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Kathy2004
Guest
Thank you for that link. They appear to be a wonderful community.
Do you know if they wear a habit?
God Bless,
Kathy
Do you know if they wear a habit?
God Bless,
Kathy
Has anyone (preferably women) experienced "the calling" after 40?
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Kathy2004
Guest
Hello Iris,
I have checked out your blog. In fact I saw you in another forum or read something you wrote about the Sisters of Saint Dominic. I can’t remember where but I do not think it was in this forum. Do you post anywhere else?
I contacted Sr. Evelyn and in fact, talked to her on the phone yesterday. She prayed for me and gave me a word of encouragement. She is involved in the Catholic Charismatic movement and is in Stuebenville, Ohio. She did not say whether or not she would take a late vocation. I told her that I am also interested in a couple of other communities as well.
Thank you for the information. You are a blessing.
Kathy
I have checked out your blog. In fact I saw you in another forum or read something you wrote about the Sisters of Saint Dominic. I can’t remember where but I do not think it was in this forum. Do you post anywhere else?
I contacted Sr. Evelyn and in fact, talked to her on the phone yesterday. She prayed for me and gave me a word of encouragement. She is involved in the Catholic Charismatic movement and is in Stuebenville, Ohio. She did not say whether or not she would take a late vocation. I told her that I am also interested in a couple of other communities as well.
Thank you for the information. You are a blessing.
Kathy
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Abscondita
Guest
I certainly understand a delayed vocation. I am in the begining stage of forming
a monastic order. I have felt the call to do this for 10 years. It is not an easy
task. I am in the process of writing a rule and constitution, the next step is to
meet with my bishop. As of yet I have not set an age limit simply because I
feel that God can call anyone at anytime. As time goes on and things develope
I will have more information. As of now Iam asking that anyone interested should
write to me. The order that I am forming will certainly wear traditional habits.
My intention is to have clositered nuns and extern nuns. The rule that Iam
writing is Franciscan and Benedictine. My advise is that if you haven’t visited
a monastic order you should. Most monasteries will allow discernment retreats.
Also read books on the contemplative life and last but not least, pray,pray,pray.
PAX
Abscondita
a monastic order. I have felt the call to do this for 10 years. It is not an easy
task. I am in the process of writing a rule and constitution, the next step is to
meet with my bishop. As of yet I have not set an age limit simply because I
feel that God can call anyone at anytime. As time goes on and things develope
I will have more information. As of now Iam asking that anyone interested should
write to me. The order that I am forming will certainly wear traditional habits.
My intention is to have clositered nuns and extern nuns. The rule that Iam
writing is Franciscan and Benedictine. My advise is that if you haven’t visited
a monastic order you should. Most monasteries will allow discernment retreats.
Also read books on the contemplative life and last but not least, pray,pray,pray.
PAX
Abscondita
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Kathy2004
Guest
How does one start a community? I have thought that I would like to have one as well,(not that I am ready for that.)
GBY,
Kathy
Kathy
Cloisters
Well-known member
Founders & Friends: groups.yahoo.com/group/founders_and_friends/
Feel free to PM me.
Blessings,
Cloisters
Foundress
Cloisterite Hermits
cloisters.tripod.com/cloisterites/
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theresam111
Guest
:nun1::nun1::nun1:The Lord is risen, Alleluia!
Well, I don’t know that I can honestly say I experienced “the call” after the age of 40 but I have not been able to look at it seriously until now (I’m 43). I have been a widow with a son to raise, and he is now on his own. I have been a Lay Carmelite for many years but this has not quenched the burning desire in my heart to give myself more completely the Lord and His service.
I have checked out a few of the websites including the Vision vocation site. I have contacted vocationplacement.org and found this helpful. The vision site seemed to only give you “hits” on communities that pay into the service.
I am looking for a community that is contemplative, not cloistered, have an active ministry but not one that involves most of every day, as well as charismatic and Carmelite if possible. I know I ask for much but it is the desire in my heart.
I do know that the Visitation Sisters do take late vocations as their foundress with a widow with children herself, Saint Jane Francis De Chantel. They were a full habit and live a cloister life - for those who might be interested.
I have been in contact with the Intercessors of the Lamb and am going out for a retreat with them the beginning of June. Their charism is one of contemplative intercessory prayer, especially for priests and spiritual warfare. They do parish mission work, youth ministry and hold a conference each summer in Omaha, Nebraska. Has anyone else been in touch with them?
Let us continue to pray for one another on this awesome journey of discovery!
Theresa
Well, I don’t know that I can honestly say I experienced “the call” after the age of 40 but I have not been able to look at it seriously until now (I’m 43). I have been a widow with a son to raise, and he is now on his own. I have been a Lay Carmelite for many years but this has not quenched the burning desire in my heart to give myself more completely the Lord and His service.
I have checked out a few of the websites including the Vision vocation site. I have contacted vocationplacement.org and found this helpful. The vision site seemed to only give you “hits” on communities that pay into the service.
I am looking for a community that is contemplative, not cloistered, have an active ministry but not one that involves most of every day, as well as charismatic and Carmelite if possible. I know I ask for much but it is the desire in my heart.
I do know that the Visitation Sisters do take late vocations as their foundress with a widow with children herself, Saint Jane Francis De Chantel. They were a full habit and live a cloister life - for those who might be interested.
I have been in contact with the Intercessors of the Lamb and am going out for a retreat with them the beginning of June. Their charism is one of contemplative intercessory prayer, especially for priests and spiritual warfare. They do parish mission work, youth ministry and hold a conference each summer in Omaha, Nebraska. Has anyone else been in touch with them?
Let us continue to pray for one another on this awesome journey of discovery!
Theresa
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Kathy2004
Guest
Hi Theresa,
I am 56 years old and feel a call on my life as well! I am a divorcee, so that makes it more difficult to become a Sister. I am attempting to get an annulment, which should happen, but there have been unnecessary delays that make me think that a convent may not be for me.
I found one called the Community of the Epiphany (www.epiphanycommunity.org) that I thought sounded absolutely perfect for me. I believe they may be Charismatic as well. Their Charism is the Paschal Mystery, which I identify with strongly and their mission work is with disabled, prisoners and homeless, all three on my own heart. I made contact and received some information, I emailed back and did not get a response. I wrote again and the response was almost nil. That happened also with Rosalind Moss’s new community, and one other. It is weird.
There is another community you might be interested in called The Sisters of Saint Dominic of Steubenville, Oh. I have spoke with Sister Evelyn and she is Charismatic and close to the Franciscan University. It is a fairly new community and I was told they take late vocations, although I don’t think you would be considered old.
Today I wrote to the Madonna House. It is one of the first lay ministries after vatican two. I will see how that goes.
God bless you on your journey,
Kathy
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Kathy2004
Guest
I accidently found another community that takes late vocations. One Sister entered at 57. I will be 57 in August! I feel encouraged, Praise the Lord.
This community is Benedictine. I go to the Prince of Peace Abbey here in Oceanside and it is Benedictine. I love their prayers and spirituality. The first medal I bought was St. Benedict and this was right before Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope and chose St. Benedict for his name. I feel like that was prophetic for me.
olivben.org/novitiate.html
Have a Divine Sunday!
Kathy
This community is Benedictine. I go to the Prince of Peace Abbey here in Oceanside and it is Benedictine. I love their prayers and spirituality. The first medal I bought was St. Benedict and this was right before Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope and chose St. Benedict for his name. I feel like that was prophetic for me.
olivben.org/novitiate.html
Have a Divine Sunday!
Kathy
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theresam111
Guest
Kathy,I accidently found another community that takes late vocations. One Sister entered at 57. I will be 57 in August! I feel encouraged, Praise the Lord.
This community is Benedictine. I go to the Prince of Peace Abbey here in Oceanside and it is Benedictine. I love their prayers and spirituality. The first medal I bought was St. Benedict and this was right before Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope and chose St. Benedict for his name. I feel like that was prophetic for me.
olivben.org/novitiate.html
Have a Divine Sunday!
Kathy
Have you checked out vocationplacement.org. They ask some questions and then email you with information on communities that fit what you are looking for. There are many communities that accept later vocations. You can specify things like full habit, communal prayer, Benedictine, Carmelite, ect. While I wish there were more parameters it was certainly helpful for me.
I was at a profession of some Visitation sisters in Brooklyn, NY and they had people above 60 being professed.
Do you know if you are called to the Benedictine charism? I know I have taken a look at St. Benedict Monestary in Texas and the Benedictines of Jesus Crucified in Conneticut, both accept later vocations, though I don’t know if they have a cutoff.
For me part of the struggle is separating the less traditional from the more traditional. I recently visited a community who said shortly after my arrival that they are “very modern”. This, it turns out meant that they did things like use inclusive language in liturgy and things along that line. This I am not interested in. Any hints on recognizing this difference would be helpful.
Theresa
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irisfromohio
Guest
May I second that, Theresa? My sister in San Francisco is a Benedictine Oblate & she is a Presbyterian. She always talks about going on retreat with them, receiving The Eucharist and how angry she gets when she listens to a Catholic radio station talk about non Catholics shouldn’t receive… we almost got into an argument about that, but I left it there. They also engage in a lot of “new age” things… meditations, Bhuddist traditions, getting energy from crystals & rocks. That has been my only recent interaction with anything Benedictine, so I was afraid the entire order had gone “modern”. In Ohio, we don’t have anything Benedictine close to me.
There doesn’t seem to be much in Ohio.
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Kathy2004
Guest
Hi Theresa,
I have not heard of vocationplacement.org. I may check it out. I do know that until I get the annulment, there is not much I can do. I still check things out once in awhile to see what is out there. I am not absolutely sure that I am to enter a convent or that the strict religious life is for me. I am absolutely devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ. I love Him above all things and find it difficult functioning in this world in a secular way.
I totally agree with you about the non-traditional communities. I am not interested in any of that. I am totally Orthodox and am not liberal or into New Age philosophy. I wouldn’t recommend any communities like that.
I am not sure if I am drawn to Benedictine spirituality per se. I enjoy vespers at the Abbey here. I love St. Benedict. From what I read he was very full of the Holy Spirit and I like that. I wish I could find a community that was truly Charismatic; full of the Holy Spirit and operated in the gifts, mostly where love was in abundance. I am not into religiosity.
I am a convert who had a tremendous encounter with the Lord that totally changed me. The chains of sin were broken and I was set free. The Love of God was shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit. Now, I want is Him and to lead others to Jesus. I love to help people.
I have heard of the Intercessors of the Lamb. They have prayed for me. I read a book by Mother Nadine a couple of years ago. I know about spiritual warfare firsthand. I was not drawn to this community because I thought they were contemplative and I wanted contemplative/active/evangelistic. But I did emailed a couple of days ago for more information. I also contacted a prayer group that is not far from me that is part of their community. Another friend of mine mentioned them to me a few days ago and now you too. Hummmm…
God bless you,
Kathy
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Kathy2004
Guest
I was under the impression that most female Benedictine communities were very liberal also. I was corrected on that in another post. I guess there still are some that are orthodox and very strict. The one I mentioned appears to be traditional. I read some of the testimonies of the new vocations and they appear to be in love with Jesus, which is a big indication to me that something must be right. Have you ever noticed that some of the modern communities websites do not mention Jesus? May the good Lord continue to renew the Church.May I second that, Theresa? My sister in San Francisco is a Benedictine Oblate & she is a Presbyterian. She always talks about going on retreat with them, receiving The Eucharist and how angry she gets when she listens to a Catholic radio station talk about non Catholics shouldn’t receive… we almost got into an argument about that, but I left it there. They also engage in a lot of “new age” things… meditations, Bhuddist traditions, getting energy from crystals & rocks. That has been my only recent interaction with anything Benedictine, so I was afraid the entire order had gone “modern”. In Ohio, we don’t have anything Benedictine close to me.
Kathy
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theresam111
Guest
My experience has been that all of the major orders have that same struggle, some communities who have gone “modern” and those who stay “traditional”. The “traditional” ones tend to be the ones getting vocations while the “modern” are not. I have noticed with the Carmelites that they have associations so like communities are networked. It has helped me to know better who to contact and who not to. I wonder if all of the major orders (I don’t know if that is the right term for here but I don’t know what else to put) have those type of associations.May I second that, Theresa? My sister in San Francisco is a Benedictine Oblate & she is a Presbyterian. She always talks about going on retreat with them, receiving The Eucharist and how angry she gets when she listens to a Catholic radio station talk about non Catholics shouldn’t receive… we almost got into an argument about that, but I left it there. They also engage in a lot of “new age” things… meditations, Bhuddist traditions, getting energy from crystals & rocks. That has been my only recent interaction with anything Benedictine, so I was afraid the entire order had gone “modern”. In Ohio, we don’t have anything Benedictine close to me.
If you are looking to stay close to home I know that there is a website that can list Religious communities by state. I’m sure there are many in Ohio, it’s just a matter of finding them!
Blessings on your discernment journey!
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HOLYHEARTS
Guest
I personally am not in any way charimatic, but there is a good Congregation of Sisters
that are contemplative/active/charismatic. They wear a religious habit & are faithful to the
Magisterium: Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are located in Texas. They have a good website; but you`ll have to look fot it b/c I dont recall the correct name…
that are contemplative/active/charismatic. They wear a religious habit & are faithful to the
Magisterium: Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are located in Texas. They have a good website; but you`ll have to look fot it b/c I dont recall the correct name…
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irisfromohio
Guest
You are right about these sisters and the website. But, alas, their age limit is 40, So the women who hear the call on this thread might be disappointed
I am still searching, discerning & possibly forming where I belong. The thing is, I didn’t start the search in earnest until I was about 45 & that was 10 years ago. It is a very introspective, lonely but righteous process. It is worth every minute.
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Kathy2004
Guest
I contacted them over a year ago. They seem very spiritual and happy.:extrahappy: They sent me some literature and put me on their prayer list? But they told me they do not take late vocations.:crying:: If I was younger I would be interested in them. I do not think they are hurting for vocations.
Kathy
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irisfromohio
Guest
Oh, yes, there are communities in Ohio, but the majority are “communities” that have gone somewhat modern. Moreover, I have as yet to find one that has “externs”. I have a developmentally handicapped daughter for whom I will have to be a caregive for some time. That is why I was looking for a secular institute, but haven’t found any charisms that I like except one, in Montreal. It is rather far from me and no one from it is represented in Ohio. There is only one woman locally who is a member of a secular institute. Many of their charisms don’t match mine anyway. I am attracted to life in one like the Kolbe group in California and the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, but they have age limits and only take virgins. I have my work cut out for me… discerning for over 15 years takes its toll.
That is why I am working on my own group. I have been in touch with the diocesan office of the Chancery and am in the process of composing my introductory letter to the Vice Chancellor. I know that I have a charism unmatched by any other. I also know that I could meet the needs of many women in my or a similar state in life. I am trusting in the Holy Spirit to show me and, quite frankly, Bishop Campbell of the Diocese of Columbus OH the way
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theresam111
Guest
Thanks for the info. While it does say 40, and I am 43 I think I will contact them anyway. There are often exceptions that can be made if all else seems to fit.
Blessings on your journey!
T
Tezza
Guest
Hi everyone.
There is an order in Rochester, NH, that has no age limit. They run a home for children ages 3-12 who are removed from their own homes. You can check the website at www.stcharleshome.org. Here’s info from a letter I received:
We also do not exclude women because of age. What is important for older women to pray about is that it is hard to submit in obedience when you have been living independently for a long time. It can also be a challenge to learn new ways of parenting children, if a woman seeking to enter consecrated life is a widow who has already raised children of her own. The third thing for older women who have grown children of their own to keep in mind is that consecrated life is a total commitment. The Daughters of Mary want very much to foster the relationships with our families of origin. However, we don’t have the kind of availability to be with grandchildren that an independent woman would have. So the sacrifices for an older woman, especially one who has raised a family, are very important to consider.
God bless you all on the path to which God is leading.
Peace in Christ,
Teri
There is an order in Rochester, NH, that has no age limit. They run a home for children ages 3-12 who are removed from their own homes. You can check the website at www.stcharleshome.org. Here’s info from a letter I received:
We also do not exclude women because of age. What is important for older women to pray about is that it is hard to submit in obedience when you have been living independently for a long time. It can also be a challenge to learn new ways of parenting children, if a woman seeking to enter consecrated life is a widow who has already raised children of her own. The third thing for older women who have grown children of their own to keep in mind is that consecrated life is a total commitment. The Daughters of Mary want very much to foster the relationships with our families of origin. However, we don’t have the kind of availability to be with grandchildren that an independent woman would have. So the sacrifices for an older woman, especially one who has raised a family, are very important to consider.
God bless you all on the path to which God is leading.
Peace in Christ,
Teri
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Kathy2004
Guest
Today, I was going through my stuff and found a brochure from a lady I met who is a spiritual director. She received her certification in spiritual direction from Pecos Benedictine Charismatic Monastery in New Mexico! I went online to search this monastery and come to find out the Olivben Benedictine Sisters and a community of Monks are at this monastery.I accidently found another community that takes late vocations. One Sister entered at 57. I will be 57 in August! I feel encouraged, Praise the Lord.
This community is Benedictine. I go to the Prince of Peace Abbey here in Oceanside and it is Benedictine. I love their prayers and spirituality. The first medal I bought was St. Benedict and this was right before Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope and chose St. Benedict for his name. I feel like that was prophetic for me.
olivben.org/novitiate.html
Have a Divine Sunday!
Kathy
I thought it was interesting because of the above post where I recently accidently found this community that takes older vocations.
I have learned through painful trial and error, not to read into more than what there is.
I will research this more and make sure there is no new age philosophy taught. It does look interesting?
God bless,
Kathy
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