All Saints Sisters of the Poor

[RevDrNorth]

I posted this under the Non Catholic thread but it may be of interest here. Apparently, All Saints Sisters of the Poor are set to leave the Episcopal Church and become a Catholic order. If so, they would present another vocations opportunity and appear traditional. I love the story Br. Stpehen, O.Cist tells about Mother Virginia.

Here is their web site (nice convent). asspconvent.org/formation.htm

According to this article by Br. Stephen, O.Cist there seem to have been a number of conversions to Catholicism (including two of their former Chaplains). In fact, Br. Stephen is a former Anglican.

*The sisters have been in discernment about their future and the rumor mill has been churning for some time, so this is not unexpected, but it is very good to hear. Their resident chaplain, Rev. Canon Warren Tanghe, announced his submission some time ago. Their previous chaplain was also received four or five years ago. They’ve been in my prayers and those of many others.

I remember being in the convent chapel for a Holy Hour several years ago. At the exposition, Mother Virginia came out from behind the organ console, which is in the visitors area, and knelt on the tile floor. And knelt and kept on kneeling. Mother Virginia could be the mother or grandmother of all the people who were there on retreat. She stayed on her knees on the tile for an hour, so we stayed on our knees on the tile for an hour. These women are serious business.

When I had made my own submission and was beginning to visit religious communities, it was Sr. Elaine who gave me some of the best advice I got on vocation. She said, “Don’t sweat this too much. When you find your community, it will fit you like a glove.” She was right.

Welcome to this side of the Tiber, sisters. I hope it fits you like a glove.*

virtueonline.org/portal/modul…?storyid=10642

 

[barb_finnegan]

I went to the site-and they look like Benedictines!

I hope you Sisters make that swim across the Tiber-you would make a great addition to traditional-looking religious! Go for it!

Thanks for posting this, DrNorth!

 

[JReducation]

I went to the site-and they look like Benedictines!

I hope you Sisters make that swim across the Tiber-you would make a great addition to traditional-looking religious! Go for it!

Thanks for posting this, DrNorth!

Let’s take this in slow steps.

1. Let’s pray that they convert.
2. Then let’s pray that they will be allowed to make vows in the Catholic Church.
3. Let’s pray that they will be admitted to the Augustinian family, as they follow a rule that is not approved by the Church, but it is based on St. Augustine’s rule. There may be a problem with their rule and the Augustinian family would have to approve of their interpretation of Augustine’s rule. If the Augustinians do not approve of their founder’s interpretation of the Rule of St. Augustine, they will have to rewrite their statutes to fit into the Augustinian family.
4. Then we have to pray that they will be canonically erected.
5. Finally, we pray that they will add to the mystical life of the Church as is the proper role of religious men and religious women.

Their traditional habit is certainly beautiful, but the above are more important to the tradition of the Church.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[anode]

This is a very small order, about 10-15, with one novice. Not all are converting. Their more modern mother branch is in England. Time will tell regarding the fate of the order. There are a number of habited RC orders in the US that aren’t growing.

 

[JReducation]

This is a very small order, about 10-15, with one novice. Not all are converting. Their more modern mother branch is in England. Time will tell regarding the fate of the order. There are a number of habited RC orders in the US that aren’t growing.

I misunderstood. I thought that they were coming over as a group, like the Franciscans of the Atonement did.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[anode]

Well, the good sisters have chosen not to publish any substantive facts, but my review of several* blogs *reveals the following:

Their website is now down to a single page. No info of note, no pictures. The other pages have been deleted. ( I remember the old website.)

The property, buildings, and EIGHTY ACRES belongs to the sisterhood, not the diocese. In other words, Schori–Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA-- is not going to snatch it.

There are a total of 12 nuns, most middle age and older. One or two are not converting. Several are going to be laicized but will convert. I don’t know who will remain, how many, or their average age.

They have been a conservative, retired order for some time. Full habit with starch. A semi-contemplative life style. I don’t think they have much in common with the other Episcopal sisterhoods in the US. (www. caroa.net)

 

[JReducation]

Well, the good sisters have chosen not to publish any substantive facts, but my review of several* blogs *reveals the following:

Their website is now down to a single page. No info of note, no pictures. The other pages have been deleted. ( I remember the old website.)

The property, buildings, and EIGHTY ACRES belongs to the sisterhood, not the diocese. In other words, Schori–Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA-- is not going to snatch it.

There are a total of 12 nuns, most middle age and older. One or two are not converting. Several are going to be laicized but will convert. I don’t know who will remain, how many, or their average age.

They have been a conservative, retired order for some time. Full habit with starch. A semi-contemplative life style. I don’t think they have much in common with the other Episcopal sisterhoods in the US. (www. caroa.net)

If they come over as individuals, even though they do so at the same time, they should have an easier transition. It is more difficult to incorporate a religious community. This was the case with the Fanciscans of the Atonement. They came over as an entire religious congregation. They were not able to join the Franciscan Order, because their constitutions were writen by an Anglican and obedience to the pope, bishops and diocesan priests was not in their original constitution, as it is spelled out in Francis’ rule. The bishop who received them into the Church erected them as a Diocesan Society and they had to gradually go through the process of becoming a religious congregation of Pontifical Right.

The sisters should be able to convert and form a community under the auspices of the local bishop. This has happened in recent years with other groups who converted as individuals, but remained united for the purpose of forming a religious community.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF