How long to become a sister/nun?

[holly_potter]

I saw a similar topic for priests, and that got me thinking:
How long does it typically take to become a nun? What I’ve seen so far is about 6 years…is that right?
If it is, it seems like a LONG time! Even engagements don’t typically take that long!

 

[catherine_m]

It depends on the order of nuns. For the Missionaries of Charity it takes nine and a half years before you take your final vows!!

 

[Gertabelle]

Holly, in the Benedictine monastery to which I belonged it took six years until one was allowed to make her final vows.

That may seem like a long time, but it’s not as though you have to wait six years to enter the order. You spend those six years of formation deepening your understanding of your vocation and the charism of your order. You develop those parts of your character that you will need to be Christ in the world in this vocation. And you do all this while living, studying, and working with the community.

There is little relationship between religious formation and marriage as far as timelines. Two people discerning marriage should not move in and try it out, which is (to a certain degree) what a postulant, novice, and junior professed are called to do. And many young couples do take six years from their first meeting, through friendship, courtship, engagement, to their marriage vows. Some take a little less time, others much longer.

If you are called to the religious life, go freely and run to your Divine Bridegroom! If it is hard to wait for your vows, offer up that little suffering for His glory and the salvation of souls.

God bless you.
Gertie

 

[holly_potter]

Wow! Thanks for the reminder that I don’t have to wait to enter the order…just wait to be professed That makes it less scary. And thanks for the encouragement, Gertie! :nun2: I’m still researching orders, to see if one jumps out at me

 

[sisterhoodis4me]

I don’t know what charism or apostolate you are into, but if you feel drawn toward serving the poor (which I am), I can suggest from my own personal “research” that the Little Sisters of the Poor (I was a postulant with them), the Hawthorne Dominicans, the Missionaries of Charity, and the Conventual Franciscans of the Renewal are all good solid orders faithful to the Church. I have never felt called to teach, and the above Orders are what the Holy Spirit has crossed my path with. May He guide you too!

 

[holly_potter]

Thank you, and I actually do want to help the poor! I’m into reading and encouraging others to read (I firmly believe it’s the ticket out of poverty). I also want to write and help others to write, and work with the deaf as I am profoundly deaf, and I’m hoping the order that’s for me will send me all over the world, because I hope to be able to see the world I also enjoy working with babies and children, and want to be able to be active in the social justice field, like pro-life and such. Even online ministry would be awesome! It’s hard to find an order that fulfils most of these

Teaching isn’t exactly for me, and neither is hospital work,but I suppose if God calls me there, I’ll find happiness there, too

Holly:nun2:

 

[catherine_m]

Thank you, and I actually do want to help the poor! I’m into reading and encouraging others to read (I firmly believe it’s the ticket out of poverty). I also want to write and help others to write, and work with the deaf as I am profoundly deaf, and I’m hoping the order that’s for me will send me all over the world, because I hope to be able to see the world I also enjoy working with babies and children, and want to be able to be active in the social justice field, like pro-life and such. Even online ministry would be awesome! It’s hard to find an order that fulfils most of these

Teaching isn’t exactly for me, and neither is hospital work,but I suppose if God calls me there, I’ll find happiness there, too

Holly:nun2:

The Missionaries of Charity work with “the poorest of the poor”. They have convents all over the world and often move their sisters around alot. As well as having a very active life with the poor, they also have a very deep and strong prayer life - daily Mass, rosary, adoration, Divine Office etc. Obedience is very important to them, so you would have to go where you are sent and do what you are told to do by your superior sister. It’s a wonderful organisation of sisters for someone called to the religious life who wishes to serve Jesus through the poorest of the poor. Good luck with your decision.

 

[debraran]

In NYC Father Groechel’s group (Franciscan Friars of the Renewel) have nuns that work with the poor and there is another group that Cardinal OConnor started that work with women and pro-life issues, along with the poor. They have links from his web site if you want them.
Looking at a Visons catalog, I was unaware just how many orders there were in the USA and abroad, but as father says many times, not all of them are good or loyal. If you write them, I know they would help you find what you are looking for.
Good luck to you and God Bless!

 

[aaronjmagnan]

I’m not a priest or a nun; I’m getting married. But I wanted to say that you all seem so helpful to this young woman.

I teach students in a public school and I have encouraged vocations directly and indirectly, and it makes me happy to see people like Holly who have a real calling, and people like those responding who have given great advice.

It’s goes to prove a hypothesis I have: the numbers of vocations don’t depend on trends as in business…they depend on the Holy Spirit.

God bless,
Aaron Magnan

 

[aaronjmagnan]

I’m not a priest or a nun; I’m getting married. But I wanted to say that you all seem so helpful to this young woman.

I teach students in a public school and I have encouraged vocations directly and indirectly, and it makes me happy to see people like Holly who have a real calling, and people like those responding who have given great advice.

It’s goes to prove a hypothesis I have: the numbers of vocations don’t depend on trends as in business…they depend on the Holy Spirit.

God bless,
Aaron Magnan