New Group Forming for Sisters of ALL ages

[Sister_MM]

Since there are so many interested in joining Rosalind Moss, I thought I’d tell you about another community that is forming.

You can get an overview by going to our website: www.fsmcharism.net
The site is still in the development stage, but the basic information is all there.

Don’t forget to tell us about yourself, by answering a few basic questions using our interactive form (Follow the “Questions” tab).

Here’s a bit of a sneak preview, by way of a short list of FAQs.

Q: How long is each stage of formation?
A: Our formation follows the same standards used in most communities; i.e., at least 6 months to a year as a candidate, 1-2 years of noviciate, then a period of temporary profession of at least three years. Presently, we take private vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. These vows are made in the presence of all the sisters, and signed by the vicar for the diocese as the delegate of the bishop. According to canon law, we are described as “other forms of religious life.” That is as it should be, according to our circumstances. We have a long ways to go, spiritually, legally, and financially, before we are ready to petition for canonical status as a public association with juridic person. We are relying heavily upon our Lady, St. Francis, and many other Heavenly intercessors!

Q: What determines the length of each phase - candidate, novice, temporary professed?
A: The particular formation of each individual candidate depends, in part, on her existing formation. Our first step is to develop the prayer life of the candidate and gradually introduce her to daily mass, daily adoration, liturgy of the hours, rosary, and chaplet of Divine Mercy. Whether this takes six months or two years is not important. What is important is that it takes root in a sincere and firm manner. Once those are solidly in place (some are already doing all of this when they join) we begin a course of scripture study, Franciscan studies, church history, and moral theology. All the while, we encourage reading lives of the Saints. We are all attracted to different Saints, however I have found that reading about Saints who were also members of religious orders is particularly helpful. Would I have persevered had it not been for the inspiration and intercession of Saint Bernadette, St. Margaret Mary, St. Catherine Laboure, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Therese of Liseaux, Blessed Teresa Quevedo, St. Marguerite D’Youville, and of course Saint Francis? I think Saint Bernadette started it all. From her place in Heaven she reached down and took my hand and placed it firmly in the hand of our Lady, then she went around Heaven and drummed up support from the other saints I just listed. It took their combined efforts to take this lump of breathing clay and turn it into a Sister! (And they still have a lot of work to do!)

Q: What is the age limit?
A: Minimum age for candidacy is 18, although we strongly encourage at least a year of work or college after high school graduation. There is no upper age limit.

Q: I feel drawn to religious life, but I’m not sure how to prepare myself for such a radical commitment. What do you suggest?
A: Develop your prayer life, at a comfortable pace, using the following:

* Daily Mass, if at all possible
* Adoration, at least weekly
* Rosary, daily
* Chaplet of Divine Mercy

You may also find it helpful to listen to spiritual music and avoid the “noise” that is so prevalent in today’s society. Pay attention to what types of entertainment interest you, and avoid those that would not be appropriate for a sister. (The litmus test here is: have you ever seen a sister participating in this activity? Could you imagine a sister participating in this activity?)

If you are called to follow our Lord and feel drawn to us, may our Lady draw you in the fragrance of her perfect and immaculate love.

Sister Mary Margaret, FSM
www.fsmcharism.net

 

[wina]

Just send email to know more about them.

Thank you and God bless

 

[yinekka]

I question the wisdom of having no upper age limit because it is a fact of life that as people age they need care which can be expensive and labour intensive. This is fine for religious who have grown old in an order but for a new order to have a number of people who may relatively soon need care it is problematic.

 

[NMJenny]

It doesn’t necessarily follow that older people will become a liability to their community–a large number of elders have Social Security benefits and even health insurance through jobs that they have held. I’m in that situation, for instance, and although my medical expenses are high, they are completely covered (except for about 20% of prescription drugs) by my retiree healh insurance.

However I do agree that not all older people would be good candidates if their health would not allow them to follow the normal daily life of the religious. But I’m quite sure that this is something that would need to be discerned on an individual basis…

 

[kathielee]

I question the wisdom of having no upper age limit because it is a fact of life that as people age they need care which can be expensive and labour intensive. This is fine for religious who have grown old in an order but for a new order to have a number of people who may relatively soon need care it is problematic.

It would be very impossible to second guess the Holy Spirit.

Kathie

 

[Sister_MM]

I question the wisdom of having no upper age limit because it is a fact of life that as people age they need care which can be expensive and labour intensive. This is fine for religious who have grown old in an order but for a new order to have a number of people who may relatively soon need care it is problematic.

Very good question! You will be happy to know that we considered this carefully, as did our canonist when we first proposed this community. Had our proposal been impossible - or at least imprudent - at least one of the three bishops who read and reviewed our statutes would have at least voiced caution. Each was satisfied with our answer. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address this concern here, as there may very well be others looking at this thread and wondering the same thing.

While we have no upper age limit, we do require each sister to be self-supporting. We have had to turn away some applicants, either because they had acquired more debt than they could reasonably pay off before profession, or had no retirement savings. All but one of our active sisters are working, and have health insurance with their employer. Many have worked in the secular world and qualify for Social Security benefits as they reach retirement age. Our three retired sisters qualify for SSI, while many sisters in other communities do not, as their communities did not pay into SS and are not entitled to benefits. There are annual fund drives for retired religious in most dioceses for that reason.

This self-supporting feature is not much different from many active communities that require their young candidates to provide their own medical insurance through postulancy and novitiate. I read in another post about a young lady who is saving up to pay her medical insurance, so that she will be free to enter the religious community that accepted her application.

Additionally, our sisters are already educated. Therefore, the community will not be paying large sums to send young sisters off to college, nor will we be waiting up to four years after profession to have them join us in the apostolates which generate income, such as teaching, administration, clerical, or hospital work. We are all involved in apostolates which do not generate income, such as offering hospitality to priests, sacristy work, bringing Holy Communion to the sick, hospitalized, or home-bound, visiting nursing home patients, bringing cancer patients to their chemo treatments, running errands for the elderly, or teaching CCD.

So far, this has been working for the past decade. I ask you to pray with us that this will continue to be the case, unless (God willing!) there is a vocation boom and we take in more young members who can help support the aging sisters. The financial future of the baby boomer generation in the United States has been somewhat of an uncertainty for at least the past decade, and will likely remain so as more reach retirement age. None of us (either in the world or in religious life) knows if Social Security will “be there” for us when it is our turn to retire. It could be that the existing communities will always need to depend on the generosity of the people they served to help take up the slack, or that all communities become self-supporting. In that case, we will be “one step ahead of the game,” so to speak.

It is my prayer that there are women of all ages who will hear and heed the gentle call of Jesus, who has called people in every age to follow Him. May they have the courage to break free from those things which tie them to the world – whether it be the comforts and pleasures of this materialistic age that binds our young, or financial uncertainty that instills fear in the more mature – so that they can leave all to follow Jesus. May they not, like the rich young man in the gospel, go away sad because they are not able to detach themselves from temporal and temporary wealth in exchange for that which is priceless!

 

[Old_Convert]

For All Women Who May Be Interested in The Franciscan Sisters of Mary:

I just spent an delightful day with these sisters yesterday! They are a fine group of women dedicated to loving Jesus and serving Him through His Holy Church. They are starting a new association. Each sister has her own work, but they are working toward a charism (correct me Sr. MM if I’m wrong!) that will encompass helping our overworked priests in as many ways as possible and offering hospitality to groups of priests through which they may fellowship and enjoy some hard-earned time of rest. They also pray for vocations and for priests who have left the priesthood without going through the proper channels. They have a strong devotion to the Holy Eucharist, Our Lady and to praying for the Holy Souls in purgatory.

The day was a delightful mixture of prayer, talks by a great Benedictine priest, a wonderful meal, and lots of laughter. The FSM have no upper age limit; and, therefore, are quite open to older women who are single, widows, or divorced with a Church annulment. Each sister is self-supporting, but they get together for community as much as they can. Some of the sisters in Illinois are actually able to live in small groups, and they are working toward more community living as the association develops.

When the day was over, I was sad to leave them --and I am definitely going to keep in touch with the sisters who live close to me! May God grant them His choicest blessings and help me as the discernment process proceeds.

 

[kathielee]

For All Women Who May Be Interested in The Franciscan Sisters of Mary:

I just spent an delightful day with these sisters yesterday! They are a fine group of women dedicated to loving Jesus and serving Him through His Holy Church. They are starting a new association. Each sister has her own work, but they are working toward a charism (correct me Sr. MM if I’m wrong!) that will encompass helping our overworked priests in as many ways as possible and offering hospitality to groups of priests through which they may fellowship and enjoy some hard-earned time of rest. They also pray for vocations and for priests who have left the priesthood without going through the proper channels. They have a strong devotion to the Holy Eucharist, Our Lady and to praying for the Holy Souls in purgatory.

The day was a delightful mixture of prayer, talks by a great Benedictine priest, a wonderful meal, and lots of laughter. The FSM have no upper age limit; and, therefore, are quite open to older women who are single, widows, or divorced with a Church annulment. Each sister is self-supporting, but they get together for community as much as they can. Some of the sisters in Illinois are actually able to live in small groups, and they are working toward more community living as the association develops.

When the day was over, I was sad to leave them --and I am definitely going to keep in touch with the sisters who live close to me! May God grant them His choicest blessings and help me as the discernment process proceeds.

Sounds wonderful ! Any aspirants living in Missouri ??

kathie

 

[Old_Convert]

KathieLee:

Not that I know of yet. There is one aspirant from Ohio, one from New Jersey, and another one–but I’m not sure where she lives–and then there’s me . Maybe you could be the first one from Missouri!

There are sisters who live in Texas, Ohio, Indianna, Georgia and Illinois (sorry if I forgot anyone!)

KathieLee, check out their site: www.fsmcharism.net It’s not completely done yet, but there is still a lot of valuable information there. Be sure to fill out the “Questions” section. It may take Sr. Mary Margaret a little while to get back to you, but that’s only because she is so busy. Hang in there!

Just hold onto our Mother Mary’s hand, and she will take you where her Beloved Son wants you to go! . . . and pray, pray, pray! He “will not leave you an orphan.”

I’m praying for you! Let me know if you don’t hear back from Sr. MM in a week or so because the sisters have had a little trouble with their site lately. I have another way to contact her and may be able to help

 

[kathielee]

KathieLee:

Not that I know of yet. There is one aspirant from Ohio, one from New Jersey, and another one–but I’m not sure where she lives–and then there’s me . Maybe you could be the first one from Missouri!

There are sisters who live in Texas, Ohio, Indianna, Georgia and Illinois (sorry if I forgot anyone!)

KathieLee, check out their site: www.fsmcharism.net It’s not completely done yet, but there is still a lot of valuable information there. Be sure to fill out the “Questions” section. It may take Sr. Mary Margaret a little while to get back to you, but that’s only because she is so busy. Hang in there!

Just hold onto our Mother Mary’s hand, and she will take you where her Beloved Son wants you to go! . . . and pray, pray, pray! He “will not leave you an orphan.”

I’m praying for you! Let me know if you don’t hear back from Sr. MM in a week or so because the sisters have had a little trouble with their site lately. I have another way to contact her and may be able to help

Thank you. My pastor and my spiritual director (2 different people) are supposed to send her an email about me…but one is on a 3 week vacation and the other is equally busy for another week. My spiritual director saw their website and thought it looks really good. And, thanks for the prayers! Kathie

 

[wina]

For All Women Who May Be Interested in The Franciscan Sisters of Mary:

I just spent an delightful day with these sisters yesterday! They are a fine group of women dedicated to loving Jesus and serving Him through His Holy Church. They are starting a new association. Each sister has her own work, but they are working toward a charism (correct me Sr. MM if I’m wrong!) that will encompass helping our overworked priests in as many ways as possible and offering hospitality to groups of priests through which they may fellowship and enjoy some hard-earned time of rest. They also pray for vocations and for priests who have left the priesthood without going through the proper channels. They have a strong devotion to the Holy Eucharist, Our Lady and to praying for the Holy Souls in purgatory.

The day was a delightful mixture of prayer, talks by a great Benedictine priest, a wonderful meal, and lots of laughter. The FSM have no upper age limit; and, therefore, are quite open to older women who are single, widows, or divorced with a Church annulment. Each sister is self-supporting, but they get together for community as much as they can. Some of the sisters in Illinois are actually able to live in small groups, and they are working toward more community living as the association develops.

When the day was over, I was sad to leave them --and I am definitely going to keep in touch with the sisters who live close to me! May God grant them His choicest blessings and help me as the discernment process proceeds.

Unfortunately, there’s none in my country

 

[Old_Convert]

Dear Wina:

Have you looked at the Servants of the Sacred Cross? Here is a link to their website:

thesacredcross.org/main.htm

They are a community in Canada that has members in the United States and Australia as well. Their superior, Mother Wendy James, is wonderful. We talked for a whole hour on the telephone. She told me she has a woman in Hong Kong who wants to begin the discernment process. So I’m sure that a lady from Indonesia would be welcome to try. They are an ecumenical community that accepts Traditional Communion Anglicans, Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox aspirants. Check out their website and read the quotations from the Vatican Secretariat of State, the Vatican Counsel on Christian Unity, and also from the Roman Catholic Bishops of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and Perth, Australia. I asked my parish priest, a convert to Catholicism from Anglicanism, about them, and he said they looked very good to him (I printed off some of their website to show him). Right now, Mother Wendy says they have more Roman Catholic members than Anglican members.

The sisters live in their homes, and gather once a year for Chapter at Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada, at the Carmelite Retreat Center. Chapter takes place in September. It is then that postulants are received and novices are clothed in the habit–and a beautiful traditional one it is! Formation is done by mail and email. Be sure to read the whole website, look at the picture album, and read the past newsletters. Then contact Mother Wendy. I think you’ll be very glad you did. I am waiting to receive my discernment package from Mother Wendy. She wrote and let me know it was mailed Thursday. I can’t wait. I will be discerning between the SSC and the FSM. How kind of Our Lord to give older women like me such wonderful opportunities to serve Him.

I will be praying for you! God bless!

 

[wina]

Dear Wina:

Have you looked at the Servants of the Sacred Cross? Here is a link to their website:

thesacredcross.org/main.htm

They are a community in Canada that has members in the United States and Australia as well. Their superior, Mother Wendy James, is wonderful. We talked for a whole hour on the telephone. She told me she has a woman in Hong Kong who wants to begin the discernment process. So I’m sure that a lady from Indonesia would be welcome to try. They are an ecumenical community that accepts Traditional Communion Anglicans, Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox aspirants. Check out their website and read the quotations from the Vatican Secretariat of State, the Vatican Counsel on Christian Unity, and also from the Roman Catholic Bishops of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and Perth, Australia. I asked my parish priest, a convert to Catholicism from Anglicanism, about them, and he said they looked very good to him (I printed off some of their website to show him). Right now, Mother Wendy says they have more Roman Catholic members than Anglican members.

The sisters live in their homes, and gather once a year for Chapter at Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada, at the Carmelite Retreat Center. Chapter takes place in September. It is then that postulants are received and novices are clothed in the habit–and a beautiful traditional one it is! Formation is done by mail and email. Be sure to read the whole website, look at the picture album, and read the past newsletters. Then contact Mother Wendy. I think you’ll be very glad you did. I am waiting to receive my discernment package from Mother Wendy. She wrote and let me know it was mailed Thursday. I can’t wait. I will be discerning between the SSC and the FSM. How kind of Our Lord to give older women like me such wonderful opportunities to serve Him.

I will be praying for you! God bless!

Dear Old Convert,

Thank you for the link, I will read all to learn more about them.
Actually I’m still discerning myself and haven’t got any Spiritual Director yet, still looking and at this moment only Jesus and Mary are my spiritual director

I’m still discerning for married life or religious life because my situation is little bit complication . But I won’t give up. And I’ve fallen in love with the way of life of St.Francis of Asisi.

Anyway…thank you so much for the link and God bless

Wina

 

[Sister_MM]

Each sister has her own work, which fits into their charism (correct me Sr. MM if I’m wrong!) that encompasses helping our overworked priests in as many ways as possible and offering hospitality to groups of priests through which they may fellowship and enjoy some hard-earned time of rest.
:

No need for correction - you’ve basically “got it right.”

Here’s how we each live our charism:
Sr. Phyllis (retired) is our eldest member. Although quite frail herself, she conducts a Communion service in her retirement community on Wednesdays. Although she’ll claim she “doesn’t do much at her age,” do not let those innocent blue eyes fool you. She’s more than likely behind most of the good-natured pranks when we’re together. Here’s a classic: she once bought a rubber snake, thinking she’d play a prank on Sr. Maria Michael (at that time, a Science teacher) by making her think one of the pet snakes had gotten out. (If you are wondering why in the world sisters would have pet snakes, remember that Sister was a Science teacher. The snake was a class “pet” that sister had brought home for the summer, much to the chagrin of most of the other sisters…) Anyway, dear old Sister Phyllis planted the toy snake in the fruit bowl, and quietly waited for it to be discovered during dinner. Too bad Sister Mary Ann didn’t know that. She just assumed “that must be where she put the toy snake” when she went into Sister Mary Margaret’s room to put clean sheets on the bed and saw a very life-like looking snake peeking out from under the pillow. Too bad the real snake - which had really gotten out of its cage and was hiding under the pillow - didn’t know that Sister Mary Ann was afraid of snakes. That night at dinner, when the toy snake was discovered, Sister Mary Ann asked about “the other toy snake - you know, the one you hid in Sister Mary Margaret’s bed?” Sister Maria Michael bolted away from the table, quickly caught the REAL snake and put it back in its cage…

Speaking of Sr. Mary Ann (semi-retired)… after she recovered from the snake incident, she resumed her sacristy work in her large parish church. She also brings cancer patients to their chemo treatments, runs errands for the elderly, and spends about 4 hours a day in prayer and adoration. Her practical, down-to-earth, “no nonesense” spirituality and personality helps us all stay focused. She is our “rock” of prayer, and the one we turn to when we need strength.

Sr. Nancy (retired) takes care of the rectory grounds for an 85 year old priest - (she can be found most sunny days on the John Deere riding mower!) and is “on call” as a substitute teacher for a small, Catholic school. Although soft-spoken, she has no trouble keeping order in the classroom. One of the students said, “She raised her voice once. We heard it all the way in the 2nd row!” Sister is the house mother for a lively little group in Illinois. Like Sister Mary Ann, she helps us stay grounded.

Sr. Norberta is a pastoral assistant. Her main work is in the hospital, where she brings the Eucharist and prepares patients to receive the Sacrament of the Sick or (whether they will admit they want to or not) Reconcilliation. She has been able to catch some fairly large fish who would have escaped the Net of Peter if not for a very convincing “conscience personified.” She also does sacristy work, and anything else she sees that needs doing. Wherever she lives, bushes are trimmed, weeds are pulled, shrubs are pruned - with or without permission. As a native of Poland, Sister has a bit of trouble making sense of American ways and American laws - but I’d hate to be the peace officer trying to issue her a speeding ticket. You’d have to be able to convince her that traffic safety is more important than Eternal Salvation - and possibly, yours.

Sister Maria Michael and Sister Mary Margaret are school administrators. They work tirelessly for pastors who believe strongly in the Catholic school system, which used to depend almost exclusively on dedicated teaching orders to staff its institutions. Anyone in Catholic education today will probably tell you that the biggest challenge is not student discipline, it’s parent discipline!
There are loads of interesting stories stemming from their Catholic school experiences, but you will just have to wait for the book to come out.

Sister Beth is also a teacher. She gave up a medical practice to teach in the Catholic schools. She may just go back to the medical field - who knows? In any case, she’s the only person I know who can pronounce “Phenylketonuria” without batting an eyelash. She also helps in her mother’s parish by teaching CCD on the weekends while she is there to take care of her aging mother, after the unexpected passing of her father last June. She also brings Holy Communion to the sick.

We enjoyed meeting you last Wednesday. BTW, how did things go at St. Jude’s on Thursday?

 

[Old_Convert]

Hi Sr. MM!

It was fun to read your report on each sister after having met them. I had a wonderful day with you all! I felt so at home that when it came time to leave, I thought, “Oh, do I have to?”

My interview at St. Jude went very well, at least I think it did. It lasted for an hour and a half! I was interviewed by the pastor and two people from his parish council. They asked when I thought I could be in Peoria. (?) They also said they knew people who might be able to help me find an affordable place to live and who would offer to help me with moving–but they did not offer me the job–yet. (?) I don’t know how many other people are interviewing. I’m hoping to hear tomorrow. I don’t think they would have asked me questions like that if they weren’t interested in me. Also, the pastor took me on a tour of the church to show how their remodeling is to be done. The remodeling starts tomorrow, so I am sure the pastor has a lot on his mind. Ask all the sisters to pray for me!

I called Sr. Maria Michael because she has met the pastor before, and she told me what little she knew about him–all very good. I plan to call Sr. Norberta and set a day to go and help her with her computer skills–and hopefully listen to wonderful stories about when she saw Pope John Paul the Great. Just think, I hugged a sister who shook hands with Pope John Paul II ! :whacky:

I pray for all of you each day. I look forward very much to seeing you–some of you, anyway–again soon.

In Jesus and Mary . . .and with many prayers . . .

 

[Catherine_S]

Since there are so many interested in joining Rosalind Moss, I thought I’d tell you about another community that is forming.

You can get an overview by going to our website: www.fsmcharism.net
The site is still in the development stage, but the basic information is all there.

Don’t forget to tell us about yourself, by answering a few basic questions using our interactive form (Follow the “Questions” tab).

If you are called to follow our Lord and feel drawn to us, may our Lady draw you in the fragrance of her perfect and immaculate love.

Sister Mary Margaret, FSM
www.fsmcharism.net

Hello Sister Mary Margaret !
Welcome!
Thank you for posting this message as it will certainly be of interest to some of the ladies here at Catholic Answers Forums. I like your use of icons to brighten your message !
I posted to you but when a copy of my message came up (after I clicked on send) it needed some corrections but any attempts at making these , were to no avail, and finially everything* just disappeared*** !
Not a good sign !
Your website is informative and it is lovely to see photos of the sisters and to learn of their journey through life and especially of their faith and ministries.
Once again…welcome Sister Mary Margaret.
May God richly bless you all.
Respectfully,
Catherine
.
.

 

[SisterSnowflake]

Many blessings to all of you on your continued discernment!

 

[Nun_of_That]

This group looks really interesting, and from what I’ve been able to find out, they are a sincere group. I plan to visit them soon.