Millennial Nuns: Reflections on Living a Spiritual Life in a World of Social Media

by The Daughters of Saint Paul

Discover how to engage in a faith-filled life in the era of social media from a group of young, consecrated Catholic sisters.

Friend. Artist. Writer. Businesswomen. Advocate. Scholar. The women whose pieces are included in this book hold many different titles. But they all share two important characteristics. First, they are all young women. Second, they are all consecrated religious of the Catholic order the Daughters of Saint Paul. They are millennial nuns.

More and more people—especially millennials—are turning to religion as a source of comfort and solace in our increasingly chaotic world. But rather than live a cloistered life of seclusion, the Daughters of Saint Paul actively embrace social media, using platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to evangelize, collectively calling themselves the #MediaNuns.

In this collective memoir, eight of these Sisters share their own discernment journeys, struggles and crises of faith that they’ve overcome, and episodes from their daily lives. Through these reflections, the Sisters also offer practical takeaways and tips for living a more spiritually-fulfilled life, no matter your religious affiliation.

In a collection as diverse and varied as the Daughters of Saint Paul themselves, Millennial Nuns will appeal to any reader looking to discover more about balancing faith with the modern age.

Genres: Nonfiction, Catholic, Religion, Memoir, Christianity, Theology, Spirituality

240 pages, Hardcover

First published July 6, 2021

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly, highly recommend this book by the #medianuns and about the #millennialnuns. The Daughters of St Paul have been dear to me for many years, and they were my first publisher. This book highlights 8 of the sisters who are close to my age, outlining their experience and journey to being a religious sister. I laughed, I geared up, I thoroughly enjoyed this. Also pairs nicely with the porch swing and an IPA.

[Poptart19 (the name’s ren) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I’m not Catholic, but this is really good. A collection of essays by 8 religious sisters, reflecting on their callings, how they discerned their vocations, what it’s like to serve & to love, & how they met Jesus & his love. This book moved me & spoke to my heart.

[What I liked:]

•Very well written. Spiritual writing can often be dry, boring, or unengaging, & this book is the opposite. The essays are personal, yet resonated with my own life experiences & my spiritual life: longing for God but feeling distant from him; wanting clarity for the future, but being called to take steps of faith; learning how to live authentically; finding peace & life through prayer; developing a relationship with Jesus where you listen to his voice.

•The book isn’t written only to Catholics, & concepts non-Catholics may not be aware of are explained. As a non-Catholic, I appreciate that the writers didn’t just assume their audience was in-group.

•There is just so much love in this book. It’s interesting to read, has info about discerning a religious vocation, but also offers lots of encouragement & meaning for any life path. But mostly, I just felt a lot of Christ’s love while reading this book.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•I guess I just wish it was longer?


[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I am not Catholic, my Orthodox tradition also has nuns and I just reread "In this House of Brede." A collection of stories about what drew these women to their calling, it was interesting to see the different paths.

[Karen Clements · Rating 4 out of 5]

True confessions, I picked this up with a little apprehension, not sure how much I could possibly have in common with a group of nuns, regardless of their age. I may be a Protestant, but I do know that nuns are not all elderly women singing with Julie Andrews's Maria, locked in their stone convents, but I wasn't expecting young [millennial] women who joyfully and exuberantly write about spreading the Good News using all forms of media. Even social media! These women are more properly called "sisters," and their stories of a call to serve God are inspiring, transparent, and real. I appreciated their diverse backgrounds and their honesty in sharing that no, they didn't grow up intending to live the religious life. There were doubts and fears that were overcome by love and camaraderie, and now they live and thrive in the freedom to express their creative gifts and share with others.
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.
Highly recommended

[Cathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a group of inspiring young ladies! I enjoyed the stories of how these young women came into their calling. The power of the Holy Spirit is felt in each testimony. What really spoke to me was how they all truly listened, gave it much thought, and were obedient. Definitely more mature than their age. It was interesting that most of them didn’t start off wanting to be a Nun, but they had a true experience that changed their future path. This allowed for them to be relatable. It both convicted and moved me. I am not a Catholic, so I liked learning about how there are different types of nuns and that they go through stages that lasts years. What brave ladies to surrender themselves fully into our Lord!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's so much to love about this book, but I think my favorite part is how each sister made a gift of her own vulnerability in sharing her story. They are really determined to make sure you leave this book without any stereotypes about what the "ideal" nun should be, and instead encourage you to enter into where God is in your own messy life and thank Him for being there. This was a beautiful read.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up from the library on a whim, it’s one I hadn’t heard of before, but I enjoyed it. I’m sure it hits home a bit harder if you’re Catholic and/or devout religiously, but even for a lapsed Lutheran like me, it was an interesting read. The individual stories of the sisters are worth reading, even if religion isn’t your thing.

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

While I'm not Catholic myself, I found this book really insightful and practical, full of examples on how to pursue Christ and share one's faith via media.

Sometimes I wish that the religious life were more of a "thing" in Protestant circles in addition to Catholic/Anglican! Especially being single myself, way past an age range where I thought life would look much different than it does ... I find myself wondering and contemplating how to live a life fully devoted to Christ. How would it really look to be single like Paul (or even the ultimate, Christ himself!) and fully dedicate myself to Christ? What does it really mean to "work out my salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12) or be "anxious about the affairs of the Lord" (1 Cor. 7) as a single? This book provides a great kick-starter for that, to get the creative juices flowing. I loved the varying examples, and how it effectively illustrated that we are all members of the body and have different skill sets/roles/giftings.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore the Daughters of St. Paul. Their genuine love for their vocation and the way they evangelize through media (including Instagram and TikTok) is actually so life-giving to me. I bought this back in the summer when it came out and I have been reading it slowly ever since. (I also follow most if not all of these sisters on social media, which I recommend if you’re interested. They are so full of joy.)

In Millennial Nuns, we get 8 accounts from Daughters of St Paul- how they entered into their vocation, their discernment process, family reactions, etc. Some stories were more relatable than others, but I enjoyed all of them.

Although I am definitely a niche audience, I would say that this read could be for anyone wondering just why a young woman would become a nun these days. Such a beautiful witness of faith.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just adore the Daughters of Saint Paul.
Here 8 religious sisters share their journey to where they are now.
I really appreciated their candidness and venerability in sharing their stories.
So much was so very relatable in many ways.

[Cecilia Cicone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was actually genuinely surprised by how much I was moved by this book that was written by many of my good friends.

[Richard Propes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Daughters of Saint Paul are collectively known as the #MediaNuns, a consecrated religious order of Catholic Sisters who simultaneously observe their committed vows while embracing social media with active utilization of platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to evangelize.

Let's be honest. What do you think of when you hear the word Sister?

You are likely a lot like me. You think of older women. You might think of rulers. You may even think of those wonderfully retro black and white habits. If you're the right age (or the wrong age depending on your views), you might even think of Gidget. Or Whoopi.

You're not likely to think about younger women. You're not likely to think about friends, artists, writers, businesswomen, advocates, and scholars.

Yet, this is exactly what you find in "Millennial Nuns: Reflections on Living a Spiritual Life in a World of Social Media," a light yet fulfilling memoir entering the lives of eight of The Daughters of Saint Paul's younger Sisters as they share their own discernment journeys, struggles and crises of faith to be overcome, and glimpses into their daily lives.

The Sisters in "Millennial Nuns" seem surprisingly approachable, reverent yet honest in their testimonies and willing to share with transparency and vulnerability. They offer practical takeaways from their own journeys along with tips for living a more spiritually fulfilled life no matter your religious affiliation.

Balancing faith and the often frenzied nature of everyday life in this modern age can be difficult, but "Millennial Nuns" gives us an inside view of how this is accomplished by The Daughters of Saint Paul and I'd dare say it also offers a glimpse into how religious communities can and are adapting for changing times and inviting those with a sense of deep spiritual call into the consecrated life when the consecrated life seems so at odds with the world these days.

Even as an older, non-Catholic male myself (though I have attended quite a few Masses), I took much away "Millennial Nuns" and thoroughly enjoyed my reading of it. I easily imagined myself having these very conversations with these Sisters as they discuss discernment, spiritual discipline, the differences between religious orders, and the joy they find in devoting their lives in marriage to Jesus Christ.

As is likely always true with a collective memoir, there will be some testimonies that resonate more than others depending upon one's own life and experiences. However, collectively "Millennial Nuns" is a refreshing and engaging journey into the lives of eight women who made their vows earlier in life and whose lives feel all the richer and more meaningful for it.

"Millennial Nuns" is a unique yet wonderful read for the spiritually inclined of any path who wish to more deeply explore and understand how to better live a spiritual life while remaining engaged with the modern world.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing-wise, this is probably only a 3-- the quality of the essays varies, and in spite of the prominence of "social media" in the title, that topic plays rather little role. But I very much enjoyed the personal stories of how the sisters chose a really different path as young, modern women-- and how different those stories were from one another. I also enjoyed reading faith reflections of relatively "ordinary" women-- yes, they are religious sisters, but in the age of mass-market, polished "Christian writers," these felt more like hearing about faith reflections from peers, in spite of the differences in our lives.

Also, I'm eternally a sucker for any "behind the scenes of unusual lives or jobs" books, and I learned a lot about something I've honestly not ever given much thought to.

[Faith Elizabeth Hough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hopefully I'll write a longer review soon, but this book is invaluable for anyone discerning religious life, but also for anyone who struggles with how to live well in this crazy world.

[Reading Our Shelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review at: https://readingourshelves.com/2021/07...

These aren’t the nuns your parents complain about from their Catholic school days… these ladies are young and on Instagram.

Even though I grew up Catholic – and around nuns – I hadn’t heard of the Daughters of St. Paul before. Having been a media/broadcasting major back in my school days, I can’t help but be attracted to their mission.

From the intro: “The Daughters of St. Paul reflect deeply on how people interact with the media and are formed by it.”

After an introduction, the following chapters of the book are each written by a different member of the order. Almost all of them tell the story of how they came to learn about the Daughters of St. Paul, discerned their calling to be a nun, and maybe what they do within the order now.

I read a lot of memoirs, and love a good personal story. But, after a few chapters, I felt like the format started getting repetitive. Obviously these women have different backgrounds and details to their stories, but most came to discover their longing to be a nun around college age. Many of them confirmed their belief in this calling by visiting the order’s Mother House in Boston.

But about halfway through the book – right when I started feeling the repetitiveness – we meet a nun who is in charge of helping curious young women with this act of discernment. So now, we can see the process from the other side. It was exactly the change of pace that was needed at that point.

I would also say that one of the most compelling personal stories comes in the back half of the book – so it is worth moving through the slight repetitiveness.

There are a lot of good thoughts and quotes in here, many of which are about faith. But there are also inspiring thoughts on finding and pursuing one’s calling in life, which could appeal to people of any (or no) faiths.

This is a fun and uplifting read. I have even looked up a few of the contributors on Instagram – and from there I learned that they also have a podcast!

[Susie Stangland · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book this is!! A great gift and I now follow their hashtag #medianuns. At first I thought I would never be able to live up to what they wrote on but as I read I realized they simply are encouraging each of us to remember we are spiritual beings in an oh so human body and to keep trying.

[Crystal Reaume · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this; it was interesting.

[Melissa Shelder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful read! The Sisters are honest, relatable, and contagiously hopeful in their reflections on how to live a Godly life in such a time as this.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am neither Catholic nor millennial, but I read this book because I won a copy from a Goodreads giveaway, and I enjoyed it. I found the nuns’ stories of their calls to the sisterhood sincere and insightful. While I personally don’t agree with some of the doctrine, I found myself underlining uplifting passages and thoughts. I’m even now following one sister on social media!

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sought this book out because Sr. Tracey Dugas spoke at our local Catholic Women's Conference this past winter. I pretty much expected it to be a commentary on nuns in the present age, but instead it was short vignettes from eight current Daughters of Saint Paul and their journeys to where they are. Which was much more engaging. Their stories came from their heart and soul and were very moving. Kind of made me wonder how the book would have spoken to me had it been around when I was a teen/young adult.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the number of Roman Catholic priests and nuns has been declining worldwide and in the United States for decades, there has been a small bump in the number of Millennials answering the call. Millennial Nuns: Reflections on Living a Spiritual Life in a World of Social Media offers the stories of eight Millennial women who joined the Daughters of Saint Paul, a Roman Catholic international religious congregation. Unlike nuns of past generations whose existence was often marked by isolation, these women (#MediaNuns) have embraced social media to evangelize, including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Each woman’s personal story is unique: some came from dysfunctional backgrounds, some were disenchanted with the pressures of the secular world, some wanted the strong guidance of a religious life, but all share a deep faith and love of Christ, to a degree that many readers may find difficult to understand: relationship to Jesus is sometimes described in romantic terms. However, the reader will also discern that each of these women is at peace with her decision and wishes to spread the fruits of that peace and fulfillment to others.
Verdict: A glimpse into lives that most of us will never know but which social media is making less of a mystery.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know the synopsis of this book when I requested early access from Netgalley. I really need to read subtitles more closely. 😉 Once I figured out what exactly I was reading, I discovered that it is a compilation of personal stories and these Millennial Nuns' road to Daughters of St. Paul. Christian books or novels aren't my cup of tea although I have a religious background. Having said that, I really enjoyed seeing their authentic selves and the book really accentuates discernment of letting other people (and God/prayer/faith) help guide you in your life's journey.

All these ladies are born in the 1980s, so I understood all their cultural references-- especially playing "Oregon Trail" 🐂🐂 at school! They all had relatable experiences that made them real. Father Alberione, born in the 1880s, had the vision to use media communication to spread the gospel, and at the turn of the century when media was just beginning!🗞️📻📺

This book has chapters written by each religious sister (the difference between a religious sister and a religious nun is explained in the foreword.) They all have diverse backgrounds, yet there are a lot of similarities in their personal narratives. They all write about love, obedience, faith, identity, relationship, and prayer and how those shaped their lives. They also all write about how twists and turns of life brought them to make decisions to become a part of Daughters of St. Paul.

Sister Amanda writes about the language of poverty, obedience, and love. Sister Tracey writes about receiving what's given and accepting God's peace. She describes prayer as a love language with God. "The world changes with our example, not our opinion." Follow her here on Instagram to see her amazing lettering @sistah_tee_letters. Sister Danielle writes "A beautiful life calls us to live more authentically". Sister Jacqueline defines Four Elements as faith, identity, relationships, and commitment. With the fresh, easy-to-read writing, I gave it 4 ⭐.

[Rya Fenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explores the stories of many women from diverse backgrounds who were all called to religious life with a common purpose. I appreciated seeing the ways in which seemingly unrelated paths all led to the same place and the ways in which the call to sisterhood was often the last thing these women expected to hear.

I think this book can be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in religion and why people make the choices that they do. It shatters the traditional image of religious sisters or nuns as strict and unwavering in their faith and shows that it's often those with the most doubt and those who are the most lost that choose religious life.

[Maria Dateno · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm certainly biased because this book is written by sisters in my community, but I really enjoyed it! If you ever wondered what the process of discerning a vocation to religious life might be like, and what kind of women become sisters in this day and age, check out this collection accounts by eight sisters with very different backgrounds and journeys who all became Daughters of Saint Paul.

[Khanh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Millennial Nuns is a thoughtful and to me, unexpectedly vibrant collection of essays written by young Sisters from the Daughters of Saint Paul, a congregation long intertwined with media and communication. Each chapter offers a personal reflection—on family, vocation, discernment, identity, technology, and the often-messy journey of growing into one’s spiritual life. The book moves from stories of childhood faith to the challenges of commitment, from navigating doubt to discovering unexpected joy, and from understanding the meaning of religious vows to translating that meaning into a digital age. Through their voices, the Sisters reveal a life that is both deeply contemplative and thoroughly modern.

What emerges is not a monolithic portrait of religious life, but a mosaic of experiences: a Sister who found her vocation through an unexpected moment of quiet clarity; another who wrestled with fear and uncertainty before recognizing that the convent was where she felt most free; others who describe the delicate beauty of community living and the discipline of prayer; and many who reflect on how social media can be used not for self-promotion, but to spread compassion, hope, and presence. Together, these narratives expose a spiritual landscape that feels startlingly human and entirely relatable.

Coming to this book as someone raised Catholic but not religious, I found myself confronting assumptions I had long carried. For much of my life, the idea of being a nun conjured images of isolation and constraint—a life chosen only when one had no desire or capacity for agency. Those impressions were shaped by childhood experiences with faith that felt restrictive rather than liberating. Yet Millennial Nuns revealed just how incomplete my views were. These women chose their path with intentionality, intelligence, and a depth of self-knowledge that challenged every stereotype I held.

Reading their reflections was unexpectedly healing. It showed me that religious life, at least for these women, is not a retreat from the world but an engagement with it—one rooted in service, creativity, and a spirituality found through discernment rather than pressure. I was struck by how confidently they inhabit both their vocations and their professional identities: they are writers, musicians, designers, ministers, and communicators who harness digital platforms with extraordinary clarity of purpose. Their use of social media is not performative but pastoral, a means of meeting people where they are in a chaotic and overwhelming world.

This book deepened my appreciation for a vocation I once dismissed, reminding me that faith—when freely chosen—can be a radical act of authenticity. There is a quiet strength in these pages, a reminder that even in an age of noise, division, and distraction, some people find their path by listening inwardly and following what calls them most deeply.

In their stories, I discovered not a portrait of separation from life, but a testament to the many ways a life can be lived with intention, courage, and light.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book for anyone considering religious life, or for anyone who loves reading discernment stories. The sisters were honest, open, and gave glimpses into their lives as #MediaNuns. This is proof that technology can be used for good, to bring others to God and to bring beauty into the lives of many people. I appreciated that the sisters were honest about their hesitancy to become consecrated religious. It sometimes seems that those who discern this path have it easy, or it is abundantly clear, but the sisters show that it is not always clear cut, and even when it is, doubts can get in the way. The stories told were relatable, and the spiritual messages and guidance given throughout the book are timely and applicable to people of all walks of life. Thank you to the sisters for sharing a glimpse of the beauty (and normalcy!) of religious life in a time where so many people are searching for God. May the sisters be an example for all of us!
I requested and received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley, the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this book and I LOVED the first essay by Sister Amanda. Unfortunately, the essays that followed didn't move me in quite the same way. It was interesting to read about each sister's journey to joining the Daughters of Saint Paul, but I struggled to see the "reflections of living a spiritual life in a world of social media" as promised by the book's subtitle. I was hoping for more practical tips on how to live out your faith authentically in a world consumed by filters, likes, highlight reels and follower counts. Millennial Nuns focuses more on why each sister chose the consecrated life and her discernment process. I'm not a Catholic, and therefore likely not the intended audience for this book, but I could see this being a powerful read for a young Catholic trying to figure out what she is being called to do with her life.

A 2.5 star read for me, but I'm rounding up to 3 stars because there was nothing wrong with the book ... it just wasn't for me.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughout the year, I try to read something faith-based based on the season. I saw this and thought it would be a good fit for Lent. Reading the personal stories of these woman who have given their life to Jesus reminded me that there can be balance – without extreme. Remaining true to your faith doesn’t mean giving up all the things you love or ignoring social media or whatever “sacrifice” you think it means to be Catholic. Their stories reminded me that everyone’s connection to God is different and that is ok.

[Meghan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The stories were nice, title a bit misleading. It’s a collection of stories on how various nuns were called to enter the convent. Rarely mentioning social media. Caught a few grammatical “errors” and areas where the writing was lacking, but that’s just me being picky. I struggled to finish this one.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This may be of interest to a younger person engaging in discernment about entering a religious order. I found the book dull and I kept putting it down, unable to finish the book.
NOTE: This book was sent to me as part of a Goodreads Giveaway promotion.