I think I'm Called...but Where?!? HELP

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Charlie_David

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Hello Catholic Forum users!

This is my first post ever but I need some help from the faithful. :confused:

I have been discerning religious life since January and wasn’t ready to enter anywhere this fall by application time. My big problem is I don’t know what religious orders to look into, I understand diocesan is always an option and going through a formal discernment program with them. I’m also extremely social and outgoing (contemplative probably not my calling)

Here is what I’m looking for:
  • Community Liturgy of the Hours
  • Orthodox
  • Faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church
  • Against Moral Relativism
  • Enjoy a strong community
  • Not focused on the latin mass
  • Growing in size
The Orders that I want to see because of what I heard are Marians of the Immaculate Conception, Oblates of the Virgin Mary, and Saint Joseph Province, Dominicans. I did a come and see weekend with the Paulist Fathers because I really like their ministry but they were way too liberal for me.

Please help! God Bless.🙂
 
Charlie_David said:
Hello Catholic Forum users!

This is my first post ever but I need some help from the faithful. :confused:

I have been discerning religious life since January and wasn’t ready to enter anywhere this fall by application time. My big problem is I don’t know what religious orders to look into, I understand diocesan is always an option and going through a formal discernment program with them. I’m also extremely social and outgoing (contemplative probably not my calling)

Here is what I’m looking for:
  • Community Liturgy of the Hours
  • Orthodox
  • Faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church
  • Against Moral Relativism
  • Enjoy a strong community
  • Not focused on the latin mass
  • Growing in size
The Orders that I want to see because of what I heard are Marians of the Immaculate Conception, Oblates of the Virgin Mary, and Saint Joseph Province, Dominicans. I did a come and see weekend with the Paulist Fathers because I really like their ministry but they were way too liberal for me.

Please help! God Bless.🙂
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It will be hard to find a male religious community that has all community prayer and is not cotempletive. The dominicans (as you said) and jesuits immediately come to mind.
Best of luck to you.
 
Saint_Macarius said:
It will be hard to find a male religious community that has all community prayer and is not cotempletive. The dominicans (as you said) and jesuits immediately come to mind.
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Typically the Jesuits do not say the liturgy of the hours, which the OP stated was something he was looking for: they are dispensed from this obligation. But you’re right, finding that particular combination may be difficult. However, some of the mendicant communities, including my own Order of Carmelites, consider themselves to be both active and contemplative, and do say the divine office together.
 
Any of the following; often these are intergrated in smaller or specialist communities;

Dominicans
Franciscans
Carmalites
Servites
Order of St Augustine
Order of the Holy Trinity
Order of the Minims

I believe that all of these say the Liturgy of the Hours; but are engaged in active ministry outside.

Generally speaking; those that follow the rule of Augustine or Francis work outside; and those who follow the rule of Benedict or Basil are contemplative.

The Franciscans are the largest (in total) order in the World, the last count in the 1980’s there were 36,117 Franciscans. They are often split into smaller communities such as the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate and so forth; but all follow the rule of St. Francis.
 
Have you considered the Canons Regular of St John Cantius? Right there in Chicago. When I was living in Chicago, I’m telling you they were a power house and they have grown quite a bit since then.

They have Mass in both the Ordinary and Extraordinary Forms, but they are not focused more on one or the other. They love the Mass and want to spread beauty in the liturgy- period. And while they are traditional, they are very faithful to the calls in the Second Vatican Council. They enjoy a close friendship with Cardinal George.

One of the things that impressed me the most about them was that they were very human. They don’t come across as out of touch, over-the-top, holier than thou, rigid. They are there to serve the Church and you can see a genuine love for all people. They have a great sense of humor, especially the founder. He just has a beautiful trust in God, he isn’t stressed and worried and rigid, just relaxed because he knows who is in control. You can see that when you talk to him.

Anyway, worth looking into. Before you say no, why not go and see?

canons-regular.org/
 
Charlie_David, I don’t know the other orders you mentioned, but I go to a parish that’s staffed by the Oblates of the Virgin Mary. I’ve seen about nine priests of their order in my time here, and every single one was very orthodox. They say the Office of Readings and Morning Prayer together in church each morning with any laypeople who want to come; I think they say the other hours individually. They’re very devoted to preaching and hearing confessions, and to helping laypeople become holy. I’m not sure if they’re growing in size or just holding steady, but the vocation director (who used to be at my parish and is much missed!) would know: omvusa.org/vocation/vocation-director/ 😃 I’d encourage you to email and ask him a ton of questions; my own search for my vocation as a nun didn’t really get moving until I started contacting every community I was interested in. Anyway, wherever you end up, I wish you every blessing.

P.S. The link mentions Fr. Gallagher, who’s a GREAT retreat master; the last time he was at my parish the retreat sold out well in advance. He’s written some really helpful, practical books, of which I most highly recommend this one: amazon.com/Discernment-Spirits-Ignatian-Everyday-Living/dp/0824522915/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284149126&sr=8-1
 
Ocarm said:
Typically the Jesuits do not say the liturgy of the hours, which the OP stated was something he was looking for: they are dispensed from this obligation. But you’re right, finding that particular combination may be difficult. However, some of the mendicant communities, including my own Order of Carmelites, consider themselves to be both active and contemplative, and do say the divine office together.
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I know SJ does not say the liturgy of the hours, but after looking at his entire list, the two groups listed above seemed to be the ones that stood out in my brain. I completely forgot about the Carmelites. Thanks!
 
Saint_Macarius said:
I know SJ does not say the liturgy of the hours, but after looking at his entire list, the two groups listed above seemed to be the ones that stood out in my brain. I completely forgot about the Carmelites. Thanks!
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You’re very welcome. 🙂 And perhaps we should be a little clearer for the benefit of others reading these posts; although Jesuits do say the divine office, they do not do so chorally or in common, but in solitude. St Ignatius believed that the time spent practicing choral singing was better spent serving the poor.

On a related note, here in the UK one of our Carmelite novices made his simple profession today. We are not a ‘growing’ order in Britain, but our numbers do remain constant for the time being.
 
Thanks for all the advice! Anymore ideas or opinions of any of the above orders?
 
Keep praying the daily Rosary faithfully…Our Blessed Mother will show you the way…Don’t be discouraged dear, Be prepared for a long search…you are not alone.

Remember the Communion of Saints and keep in mind all of the Holy Saints whose search for the Religious community to which our Lord was calling them was sometimes difficult.

I will keep you in my prayers…
 
LSG said:
Keep praying the daily Rosary faithfully…Our Blessed Mother will show you the way…Don’t be discouraged dear, Be prepared for a long search…you are not alone.

Remember the Communion of Saints and keep in mind all of the Holy Saints whose search for the Religious community to which our Lord was calling them was sometimes difficult.

I will keep you in my prayers…
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Agree’d and in my Prayers also.
 
Don’t be afraid to look at some orders which have been traditionally strict contemplatives. Because of the Church today, many are able to have a solid prayer life, and practice stability to one place, while still being extremely compatible with extroverts like yourself. Check out a couple Benedictine monasteries that are growing in numbers and have awesome apostolates:
Conception Abbey in Missouri, St. Meinrad Archabbey in Indiana and St. Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania. Google them and you’ll find their websites and don’t be afraid to e-mail vocations directors and get some conversations going with them.

Pax et bonum!
 
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