I have a degree in forestry and intend to pay off student debt through forestry work. But I’m considering religious life. Are there any women religious congregations that work in forests somehow? I know some orders like Sisters of Providence have an organic farm, but I’m looking for an order that tends forests or maybe runs summer camps. Or does anyone have ideas how I could use my forestry education to spread the Gospel?
Thank you
Greetings, WaldMissionar!
May I ask how long you have been discerning?
I didn’t know what a degree in forestry entailed, so I looked it up, and it appears that it is close in kin with wildlife conservation. Am I right??
I “googled” to see if any religious congregations engage in wildlife conservation because I remember seeing some that did, and I came across:
The Sisters of Charity in New York
scny.org/environment.html
–They don’t wear a habit, but they are involved in many environmental practices. The weblink I gave you will take you right to their environmental ministry.
You might even consider being a missionary sister with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur or another missionary convent. They often go to the deep areas of the forest to teach the natives. It’s a dangerous vocation, though, but if God is calling you, there shouldn’t be anything in your way.
I do want to help you acknowledge that your forestry degree may not be put to use when you become a Sister. There are sacrifices that come with the vocation, so, even though you finished your schooling, you might not use it in the order. I know a Carmelite Sister who majored in Hydrology before she became a Sister, and she is not using her degree. Depending on whatever order you enter, they may require you to return to school and get a degree that will apply to their ministries.
Please don’t apply to an order simply because they have a ministry that you could use your degree in. Pray and discern with the order that you are interested in. Be prepared for God to call you to a different order if it happens. He knows what is best! God bless you, and I’ll be praying for you!
