New Order Comtemplative/Active Cistercian Nuns

[kathielee]

Help ! I can’t even conceive of attempting a community in my area without bishop’s approval. It’s not like one can get lost in the shuffle of this rural area.

Canon laywers?? Where are they?

I most certainly have a call to start a community following the Rule of St. Benedict with Cistercian spirituality…contemplative/active. Nuns. But how in the world does one approach the bishop???

 

[Cloisters]

Help ! I can’t even conceive of attempting a community in my area without bishop’s approval. It’s not like one can get lost in the shuffle of this rural area.

Canon laywers?? Where are they?

I most certainly have a call to start a community following the Rule of St. Benedict with Cistercian spirituality…contemplative/active. Nuns. But how in the world does one approach the bishop???

Get it all written down. Rule, constitutions, horarium, remunerative work. I know you’ve got the convent, and you have yourself as an aspirant. Get a web presence to bring in more aspirants.

Fully cloistered has no more than two hours of work a day, and don’t leave the property unless it’s for a very good reason.

Contemplative means you live a prayerful life, but leave the property for apostolic work.

I know there’s at least one canonist on these boards (SerraSemper?). She could possibly help you.

Do you have tax-free status yet?

Have your act together before approaching the bishop. You could just write a letter to Archbishop Burke, explaining your intentions, and mentioning that you’ve the support of a spiritual director, and you’d appreciate some kind of letter of support. But, I’m not sure if that’ll happen.

Sounds like you’re wanting to lean more on the bishop’s approval than on the Lord. Be confident in Him, and others will see that.

I’ve had to explain to numerous people that you’ve got to have the aspirants and the support of the faithful before approaching the bishop. They have to see that the effort is a good one, and is producing fruit.

HTH.

Blessings,
Cloisters

 

[kathielee]

Get it all written down. Rule, constitutions, horarium, remunerative work. I know you’ve got the convent, and you have yourself as an aspirant. Get a web presence to bring in more aspirants.

Fully cloistered has no more than two hours of work a day, and don’t leave the property unless it’s for a very good reason.

Contemplative means you live a prayerful life, but leave the property for apostolic work.

I know there’s at least one canonist on these boards (SerraSemper?). She could possibly help you.

Do you have tax-free status yet?

Have your act together before approaching the bishop. You could just write a letter to Archbishop Burke, explaining your intentions, and mentioning that you’ve the support of a spiritual director, and you’d appreciate some kind of letter of support. But, I’m not sure if that’ll happen.

Sounds like you’re wanting to lean more on the bishop’s approval than on the Lord. Be confident in Him, and others will see that.

I’ve had to explain to numerous people that you’ve got to have the aspirants and the support of the faithful before approaching the bishop. They have to see that the effort is a good one, and is producing fruit.

HTH.

Blessings,
Cloisters

Thank you, Gemma, for your most helpful reply.

Twofold problem for me as I see it. One is that I am a concrete thinker to the hilt. Once something clicks, however, I’ve got it down pat. The other problem is that I am in my own area where rural folks are not going to take anything seriously if one doesn’t have a habit on with at least a letter of support from the bishop…a letter of approval…like the one I saw recently on a new community website you have posted on your group. Oh, I think it is the one in Canada who are Brothers and Sisters helping the Cree.

Meeting with my Trappist spiritual director on May 17th. I feel that meeting with him will be fruitful in all of this. He is the vocation director for the monastery as well.

Also, I can’t seem to find any constitutions as a guide. I have tried but they don’t seem availabe on websites. If you ever come across one, I would sure appreciate the link.

I have a draft of the Horarium. This I have discussed with my spiritual director on the phone. They are to work 5 hours a day at their monastery so I do think I have a handle on it now. (But in reality, it takes them only 4 hours)

You know, I have been almost cloistered for over 2 years now having taken care of my mom in the home and now I still have to stay pretty close for my dad. May 17th will be the second respite I have had in a year.

JMJ,
Kathie

 

[Cloisters]

Thank you, Gemma, for your most helpful reply.

Twofold problem for me as I see it. One is that I am a concrete thinker to the hilt. Once something clicks, however, I’ve got it down pat. The other problem is that I am in my own area where rural folks are not going to take anything seriously if one doesn’t have a habit on with at least a letter of support from the bishop…a letter of approval…like the one I saw recently on a new community website you have posted on your group. Oh, I think it is the one in Canada who are Brothers and Sisters helping the Cree.

Meeting with my Trappist spiritual director on May 17th. I feel that meeting with him will be fruitful in all of this. He is the vocation director for the monastery as well.

Also, I can’t seem to find any constitutions as a guide. I have tried but they don’t seem availabe on websites. If you ever come across one, I would sure appreciate the link.

I have a draft of the Horarium. This I have discussed with my spiritual director on the phone. They are to work 5 hours a day at their monastery so I do think I have a handle on it now. (But in reality, it takes them only 4 hours)

You know, I have been almost cloistered for over 2 years now having taken care of my mom in the home and now I still have to stay pretty close for my dad. May 17th will be the second respite I have had in a year.

JMJ,
Kathie

That letter is not going to be coming anytime soon. That’s after living the life for some time, then feeling comfortable enough with everything that you make petition for “private association of the faithful.” Then you get a letter like that.

Sounds like you need more respite time. Is there not a visiting nurse service?

I know I’ve seen constitutions online. May also have to google “Rule of” or “Constitutions for” or something like that. If all else fails, mayhaps a monastery can read you their constitutions over the phone.

HTH.

Blessings,
Cloisters

 

[Marsha_Adams]

I’m making this up as I go, but perhaps there is an easier way. If an established Cistercian Monastery were to send a handful of nuns to found a cloister in your area, your bishop might be more receptive and you could join them.

Here is the information for the Cistercian nuns in Iowa:

MISSISSIPPI
(42*) M O.L. of the Mississippi Abbey
8400 Abbey Hill
DUBUQUE, IA 52003-9576
U.S.A.
Tel: [1] (563) 582-2595
Fax: [1] (563) 582-5511
E-Mail: sisters@mississippiabbey.org (cty); nettie@olmabbey.org (abbess) ; gail@mississippiabbey.org (M. Gail); questions@monasterycandy.com (Candy Business) ; kathleen@mississippiabbey.org (Campaign Dept. - Sr. Kathleen O’Neill); csq@mississippiabbey.org (Cistercian Studies Quarterly); hospitality@mississippiabbey.org (Guest Mistress) ; vocations@mississippiabbey.org (Vocation Director).
Web Site:www.mississippiabbey.org
Superior: Mother Netty Louise Gamble

 

[kathielee]

I’m making this up as I go, but perhaps there is an easier way. If an established Cistercian Monastery were to send a handful of nuns to found a cloister in your area, your bishop might be more receptive and you could join them.

Here is the information for the Cistercian nuns in Iowa:

MISSISSIPPI
(42*) M O.L. of the Mississippi Abbey
8400 Abbey Hill
DUBUQUE, IA 52003-9576
U.S.A.
Tel: [1] (563) 582-2595
Fax: [1] (563) 582-5511
E-Mail: sisters@mississippiabbey.org (cty); nettie@olmabbey.org (abbess) ; gail@mississippiabbey.org (M. Gail); questions@monasterycandy.com (Candy Business) ; kathleen@mississippiabbey.org (Campaign Dept. - Sr. Kathleen O’Neill); csq@mississippiabbey.org (Cistercian Studies Quarterly); hospitality@mississippiabbey.org (Guest Mistress) ; vocations@mississippiabbey.org (Vocation Director).
Web Site:www.mississippiabbey.org
Superior: Mother Netty Louise Gamble

Thank you for this ! I’ll take this thought to my SD. He knows alot of Mother Superiors and in the Benedictines too. Who know, maybe the abbey will take on a daughter house!

JMJ,
Kathie

 

[RobNY]

I know I’ve seen constitutions online. May also have to google “Rule of” or “Constitutions for” or something like that. If all else fails, mayhaps a monastery can read you their constitutions over the phone.

HTH.

Blessings,
Cloisters

Here’s a website with The Rule of Benedict.

The Rule of St. Augustine. (From a Dominican website.)

General Documents for the Dominicans. Including the Book of Constitutions and Ordinations of the Friars and the Order of Preachers, and the Primitive Constitutions of the Order of Friars Preachers.

I think if you search by orders, for instance, Franciscan or Carmelite, you’ll find many similar links. Does this help at all kathielee?

-Rob

 

[kathielee]

Here’s a website with The Rule of Benedict.

The Rule of St. Augustine. (From a Dominican website.)

General Documents for the Dominicans. Including the Book of Constitutions and Ordinations of the Friars and the Order of Preachers, and the Primitive Constitutions of the Order of Friars Preachers.

I think if you search by orders, for instance, Franciscan or Carmelite, you’ll find many similar links. Does this help at all kathielee?

-Rob

Yes, it does help alot, thanks so much! I have the Rule of St. Benedict here at home but the links to the constitutions will be wonderful!

kathie

 

[ChemicalBean]

I’m making this up as I go, but perhaps there is an easier way. If an established Cistercian Monastery were to send a handful of nuns to found a cloister in your area, your bishop might be more receptive and you could join them.

Here is the information for the Cistercian nuns in Iowa:

MISSISSIPPI
(42*) M O.L. of the Mississippi Abbey
8400 Abbey Hill
DUBUQUE, IA 52003-9576
U.S.A.
Tel: [1] (563) 582-2595
Fax: [1] (563) 582-5511
E-Mail: sisters@mississippiabbey.org (cty); nettie@olmabbey.org (abbess) ; gail@mississippiabbey.org (M. Gail); questions@monasterycandy.com (Candy Business) ; kathleen@mississippiabbey.org (Campaign Dept. - Sr. Kathleen O’Neill); csq@mississippiabbey.org (Cistercian Studies Quarterly); hospitality@mississippiabbey.org (Guest Mistress) ; vocations@mississippiabbey.org (Vocation Director).
Web Site:www.mississippiabbey.org
Superior: Mother Netty Louise Gamble

I don’t know how receptive they’d be, but you could give it a try. They recently (oh, I think in the last 10 years) established a new house in Norway, which finally broke free and is now independent. They, like everybody else, would have limited financial and human resources, and would want to see hard evidence that their presence in rural MO is really needed more than somewhere else for what they would have to give. It might be a tough sell since there are LOTS of religious houses in that state, including several that follow the Rule of Benedict. Rather then sending their nuns to seed your new venture, you might request some sort of live-in with them for 2-3 years with the understanding that you would want to be formed in their spirituality and ways (including self-governance and how to form other aspirants) but not permanently incorporate with them. Such an experience would require more you to not take care of your parents (you may not be able to do so at this time) but you would carry more credibility with potential aspirants when it comes time to kick this off.

 

[kathielee]

I don’t know how receptive they’d be, but you could give it a try. They recently (oh, I think in the last 10 years) established a new house in Norway, which finally broke free and is now independent. They, like everybody else, would have limited financial and human resources, and would want to see hard evidence that their presence in rural MO is really needed more than somewhere else for what they would have to give. It might be a tough sell since there are LOTS of religious houses in that state, including several that follow the Rule of Benedict. Rather then sending their nuns to seed your new venture, you might request some sort of live-in with them for 2-3 years with the understanding that you would want to be formed in their spirituality and ways (including self-governance and how to form other aspirants) but not permanently incorporate with them. Such an experience would require more you to not take care of your parents (you may not be able to do so at this time) but you would carry more credibility with potential aspirants when it comes time to kick this off.

Yes, I am only in the very beginning stages of working on this at all. Thank you very much for your thoughts and advice on this. There aren’t any Benedictines within hours of where I am. I’m at the stage where if there would be anyone who has felt this same type of religious life and would like to “start” with me, we could work together.

God bless,
Kathie

 

[puzzleannie]

you begin by establishing a daughter house of an existing monastery, its like a “trademark” you can’t call yourself cistercian etc. unless you are, and they decide who is. If they decide to allow you to establish in a designated are, it is that superior who will approach the new bishop. and as pp stated, have all your ducks in a row. where, who, how supported, rule etc.

if you mean that you wish to establish an entirely new order, and adopt the rule of St. Benedict, St. Francis etc. you begin as pp suggested. but you had better be prepared to make a case to the bishop on how this new order fills a need that is not being met in the diocese.

 

[kathielee]

you begin by establishing a daughter house of an existing monastery, its like a “trademark” you can’t call yourself cistercian etc. unless you are, and they decide who is. If they decide to allow you to establish in a designated are, it is that superior who will approach the new bishop. and as pp stated, have all your ducks in a row. where, who, how supported, rule etc.

if you mean that you wish to establish an entirely new order, and adopt the rule of St. Benedict, St. Francis etc. you begin as pp suggested. but you had better be prepared to make a case to the bishop on how this new order fills a need that is not being met in the diocese.

The absolute ideal situation would probably be if the Bernardines might come to help set this up for a couple years and this be a daughter house to them. But, that isn’t going to happen.

It would be a new order so I wouldn’t be calling it Cistercian nuns. But rather, the Rule of St. Benedict with Cistercian spirituality. But the name “Cistercian” would not be in the name of the order.

Yes, the need is great here in this rural area. As you can imagine…one 80 year old lovely priest with 5 parishes all about 20-60 minutes away from his home. He has a deacon.

Kathie

 

[puzzleannie]

I am trying to think of a founder of a new order who was not first the member of an existing order, and I am coming up blank. every order has a charism for the benefit of the Church–what will yours be? for instance our bishop invited an order of contemplative sister from Mexico here to establish perpetual adoration and pray specificially for vocations (which has already shown fruit, by the way). When the Benedictines assigned to the Valley petitioned to establish their own daughter house, the dedicated themselves to evangelization and pro-life work.

 

[kathielee]

I am trying to think of a founder of a new order who was not first the member of an existing order, and I am coming up blank.

I haven’t really looked into that except that there have been quite a few diocesan orders popping up. Rosalind Moss is the only one I know of, off hand, who is starting one without having been in one.

Kathie

 

[puzzleannie]

another might be Rhonda Chervin but I am not sure if her group is a true religious congregation of sisters or a type of lay institute.

 

[kathielee]

another might be Rhonda Chervin but I am not sure if her group is a true religious congregation of sisters or a type of lay institute.

Rhonda is a widow and consecrated in what I think is called “Dedicated Widow.” I know on her website there are 3 or 4 ways to consecrate oneself as a widow.

I was in contact with her having a quick question. I told her my bishop had agreed to allow me to take private/simple vows as a Consecrated Widow and she was surprised as she said she didn’t know of any other bishop that has done that. I am assuming that it is not that common to actually take that vow. I know my bishop has not done it before. I felt very blessed indeed to have the bishop say yes. I was actually expecting a no ! LOL

Kathie