A Pull to God: Young nuns explain their accomplishments and struggles in their vocation

'I felt this pull to something else. To a way of life, a community, that always has prayer and service to it.'

Fewer young women have answered God's call to enter the sisterhood, prompting several questions such as what inspires modern women to leave behind earthly pleasures to enter a life of celibacy, poverty and service?

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Pix11 reported the United States is currently the home of only 50,000 nuns, down from 180,000 only fifty years ago.

Several nuns who spoke to the news agency admitted they did not make their choice lightly, and that they considered their options for a long while before finally responding to God's call.

"My mom was looking for husbands for me, and I needed to explore more," Sister Preenika Dabrera admitted. Before entering the Church, Dabrera was born in Sri Lanka and grew up being educated by nuns. She eventually moved to New York and began her studies to become a chaplain a hospital. 

When she felt the calling, she knew she had to answer. 

Today's young women are not so quick to board that boat.

Pix11 spoke to women in their twenties who have already begun the process of professing their vows. They openly spoke about their decisions and struggles with entering the Church.

Sister Christina Chong admitted she was in relationships before deciding to take her vows. 

"I was in a couple of serious relationship[s] and very grateful for those experiences," she explained. "Although I may not have a spouse, we do have our community. And now I can draw on this when teaching my young students."

Another nun, Sister Geurlain Joseph, recalled her youth and the struggles she encountered before pledging her life to the Lord.

"I thought about being a sister in high school. And then in college I was like, no, not me God!"

Sister Heather Ganz admitted she struggled as well, but "felt this pull to something else. To a way of life, a community, that always has prayer and service to it."

Other, younger, nuns admitted their past played a definite role in their future, but that God's call was greater than their earthly desires.

Each admitted lifestyle changes would be difficult to alter, but not all habits would be left behind.

Each sister-in-training said they would utilize social media in their ministry - something Pope Francis has been doing for a while.

Sister Kelly Schuster explained, "Don Bosco, our founder, said 'Always go to where the children are.' So they are all on social media. So we go there."

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