For the past year Toowoomba ABC journalist Nancy Webb has begun each day the same way: reading newspapers, listening to radio reports and immersing herself in the local news.

But soon she will unplug from the daily news cycle, social media, technology and life as she knows it to embark on what she sees as a calling from God.

"When we were kids we'd play in costumes like lots of other kids do, but my favourite was always a nun's habit," Ms Webb said.

Now she hopes to wear a habit for much more than dress-up games, as a nun with the Sisters of Life — preparing for the possibility of making vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

Nancy Webb (centre) visited the Sisters of Life convent in New York in early 2018. ( Supplied: Nancy Webb )

"They are the biggest things the world says will make us happy. And big things for a young person to give up," she said.

"It's a radical decision. But love is radical."

Ms Webb traces her interest in pursuing a religious life to a World Youth Day event in Sydney in 2008.

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It takes eight years before final vows are made One year as a Postulant; "is this what the Lord wants of me?"

One year as a Postulant; "is this what the Lord wants of me?" Two years as a Novice, wearing habit and taking a religious name

Two years as a Novice, wearing habit and taking a religious name Temporary vows

Temporary vows Five years as Temporarily Professed

Five years as Temporarily Professed Final vows made; "whole life to God"

"I was handed a leaflet I've kept to this day," she said.

"It had a picture of nuns and the words 'to lay down one's life that others may live'. Something about that resonated with me.

"I was only 11 years old then, but I said 'that's what I want to do'."

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In the years that followed Ms Webb immersed herself in study, graduating with distinction.

She loved the reporter's life.

"As a journalist you talk to so many different people and learn all the sides of a story," she said.

"It has given me a broad overview of what our culture is all about."

She acknowledges there is distrust from both sides in the relationship between the church and the media.

"I've grown up in a Catholic family, and I've heard people complaining about the media and its 'biased reporting of the church'," she said.

"And the ABC is supposed to be the most secular institution around.

"But being on the inside, I can see where the reporting comes from.

"Good people doing wrong things makes the news. It's not necessarily that the media hates the church and thinks everything it is doing is wrong."

Start spreading the news

As she prepares to walk away from her career, Ms Webb finds parallels between news reporting and becoming a nun.

"It's all about sharing the news. Instead of telling people that it's not going to rain, or that rain is on the way, I'll be bringing them the ultimate good news: you are loved by God, you are beautiful and unique," she said.

"And that news can change your life in a deeper way than knowing if it's going to rain."

Nancy Webb holds the leaflet she was handed for Sisters of Life in 2008 and a prayer she wrote. ( Supplied: Nancy Webb )

Ms Webb is not only leaving her career, she is leaving behind her family and country.

Sisters of Life is based in New York.

"I've had to ask myself 'why am I leaving home' a lot," she said.

"I know I could make a huge difference here in my own community.

"When I had the attraction to the Sisters of Life, their charism — the spiritual focus — really resonated with me, and I really felt God was calling me to consecrate my life to that.

"But I do remember praying, 'in America? Couldn't I go down the road and do it in Australia?'

"But I still feel it's an invitation from God to be totally consecrated to Him for the enhancement of the dignity of human life as a consecrated nun, and at the moment that's only in the US. One day that might be in Australia.

"It might just be that New York needs a breath of fresh air from the outback right now."

For a religion that is more than 2,000 years old, Sisters of Life is a relatively new order.

Founded in 1991, the order vows to protect human life, counselling women against abortion and helping those who have already had a termination.

"The founder was struck by an experience while visiting Dachau concentration camp," Ms Webb said.

"He saw that tragedy as the result of contempt for human life, and saw parallels in our culture today — people who are sick or disabled, elderly or unborn are often treated with less respect than others."

Nancy Webb comes from a large family of musicians in Toowoomba. ( ABC Southern Qld: Nathan Morris )

Young people 'want authenticity'

The church does not keep official records of the numbers of women entering religious life, but Sister Melissa Dwyer from the vocations office of the Brisbane Diocese said more young people were coming to her for guidance.

"Young millennials are not afraid of being different and standing out and being trailblazers," she said.

"There are so many different congregations around the world. There are more than 250 different types of nun.

"So in terms of their charism — their spirituality — the Sisters of Life are very unique to anything we have in Australia.

"That's where Nancy feels she can best live out her gifts, so I don't think it's a case of Americans 'stealing' her.

"But at the same time it may be good for us in Australia to ask ourselves, 'how relevant are we, and what kinds of vocations are we offering, if some of our young women are going overseas?'"

Sister Mel believes the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has become motivation for young people of faith to turn the church around.

Nancy Webb plans to quit her career as a journalist and become a nun in New York. ( ABC Southern Qld: Peter Gunders )

"I don't think it has scared young people off religious life. Even in the midst of the darkness, they know they can be the light and a witness to the fact our faith is a light in the darkness," she said.

"The church has had enough lukewarm people, and now we are seeing the younger generation becoming that difference.

"I'm seeing young people — particularly of this millennial generation — wanting more than what they see in society. They want authenticity."

It is a point Ms Webb echoes when asked about what she will potentially give up.

"A lot of the time young people are asked, 'what are you going to do with your life?'," she said.

"I think a better question is 'what are you going to do with your love?'

"Marriage and family life is a beautiful reflection of God's love. And it's hard to give up, and that's because it's beautiful and natural.

"It's one thing to give up something bad, like chocolate or Netflix binging. But in a way it's asking me to live out my maternity in a different way.

"Entering the convent is just the first step down this path. I'm still discerning what God wants me to do with my life.

"Once I find that, that's when I'll be truly fulfilled, and that's the news I am happy to share for the rest of my life."