Are people able to just go to one of Mother Theresa's places or those of her men's communities and start volunteering

[foolishmortal]

…or do you have to fill out applications, have an interview, etc.?

 

[JReducation]

…or do you have to fill out applications, have an interview, etc.?

Not exactly. Like all contemplative communities, the Missionaries of Charity (male and female) make it a point to protect their reiligious from too much contact with the laity to avoid contamination. One has to contact the superior of the house and speaks with him or her first. They will usually ask a few questions and invite you for a visit. During the visit you get a chance to see what the work is really like, which is helpful to you. It often sounds less difficult than what it is. While you’re visiting they are observing you too. The MCs do not have a lot of red tape that you have to go through the volunteer, but they do want to know something about you and they want you to know about them too. This protects you and them. Remember, you’re coming in from the secular world. They’re coming from a whole other world. It has to be a good match.

One thing that you should know about the MCs, they are Indian. I don’t mean that they are ethnically Indian. The sisters or brothers can be from any country, but they are formed in the Indian culture and they make this their culture. They take it where ever they go. They do not adapt to Western culture. Westerners must adapt to Indian customs, either those who enter their community or those who work with them as volunteers.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[foolishmortal]

Thanks! I just seem to be a day or year late and a quality short for these lay volunteer programs. I figure, if they keep an eye on you where you’re at (and I understand Indians don’t mind being together in a small room), they won’t have to worry about one being a pervert, thus less documents and interviews in which I can make myself out to be less worthy than I may be to help out at one of these places. I try to be honest, but not said what doesn’t need saying and I don’t know what I don’t need to say, especially when nervous in an interview. I represent myself better on paper or in working with the people.
A lot of these lay volunteer places have late teens to twenties and I’m 34. I’m probably too old for most lay or consecrated vocations by now, anyway.

Madonna House was a come and stay as long as you like it and they like you well enough program, but I have little interest in being in an agricultural community and being assaulted by swarms of biting insects in the warm months. If I’m going to be bitten all over, it’s in the service of the needy. It’s a nice bunch, but it’s a bit too fast-paced for me. Everyone seemed to be in a big rush to clean things up or do the work. I though farm life was a slower-paced life than that of the city/suburbs.

 

[JReducation]

Thanks! I just seem to be a day or year late and a quality short for these lay volunteer programs. I figure, if they keep an eye on you where you’re at (and I understand Indians don’t mind being together in a small room), they won’t have to worry about one being a pervert, thus less documents and interviews in which I can make myself out to be less worthy than I may be to help out at one of these places. I try to be honest, but not said what doesn’t need saying and I don’t know what I don’t need to say, especially when nervous in an interview. I represent myself better on paper or in working with the people.
A lot of these lay volunteer places have late teens to twenties and I’m 34. I’m probably too old for most lay or consecrated vocations by now, anyway.

Madonna House was a come and stay as long as you like it and they like you well enough program, but I have little interest in being in an agricultural community and being assaulted by swarms of biting insects in the warm months. If I’m going to be bitten all over, it’s in the service of the needy. It’s a nice bunch, but it’s a bit too fast-paced for me. Everyone seemed to be in a big rush to clean things up or do the work. I though farm life was a slower-paced life than that of the city/suburbs.

The Missionaries of Charity are not as formal as Catholic Charities or a corporate organization, if that’s what you mean. Of course they would want to filter out deviants, but the reason they want to meet you is beyond that. There work is rugged and often becomes tedious. They want to make sure that you can deal with that. Also, they have their own culture and they want to make sure that you’re comfortable with it.

I knew a young woman who left, because the sisters would not interrupt their prayers to clean a man who had pooped in his sickbed. She went on a rampage all over youtube and to anyone who would listen. Obviously this person does not understand the life of a contemplative. They are not social workers or nurses, they are people of prayer. Their ministry flows from their intimacy with Christ in prayer.

Volunteers with these communities have to understand the kind of people that they are working with, not just the poor, but also the religious. If they do not understand, they will not be happy. By all means, explore the possibility. You’re not too old. If you were a man, I would encourage you to explore the Franciscan Brothers of Life too.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[foolishmortal]

Thanks a lot!

I know there’s a famous Catholic guy named John–something, who said he’d play pool if he was told the world was about to end while in recreation time, because recreation is what he is to do. On the other hand, Jesus cured a man on a day of rest. I’m not sure what’s the right thing to do in the situation of the guy who pooped in his sickbed. I personally think one of the nuns probably should have been ordered to stop her prayers and I feel her frustration, but she should have discussed it first with them before ranting.

 

[JReducation]

Thanks a lot!

I know there’s a famous Catholic guy named John–something, who said he’d play pool if he was told the world was about to end while in recreation time, because recreation is what he is to do. On the other hand, Jesus cured a man on a day of rest. I’m not sure what’s the right thing to do in the situation of the guy who pooped in his sickbed. I personally think one of the nuns probably should have been ordered to stop her prayers and I feel her frustration, but she should have discussed it first with them before ranting.

She alleges that she did. We’ll have to take that at face value. I do know that contemplative communities do not interrupt prayers unless it’s a matter of life and death. If it’s something that can wait until the end of prayer, then it waits.

For example, in my community one brother is assigned to answer the door and the telephone during prayer. If it’s not a life and death situation, the brother who is praying may not be disturbed. What we do is that the volunteers who are working with our people take care of them while the brothers are at prayer. So I’m not sure why this person could not clean the person herself.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF