Options for women...?

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ghaybyers1

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Hi All!
I was wondering what options there are for women who want to be deeply involved in the Church without becoming nuns/sisters?
 
Many orders have a lay component to them. If you have (these are just a few) Carmelite, Dominican, or any other communities in your diocese - you may want to call them to find out if they have that type of affiliation. There is also such a thing as a “Consecrated Virgin” - if you do a search on CA forums, there is info on that type of vocation.
 
Another possiblilty is to be a hermit.
There are lay apostolates which do not have life-time commitments like the third orders do.
There is also lay missionary work
 
Sister_Rose said:
**Another possiblilty is to be a hermit.**There are lay apostolates which do not have life-time commitments like the third orders do.
There is also lay missionary work
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I’m not sure if that hermit suggestion was serious or not…? Regardless… I like helping people, I don’t think that being a hermit would be the best choice.

I was wondering is all, if there is a female vocation, somewhat like a deacon, where you can be married but still devote yourself to the church. I love the Church, but also prayerfully have discerned that marriage is likely the vocation for me. I just love the church so much… I was wondering about any options I may have to express that with action.
 
There really are hermits out there 🙂 Do a search on CA forums for “urban hermit” if you would like more information.

Many of the lay components to different orders include married people. Focus of the ministry would depend on the order. I don’t know that there is an equivelant to the diaconate for women, though.
 
Third Orders of groups like Carmelites, Dominicans, etc. Google them. Many accept married people. The people ‘live in the world’ in their ‘normal lives’ but are ‘associated’ with the priests and/or nuns of the order, often pray with them (Liturgy of the Hours), fast, give alms, etc. There are many, many different groups of Third Orders (Carmelites, Dominicans, Franciscians, Benedictines etc. are all religious orders but vary, in some cases quite widely, in their charisms or their goals).
 
Tantum_ergo said:
Third Orders of groups like Carmelites, Dominicans, etc. Google them. Many accept married people. The people ‘live in the world’ in their ‘normal lives’ but are ‘associated’ with the priests and/or nuns of the order, often pray with them (Liturgy of the Hours), fast, give alms, etc. There are many, many different groups of Third Orders (Carmelites, Dominicans, Franciscians, Benedictines etc. are all religious orders but vary, in some cases quite widely, in their charisms or their goals).
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You hit the nail on the head with the part that I bolded.

I wouldn’t mind being a hermit some days…:rolleyes:
 
Even without joining a third order or lay apostolate, a woman can get as involved in the Church as she is permitted. I am a lay married women working in full time ministry in a parish and on the diocesan level. It does not matter that I am not a religious. I think the only difference between myself and a religious is that I took a different vow (marriage), but I do many of the same things that religious sisters in our diocese do. Decide what you want to do and find out how to do it. Lay ministry is a BIG thing right now and the majority of those doing lay ministry are women. I believe 80% of full time lay ministers are women.
 
joamy said:
There really are hermits out there 🙂 Do a search on CA forums for “urban hermit” if you would like more information.

Many of the lay components to different orders include married people. Focus of the ministry would depend on the order. I don’t know that there is an equivelant to the diaconate for women, though.
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I tried looking for that, but I couldn’t find it… 😦
 
ghaybyers1 said:
Hi All!
I was wondering what options there are for women who want to be deeply involved in the Church without becoming nuns/sisters?
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they have the same options with very few exceptions as lay Catholic men.

voluntary service to the parish liturgy, evangelization, catechesis, charitable and other ministries

just about any professional paid position in a parish or diocese or Catholic institution such as hospital or school, except obviously the pastoral and sacramental functions reserved to the ordained ministers, is open to women.
 
The majority of lay workers in the Church are women - parish secretaries, Directors of Religious Education, Youth Ministry coordinators, choir leaders, and so on - and while these positions are certainly open to men, too, it seems to be women who answer the call to fill them.
 
jmcrae said:
The majority of lay workers in the Church are women - parish secretaries, Directors of Religious Education, Youth Ministry coordinators, choir leaders, and so on - and while these positions are certainly open to men, too, it seems to be women who answer the call to fill them.
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Ultimately, I think it’s sad that these positions are not mostly filled by men - not that women aren’t capable, but because it is the primary function of the man to do the necessary work and take up church leadership. That said, God be praised for all the holy women out there who use their extraordinary talents to pick up the slack, often shouldering an already deep load of responsibilty.

I realize the OP is not yet married or a mother, but it hasn’t been said in this thread yet, that it is often times the mother’s task to teach the children about God, although the ultimate spiritual responsibility rests with the father.

Anyways, even if you are not currently or ever in any of the positions mentioned above, a Catholic lay woman (or man) is usually most helpful attending mass and Eucharistic adoration as often as possible, keeping a daily prayer life for yourself and your loved ones, treating people charitably, and preaching the gospel in plain, simple ways at work and home. You don’t need any of those positions listed above to make huge contributions to the church.

How do you know whether you should have a more ostensible role in the Church or not? Pray constantly to discern God’s will and do your best to follow the quiet calling that answers.
 
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