The Motherhouse Road Trips are a great adventure for Sister Julie and me! We meet lots of new people and hear their stories about ministry, vocation, discernment, and even alpacas. The trips are not only physical journeys but also incredible spiritual journeys. 

At prayer the other day, a number of folks had asked for prayer as they were in transition and deciding on important next steps in their life. We wanted to post a few resources (including the famed Discernment Chart) to help out when you are discerning and deciding on the next steps in life.

A Discernment Chart is a graphical way to sketch out where we are with a decision we have to make. The chart can help in seeing where we are drawn, what direction seems most fulfilling, and what steps we need to take.

In the article What is discernment?, spiritual director Sister Mary McDevitt, IHM, led us through understanding discernment, consolations, and desolations.

Discerning, making decisions, figuring out what we are called to, and choosing between different directions in life can be a challenge. We invited Sister Mary McDevitt, IHM, a spiritual director and retreat guide, to provide an overview to what discernment is and some practical ways that we can engage in discernment.