Vocations For Those With Annulments

[JenDeMaria]

Could a person granted an annulment by the Church enter into religious life? Or would that vary by order? Would it be unheard of for someone with an annulment to enter into a contemplative religious order?

[OnlySunshine]

It definitely depends on the order. I have seen several religious communities that allow those who have annulments to enter religious life. If you could tell me what charism and apostolate you are interested in, I would be happy to direct your attention to some orders for you to check into.

[emilier98]

Speaking as someone who has an annulment there are orders that take women with annulments. I know the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, Adrian Dominicans, Dominican Sisters, Mother Mary of the Eucharist, Grand Rapids Dominicans, Hawthorne Dominicans (though you cannot visit unless your annulment is complete), Houston Dominicans, the CSJ's, SSJ's, Dominican Sisters of Peace, Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, the Benedictine Sisters in Tulsa, Ok and a few others do. The Salesian Sisters do not take women with annulments. As you can tell I prefer the Dominicans and I know that some of the contemplative take women with annulments, the Dominicans are very open to things other orders are not I have found.

[CatherineM]

Catherine Doherty, foundress of the Madonna House Apostolate had an annulment. She's being considered for sainthood.

[emilier98]

[quote name='CatherineM' timestamp='1303165855' post='2229945']
Catherine Doherty, foundress of the Madonna House Apostolate had an annulment. She's being considered for sainthood.
[/quote]

I think some are inclined to forget that saints were not born saints. Augustine is a lovely example. He was quite the wild man, after all he did say, "Give me chastity and continence, but not yet." Sometimes it is those who have done the worst things, had the hardest lives, done everything under the sun who become saints, it is not just those who have led perfect lives.

[Sarah147]

Likely it is that many Saints had led very sinful lives and became Saints because having those memories and the guilt and regret is enough to motivate you not to repeat those mistakes; to want to atone for those sins; to want to please God with the rest of your life; to want to learn how to live a fullfilling, holy life. Those Saints are great examples of how we can learn lessons from our past mistakes. God uses everything for good. And the farther you fall, the more grace God gives you, and the more you trust in Him, His mercy and love. The cross means so much more to such people.

Edited April 19, 2011 by JoyfulLife

[JenDeMaria]

My apologies for letting this question hang in limbo for a little while -- the week that changed the world sort of got away from me. But now it's Easter -- happy Easter!

There wouldn't happen to be any Carmels that accept women with annulments, would there?

That's exciting that all those great Dominican houses do accept women with annulments.

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='JenDeMaria' timestamp='1303663660' post='2231836']
My apologies for letting this question hang in limbo for a little while -- the week that changed the world sort of got away from me. But now it's Easter -- happy Easter!

There wouldn't happen to be any Carmels that accept women with annulments, would there?

That's exciting that all those great Dominican houses do accept women with annulments.
[/quote]

Praised be Jesus Christ! I will do some research later and see if I can find any Carmelite communities that accept women with annulments. Happy Easter!

[JenDeMaria]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1303669306' post='2231852']
Praised be Jesus Christ! I will do some research later and see if I can find any Carmelite communities that accept women with annulments. Happy Easter!
[/quote]


Happy Easter, indeed! And thank you so much

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='JenDeMaria' timestamp='1303669746' post='2231858']
Happy Easter, indeed! And thank you so much
[/quote]

There are a lot of Carmelite monasteries available that do not discuss whether it is acceptable to have an annulment or to never have been married before seeking entrance into religious life. These are some that I have contacted myself previously and that I would recommend:

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/25"]Carmelites of Rochester, NY[/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/95"]Carmel of Port Tobacco, MD[/url]

[url="http://www.carmelitenunsstjoseph.org/Buffalo.htm"]Carmel of Buffalo, NY[/url]

[url="http://carmelnet.org/christoval/christoval.htm"]Carmel of Christoval, TX[/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/162"]Carmel of Terre Haute, IN[/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/396"]Carmel of Denmark, WI[/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/18"]Carmel of Flemington, NJ[/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/375"]Carmel of Little Rock, AR[/url]

[url="http://www.carmelsc.org/Vocation%20Discernment.htm"]Carmel of Sioux City, IA[/url]

[url="http://covingtoncarmel.org/index.html"]Carmel of Covington, LA[/url]

[url="http://www.rc.net/detroit/carmelite/index.html"]Carmel of Clinton Township, MI[/url]

[url="http://www.okcarmel.org/"]Carmel of Piedmont, OK[/url]

[url="http://www.carmelslc.org/carmelpg5.htm"]Carmel of Salt Lake City, UT[/url]

[url="http://www.seattlecarmel.org/called.htm"]Carmel of Seattle, WA[/url]

[url="http://www.carmelnuns.com/Pages/Vocations/VocationsPage.html"]Carmel of Arlington, TX[/url]

[url="http://pewaukeecarmel.com/vocations.html"]Carmel of Pewaukee, WI[/url]

I would especially recommend the Carmels in Buffalo, Terre Haute, Denmark, and Arlington. Especially Terre Haute and Buffalo. All the Prioresses and/or Vocation Directors at each of these monasteries are wonderful, especially Mother Miriam at the Buffalo Carmel. Terre Haute has an age limit of 45 and they seem fairly forgiving of belated vocations.

It should also be said that even though these monasteries do not list that a woman is required to never have been married and/or received an annulment, the VD or Prioress should be consulted personally to make sure.

[MargaretTeresa]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1303688439' post='2231962']
There are a lot of Carmelite monasteries available that do not discuss whether it is acceptable to have an annulment or to never have been married before seeking entrance into religious life. These are some that I have contacted myself previously and that I would recommend:

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/25"]Carmelites of Rochester, NY[/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/95"]Carmel of Port Tobacco, MD[/url]

[url="http://www.carmelitenunsstjoseph.org/Buffalo.htm"]Carmel of Buffalo, NY[/url]

[url="http://carmelnet.org/christoval/christoval.htm"]Carmel of Christoval, TX[/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/162"]Carmel of Terre Haute, IN[/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/396"]Carmel of Denmark, WI[/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/18"]Carmel of Flemington, NJ[/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/375"]Carmel of Little Rock, AR[/url]

[url="http://www.carmelsc.org/Vocation%20Discernment.htm"]Carmel of Sioux City, IA[/url]

[url="http://covingtoncarmel.org/index.html"]Carmel of Covington, LA[/url]

[url="http://www.rc.net/detroit/carmelite/index.html"]Carmel of Clinton Township, MI[/url]

[url="http://www.okcarmel.org/"]Carmel of Piedmont, OK[/url]

[url="http://www.carmelslc.org/carmelpg5.htm"]Carmel of Salt Lake City, UT[/url]

[url="http://www.seattlecarmel.org/called.htm"]Carmel of Seattle, WA[/url]

[url="http://www.carmelnuns.com/Pages/Vocations/VocationsPage.html"]Carmel of Arlington, TX[/url]

[url="http://pewaukeecarmel.com/vocations.html"]Carmel of Pewaukee, WI[/url]

I would especially recommend the Carmels in Buffalo, Terre Haute, Denmark, and Arlington. Especially [b][u]Terre Haute[/u][/b] and Buffalo. All the Prioresses and/or Vocation Directors at each of these monasteries are wonderful, especially Mother Miriam at the Buffalo Carmel. Terre Haute has an age limit of 45 and they seem fairly forgiving of belated vocations.

It should also be said that even though these monasteries do not list that a woman is required to never have been married and/or received an annulment, the VD or Prioress should be consulted personally to make sure.
[/quote]



Terre Haute Carmels are amazing, or what I know of them from talking to them on the phone. I do believe I'm being more drawn to the FSP, but Sr. Mary Clare, in charge of vocations at Terre Haute, is so sweet.

God bless you!

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='MargaretTeresa' timestamp='1303689273' post='2231967']
Terre Haute Carmels are amazing, or what I know of them from talking to them on the phone. I do believe I'm being more drawn to the FSP, but Sr. Mary Clare, in charge of vocations at Terre Haute, is so sweet.

God bless you!
[/quote]

I talked to them a few years ago when Sr. Mary Grace was the vocation mistress. I didn't get to talk to her very much though because she was so busy with her personal retreat in preparation for the celebration of her 50th Jubilee.

I know now that I am not called to Carmelite life, but I do so love them. I believe I am being drawn towards the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word.

[MargaretTeresa]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1303689574' post='2231969']
I talked to them a few years ago when Sr. Mary Grace was the vocation mistress. I didn't get to talk to her very much though because she was so busy with her personal retreat in preparation for the celebration of her 50th Jubilee.

I know now that I am not called to Carmelite life, but I do so love them. I believe I am being drawn towards the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word.
[/quote]

Yeah. I think I'm called to a more active order, like the FSPs. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/dance.gif[/img] Also, do you mean the SSEW in Birmingham, AL? Good thing about Birmingham...it stays warmish most the time in winter.

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='MargaretTeresa' timestamp='1303689768' post='2231971']
Yeah. I think I'm called to a more active order, like the FSPs. [img]http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/public/style_emoticons/default/dance.gif[/img] Also, do you mean the SSEW in Birmingham, AL? Good thing about Birmingham...it stays warmish most the time in winter.
[/quote]

Yep, the ones in Birmingham. I'm trying to find a job or save up what little money I have to make a visit there before school starts again in the fall for me. Birmingham is about 8 hours from where I live so the climate is about the same.

[MargaretTeresa]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1303690984' post='2231976']
Yep, the ones in Birmingham. I'm trying to find a job or save up what little money I have to make a visit there before school starts again in the fall for me. Birmingham is about 8 hours from where I live so the climate is about the same.
[/quote]

I'm three hours west-ish from there. I have actually only been there twice. It's a different city, but I can't figure out why I think so