. They are ordinary women, longing for the ‘more’ in life, longing to bring about God’s dream for God’s people – fullness of life for all.

A Good Samaritan Sister – who is she?

“You have made us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” These words ring true today. A Good Samaritan Sister is a woman, an ordinary woman, who seeks God who is the maker, keeper and love of all that exists.

She knows that her way of seeking God, the best way for her to love, is through a celibate commitment to Jesus Christ. Jesus, rather than any other person, becomes the very centre of her life.

As a religious woman she publicly professes to live Jesus’ Gospel agenda fully and radically. She lives out her search for God with others in community, by her commitment to prayer, and by fulfilling the command of the Gospel parable to go and be neighbour.

Prayer is central to her life

With her community she prays the Prayer of the Church (the Liturgy of the Hours) morning and evening. Each day she takes time to ponder the Word of God in the scriptures, through the ancient practice of Lectio Divina.

Mary is her model

A Good Samaritan Sister takes as her model, Mary of Nazareth, the courageous disciple and contemplative woman of faith.

How you become a Good Samaritan Sister

God’s dream is fullness of life for all – for all the people on planet earth. There are many ways, many paths in working with God to help fulfil this dream. One way is by becoming a Sister of the Good Samaritan. This path, this call, is not for all, but it may be for you.

If you are between the age of 21 and 35, if you have a deep desire to seek God and if you wish to be a good neighbour to those in need, you may be interested in becoming a Good Samaritan Sister. We are happy to journey with you in helping you discern your future.

There are many stages on the journey to become a perpetually professed Good Samaritan Sister and it is a journey that takes many years. The aim of each stage of Inquiry, Pre-Novitiate, Novitiate and Temporary Profession is to discern if there is a good ‘fit’ between your gifts and values and those of the Good Samaritan congregation.

Each stage of this journey aims to deepen your relationship with God and your commitment to follow God in the Good Samaritan way of life.

Is this path for you?

You may like to pray the following prayer to help you decide if this may be the way of life for you.

Loving Jesus,

you call many people to follow you
to bring about a compassionate and just world.
Help me to listen with the ear of my heart.
Help me discern how I can be my best self.
Be close to me as I search out the life-giving way for me.
Give me your grace to walk the path that draws me closer to you.
Show me the way for me to be a good neighbour to those in need.
Give me the courage to follow you with joy and with an open heart.

Amen.

Would you like to know more?

For further information please contact Sister Rita Fitt: ritafitt@hotkey.net.au