Thanks for your prayers, BarbaraTherese! Sorry it’s taken me so long to reply: I haven’t been able to access the internet for a few days, but I’ve been meaning to say thank you.
You are most welcome and Laus Dei!
I hadn’t heard of the Conventual Dominican Sisters either - I knew about the Benedictines in Jambaroo because of “The Abbey,” and an order of Carmelites in (I think) New South Wales, but other than that I didn’t know of any habited Orders in Australia.
There are communities of Carmelites in most all states in Australia and most all are habited perhaps not the old style traditional habit in some cases, but modernized habits as the Holy Father instructed, that do appear Carmelite in design.
Have you looked into the Benedictine nuns of Perpetual Adoration commonly known as the Tyburn Nuns or more properly Adorerers of The Sacred Heart of Montmarre (their foundress Adele Garnier came from Montmarre in France originally. I will return and give you a link. They are traditionally habited although I think they have modernized the veil, and I warn you that their life and lifestyle is still 16th century religious life…although some may be attracted by that. They retain Chapter of Faults too. They are extremely strictly enclosed…visitors monthly only or it used to be and number of visitors restricted. No phone calls. At recreation even the local Catholic newspaper was heavily edited with the prioress reading out suitable material only - or what she felt was suitable. Hence one looses touch with what is happening in the world generally. But if you wish check them out…my comments are drawn from quite a few years ago now.
Speaking from experience, too, traditional apostolic Orders are even harder again to find! I’ve been discerning for a couple of years now, and have gained a number of battle scars from my experiences with Australian apostolic Orders:
- I started discernment with one that I found out worships God as a Great Mother who gave birth to the world from “Her” womb. Eek!
- I’d heard lots of good things about another Order and was fairly certain that it was perfect for me, till someone pointed out that it’s the American branch that is highly praised for its orthodoxy, while the Australians have long since gone radical.
- Someone else told me about a newly established Order her friend had just joined, and she mentioned that it’s strongly traditional. Um… she was wrong - they’re self-described “Spirit of Vatican II” Charismatics!
- My grandmother suggested an Order for which she has a particular fondness, as they taught her when she was a young girl. Unfortunately, they’re now one of the most liberal Orders in Australia (I’d put them in the top three), and they were apparently a bit odd even before the Second Vatican Council.
I am laughing…I think I know the Australian Order that is said to be the most liberal in Australia…and yes, prior to VII, they were quite quite weird, I saw some of their formation documents - goodness I think perhaps maybe they retained the scourge!!! LOL!
As a result of this, I decided a while ago that an overseas Order is probably a good idea for me, although I’d love to return to Australia later and work to build up the strength of the Church here. That’s why I was so happy to hear that the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia are coming to Sydney - as far as I’ve heard, they’re establishing a retreat centre rather than a school, but who knows what will happen in the future? We’ve got the “John Paul II generation” coming through our seminaries at the moment, and a traditional order setting up a house here… signs of things to come?
I am hoping things will change here in Australia too, although I shall be far too old or even still alive when they do to have any sort of opportunity re entering. To my mind, here in Australia, most religious sisters I come across are simply career women in the Catholic Church.
God’s blessings on your journey. Certainly before actually entering do try out the community well, as much as leadership and the community will try you out well and truly over a period. Look them over as much as they will look you over. Although I maintain strongly that postulancy should be still markedly regarded as discernment and trial period and to a lesser degree certainly the first year of the noviciate…and in lessening degrees right up to Final Vows. Nowadays orders tend to look on the aspirancy period as discernment and trial period and after that to be frowning on leaving during postulancy etc. and later. This is very wrong I think…it all should be treated as an engagement prior to marriage. And if you dont know your own mind after 7yrs or so…goodness!!! Final Vows to my mind is to commit oneself, come what may. Could God call one out of religious life after that…God can do all things. But it is indeed a most serious move and not to be undertaken without sound spiritual advice.
Barb
Tyburn Nuns. Mother House is in London…in Australia, they are located in Riverstone in New South Wales. You need to access Riverstone through the main website on this link, they do not have individual websites for the foundations in different countries.
tyburnconvent.org.uk/home/index.html
