Considering a vocation of sisterhood/nun

[CP_Snooky]

Franciscans …what a lovely order! I am sure this contact info can connect you with an order in your area.

Franciscan Sisters
of St. Joseph
Sr. M. Paulette Tirone, FSSJ
General Minister
5286 South Park Ave.
Hamburg, NY 14075
Tel. (716) 649-1205
Fax: (716) 649-5958
E-mail: smptirone@fssj.org
Web: www.franciscansistershamburg.org

or

Conventual Franciscan Friars
Immaculate Conception Province
Rev. Justin Biase, OFM, Conv.,
Minister Provincial
Provincialate
517 Washington Ave.
P.O. Box 629
Rensselaer, NY 12144
Tel. (518) 472-1000
Fax: (518) 472-1013
E-mail: Webmaster@franciscanseast.org
Web: www.franciscanseast.org

Conventual Franciscan Friars

 

[the_lords_sheep]

Like many other people said here, not all communities are equal: despite having the same title of “Franciscan”, there are many different fruits on the same tree, mostly expressed by each communities’ charism. A charism is the special spirit given to the group by the Holy Spirit. So in addition to living a tradition Franciscan lifestyle of community life with a special emphasis on poverty, orders have a special spirit that makes them different from other groups.
The CFR Sisters
live very strictly Father Francis’ vow of poverty in New York City, while the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate have a special media apostalate to spread the understanding of the Immaculate Conception of our Lady. The Sisters Servants of the Eternal Word have a bit more contemplative aspect with a bit more emphasis on study as they do retreats and catechize.
There are a myriad of wonderful orders out there to choose from, even if you begin by limiting it to the Franciscans. My advice? Get a spiritual director who can help you narrow things like Active or Contemplative? What type of community life? What type of Apostalate? What type of prayer life you need? etc

Here are some other Franciscans: (just google them and you’ll find them online)
The Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration (PCPA)
Poor Clares Colletine
Franciscan Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows
Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist
Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Infant Jesus
Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (St. Clare of Assisi Province)
Franciscan Sisters of Christ the Divine Teacher
Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, India
Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity
Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal
Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate
Franciscan Sisters, Third Order Regular of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother
Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis
Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration
Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Eucharist
Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George
School Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis
Poor Clare Missionary Sisters
Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ
Daughters of St. Francis of Assisi

Also check the CMSWR

God Bless and Good Luck! Feel free to PM me if you have questions!

 

[Margarite]

Another thing to remeber is that if you talk to sisters of one order, they are equally willing for you to go to another order as they are willing for you to join theirs. They know the joy of joining the right order, and they want the same for you. So if you talk with an order of nuns that have access to the internet, they will be able to help you very much by pointing you in the right direction.

Also be careful, there are many orders that are not conservative and that a person should be weary of, so look for ones that are growing with young nuns, where the nuns are happy, and where they wear floor length habits and veils. I would say full habit, but the Nashville Dominicans and the Sister Servants, both wear a 3/4 habit with a little of their hair showing and the are both wonderful orders.
Many people here have been focusing on the Franciscans, but don’t for get the Dominicans, Carmelites, Benedictines, etc… There are so many great orders started by so many great saints. I agree, with all the other people, find someone who can guide you, someone who you trust and pray. God will lead you to where you need to be.
I am also trying to decern my vocation, but I believe that God wants me to go to college first, so I am just praying that when the time comes, God will show me the way in no uncertain terms. In the mean time, every time I hear of a saint who founded an order I look that order up and try to see if they still exist, and if they are conservative or not.
Such as the Visitation order that St. Margaret Mary belonged to. I have looked them up and the orders in the USA are as liberal as they get. So, sadly they are not for me. I will continue to look and God will lead me.
I will pray for your journey to turn out well.
Yours Through Our Lady,
Margarite

 

[Cloisters]

Another thing to remeber is that if you talk to sisters of one order, they are equally willing for you to go to another order as they are willing for you to join theirs. They know the joy of joining the right order, and they want the same for you. So if you talk with an order of nuns that have access to the internet, they will be able to help you very much by pointing you in the right direction.

Also be careful, there are many orders that are not conservative and that a person should be weary of, so look for ones that are growing with young nuns, where the nuns are happy, and where they wear floor length habits and veils. I would say full habit, but the Nashville Dominicans and the Sister Servants, both wear a 3/4 habit with a little of their hair showing and the are both wonderful orders.
Many people here have been focusing on the Franciscans, but don’t for get the Dominicans, Carmelites, Benedictines, etc… There are so many great orders started by so many great saints. I agree, with all the other people, find someone who can guide you, someone who you trust and pray. God will lead you to where you need to be.
I am also trying to decern my vocation, but I believe that God wants me to go to college first, so I am just praying that when the time comes, God will show me the way in no uncertain terms. In the mean time, every time I hear of a saint who founded an order I look that order up and try to see if they still exist, and if they are conservative or not.
Such as the Visitation order that St. Margaret Mary belonged to. I have looked them up and the orders in the USA are as liberal as they get. So, sadly they are not for me. I will continue to look and God will lead me.
I will pray for your journey to turn out well.
Yours Through Our Lady,
Margarite

Most of the Second Federation of the Visitation are liberal. There are two houses which I have listed on my website. The First Federation is cloistered, and they’re all listed on my site.

cloisters.tripod.com/

Look under “Other Religious Communities.”

HTH.

Blessings,
Cloisters

 

[1234]

Margarite:
Such as the Visitation order that St. Margaret Mary belonged to. I have looked them up and the orders in the USA are as liberal as they get. So, sadly they are not for me. ]

The Visitation nuns are all over the map in their observance.

The most conservative are probably in Tyringham, MA. They’re at:

www.vistyr.org

FULL habit. Read the Novitiate Notes–full observance. Including that begging the food penance before Sr. M. Bernadette took final vows. Unfortunately, she hasn’t kept up the notes.

Snellville GA are conservative–full habit and no website. But there are pix and a profile on this blog:

kellywegelphoto.blogspot.com/2007/08/story-monastic-life.html

Toledo OH are conservative–full habit. they’re at:

toledovisitation.org/

WARNING: not all trad orders with habits are getting vocations. I think that this is a misconception. Many are, especially a handful, including the Dominicans of St. Cecilia and Mary Mother of the Eucharist; Franciscans of the Martyr St George; and a few others. …but if you’re looking for a trad order with lots of young smiling faces, those requirements will narrow it down quite a bit. The other trad orders need vocations too!

 

[Margarite]

Thank you all for these web sites. I am glad to know that the Visitation order is still alive and thriving. After reading about these different orders, I realize that the Visitation order is not for me. One of my gifts (talents) is dealing with people and I think that God gave this gift to me for a reason. I need to deal with people to be happy, and I think that God made me this way for a reason. So I am still hunting. Maybe I will be an extern. I have at least 4 years until I get my degree, so I have that long to look. God will guide me.
Thanks Again,
Yours Through Our Lady,
Margarite

 

[kathielee]

When one hears the “call” long enough to know it’s really a calling…and has been patient to wait for the direction of the Holy Spirit, along with one’s spiritual director…and one hears the still, small voice that contemplative is the calling, prayer for vocations is the calling, and has the ability to start a diocesan order for this purpose…then what???

 

[Cloisters]

When one hears the “call” long enough to know it’s really a calling…and has been patient to wait for the direction of the Holy Spirit, along with one’s spiritual director…and one hears the still, small voice that contemplative is the calling, prayer for vocations is the calling, and has the ability to start a diocesan order for this purpose…then what???

Take a look at our proposed Cloisterites, Kathilee.

cloisters.tripod.com/cloisterites/

Sounds like what you’re feeling.

Blessings,
Cloisters

 

[kathielee]

Take a look at our proposed Cloisterites, Kathilee.

cloisters.tripod.com/cloisterites/

Sounds like what you’re feeling.

Blessings,
Cloisters

I took a look at the website. I’m not very “up” on what is approved and what isn’t by Rome or even by a diocese! I have a Cistercian spirituality…and so, is this something I can do here where I live? Can I start a contemplative (but not cloistered) diocesan order here with the approval of my bishop? So sorry for not understanding

Thank you for the link…!!

 

[Cloisters]

I took a look at the website. I’m not very “up” on what is approved and what isn’t by Rome or even by a diocese! I have a Cistercian spirituality…and so, is this something I can do here where I live? Can I start a contemplative (but not cloistered) diocesan order here with the approval of my bishop? So sorry for not understanding

Thank you for the link…!!

Please PM me. Perhaps our Founders’ Forum could be of use to you.

Blessings,
Cloisters

 

[Margarite]

I took a look at the website. I’m not very “up” on what is approved and what isn’t by Rome or even by a diocese! I have a Cistercian spirituality…and so, is this something I can do here where I live? Can I start a contemplative (but not cloistered) diocesan order here with the approval of my bishop? So sorry for not understanding

Thank you for the link…!!

I believe you have to have the permission of the pope to start a new order, or if you just want to start a new branch of an existing order, I believe you have to talk to the leaders of that order, if there are any. I am not sure though. Why don’t you try talking with the foundress of the Ann Arbor Dominicans, they started up recently and she could help, but I don’t know.

 

[kathielee]

I believe you have to have the permission of the pope to start a new order, or if you just want to start a new branch of an existing order, I believe you have to talk to the leaders of that order, if there are any. I am not sure though. Why don’t you try talking with the foundress of the Ann Arbor Dominicans, they started up recently and she could help, but I don’t know.

Thank you for helping I know a bishop can approve a diocesan order but I’m wondering…which I would do if I could and if I had a clue how to do that! I can barely manage my own checkbook…

Kathie

 

[Margarite]

Thank you for helping I know a bishop can approve a diocesan order but I’m wondering…which I would do if I could and if I had a clue how to do that! I can barely manage my own checkbook…

Kathie

When I was a little girl, my two sisters and I decided that we would start our own order.
I was going to join some order that I kind of liked, so I could get the general idea of how they were run, my second sister was going to become a doctor, so that no outside doctors would need to come into our convent, and the third sister was going to marry a rich old man who was about to die so that we would have plenty of money to build a monastery.
Of course we are not still following that plan, but we are all still interested.
Every time we talk about it, we keep coming back to how much we admire the Dominican way of life. They teach children, give them the basis for a good Catholic life. They are constantly learning, they are sent to college if they have not already been. They pray constantly even while teaching, I had a Dominican teacher once, and her hands were constantly moving over her beads. We also love the Benedictines and their order to constantly be busy and working. We like the Sister Servants who use their previous knowledge to help themselves build their convent and retreat house. We like the way the brothers of EWTN further the cause of Truth through technology. We love the beauty and reverence shown by the Carmelite sisters and the fact that they wear full habits.
We like all different parts of different orders, but I think if we all three go into the convent, it will more than likely be the Dominicans, or we will start our own order with all this combined.
Think about what you want your life to be, think about what you love to do, think about what your talents are, God gave you those talents for a reason, maybe it is because he wants you to lead other young women who also have those talents.

And if you can’t manage your own checkbook, make sure you find a woman who can. God will provide.

Yours Through Our Lady,
Margarite

 

[kathielee]

When I was a little girl, my two sisters and I decided that we would start our own order.
I was going to join some order that I kind of liked, so I could get the general idea of how they were run, my second sister was going to become a doctor, so that no outside doctors would need to come into our convent, and the third sister was going to marry a rich old man who was about to die so that we would have plenty of money to build a monastery.
Of course we are not still following that plan, but we are all still interested.
Every time we talk about it, we keep coming back to how much we admire the Dominican way of life. They teach children, give them the basis for a good Catholic life. They are constantly learning, they are sent to college if they have not already been. They pray constantly even while teaching, I had a Dominican teacher once, and her hands were constantly moving over her beads. We also love the Benedictines and their order to constantly be busy and working. We like the Sister Servants who use their previous knowledge to help themselves build their convent and retreat house. We like the way the brothers of EWTN further the cause of Truth through technology. We love the beauty and reverence shown by the Carmelite sisters and the fact that they wear full habits.
We like all different parts of different orders, but I think if we all three go into the convent, it will more than likely be the Dominicans, or we will start our own order with all this combined.
Think about what you want your life to be, think about what you love to do, think about what your talents are, God gave you those talents for a reason, maybe it is because he wants you to lead other young women who also have those talents.

And if you can’t manage your own checkbook, make sure you find a woman who can. God will provide.

Yours Through Our Lady,
Margarite

I love the Rule of St. Benedict, the quiet and contemplation of the Trappists and Carmelites, would love to get my hands on catechesis for CCD classes, and I like the Sister Servants too. I guess, I’m in complete agreement with you and your sisters! So, bring yourselves on down to the beautiful Ozark Mountains and start one with me next door to the Trappist abbey, which is also next door to a Franciscan prayer house for the Province, and next door to a nuns’ hermitage…and there is much much much need for the presence of full habit nuns in this area. Not to mention the fact that my dear 78 year old priest is trying to pastor 5 parishes! Wow ! Kathie

 

[Margarite]

That would be wonderful wouldn’t it? But first I need an education.

I totally agree with you, I think there is a real need for nuns to teach CCD and youth groups, and bible studies, etc… I mean those three groups are hardly Catholic. Just think what a bunch of beautiful nuns could do with children in these groups. WOW! The world would be a better place, the Church would be much better off also.
Dreams have to wait on reality though, my dad insists that I go to college first (and I totally agree ). That way I can be of more help.

It is so nice to meet people who agree with me! It is refreshing and rare. Thank you!

Yours Through Our Lady,
Margarite

 

[kathielee]

That would be wonderful wouldn’t it? But first I need an education.

I totally agree with you, I think there is a real need for nuns to teach CCD and youth groups, and bible studies, etc… I mean those three groups are hardly Catholic. Just think what a bunch of beautiful nuns could do with children in these groups. WOW! The world would be a better place, the Church would be much better off also.
Dreams have to wait on reality though, my dad insists that I go to college first (and I totally agree ). That way I can be of more help.

It is so nice to meet people who agree with me! It is refreshing and rare. Thank you!

Yours Through Our Lady,
Margarite

Well, hey, I have a degree in Education, K-9…! let’s go! LOL

 

[Margarite]

Well, hey, I have a degree in Education, K-9…! let’s go! LOL

You’ll have to start without me and I’ll join in 4 years. Sorry But I just got to get an education! I am going to Wyoming Catholic College, to study Liberal Arts. While that is no teaching degree, it will help me to better defend and understand my faith, and that is what is really needed to teach the youth, (In my opinon)
Wouldn’t that be crazy though if we did start an order together? I mean we both just happened to post on this thread and meet eachother and then… That would be crazy!

Yours Through Our Lady,
Margarite

 

[kathielee]

You’ll have to start without me and I’ll join in 4 years. Sorry But I just got to get an education! I am going to Wyoming Catholic College, to study Liberal Arts. While that is no teaching degree, it will help me to better defend and understand my faith, and that is what is really needed to teach the youth, (In my opinon)
Wouldn’t that be crazy though if we did start an order together? I mean we both just happened to post on this thread and meet eachother and then… That would be crazy!

Yours Through Our Lady,
Margarite

I have heard great things about the Wyoming college…and it must also be beautiful there. Kathie

 

[Margarite]

I have heard great things about the Wyoming college…and it must also be beautiful there. Kathie

The pictures look really beautiful, but I have not visited yet. I am so excited about going. If the financial stuff works out I will be attending WCC starting in August:thumbsup:
I am excited!!! I was accepted on the eighth and now I am working on the financial aid. Wow! I am totally excited! Did I mention that I am excited

Anyways, I recommend that anyone who is Catholic and is interested in a liberal arts education should look at WCC from what I have seen,it looks great!

Sorry for taking my excitement out on you!

I will pray that God guide you.

Yours Through Our Lady,

Margarite

PS: Do you have a particular saint who you have asked to help you with this?

 

[kathielee]

The pictures look really beautiful, but I have not visited yet. I am so excited about going. If the financial stuff works out I will be attending WCC starting in August:thumbsup:
I am excited!!! I was accepted on the eighth and now I am working on the financial aid. Wow! I am totally excited! Did I mention that I am excited

Anyways, I recommend that anyone who is Catholic and is interested in a liberal arts education should look at WCC from what I have seen,it looks great!

Sorry for taking my excitement out on you!

I will pray that God guide you.

Yours Through Our Lady,

Margarite

I can imagine you are excited and you are definitely headed to a great place!

Saints…I tend to invoke the entire heavenly court ! I simply ask them to pray with me…all apostles, saints, angels and arcangels through the intercession of our Blessed Mother. If I am lost or have something lost, I will always pray to St. Anthony of Padua. He has shown me instantly that he is my prayer partner!

PS: Do you have a particular saint who you have asked to help you with this?