I want to join a secular order but

[iloveangels]

And if at some point, you do become interested in belonging to a third order, this forum has professed members from most of the third orders in the Church that can help you to figure out which one fits you best, as well as how to find the order in your area, etc.

The most populous third orders are:
The Lay Dominicans (OPL)
The Secular Franciscans (OFS)
The Discalced Carmelites (OCDS)
The Regular Carmelites (TOC)
The Oblates of St. Benedict

If you are attracted to the Benedictines, I believe they might require the least in the way of travel to meetings of all the third orders, but I could be wrong. I’m a Secular Franciscan but I’ve read a bunch about all of the third orders.

I know the nearest third order Franciscan fraternity is about 60 miles from you. Representatives from the other orders will be able to tell you more about their distances from where you are.

God bless you.

 

[iloveangels]

Also, living in a fairly populous area of the country, if you ask around, you might find a small group in your area, a private association of the faithful associated with your diocese maybe. You might want to ask your priest and see what he says. And check out your diocesan list of ministries and organizations.

Here’s a Benedictine monastery not far from you and you can see their newsletter here. It will give you a little peek at Benedictines.

osbva.org/html/Oblates.html

 

[Aydan]

I didn’t convey what I meant very well in the last post. Allow me to clarify I’m not looking for a prayer group or anything of that sort. I grew up agnostic and knowing absolutely nothing about Jesus from the first day of formation I understood that being Catholic means commitment so I do not take that responsibility lightly. I fully understand that secular orders are in very serious commitment you are making with God so I would never take it lightly. I don’t know if the secular orders are right for me that is why I want to explore and discern whether or not I’m being called by God to do this. Now for some good news I knew about the monastery here but I didn’t realize it was now open. It turns out that I actually know the vocations director there she has assisted me in the past with other issues when she was a staff member of our perish. So I think I will be able to get advice in my diocese now. Thank you very much for your help everyone.
Peace

 

[FCEGM]

I didn’t convey what I meant very well in the last post. Allow me to clarify I’m not looking for a prayer group or anything of that sort. I grew up agnostic and knowing absolutely nothing about Jesus from the first day of formation I understood that being Catholic means commitment so I do not take that responsibility lightly. I fully understand that secular orders are in very serious commitment you are making with God so I would never take it lightly. I don’t know if the secular orders are right for me that is why I want to explore and discern whether or not I’m being called by God to do this. Now for some good news I knew about the monastery here but I didn’t realize it was now open. It turns out that I actually know the vocations director there she has assisted me in the past with other issues when she was a staff member of our perish. So I think I will be able to get advice in my diocese now. Thank you very much for your help everyone.
Peace

Aydan, these links will give you some information about Secular Discalced Carmelites (there is a Community of O.C.D.S. in Richmond):

ocdswashprov.org/

helpfellowship.org/ocds%20lessons/Lesson%2015.htm

Regarding your lack of reliable transportation, have you contacted someone at the cathedral office to see if they have volunteers offering rides to and from Sunday Mass?

 

[Aydan]

Thank you for the information. I live in in a home for people with physical disabilities and yes the Eucharist is made available to all Catholics here. Ministers of the sick bring it over each Sunday. Now regarding the transportation I am wheelchair-bound and I require a vehicle with a wheelchair lift so it would be impossible to get a ride with someone from my parish. The home is able to provide transportation once a month so we are able to go to church occasionally. The only other option is public transportation and as I said it is highly unreliable at the moment. Unfortunately if you are wheelchair-bound in Richmond there just are not many options because wheelchair taxis when they are available are extremely expensive and I along with many other people simply cannot afford them.

Aydan, these links will give you some information about Secular Discalced Carmelites (there is a Community of O.C.D.S. in Richmond):

ocdswashprov.org/

helpfellowship.org/ocds%20lessons/Lesson%2015.htm

Regarding your lack of reliable transportation, have you contacted someone at the cathedral office to see if they have volunteers offering rides to and from Sunday Mass?

 

[Aydan]

I just discovered that the community you mentioned is not located in Richmond. It is actually located near Bridgewater and I have a friend who lives there. It is about a 3 to 4 Hour Drive depending on traffic. The thing is that the diocese of Richmond covers a very large portion of Virginia.

Secular Discalced Carmelite Community of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity
18 College Woods Drive
Bridgewater, VA 23812

Thank you for the information. I live in in a home for people with physical disabilities and yes the Eucharist is made available to all Catholics here. Ministers of the sick bring it over each Sunday. Now regarding the transportation I am wheelchair-bound and I require a vehicle with a wheelchair lift so it would be impossible to get a ride with someone from my parish. The home is able to provide transportation once a month so we are able to go to church occasionally. The only other option is public transportation and as I said it is highly unreliable at the moment. Unfortunately if you are wheelchair-bound in Richmond there just are not many options because wheelchair taxis when they are available are extremely expensive and I along with many other people simply cannot afford them.

 

[Aydan]

Also, living in a fairly populous area of the country, if you ask around, you might find a small group in your area, a private association of the faithful associated with your diocese maybe. You might want to ask your priest and see what he says. And check out your diocesan list of ministries and organizations.

Here’s a Benedictine monastery not far from you and you can see their newsletter here. It will give you a little peek at Benedictines.

osbva.org/html/Oblates.html

Actually the monastery isn’t near me when I checked the address I discovered that in is not located in Richmond either. They say Richmond because it is located in the Diocese of Richmond but it is actually located in another city.
Saint Benedict Monastery | 9535 Linton Hall Road | Bristow, VA 20136 | 703-361-0106

 

[iloveangels]

I didn’t convey what I meant very well in the last post. Allow me to clarify I’m not looking for a prayer group or anything of that sort. I grew up agnostic and knowing absolutely nothing about Jesus from the first day of formation I understood that being Catholic means commitment so I do not take that responsibility lightly. I fully understand that secular orders are in very serious commitment you are making with God so I would never take it lightly. I don’t know if the secular orders are right for me that is why I want to explore and discern whether or not I’m being called by God to do this. Now for some good news I knew about the monastery here but I didn’t realize it was now open. It turns out that I actually know the vocations director there she has assisted me in the past with other issues when she was a staff member of our perish. So I think I will be able to get advice in my diocese now. Thank you very much for your help everyone.
Peace

Excellent, Aydan. Peace to you and God bless you in your journey closer to Him. Pax et Bonum.