How does one become a member of a "third order" or an "oblate"

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I’ve searched through many threads and am not finding one devoted to those with vows and who still live in the world. I am undergoing a call that will not die to join more fully into the spiritual life of the church and perhaps as a third order or oblate Benedictine. I live in southern Minnesota and there’s no Monastery/convent that I know of around here.

How does one learn more about this? An internet search has only resulted in more confusion. The information regarding these lay associations is very difficult to come by!! :confused: How many orders are there? How do you know which one is for you? Can you even be a member if there’s no religious order near you??

Anyone have some good guidance regarding this issue?
 
there are at least 2 Benedictine monasteries in Minn. ours is a daughter of the Crookston monastery, is that near you? search on the spirituality forum under Oblates, there is an active thread just now, an several old threads, because we have Secular Franciscans (BroSFO), Benedictine Oblates (moi and others), Secular Carmelites (Teresa, contemplative) and I think some Dominicans who strayed in here. you probably wont find this under vocations because strictly speaking, this is not a religious vocation since we remain in our state of life in the world, married, single or religious.

found it
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=121161
 
Thank you for your reply PuzzleAnnie - Crookston is in Northern Minnesota, I live several hours south in Mankato. I know of no Benedictines around here. I had seen that thread, but it had seemed not active. Is it necessary to live near a monastery to become an oblate?
 
My Monastery is 8 hours away from me in a different state. While living close to the Monastery is ideal, in some cases it just can’t be done. Formation is done a little differently, obviously.

(Although I went and visited my Monastery over Thanksgiving Break and ❤️'d the Monks and the Monastery).
 
Ok, I have since my first posting looked in Minnesota for Benedictines - there are at least 3 I have found, but they are all non-habited sisters. I am not in the least interested in the spirituality of “pin nuns”.:mad: Instead of choosing modern fabrics for their habit they discarded it. No thanks. Anyone know of an orthodox order of any sort in Minnesota or northern Iowa?
 
CatholicSwede said:
Anyone have some good guidance regarding this issue?
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Good guidance? No. A couple of suggestions? Yes

penitents.org aka CFP
bspenance.org aka BSP

I am in the process of becoming a CFP member. It takes about 4 years. You do not get to wear a habit, you do not get to put “brother” or “sister” before or after your name, and the only way a stranger might guess you are in this sort of life is a San Damiano crucifix that you wear. You try to limit the number of close friends who know you are in this organization.:o

Kind of like AA without the drunk-a-logs:rolleyes:

Definately not for everyone, only for those of us who NEED this kind of help, and are unable to live a penential life without outside support and direction. (Me)😦
 
Here’s a list of Secular Carmelite communities (OCDS) in MN:

Crystal OLMC
Thomas Guthrie
5300 Queen Ave N
Brooklyn City MN 55430-2946
763-566-9367

Excelsior
Our Lady of the Most Sacred Heart
Bennie Frost OCDS
7900 Wind Ridge Trl
Minnetrista MN 55364-9662
952-446-9449
BennieOCDS@aol.com

Hopkins
OLMC and St. Joseph
Terry Ratajczyk
9831 Xebec St NE
Circle Pines MN 55014-2523
763-780-9569
loretta@goldengate.net

Saint Anthony
Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom
Sharon King
152 Canabury Ct
Little Canada MN 55117-1503

Saint Paul MD
Kurt Virnig
4100 Victoria St N
Shoreview MN 55126-2249
651-483-4486

St. Paul
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
Karen Cronin
466 Betty Lane
West St. Paul, MN 55118
651-552-1033

Saint Paul OLP
Molly Thibault
5162 Lexington Ave N
Shoreview MN 55126-1358
651-483-3103

Waconia
Mary, Mother of Divine Mercy
Virgil Burns
2127 Marshall Ave
Saint Paul MN 55104-5757
651-645-4455
 
new website for our monastery
starrcountybenedictines.org/
the links on the history of the order shows their ties to the abbey Mt St. Benedict in Crookston, Minnesota

also check out the links to institute of religious life, great for anyone discerning a vocation
 
There are also TOC (Third Order Carmelites = “Ancient Observance”)
in Austin, Rochester, Luverne, and St. Paul.
 
Catholic Swede, I also live more than 100 miles from the nearest Benedictine community. Its a little frustrating and is part of the reason I am looking at relocating… I want to scratch this itch.

You can locate Benedictine monasterys throughout the world via this link: atlas.osb-international.info/atlas.php?lang=en
Just click on the country and state that you wish to explore.

Some preliminary information about Oblates of Saint Benedict can be gotten here:
osb.org/obl/index.html

Yes, its frustrating living in a rural state, but don’t give up! Consider the difficulty as a test of your perseverance. 🙂
 
CatholicSwede said:
Thank you for your reply PuzzleAnnie - Crookston is in Northern Minnesota, I live several hours south in Mankato. I know of no Benedictines around here. I had seen that thread, but it had seemed not active. Is it necessary to live near a monastery to become an oblate?
Click to expand...
Not necessarily. Check with St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville. They may have a setup like the St. Vincent Archabbey does where they have meetings all around area. Here is a good link on the Oblates. St. John’s is associated with St. Vincent (it is St. John’s Archabbey)

BTW, the Americano-Casinensis which both belong to are more on the orthodox side. I went to St. Vincent College and the have gottent more orthodox since I went there.
 
we have Oblates in San Antonio, Austin, and Galveston, who come down here to the Valley, but the ones who travel furthest to be with us are from: Minnesota. they are winter Texans who are oblates attached to monasteries up north but join us for our meetings when they are here. We also have a couple from South Dakota.
 
CatholicSwede said:
Ok, I have since my first posting looked in Minnesota for Benedictines - there are at least 3 I have found, but they are all non-habited sisters. I am not in the least interested in the spirituality of “pin nuns”.:mad: Instead of choosing modern fabrics for their habit they discarded it. No thanks. Anyone know of an orthodox order of any sort in Minnesota or northern Iowa?
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I’m in Australia - isn’t there a Benedictine Monastery in Minnesota whose members run St John’s College - in Collegeville?
 
louisquinze said:
I’m in Australia - isn’t there a Benedictine Monastery in Minnesota whose members run St John’s College - in Collegeville?
Click to expand...
Also one can be an Oblate at a distance - Blue Cloud Monastry in Nth Dakota is one I know of. It is advised that you visit your monastery ~ once a year.

Try a google search and look for monasteries in the USA
 
I am a professed Third Order Franciscan. I do have a habit and a religious name and title. I spent more than 6 years in formation. I was most fortunate becuase for a time, isolated members were allowed and that is what I am. So I do not get to wear my habit as I have no meetings to attend but I will be buried in it!

I go to my home friary every year or every other for a retreat. There is perpetual adoration there and it is a wonderful holy place.

To become a member of a Third Order, one needs to determine the charism they are drawn to. Some secular orders are lax. I looked at some local Franciscans whose big endeavor was cleaning a lake. I needed a rule of life that was challenging and strict! And Our Lady led me to one–thanks be to her and to God.

So one might not just be a Benedictine because that was the only monestary close–you would need to be drawn to the charism.

Good luck! PRAY! God will place you, do not worry.
Ave Maria!
 
Thank you Ave Maria - you are absolutely right - it is about God.

Perhaps others living near to you will be drawn to join you and you will be able to support each other.

Agape

Louisquinze
 
Andruschak said:
Good guidance? No. A couple of suggestions? Yes

penitents.org aka CFP
bspenance.org aka BSP

I am in the process of becoming a CFP member. It takes about 4 years. You do not get to wear a habit, you do not get to put “brother” or “sister” before or after your name, and the only way a stranger might guess you are in this sort of life is a San Damiano crucifix that you wear. You try to limit the number of close friends who know you are in this organization.:o

Kind of like AA without the drunk-a-logs:rolleyes:

Definately not for everyone, only for those of us who NEED this kind of help, and are unable to live a penential life without outside support and direction. (Me)😦
Click to expand...
The two links you gave…the groups seem like the same??? I just inquired into the BSP.
 
Ave_Maria said:
I am a professed Third Order Franciscan. I do have a habit and a religious name and title. I spent more than 6 years in formation.
Good luck! PRAY! God will place you, do not worry.
Ave Maria!
Click to expand...
hello! iwas wondering, what is the difference of Third Orders with becoming a priest or nun? since being in 3rd order , you also have a habit religious name and living like one, with vows? 🙂
 
fin said:
hello! iwas wondering, what is the difference of Third Orders with becoming a priest or nun? since being in 3rd order , you also have a habit religious name and living like one, with vows? 🙂
Click to expand...
In response to the above quote:

I am a Lay Dominican. I’m not sure how it’s done in the other Orders, but we (the Dominican Laity) do NOT make vows–we make “promises”.

Our “Formation” is about 5 years, if I’m doing the math right–1st year is Inquiry, 2nd year, Candidate, 3rd-5th you’re Temporary Professed and then you make Lifetime Professed if you discern that you’re called to be a Lay Dominican. It is “patterned” after religious formation.

We DON’T wear habits or have religious names, although we do wear a Dominican cross and those of us who are Temporary Professed/Lifetime Professed can add “OPL” to the end of our name.

The Dominican Order considers us as part of the Dominican Family, right alongside with the Priests/Friars, Brothers, Sisters. Many of us are married, have families, jobs, and so on, and try to live according to St. Dominic/Dominican spirituality in our day-to-day lives.

Hope that helps!

–Barbara, OPL
 
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