You might be thinking that only priests, Brothers, and Sisters have a “real” vocation. However, every baptized person has a specific calling, a vocation to a committed relationship that centers your life in God. That call can be lived through the vocation of marriage, through the vocation of a single person living a life of service, or through the vocation of a woman religious, a religious brother, or a priest.

Are you seeing yourself somewhere in this picture?

God’s Desire, Your Deep Joy

What God desires for us first and foremost is your happiness, the fulfillment of who you truly and uniquely are as God created you. The path of prayer and discernment helps us listen for the particular way of life the Holy Spirit is inviting us into.

Some people respond to this call early in life and others discover their authentic calling later. Either way, living your call as fully as possible leads to the deep joy of coming home to yourself.

Discernment as Relationship

The vocation you pursue and embrace becomes your primary commitment, your primary relationship, and your primary pathway to God. In a special way, the vocation to religious life is a God-quest out of which all resulting commitments flow.

Discernment is not about having everything figured out. It is about paying attention, to God, to your desire, to the needs of the world, and to the love that keeps calling you forward.

Religious Life With the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ

One form of religious life is the ministerial life of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ. Our lives, centered in God, are rooted in prayer and shaped by our vowed commitment and the bonds of community.

As we embrace the adventure of religious life, we express love through service, partnering with others to respond to the needs of the whole community of life. In the spirit of Catholic Social Teaching, our call is lived with a commitment to human dignity, the common good, solidarity, care for creation, and justice for those most impacted by poverty and exclusion.

We offer an integrated life of prayer, ministry, and community, expressed through our charism, our vision, and the sharing of our gifts to help bring about the reign of God in our time.

Connect With Us

While we are not currently scheduling formal Come and See events, we deeply value connection and conversation. If you are curious, discerning, or simply seeking more information, we welcome you to reach out.

Discernment happens in relationship, and your questions are a holy place to begin.

Contact the Vocation Team

Sr. Connie Bach, PHJC
cbach@poorhandmaids.org

Sr. Joetta Huelsmann, PHJC
vocations@poorhandmaids.org  

Sr. Margaret Anne, PHJC
vocations@poorhandmaids.org 

What to Expect When You Reach Out

• A warm, no-pressure response
• Space to share your story and questions
• Next steps shaped to your pace, including conversation, prayerful reflection, and optional visits when available

Take the Next Step

Email the Vocation Team

✉️ vocations@poorhandmaids.org 
A simple way to begin, start the conversation.

Ask a Question

💬 communications@poorhandmaids.org 
No pressure, just curiosity.

Begin Discernment

🙏🏽 vocations@poorhandmaids.org
Prayer, reflection, and next steps at your pace.

Your message is confidential and will be received by our vocation team.