Is God Calling You? How to Discern Religious Life

About this episode

Sister M. Karolyn Nunes, FSGM, vocations director for the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George — known as the Alton Franciscans — joins Bo Bonner to talk about discernment. Sister Karolyn explains that discernment is a consequence of relationship: the more we lean into friendship with Jesus, the more we learn what his voice sounds like, so that saying yes to the big decisions comes with ease.She shares practical habits anyone can start today: beginning each morning by asking, "Jesus, what are we going to do today?"; ending the day by praying through "where was it me, and where was it we?"; and a daily exercise she gives women visiting her community — noticing one thing seen, heard, and tasted or smelled in the last 24 hours that still has your attention. Pointing to the noise of modern life, and to young NET Ministries missionaries she recently watched thrive during two weeks without phones, she encourages listeners to build real silence into their days.Sister Karolyn also tells her own vocation story: the "explosion of joy" she felt walking into the convent for the first time, her time at Franciscan University of Steubenville, her advice to "walk through the doors that open and don't shake door handles that aren't opening," and entering the community 21 years ago this week "96.3 percent sure" — until the Lord closed the door behind her.Upcoming retreats:Veni Si Amas Discernment Retreat — September 25–27, 2026, the weekend right after Venerable Fulton Sheen's beatification in St. Louis. Hosted by the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George in Alton, Illinois, for single Catholic women ages 18–30. With a major renovation underway at the provincial house, retreatants will still visit the motherhouse but stay at an alternate location. Register at AltonFranciscans.org.Love's Reply — a November discernment weekend at Prairie Star Ranch in Williamsburg, Kansas, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Built from the monthly discernment groups Sister Karolyn has led in St. Louis for nine years, it brings together sisters from ten religious communities to help women explore how God has shaped their hearts to love. It's not a recruitment weekend — it's tools for discernment.Heard on the Catholic Morning Show, weekdays at 7 a.m. Central on Iowa Catholic Radio. More at IowaCatholicRadio.com.#Discernment #ReligiousLife #Vocations #CatholicSisters #FranciscanSisters #CatholicWomen #DiscernmentRetreat #CatholicPodcast Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm. ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show. 🎧 LISTEN LIVE Catch The Catholic Morning Show live, weekday mornings on Iowa Catholic Radio. Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKSYou can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website.If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio:Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & DevotionsThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.