Help for hopeful future nun

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AmyBesa

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I truly feel a calling to becoming a nun. I am 33 years old and have been Catholic my entire life. I felt this call earlier in life but tended to ignore. Now to the tough stuff, I truly want to be a nun but have accumulated a fair amount of credit card debt over the years. Can I still become a nun with this? If not, does anyone know of anywhere willing to help out with debt while becoming a nun?

Thank you in advance for your help and may God bless.

Amy
 
I do not have an answer to your question. My suggestion is to maybe get in touch with the order you may want to join and ask them, I am sure this has come up before, you may want to ask your local Priest or maybe the Vocations Director of your Diocese. God bless.
 
I am afraid that most communities will not accept candidates who are in debt. I think it may be in canon law also, unless I am reading it wrong.
“Can. 644 Superiors are not to admit to the novitiate secular clerics without consulting their proper ordinary nor those who, burdened by debts, cannot repay them.”

Now some communities can make exceptions for debts for education, since they would have to pay to send you to school. But credit card debt is another matter. There are some groups that may be able to help with that, (Serra or the Knights of Columbus might. I think there is another group too, but I can’t remember the name right now.)

If I were you though, I would be working very hard to get that debt paid off. There are groups out there set up specifically to help people get there credit card debts paid off. It might be a good idea to look into that.

Don’t let it get you down! If God wants you in the convent, he’ll help you get there.
 
Sister_Rose said:
I am afraid that most communities will not accept candidates who are in debt. I think it may be in canon law also, unless I am reading it wrong.
“Can. 644 Superiors are not to admit to the novitiate secular clerics without consulting their proper ordinary nor those who, burdened by debts, cannot repay them.”

Now some communities can make exceptions for debts for education, since they would have to pay to send you to school. But credit card debt is another matter. There are some groups that may be able to help with that, (Serra or the Knights of Columbus might. I think there is another group too, but I can’t remember the name right now.)

If I were you though, I would be working very hard to get that debt paid off. There are groups out there set up specifically to help people get there credit card debts paid off. It might be a good idea to look into that.

Don’t let it get you down! If God wants you in the convent, he’ll help you get there.
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Sister Rose, are you a professed nun? Cause I have questions!
Kathie
 
May God be praised for your searching for His holy will with your vocation. Yes, credit card debt can be a huge problem. Sister Rose is correct in referring to Canon 644 about the law of the Church forbidding one in debt that one is “unable to pay” to be received in a religious community. There is hope, however. Many have been helped by private benefactors, or have raised funds by taking on extra jobs, having bake sales, and doing fundraising activities in order to join an order.

I will keep you in my prayers as you discern.
 
kathielee said:
Sister Rose, are you a professed nun? Cause I have questions!
Kathie
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Well, probably more correctly, I’m a religious sister, in an apostolic congregation. In temporary vows right now.
I’ll do my best with your questions. 🙂
 
Sister_Rose said:
Well, probably more correctly, I’m a religious sister, in an apostolic congregation. In temporary vows right now.
I’ll do my best with your questions. 🙂
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Thank you, Sister Rose,

I’m not versed on terms so “apostolic congregation”…that is a diocesan order by chance?

I’m in Missouri but from Illinois. You aren’t by any chance near Peoria? I had heard that there is a Franciscan diocesan order, rather new I think, in the Peoria diocese.

Kathie
 
Thank you, Sister Rose,
I’m not versed on terms so “apostolic congregation”…that is a diocesan order by chance?
I’m in Missouri but from Illinois. You aren’t by any chance near Peoria? I had heard that there is a Franciscan diocesan order, rather new I think, in the Peoria diocese.
Kathie
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Well, they often call apostolic communities, “Active” communities. So our main apostolate is healthcare, but teaching orders and other such communities fall under this unbrella also. Religious communities are often categorized as contemplative, cloistered, or apostolic.
No, we are actually a papal community, but we are fairly local and our motherhouse is in East Peoria. Peoria is a rather franciscan diocese. There are actually 3 Franciscan Motherhouses in greater Peoria.
There is a new order, the Franciscan Sisters of John the Baptist. They just took they final vows last year.
 
Sister_Rose said:
Well, they often call apostolic communities, “Active” communities. So our main apostolate is healthcare, but teaching orders and other such communities fall under this unbrella also. Religious communities are often categorized as contemplative, cloistered, or apostolic.
No, we are actually a papal community, but we are fairly local and our motherhouse is in East Peoria. Peoria is a rather franciscan diocese. There are actually 3 Franciscan Motherhouses in greater Peoria.
There is a new order, the Franciscan Sisters of John the Baptist. They just took they final vows last year.
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I have seen the website for the group that split, Handmaids of Nazareth, and now have a diocesan order in Peoria. Do you know this group?

Kathie
 
Hi! Try Googling the Laboure Society. You may be able to find some help there. God bless you as you discern your course. I’m looking for an order that will take a woman over 60 . . . if there is such an order. I had my debt consolidated (Google debt consolidation) to help me pay it off faster. You might try this, too. At 33, you have plenty of time to pay off your debt and then join an order. Maybe you could even affiliate with one that you would like to join as a layperson, and after your debt is paid off, then you could join. Time is on your side! 🙂
 
Old_Convert said:
Hi! Try Googling the Laboure Society. You may be able to find some help there. God bless you as you discern your course. I’m looking for an order that will take a woman over 60 . . . if there is such an order. I had my debt consolidated (Google debt consolidation) to help me pay it off faster. You might try this, too. At 33, you have plenty of time to pay off your debt and then join an order. Maybe you could even affiliate with one that you would like to join as a layperson, and after your debt is paid off, then you could join. Time is on your side! 🙂
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Yes…Rosalind Moss is 65 and has no age limit. She will be starting an order in St. Louis.

I am going to do what I can to start a diocesan order here in the next year and I’m 57.
I’m in southern Missouri.
 
Kathielee:

When you do start that order for older women, drop me a line! Keep me in mind! Yeaaaa! I live in Northern Illinois. Not that far away. God bless you in this endeavor!🙂
 
Old_Convert said:
Kathielee:

When you do start that order for older women, drop me a line! Keep me in mind! Yeaaaa! I live in Northern Illinois. Not that far away. God bless you in this endeavor!🙂
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Oh, I am from northern Illinois too !! Now wait…if you tell me that you are from Rochelle or DeKalb, I’ll fall off my seat !! LOLOL

I have been nudged by God for 2 years…and it’s becoming alot more clear. I have a Cisterican spirituality but a Franciscan missionary spirit as well. I can tell you in all honesty that I have been called to do something for 2 years even though there was NO way I could do anything. This was confusing !! So, I just layed in God’s hands and as time has gone on, He has been making it much more clear.

How do I know? Well, one way, is the “peace” of knowing now that He is in charge and I am to follow.

It involves “rural nuns”. There is an incredible need in my area for the presence of full habit nuns for nursing homes, assisting a bit in religious education in CCD…for a presence just being visible (deliberately) to the general public. And, to increase vocations, these rural Catholic children need NEED to see someone in a habit. My priest (79 y/o) has FIVE rural parishes. By himself with one deacon!

I am in the process of purchasing a mini-farm that would be able to make a “rural” monastic presence…not fancy out here in rural Ozarks! But can be self-sufficient with what is available to do there on this land. And, there are umpteen barns, pasture, and a 5 bedroom house. Also, a small house that would be perfect for a chapel or the home of a retired priest who wishes to be there!

Not sure what God has in mind, but I am speaking with him lots of times every day and following

Kathie
 
kathielee said:
I have seen the website for the group that split, Handmaids of Nazareth, and now have a diocesan order in Peoria. Do you know this group?

Kathie
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Actually, those are two different groups. The Franciscan Sisters of John the Baptist are a new group that split off from the Daughters of St. Francis. They just took their final vows in october and are a Diocesan Religious community.
The Franciscan Sisters of Mary split from the handmaids of Nazareth and are still an association of the faithful. And they do, I think, accept older vocations.
Rather off topic. Sorry Amy.
Yes the Laboure Society was that other group I couldn’t remember the name for, thank you Old Convert. 🙂
 
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