Thread for Women Discerning Religious Life

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Jennifer_G said:
I’ve been looking at convents more out of curiousity, and I noticed that the Poor Clares (near Philadelphia, PA and Trenton, NJ) seem to have 1 meal a day, plus a small evening “snack”. Now, I’m naturally thin, so I might keel over on that regimen. 🤷 (If I skip a few meals, after a few days, my weight starts to plummet)

I’m curious as to what kind of orders there are. I know the 2nd order is cloistered, then there’s 3rd order religious and secular. It’s just hard to figure out sometimes when looking at a website. I wonder what the process is for requesting a visit to a convent is.

(BTW, I also like the traditional habits)
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The Poor Clare** Collettines**, a branch of the Poor Clares have a lot of external penances–they don’t sleep much, they fast, and rise at midnight for prayer.
There are ‘updated’ Poor Clares–some in full habits, some in modified habits, where are totally Poor Clares, but not so penitential–one of my favorites in Greenville, South Carolina, another in Jamaica Plain (Boston) , Mass. You have to go thru them all to figure them out the Collettines wear a full habit with a large white guimp or bib in front–they also go barefoot.

There are ‘original’ Discalced Carmelites and ‘updated’ DC’s who wear modified habits and have a less penitential but very prayerful life also–who are part of the CCa-Carmel Communities Associated. They are mainly in the NE and Mid-Atlantic states.
 
Jennifer_G said:
I’ve been looking at convents more out of curiousity, and I noticed that the Poor Clares (near Philadelphia, PA and Trenton, NJ) seem to have 1 meal a day, plus a small evening “snack”. Now, I’m naturally thin, so I might keel over on that regimen. 🤷 (If I skip a few meals, after a few days, my weight starts to plummet)

I’m curious as to what kind of orders there are. I know the 2nd order is cloistered, then there’s 3rd order religious and secular. It’s just hard to figure out sometimes when looking at a website. I wonder what the process is for requesting a visit to a convent is.

(BTW, I also like the traditional habits)
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*Jennifer are you looking to visit the community as a visitor[perhaps for spiritual enrichment?] or for vocations purposes?

Depending on the which observance of the Poor Clares you are looking at the rules for the Monastaries differ depending on if they are primitive observance or Colletine. Each Monastery has its own community and way of supporting itself which in itself can be quite interesting.

If you are interested in visiting just call them explain your reasons for wanting to visit. Most offer daily mass or if for vocations purposes you would talk to their vocations director.

Best of luck and there are guides available of different communities and locations let us know if you need to link to any of those won’t you?]*
 
Hi all! I am 25 and I have been discerning for about 10 months now. I am leaning towards the Carmelite order, but I believe that I need to regroup and ask God for continuing guidance before continue on my path towards religious life. God knows that I would be happy with anything He decides so I am waiting on Him. I am gracious for His assistance.🙂
 
CarmeliteGirl25 said:
I am leaning towards the Carmelite order, but I believe that I need to regroup and ask God for continuing guidance before continue on my path towards religious life.
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I know some girls - sisters now :extrahappy: - that entered the Carmelite convent in Alexandria, SD in past two years. I strongly believe that this particular house is a doorway to heaven. If you seriously think about contemplative life, you just have to go there and see it.
God bless you!
 
simon_op said:
I know some girls - sisters now :extrahappy: - that entered the Carmelite convent in Alexandria, SD in past two years. I strongly believe that this particular house is a doorway to heaven. If you seriously think about contemplative life, you just have to go there and see it.
God bless you!
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Awesome! I’ve not heard of that order before. Thanks for the tip! God bless! :signofcross:
 
I’m 29 and am visiting the Missionary Benedictine Sisters in November.
 
Forgive me Mother/Sister, For I am not a Female…please post a email address for your the order, where a donation could be made. Many thanks.
 
donalddon5 said:
Forgive me Mother/Sister, For I am not a Female…please post a email address for your the order, where a donation could be made. Many thanks.
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I don’t believe this thread was for donations, it was just for orders that women were discerning about. Sorry for the confusion! 😊
 
Dear Women in Discernment;

I have had to give up on my dream to become a cloistered Sister, due to my, history of depression and bi-polar. even tho’ I am mostly controled by my meds and it is the outside world that sets my moods off. I do so much better in a structred enviroment. When I go on retreats I don’t have any problems, until i come back to face so called reality. But between my head problems and my age I have not found any mmmmonestaries in the u.s. THAT WOULD ACCEPT ME. So you young woment in your 20s and 30s be so grateful to God’s calling you now when you are able to find the right place ror your gifts.:harp:
 
Marilynclssc said:
Dear Women in Discernment;

I have had to give up on my dream to become a cloistered Sister, due to my, history of depression and bi-polar. even tho’ I am mostly controled by my meds and it is the outside world that sets my moods off. I do so much better in a structred enviroment. When I go on retreats I don’t have any problems, until i come back to face so called reality. But between my head problems and my age I have not found any mmmmonestaries in the u.s. THAT WOULD ACCEPT ME. So you young woment in your 20s and 30s be so grateful to God’s calling you now when you are able to find the right place ror your gifts.:harp:
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Marilyclssc,
I know of two monasteries in the US who are accepting of women with controlled mental disorders. They are the Savannah Carmel in Savannah, GA (savannahcarmel.org/) (Sr. Joann of the Cross, the Prioress, is super nice! Shoot her an email at carmsav@savannahcarmel.org) and the Carmelites of the Mother of God Monastery in San Rafael, CA (I am not 100% sure, but someone told me they accept women with mental disorders) at motherofgodcarmel.org/. The Savannah Carmelites will even allow you to continue your medication for the duration of your sisterhood, should you require it. I am really interested in this order, and they wear the habit, though it isn’t traditional 😦 Nonetheless, Sr. Joann has been entirely helpful and not at all judgmental like two other monasteries I contacted (I have a history of depression too). Definitely contact those two! If you still have a calling, you should pursue it! If they are too far away from your hometown, ask them if there is one like them closer to where you live. The Savannah Carmel is simply gorgeous and SIMPLE. I love the pictures I’ve seen. God bless you!
 
👋 Hello ladies! I’m Meg. I’m currently a pre-postulant (just starting my formation) with the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in St. Louis, MO.

I’m extremely blessed to find this thread. I’ve been trying to find other young women who are discerning and there aren’t many that I have found in the St. Louis area. While I have amazing and wonderful women supporting me, there aren’t many that know what I’m going through.

I’ve been discerning religious life for about 3 years now after doing a year of volunteer service. I’m a life long Catholic and I love my faith. I’ve been going to daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration and have been amazed at how much all aspects of my life have been influenced by God’s grace since I’ve turned my path in life over to Him.

May God Bless you all on your journeys!

Peace & Blessings,
Meg

“Let us love God, but may it be with the strength our our arm and the sweat of our brow.” - St. Vincent de Paul :nun2: :amen:
 
MeggerDC said:
👋 Hello ladies! I’m Meg. I’m currently a pre-postulant (just starting my formation) with the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in St. Louis, MO.

I’m extremely blessed to find this thread. I’ve been trying to find other young women who are discerning and there aren’t many that I have found in the St. Louis area. While I have amazing and wonderful women supporting me, there aren’t many that know what I’m going through.

I’ve been discerning religious life for about 3 years now after doing a year of volunteer service. I’m a life long Catholic and I love my faith. I’ve been going to daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration and have been amazed at how much all aspects of my life have been influenced by God’s grace since I’ve turned my path in life over to Him.

May God Bless you all on your journeys!

Peace & Blessings,
Meg

“Let us love God, but may it be with the strength our our arm and the sweat of our brow.” - St. Vincent de Paul :nun2: :amen:
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Blessings Meg!
What a wonderful time for you! Congratulations and , Hope to hear more from you as you begin your journey. I am sure it will help those who are just starting out.
Blessings of Peace and All Good!
 
Thank you Poor Clare! I actually already started. I’ve been living with the sisters for about a month now. How far are you in your process?
 
Meg- may God bless you. I’m actually going on a discernment retreat with the Daughters of Charity this weekend in Evansville, IN. I just know that if I continue to trust God, that He’ll show me where I should be. (I’ve been discerning for a little over half a year now). 🙂
 
MeggerDC said:
Thank you Poor Clare! I actually already started. I’ve been living with the sisters for about a month now. How far are you in your process?
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Thank You for asking!
I am sort of in an inbetween state at the moment. I was professed with a community of Franciscans but had to leave due to family issues.Now those obligations have ended.
[oops most of my post seems to have poofed… hmm how odd]
I am waiting on clearing a student loan… and once that happens [only $13,000] I have found a community that allows for late vocations. So as far as where I am in my discernment process??? Since I am technically starting over??? I am at the point of having found the community. Now to pay off the debt so as to finish application and arrange and entrance date.

:angel1: * Blessings of Peace and Good!*
 
I see. If I may also ask, are you going back to the Fransiscans or somewhere else?

Peace & Blessings on your weekend!
 
MeggerDC said:
I see. If I may also ask, are you going back to the Fransiscans or somewhere else?

Peace & Blessings on your weekend!
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*Of course and happy to share. I am making a slight change.from active third order franciscan to poor clare contemplative.

[Yes I suppose once a Franciscan always a Franciscan]

Blessings *
 
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