Number of new Catholic nuns in Britain at 25-year high

[Dwyer]

From 1991 to 2004 the number of new nuns decreased markedly, according to the British Office for Vocation, hitting all-time low of just seven women. From there, the numbers have risen steadily, with 45 joining convents in 2014 . . .

The FCJ Sisters are what’s called an apostolic order, as they are involved in all kinds of community outreach, from programs with sex workers to prison ministry. Both Langlois and McGrogan contend that the focus on social justice is something that has a strong pull with modern women . . .

She suggests the numbers are moving upwards because of the modern world, rather than in spite of it.

“We have an economic crisis, we have an atrocious social problem of the gap between rich and poor, we have a migrant crisis. I think people are beginning to realize that maybe kicking religion out altogether was not the answer to humanity’s problems.”

cbc.ca/news/world/number-of-new-catholic-nuns-in-britain-at-25-year-high-1.3100308

What is the difference between a sister and a nun?

Becoming a Sister or Nun Religious Life

The terms “nun” and “sister” are often used interchangeably. However within Roman Catholicism, there is a difference between the two. Here’s a simple summary of the differences.

A Catholic nun is a woman who lives as a contemplative life in a monastery which is usually cloistered (or enclosed) or semi-cloistered. Her ministry and prayer life is centered within and around the monastery for the good of the world. She professes the perpetual solemn vows living a life according to the evangelical counsels of poverty, celibacy, and obedience. Check out the Carmelite Nuns of Baltimore for example.

A Catholic sister is a woman who does lives, ministers, and prays within the world. A sister’s life is often called “active” or “apostolic” because she is engaged in the works of mercy and other ministries that take the Gospel to others where they are. She professes perpetual simple vows living a life according to the evangelical counsels of poverty, celibacy, and obedience. Check out the IHM Sisters of Monroe, Michigan for example.

Because both nuns and sisters belong to the church life form of Religious Life, they can also be called “women religious.”

anunslife.org/resources/sister-or-nun

Vocations increase in Britain. :nun1:

 

[IdiNaPut]

I really, deeply admire those women who can dedicate their lives in such a way to God, it is a deeply beautiful thing. I can remember as a child, even before I had even the slightest clue about religion as a whole, wanting to be a nun (no idea why!)

 

[TK421]

45 still seems so tiny to me, but I guess Catholicism is still a minority religion in the UK for the moment. It’s a lot better than 7.

 

[CaptFun]

:clapping::dancing:





:frighten: *- please tell me that “25-year high” isn’t … the name of their local pub.
*