God's Plans 4 You

"For I know well the plans I have down the road for you,

says the Lord, plans to take care of you, not to abandon you,

and plans to give you a future full of hope."  Jer. 29:11

Do you ever ask yourself:

Where am I going?  Where is God leading me?

What exactly are God's plans for my future?

How will I know what do do for the rest of my life?  

To discover God's plan, we must spend time in discernment.

In other words, we need to take some quiet time, reflect on our gifts and

our passions, see where we are needed in this world, and pray over it.

Discernment can help us find where God is calling us.

 

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Here are a few discernment opportunities

in your area for young adults like you.

  

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The Called Series

Discernment Evenings for Young Adults

Reserve one evening each month to listen to God's call.

Each evening event is from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the

Cenacle Retreat Center, 513 W. Fullerton Pkwy., Chicago

Monday, December 1, 2008 - 7:30 p.m.

Called by Baptism with Mrs. Claire Noonan

(followed by response and discussion time)

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 - 7:30 p.m.

Called to be the Body of Christ with Fr. Tom McCarthy, OSA

(followed by an experience of prayer)

Monday, February 2, 2009 - 7:30 p.m.

Called to Conversion with Fr. Ed Shea, OFM

(followed by response and discussion time)

Tuesday, March 3, 2009 - 7:30 p.m.

Called to Prayer with Fr. Robin Ryan, CP

(followed by an experience of prayer)

Monday, April 6, 2009 - 7:30 p.m.

Called to Service with Sr. Meg Guider, OSF

(followed by response and discussion time)

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - 7:30 p.m.

Called to Lifelong Discernment with members

of the Chicago Area Vocations Association

(followed by an experience of prayer)

All evenings are free, but please RSVP that you will be there.

RSVP to Sr. Elyse Ramirez, OP, at (312) 751-5240 or e-mail

(with the subject line "registration") to cava@archchicago.org.

These evenings sponsored by the Chicago Area Vocations Association.

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Catholics on Call: Direction for Your Life

Summer Young Adult Discernment Conferences

Catholics on Call is a program for young adult men and women who

are seeking insight into life and wondering what God has to say.

If you are considering a life of service in the church (as a lay minister,

religious sister or brother, priest, missionary, pastoral associate, etc.),

apply to attend a Catholics on Call Young Adult Conference.

NOTE: These conferences are FREE, but application is required.

Upcoming 2009 Summer Conferences for Young Adults

To apply, log onto www.catholicsoncall.org. Space is limited.

Thursday, June 4, to Sunday, June 7, 2009

Catholic Theological Union - Chicago, Illinois

Sunday, August 9, to Friday, August 14, 2009

Catholic Theological Union - Chicago, Illinois

For more details, call (773) 371-5431 or email catholicsoncall@ctu.edu.

Catholics on Call is sponsored by Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

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Spiritual Direction Opportunities

walking with another on our journey

Spiritual Direction (also known as "Spiritual Companioning") is a practice

where one person seeks out another to share his or her lived experience,

and in the process, finds direction for their life. 

Trained spiritual directors and companions support you in talking about

your life, prayer, and relationship with God; listening to your heart's

desires and the voice of God in your life experiences; finding answers

within to the deep questions you may ask; and discerning direction

for your life that is in harmony with God's dream for you. 

(Spiritual Direction is not counseling, rather a process to integrate your

relationship with God into your daily life and your plans for the future)

If you would like more information on finding a Spiritual Director:

If you are looking for a companion in the Diocese of Joliet, contact the Diocesan

Office of Ministry Formation at (815) 834-4001 or minform@dioceseofjoliet.org.

If you are looking for a spiritual director who works with young adults

that are in their 20s and 30s, contact Charis Young Adult Ministries in

Chicago at (773) 508-3237 or spiritualdirection@charisministries.org.

If you are looking for a spiritual director in the DuPage County area, contact

Mayslake Ministries at (630) 323-1620 to set up an introductory meeting.

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Discernment Resources

	Gettng a Life: How to Find Your True Vocation (by Renee M. LaReau, Orbis Books, 2003) looks at our calling in work and in love, and what God might be asking us to do with our life. Renee LaReau is a young adult who chronicles her own journey to discovering her calling, and challeges readers to look at their lives and to do the same discernment.

More discernment resources will be added soon.

Thank you for your patience.

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For more questions or concerns about discerning God's plans

for your life, feel free to contact Paul Jarzembowski in the Young Adult

Ministry office of the Diocese of Joliet by calling (815) 834-4047

or by emailing him at pjarzembowski@dioceseofjoliet.org.

Click here to return to the Young Adult Ministry main page.