Has anyone (preferably women) experienced "the calling" after 40?

[anode]

Good show Kathy2004.

I am put off my the grandiose and very expensive plans for the new foundation in AZ. Not exactly in the spirit of Clare and Francis. Francis’ original community broke away from the corporate wealth of the established foundations, and was conspicuous for its poverty. Originally the order was not permitted to own any property at all. But a desire for fine buildings, corporate if not individual wealth, like the old foundations, appears to be creeping back in again.

The Poor Clares in VA built a very expensive new monastery modeled on an Italian hill town. The prioress maintained a blog for a time, in which she described how they had to dun repeatedly the local Catholic dioceses for donations. They had to level a (low) mountain just to build the thing. Before she ended her blog she described problems with drainage, which required more work, and that they had to bring in a handyman with a special apparatus to change the light bulbs in the ceiling. Expensive to maintain.

By contrast, the Poor Clares in Greenville, SC also built a new monastery. Their old one was near what had become a large busy road and the monastery itself badly needed remodeling, including major structural changes to accommodate the older sisters.They built a new monastery in the country to fit their needs, which included room for growth.

poorclaresc.com/

It is beautiful, practical and modest. They have paid for about 80% of the cost.

This community has a lot of members who were religious in active orders or from other contemplative orders before they joined. Their new final profession was an active religious for a number of years. They also have two new postulants.

 

[anode]

Here’s an update on the Olivetan Benedictines in Jonesboro, Arkansas. They are in healthcare and education, and wear an attractive white modified habit (looks like Dominican).

olivben.org/novitiate.html

I couldn’t find this link from their website, which appeared to have several links that didn’t work. i searched google using the phrase, final professions olivetan benedictines.

They have eight in their formation group (one professed last year). One entered when she was 57–she doesn’t look 57 now–and their postulant is a widow, clearly in her 50’s.

 

[Kathy2004]

Here’s an update on the Olivetan Benedictines in Jonesboro, Arkansas. They are in healthcare and education, and wear an attractive white modified habit (looks like Dominican).

olivben.org/novitiate.html

I couldn’t find this link from their website, which appeared to have several links that didn’t work. i searched google using the phrase, final professions olivetan benedictines.

They have eight in their formation group (one professed last year). One entered when she was 57–she doesn’t look 57 now–and their postulant is a widow, clearly in her 50’s.

Just this week, I heard from the vocation director that they no longer take in vocations over 50. I guess the previous regime allowed later vocations occasionally, as was the case with the 57 year old in the above link. I was so encouraged when I also found the above link. But, please contact them just to let them know how many late women are desiring to enter religious life.

There is also a Olivetan Monastery in Hawaii that I made contact with. They stated they prefer women under 50 because they do not have much room and the sisters there are getting older as well. It is a Charismatic community. I was invited to write my autobiography to send to them and then they would see if I might fit there. I think I have decided not to pursue that course for me. I am thinking that I might be more suited to missionary work and be free to go wherever the Lord would like to send me. :bounce::takeoff:

 

[anode]

Thanks, Kathy, for updating us on the Olivetan Benedictines in AK. Sorry to hear.

I think that the Duluth Benedictines, who have five in formation, are open to mature vocations. At least it looks that way on their Vocation page, and age is not referred to at all among the requirements. One is a former Lutheran pastor, who transferred from Sacred Heart in NDak, now in first profession, and another is a postulant (the shorter of the two). I can’t tell about the others, but they could be in their forties.

duluthbenedictines.org/join_women.php

These Benedictines have a variety of charisms, which include teaching in their own College, the College of St. Scholastica, which is listed in the first tier of regional colleges & universities by US News& World Report.

 

[anode]

Just this week, I heard from the vocation director that they no longer take in vocations over 50. I guess the previous regime allowed later vocations occasionally, as was the case with the 57 year old in the above link. I was so encouraged when I also found the above link. But, please contact them just to let them know how many late women are desiring to enter religious life.

There is also a Olivetan Monastery in Hawaii that I made contact with. They stated they prefer women under 50 because they do not have much room and the sisters there are getting older as well. It is a Charismatic community. I was invited to write my autobiography to send to them and then they would see if I might fit there. I think I have decided not to pursue that course for me. I am thinking that I might be more suited to missionary work and be free to go wherever the Lord would like to send me. :bounce::takeoff:

The Missionary Benedictines in Nebraska wear a modified habit and accept candidates to age 45. They have discernment weekends and at least two of the visiting women appeared to be in their 40’s.

i suspect that many orders are receiving inquiries from women between 40-60.

norfolkmbs.org/

This change of regulation probably reflects the fact that they are receiving a lot of inquiries from younger women. But all of that can evaporate very quickly. I think that they should evaluate each case individually, as so many orders do.

 

[anode]

A young poster on another forum describes an upcoming live-in with the Felician Franciscans in New Mexico. l looked them up and found the following:

felicianspa.org/html/news.html

…a link to a final profession that took place in Feb 2009.

Two things are of note. The sister’s age and …her size. I have noticed this in many links to women entering religious life. It would appear that for many orders, weight is not a deterrent. This should be an encouragement for many interested in religious life. I think that the same may be true for mens orders.

 

[irisfromohio]

I have updated the information on our website, oblatesistersofmarymagdalene.net/, so that it now has some pictures of the proposed habit for the community. I have also added more detail about our way of life now that we are part of Cloister Outreach and the Good Shepherd Magdalen Renewal. Now, the site, just like the OSMM is a work in progress, and I am updating it all the time. But I really like the choice of habits and being connected with such a pious group, Cloister Outreach. I invite you to visit us when you have the time:thumbsup:

 

[Kathy2004]

Is anyone familiar with the Sisters of the Lamb of God?

I came upon their website recently and have emailed them but have not got a response yet.

The website does not offer much information but they do accept late vocations and some disabled women.

God bless you,

Kathy:flowers:

 

[irisfromohio]

Being the world’s foremost authority… well, at least in my own mind. I have completed a blog which is, in all honesty, over 15 years in the making. I have been wanting to express my views on the annulment process for years. It was that requirement by the Church for me to pursue my dream of living consecrated life, which drew me even more into living a life in accordance of the evangelical counsels.

I know it may not ring the bell of all of you, but for those of you for whom it’s relevant, I hope it is helpful!

 

[altered_boi]

i have felt the call and imgoing to answer its on vibrate

 

[anode]

New novice of the Poor CLares in Greenville, South Carolina, at their new monastery:

poorclaresc.com/new.html

She is probably in her 50’s…

 

[irisfromohio]

I dare say that many opportunities are opening up for women over 40. It seems to be one option that some are taking to defray the declining numbers. I am also seeing many more communities in habits.

In my own diocese of Columbus OH, the bishop has a new association of the faithful, which looks very attractive, very traditional and extremely Eucharistic. But, alas, it is not for those of us who are more sophisticated in years. When I submitted my charism, Bishop Campbell’s eyes never even glanced at it. The Chancellor cut me off at the knees without even reading it also (he claimed to have, but his answer clearly showed no knowledge of its content).

I am proceeding, with the support of Cloister Outreach, to live the life, fulfill the mission and serve God with my utmost for His Highest. I definitely want older candidates. I believe we can strike the perfect balance between cloistered and secular consecration. I have designed it to be flexible enough to meet most people’s needs. Even people having a challenge getting an annulment. I pray every day that my words are touching the heart of the Father and that His Holy Mother is walking with me every step of the way.

oblatesistersofmarymagdalene.net/

 

[Abscondita]

Greetings, I am also forming a new monastic order for women, I have not set an age
limit. I have been advised by many people including clergy not to go to the bishop
until the association is formed and the members are living in community. I am still
unclear about when a habit can be worn. I intend for our new monastery to wear
a traditional habit. I have written a rule, constitution, formation and charism. The
name of the monastery will be The Holy Face of Jesus and the nuns will practice
St. Therese of Lisieux spirituality. Our new community according to Canon Law
will be a de facto association until Benediction from our bishop. Myself and
another women will be obtaining a house in October of 2009. Several women have
contacted me and they will be interviewed in September. Our plan is to have extern
nuns and cloistered nuns. Our vision is to have perpertual adoration. This ambitious
plan has been 10 years in the making. My advise to anyone who feels the call to
begin a new religious order is to study Canon Law and Civil Law, there are many
documents that are required, also have all you ducks in a row before seeing the
bishop, he will want to see that the association can support itself and also that
the community is following the laws of the Church(cannon law). There are many
documents that need to be in place before profession of vows, these are mostly
Civil Law documents. Everything has to be legal, such as renunciation of property
and goods. Lots to learn!!
PAX

 

[irisfromohio]

Greetings, I am also forming a new monastic order for women, I have not set an age
limit. I have been advised by many people including clergy not to go to the bishop
until the association is formed and the members are living in community. I am still
unclear about when a habit can be worn. I intend for our new monastery to wear
a traditional habit. I have written a rule, constitution, formation and charism. The
name of the monastery will be The Holy Face of Jesus and the nuns will practice
St. Therese of Lisieux spirituality. Our new community according to Canon Law
will be a de facto association until Benediction from our bishop. Myself and
another women will be obtaining a house in October of 2009. Several women have
contacted me and they will be interviewed in September. Our plan is to have extern
nuns and cloistered nuns. Our vision is to have perpertual adoration. This ambitious
plan has been 10 years in the making. My advise to anyone who feels the call to
begin a new religious order is to study Canon Law and Civil Law, there are many
documents that are required, also have all you ducks in a row before seeing the
bishop, he will want to see that the association can support itself and also that
the community is following the laws of the Church(cannon law). There are many
documents that need to be in place before profession of vows, these are mostly
Civil Law documents. Everything has to be legal, such as renunciation of property
and goods. Lots to learn!!
PAX

To the best of my (albeit limited) knowledge, if you are living in community, you may wear your habits, but avoid being seen as such in public. Make sure that your home for the community is in compliance with any regulations regarding a home housing multiple individuals. Many start is a large house with enough bathroom facilities. Turning it into a convent or monastery is more complex, but you will get there.

I have heard the same information about approaching the bishop. I am in the midst of being patient and “doing my time” for more than a year. I already have several women in formation, we will need to meet for a retreat and document the activity. That is another work in progress. As for the members, just remember, “…where two or three are gathered in My Name, there am I in their midst. And all you ask will be given unto you…”

 

[theresam111]

To the best of my (albeit limited) knowledge, if you are living in community, you may wear your habits, but avoid being seen as such in public. Make sure that your home for the community is in compliance with any regulations regarding a home housing multiple individuals. Many start is a large house with enough bathroom facilities. Turning it into a convent or monastery is more complex, but you will get there.

I have heard the same information about approaching the bishop. I am in the midst of being patient and “doing my time” for more than a year. I already have several women in formation, we will need to meet for a retreat and document the activity. That is another work in progress. As for the members, just remember, “…where two or three are gathered in My Name, there am I in their midst. And all you ask will be given unto you…”

I had thought there was a requirement, especially if you don’t have prior Religious Life experience yourself to do a canonical year with another community. That might be hard to do if you already have people living with you. I could be totally wrong on this but it is what I have heard others looking to start a community have had to do. I think Rosiland Moss is getting ready to do her canonical year soon. I can sort of understand a Bishop going slowly with these things. The Church herself is very slow and methodical on such important matters such as this. Its hard to balance an effort to support those expereincing a call to begin a community with the well-being of those interested in Religious Life. Many new communities don’t get off the ground and some leave wounds in its wake when they don’t come together.

I don’t mean to sound like such a downer but I’ve seen and heard of some reall problems in this area.

You are in my prayers!

 

[irisfromohio]

I had thought there was a requirement, especially if you don’t have prior Religious Life experience yourself to do a canonical year with another community. That might be hard to do if you already have people living with you. I could be totally wrong on this but it is what I have heard others looking to start a community have had to do. I think Rosiland Moss is getting ready to do her canonical year soon. I can sort of understand a Bishop going slowly with these things. The Church herself is very slow and methodical on such important matters such as this. Its hard to balance an effort to support those expereincing a call to begin a community with the well-being of those interested in Religious Life. Many new communities don’t get off the ground and some leave wounds in its wake when they don’t come together.

I don’t mean to sound like such a downer but I’ve seen and heard of some reall problems in this area.

You are in my prayers!

AND, you are right again. The founder/superior does have to do a canonical year with another group. I have already fulfilled that requirement, as I was with the Companions of Jesus the Good Shepherd for six years, even making my first vows with them. Yes, Sr. Rosiland is on the East Coast doing just that… serving her canonical year of formation, that is The good thing about this forum is that REAL answers always come to the surface.

 

[theresam111]

AND, you are right again. The founder/superior does have to do a canonical year with another group. I have already fulfilled that requirement, as I was with the Companions of Jesus the Good Shepherd for six years, even making my first vows with them. Yes, Sr. Rosiland is on the East Coast doing just that… serving her canonical year of formation, that is The good thing about this forum is that REAL answers always come to the surface.

Companions of the Good Shepherd, is that the community Mother Nadine Brown was in before founding the Intercessors of the Lamb ( a charismatic community open to older vocations whose charism is Intercession especially for priests)?

 

[irisfromohio]

Companions of the Good Shepherd, is that the community Mother Nadine Brown was in before founding the Intercessors of the Lamb ( a charismatic community open to older vocations whose charism is Intercession especially for priests)?

Close but no cigar (good thing you don’t smoke). Rather it is a form of secular consecration, offered by the dear, late Sr. Rose Virginie, in an attempt to update the Magdalens, as an expression of St. Euphrasia’s charism for which she had much hope to bring penitents and other unlikely women (like women with no dowry) into the congregation of Good Shepherd Sisters. Unfortunately, upon her death, the remaining hierarchy managed to pervert her original idea and thus came the scandalous laundries & homes for unwed mothers who sold the babies. It was suppressed, as it was, but there have been attempts to bring them back, but it’s met with much earned skepticism, with remaining Magdalens being allowed to die out. The formation of the Companions is guided by Good Shepherds (RGS). I discerned long and hard about the Intercessors of the Lamb. But I have charge of a developmentally handicapped daughter and adopted a special needs daughter who is about to turn 18. They were my mission as a Companion, along with making intercessory prayer for the customers I worked with as a bill collector. My bosses didn’t like it, but I collected more money than anyone, always.

Oh, one thing you must remember when you ask me anything: I NEVER GIVE AN ANSWER THAT COULD BE FIVE WORDS LONG WHEN I CAN MANAGE TO SAY THE SAME THING IN ABOUT TWO HUNDRED!

 

[barb_finnegan]

Close but no cigar (good thing you don’t smoke). Rather it is a form of secular consecration, offered by the dear, late Sr. Rose Virginie, in an attempt to update the Magdalens, as an expression of St. Euphrasia’s charism for which she had much hope to bring penitents and other unlikely women (like women with no dowry) into the congregation of Good Shepherd Sisters. Unfortunately, upon her death, the remaining hierarchy managed to pervert her original idea and thus came the scandalous laundries & homes for unwed mothers who sold the babies. It was suppressed, as it was, but there have been attempts to bring them back, but it’s met with much earned skepticism, with remaining Magdalens being allowed to die out. The formation of the Companions is guided by Good Shepherds (RGS). I discerned long and hard about the Intercessors of the Lamb. But I have charge of a developmentally handicapped daughter and adopted a special needs daughter who is about to turn 18. They were my mission as a Companion, along with making intercessory prayer for the customers I worked with as a bill collector. My bosses didn’t like it, but I collected more money than anyone, always.

Oh, one thing you must remember when you ask me anything: I NEVER GIVE AN ANSWER THAT COULD BE FIVE WORDS LONG WHEN I CAN MANAGE TO SAY THE SAME THING IN ABOUT TWO HUNDRED!

Sister Rose Virginie? That’s the religious name of one of Mother Nadine Brown’s Intercessors! She is the niece of a lady I knew in a prayer group I once attended! She is a little older than I am. In her younger years she spent a brief postulancy with the Allegheny Franciscans, but she got injured in a freak accident [one of her fellow postulants plowed into her while sledding] and had to leave.

I met her in 1993, when her aunt’s husband died. She lived outside of Albany, New York, studying part time for her PhD and working temp jobs to pay the bills. I used to go visit her all the time.

After deciding to try religious life again, she applied to the Sisters of Life, but somehow got ‘stonewalled’ by them. Then she went on a discernment retreat with the Intercessors, and Mother said she ‘visualized’ the future Sister Rose Virginie in the habit, so she entered in 2000. She made her final profession in 2005.

Early in her religious life, Sister would ‘bug’ me about coming out to Omaha for a retreat. I told her that ‘I’m not crazy about charismatic stuff’, so she kind of left me alone.

 

[irisfromohio]

Barb, et al,

Indeed, there are several Rose Virginie’s in Eudist/Euphrasia orders. My dear Sr. Rose, was born in Kentucky, but sent to Italy when she was 17 for her education as a Good Shepherd sister. She spoke five languages fluently, served as a nanny for the president of Italy at the time. She was a good friend of JPII as well. She was a wonderful woman who glowed in the charism of St. Mary Euphrasia. OH! And she was in attendance for the sainthood of St. Euphrasia. She was filled with stories about the saint’s life and miracles after her death that led to her becoming the much loved saint she is now. I was going to take the name Rose Virginie for my religious name, but rather than rub my friends who are still Good Shepherds the wrong way, I decided against it. I love my Sr. Rose still, very much.