Contemplative-Active Orders?

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Hi,
I’ve been discerning a possible call to the priesthood for a long time now, and trying to figure out which order or community would fit me best. I’ve pretty much discerned out diocesan priesthood.

At this point I think what I’m looking for is a primarily contemplative order/community, but with some active ministry or presence in the world. I’m thinking something along the lines of a 70%/30% or 80/20 split, contemplative/active. I would love to know if anyone knows of any orders that would fit this description.

Thanks!

PS I live in Ireland but am open to suggestions of US or International communities, so all suggestions are welcome. 🙂
 
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I’m no expert on this but I think contemplative orders that have historical ties to cities, like some benedictine monasteries, are a good option.

If you want to go a little more active, there is the carmelite friars, who are mendicant but have a very contemplative (and particular) spirituality.

Otherwise, I think the dominicans have their prayer life modeled after monastic orders; but they are primarily active.
 
If you have any attraction to the Latin Mass, the Redemptorists at Papa Stronsay, Scotland, have a healthy mix of contemplative/active. If I’m not mistaken, I believe they rotate 6 months in a parish, 6 months at the monastery.
 
You never know what happens in the future. There are several men who entered the Carmelite order for the contemplative life and were later called by the Church to be bishops.

Contact the vocations director or some of the different orders in your diocese to start. Several orders have the Novitiate in one country and then the brothers are sent back or to different countries to study and later work depending upon language skills. Some are doing administration while others are involved in parish work or teaching anywhere from primary to university level courses. Some take care of the monastery/convent and the elderly brothers.

One contemplative Dominican sister said: "You won’t be doing the same things from when you enter until you die. You might not even live in the same house or country. You are sent where you are needed. "
 
Looking at this list, I would say that the Norbertine Fathers may be what you’re looking for.

www.catholicireland.net

Religious Orders - Catholicireland.net

The Conference of Religious of Ireland The purpose of the Conference is to serve the leaders and through [...]
www.catholicireland.net

By all means, look locally first. Ireland is in dire need of good Catholic witness.

Blessings,
Mrs. Cloisters OP
Lay Dominican
http://cloisters.tripod.com/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/
http://cloisters.tripod.com/holyangels/id9.html/
 
Do you have a draw to a particular spirituality? I’d probably start there.
 
Redemptorists at Papa Stronsay, Scotland, have a healthy mix of contemplative/active. If I’m not mistaken, I believe they rotate 6 months in a parish, 6 months at the monastery.

I discerned a vocation with the Redemptoristine nuns, cloistered, Ligouri, Missouri. They prayed for the Redemptorist fathers throughout the world. The fathers were also provided retirement, burial, publishing and medical facilities on the grounds.
 
I actually contacted the norbertines of St. Michael’s abbey in the US but they aren’t accepting international vocations. I think they have too many vocations! Praise God. But yes I think they are close to what I’m after. 🙂 Unfortunately in Ireland there is only one community, which is all but dead, and only a few elderly priests in it.

As for a spirituality - Carmelite, but I can’t say I feel drawn to becoming a Carmelite. Eucharistic, too.
 
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There could be problems with visas, health care etc when people come from a different country. After looking into religious orders in Ireland then the EU countries might be a better option than the USA because of all the agreements between the different countries.

Remember that just because one house doesn’t have any younger brothers there could be several in other houses that belong to the same order and province. Provinces sometimes cover two or more countries.
 
Thanks! I’ll have a look at the article. Yeah, I saw one young community who have an emphasis on carmelite spirituality but I’m not sure about them. It can be a little bewildering googling as there are so many groups and orders in existence! But I’ll find the right place in God’s time 🙂
 
Perhaps the Benedictines “en Monte” (in the mountains) in Norcia, Italy? They are quite contemplative but also sell the beer they brew, garden, raise animals, & have a charisma for hospitality. They were founded by an American monk so the language within the monastery is English.

Edited to add: they pray in Latin & their Mass is in Latin.
 
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