Not too long ago, the members of the Little Friars and Little Nuns of Jesus and Mary were planning very different futures.

One was headed towards engineering. Another was preparing for a career in social work. Others imagined lives shaped by study and 9-to-5 jobs. Yet in the midst of ordinary life, each experienced something impossible to ignore: a stirring in the heart that seemed to draw them closer to God.

That stirring brought them all the way to Newcastle and a Parish Mission partnered with MacKillop Parish in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

Now as their visit comes to a close, the Little Friars and Little Nuns have become friendly faces in our schools, churches and at community encounters. Wherever they go, curiosity follows.

It often begins with simple questions.

Why do they live this way? Why wear a habit? What is life like in community? What led them to give their lives so completely to Christ?

In our Catholic schools, students have eagerly lined up to ask these questions and many more. Conversations have ranged from baptism and prayer to friendship, purpose and happiness. For many students, it has been their first encounter with young religious men and women and an opportunity to see that God’s call is not confined to another time or another generation. The Little Friars and Little Nuns have joined in lessons and shared their love for Christ with students.

 

Yet what has captivated people most is not simply the novelty of their way of life. It is the pure love for God and how they live our that love so completely.

At a recent Youth Encounter, young people gathered to hear how the friars and sisters came to recognise God’s voice in their lives.

Friar Christopher shared the story of his discernment, recalling a time during his university years when he was searching for direction in life. As he prayed for guidance, he asked God for a specific sign. Confirmation came from a charismatic friend and the appearance of two bald eagles, exactly as he had prayed.

Sr Luz spoke of receiving similar signs that were meaningful to her. While many people search for certainty, she encouraged participants to pay attention to the quiet movements of the heart and when they find them they feel a sense of joy. When a path draws a person closer to God, she explained, it often carries a peace in the heart that cannot be manufactured.

 

For many parishioners who have met the Little Friars and Nuns, the impact of the visit has been both personal and profound.

Beyond these organised gatherings, the Little Friars and Little Nuns have carried the same spirit of encounter into the wider community.

They have taken to the streets, striking up conversations, meeting people where they are and sharing the joy of the Gospel through simple acts of presence and hospitality. Along the way, they have also explored Newcastle itself, getting to know the communities that have welcomed them so warmly.

 

This past weekend, their visit entered another chapter as they lead men’s and women’s retreats, creating space for prayer, reflection and a deeper encounter with the Virtues of Mary and of Joseph.

They will finish their time spending time with Bishop Michael and our Student Leaders’ from across our Catholic schools.

Then, almost as quickly as they arrived, we will bid the Little Friars and Little Nuns farewell.

Perhaps the greatest fruit of their visit cannot be measured by attendance numbers, event schedules, or the questions asked of them. Rather, it can be found in the questions they leave behind.

Questions about purpose and about faith. Questions about where life is leading and what God may be asking of us. Questions that begin with curiosity but often lead somewhere deeper: to reflection, discernment, and a renewed openness to the unexpected ways God works in our lives.

For some, those questions may spark a deeper commitment to prayer. For others, they may prompt a desire to serve others, or to find the courage to explore God’s call more seriously.

The witness of the Little Friars and Little Nuns reminds us that every vocation begins with a simple willingness to listen. In a world filled with noise and distraction, their presence offers a gentle invitation to pause, to wonder, and to ask the same question they once asked themselves: Lord, what do you want me to do with my life?

God’s call is not reserved for a select few. It is an invitation extended to every person, waiting to be heard in the stirrings of the heart and answered with trust.