Third Order - Tertiaries - Oblates

[Periwinkle27]

I know that the Carmelites, Dominicans, Franciscans and the Benedictines all have lay people attached to their orders. Do Jesuits have tertiaries also? I have been seriously thinking about becoming a third order Dominican or Benedictine but would like to research the Jesuits as well.

Thank all of you who answer with my whole heart.
Many Blessings.

 

[Fauken]

I know that the Carmelites, Dominicans, Franciscans and the Benedictines all have lay people attached to their orders. Do Jesuits have tertiaries also? I have been seriously thinking about becoming a third order Dominican or Benedictine but would like to research the Jesuits as well.

Not as far as I know, no.

 

[mrsdizzyd]

Jesuits have associates.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

The closest thing the Jesuits have are some lay apostolic communities which practice Ignatian spirituality and do a lot of social justice work.

Ignatian Associates is probably the main one. Currently, it only has chapters in a few geographic areas in the USA. I looked at it a couple years ago but it wasn’t active in any areas of the country where I spend time, and there were things about it I didn’t like (such as its strongly encouraging married couples to join it together, which I don’t think should be necessary).

There’s also one called the “Ignatian Volunteer Corps” that’s for people age 50 and up and basically lets people who are retired, or close to retirement, use their skills for the good of the community.

Overall, the Jesuits are not as big on involving lay people as the other orders you mentioned. Which I think is kind of lame on the part of the Jesuits, but that’s just my opinion.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

Just about any order has a group of lay people in some affiliation or another.

Here’s a thread about associates, since they seem lesser known and discussed:

Associates of Religious Congregations Vocations

So, although tonight is not the best time for me to write at length (I’m a professor and our classes start tomorrow!), I am happy to get involved in a general discussion of what Associates are. Keep in mind that how the relationship between Vowed members and Associates plays out varies widely from community to community–and even, sometimes, within provinces or separate branches of the same congregation (for example, Sisters of St. Joseph, IHMs, etc.). So this can be as diverse as the differences…