www.vocation.com - My parents don't want me to join the convent this year

	Laura asks: Hi Father, My name is Laura, and I am 18 years old, about to begin my second semester of college. I have been thinking about the religious life for almost a year and a half, and now I am almost sure (but not completely) that God is calling me to be a nun. I even know the community I want to enter. Anyway, Ive told my parents about three times now, and they are very upset about it. They say they really want me to finish college first, but they also hint to me that they dont want me to be a nun at all. I dont want to disappoint them, but I dont want to disappoint God more. Anyway, over the summer I like to do volunteer work with this community. My parents say I have two choices: get a job and not help the Sisters at all, or if I want to help them, I am just going to have to live with them and enter in September, which they will not come see or even visit me during the postulancy. I dont know what to do! I am thinking of entering in September, but Im not sure if God wants me to enter this year or to wait. Can you help me? Thank you so much, and God bless!
	Dear Laura, You know now where your parents stand, and that apparently part of their reason for not wanting you to enter now is that they dont want you to enter at all. This means that, even if they have other prudential reasons against your timing, there is a basic question here that does not have an immediate solution. Nevertheless, you should first ask them why. They may have something important to say to you. Then you need to see with the nuns you are thinking of joining if they can see any reason for you not to join now. If they dont, and if the reasons your parents give are not substantial, I would tend to say that now is the time. God bless,


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