Age Limits for Formation into Religious Life

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I do not know whether this topic is already in existance or somehow integrated into another thread.
However, there are many posters, men and woman, wanting to discuss their potential vocation and some addressing the thread title.

Orders will invariably have an upper and lower age for entrance. What are your views.
Is it important? Does it matter?

To get the ball rolling:

I* believe that some Orders require a lot more maturity than others before entering *There should be NO upper age limit.

***PS: (I am in no way I am demeaning any order). ***
 
Cowfold said:
I do not know whether this topic is already in existance or somehow integrated into another thread.
However, there are many posters, men and woman, wanting to discuss their potential vocation and some addressing the thread title.

Orders will invariably have an upper and lower age for entrance. What are your views.
Is it important? Does it matter?

To get the ball rolling:

I* believe that some Orders require a lot more maturity than others before entering *There should be NO upper age limit.

I can understand why orders have age limits but it does sadden me to as I have considered investigating religious life after my wife passes away (likely in the next two years). Unfortunately by that time I will be in my late fifties and too old to be considered by the majority of religious orders, except possibly as a third order.

Peace
James

***PS: (I am in no way I am demeaning any order). ***
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Cowfold said:
I* believe that some Orders require a lot more maturity than others before entering *There should be NO upper age limit.
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I agree. It’s more than a bit disappointing to find out that I’m too old to join some orders! 😦
 
The military also has upper age limits, with the Army topping out at 42. But in civilian life, isn’t age discrimination illegal?
 
Just_Lurking said:
The military also has upper age limits, with the Army topping out at 42. But in civilian life, isn’t age discrimination illegal?
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I don’t see why it would be in a private organization like religious orders.

The reason that many religious orders have upper age limits for entering is quite simple.
How long will older people be able to perform the tasks that are a part of the order’s charism, and how quickly will older people incur higher medical expenses?
This second one is just as big an issue for religious orders as it is for any other group.
It’s unfortunate, but it’s true.

Peace
James
 
JRKH said:
I don’t see why it would be in a private organization like religious orders.

The reason that many religious orders have upper age limits for entering is quite simple.
How long will older people be able to perform the tasks that are a part of the order’s charism, and how quickly will older people incur higher medical expenses?
This second one is just as big an issue for religious orders as it is for any other group.
It’s unfortunate, but it’s true.

Peace
James
Click to expand...
Its not just that, it is also how easily will they be able to learn to live life in a new way. Community life can be rough, believe me.

My province has an upper age of 40 but they will still talk to you if you are over 40. I will tell you though that, overall, we have not had good experience with men over that age,
 
ByzCath said:
Its not just that, it is also how easily will they be able to learn to live life in a new way. Community life can be rough, believe me.

My province has an upper age of 40 but they will still talk to you if you are over 40. I will tell you though that, overall, we have not had good experience with men over that age,
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Yea - I guess us "old"guys can be pretty cranky and set in our ways. 😉

Peace
James
 
JRKH said:
Yea - I guess us "old"guys can be pretty cranky and set in our ways. 😉

Peace
James
Click to expand...
I guess that can apply to us ‘old ladies’ who are in our 50s, too! 😉

I would not be able to enter any of the newer Orders that are up and coming because they won’t even LOOK at anybody my age! :eek: :mad:

It takes so long now between entrance and final vows! Not like in the ‘old days’ when it was six months for postulancy, a year for novitiate, and then ZAP! profession. :o
 
JRKH said:
I don’t see why it would be in a private organization like religious orders.

The reason that many religious orders have upper age limits for entering is quite simple.
How long will older people be able to perform the tasks that are a part of the order’s charism, and how quickly will older people incur higher medical expenses?
This second one is just as big an issue for religious orders as it is for any other group.
It’s unfortunate, but it’s true.

Peace
James
Click to expand...
James,
I was hopeful one of the members would have brought up the medical expenses issue in the ‘Married Priests’ thread and my unpopular posts therein.
However, addressing this thread. There are some orders which stiplulate 21 before they will enter into dialogue with you and 45 seems to be the cut off.
I would say to those who believe they have a vocation…persist. Although I agree with the minimum od 21 I have found that the upper limit is ‘very flexible’,

By way of encouragement I might remind members of Dom Verner Moor who set up the ‘Charterhouse of the Tranfiguration’ (Vermont, USA).

He was 70 before being first clothed as a Carthusian (albeit, a Trappist for many years before)
 
Cowfold said:
By way of encouragement I might remind members of Dom Verner Moor who set up the ‘Charterhouse of the Tranfiguration’ (Vermont, USA).

He was 70 before being first clothed as a Carthusian (albeit, a Trappist for many years before)
Click to expand...
Thanks, Cowfold! 👍 I may still have a year or two! 🙂
 
Hi
Reading this topic a question came to my mind. Is this upper age limit only in US, or you can find this limit, as well, in other countries.
 
There is no universal age policy. Each order is allowed to set its own standards. In our community, no one has ever stayed who tried to enter over the age of 30, which is our official cut-off though we have made exceptions. I know that some female orders have been particularly successful with “widow” vocations that were quite “mature.”

It is true that often a major factor is the “plasmability” in receiving formation for older individuals looking to enter into religious life. Receiving a “fraternal” correction from someone who has the same age as your children can be rough to say the least.

God bless,

Fr. Scott, AVI
Apostles of the Interior Life
 
Here is a link to a brand new website with listings of communities for both men and women that have a vocation at an older age. belatedvocations.weebly.com/

I have just started a Franciscan community for older women (over 40) in Steubenville, Ohio, called the Family of Jacopa. We have a Secular group and Sisters of Jacopa for women who want to live a consecrated life in community. familiajacopa.wordpress.com/

God wants us all to live out the lives that He meant for us. Never give up!

Kathleen Marshall, OFS
Foundress FJA
 
Another thing to keep in mind with apostolic communities is that there will be training and education required for the members to be involved in professional apostolate a like education and nursing. That is another reason for age requirements. I know they are not well liked but they are appropriate when you are speaking about tens of thousands of dollars of education and the amount of time one might spend in the apostolate earning money for the congregation to live on.
 
anon99058993 said:
Here is a link to a brand new website with listings of communities for both men and women that have a vocation at an older age. belatedvocations.weebly.com/

I have just started a Franciscan community for older women (over 40) in Steubenville, Ohio, called the Family of Jacopa. We have a Secular group and Sisters of Jacopa for women who want to live a consecrated life in community. familiajacopa.wordpress.com/

God wants us all to live out the lives that He meant for us. Never give up!

Kathleen Marshall, OFS
Foundress FJA
Click to expand...
Thank you for listing the website I made at Weebly. I’m glad it’s coming in handy! 👍
 
Find your spirituality first. There are communities who take older vocations, but you need to be precise with your search.

Many of the new charisms which are presently either proposed or emerging don’t have age limits.

Blessings,
Cloisters
 
Hi there
This is a new community in England for older women(36+), widows and some people with disabilities. It is just starting up and is in it’s very early stages.
Here is the website: vocationforall.wordpress.com
(Put directly into the address bar in the search engine)
😀
 
There are a number of Religious Orders with upper or no age limits. Have you tried googling?
 
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