Luigi Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Lil'Nun' timestamp='1321807867' post='2338537'] Thank you for your advice. It is much appreciated. I have been considering Dominican Sisters of Saint Joseph [url="http://www.dominicansrs.co.uk/"]http://www.dominicansrs.co.uk/[/url] Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena [url="http://www.stone-dominicans.org.uk/Welcome.html"]http://www.stone-dom...uk/Welcome.html[/url] The SSVM who are in Ireland - but I think the Sisters share cells so am not sure how much time there is to be alone in prayer with the Lord either in the chapel or in the cell. I do need to find out more about the prayer life of these though. [b]But I don't know if it is okay to contact them, and get into a long conversation, when I can't enter yet.[/b] [/quote] I'd recommend you start the conversation now. You're not promising to enter, you're only exploring the possibility. And the conversation could take a while - if you wait until you're 'ready,' it might be rather late to be starting a conversation. Once you've made a connection, you can 'follow' the various congregations on their websites, through their newsletters, by volunteering with them, and so forth. Here's a (perhaps) similar story; the woman was always hanging around with the sisters and eventually decided to join - if the order "knows" you, they're more likely to make an age exception should one be needed. [url="http://www.mississippiabbey.org/Blog"]http://www.mississippiabbey.org/Blog[/url] (scroll down to the woman in white). Edited November 20, 2011 by Luigi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil'Nun Posted November 20, 2011 Author Share Posted November 20, 2011 Thank you Luigi That makes a lot of sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil'Nun Posted November 20, 2011 Author Share Posted November 20, 2011 (edited) [quote name='LaPetiteSoeur' timestamp='1321810110' post='2338546'] The Dominicans of St. Joseph are really a.wesome....but perhaps that's because of LC! [/quote] Is this LC's clothing? The timing seems about right? [url="http://www.dominicansrs.co.uk/News/Images_NEWS/2011-09-29%20Clothing%20-%20Copy/index.htm"]http://www.dominican...0Copy/index.htm[/url] Edited November 20, 2011 by Lil'Nun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlySunshine Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 [quote name='Lil'Nun' timestamp='1321822718' post='2338605'] Is this LC's clothing? The timing seems about right? [url="http://www.dominicansrs.co.uk/News/Images_NEWS/2011-09-29%20Clothing%20-%20Copy/index.htm"]http://www.dominican...0Copy/index.htm[/url] [/quote] Yep! That's our beloved Sr. Mary Catherine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmaD2006 Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 [quote name='Lil'Nun' timestamp='1321807867' post='2338537'] The SSVM who are in Ireland - but I think the Sisters share cells so am not sure how much time there is to be alone in prayer with the Lord either in the chapel or in the cell. I do need to find out more about the prayer life of these though. But I don't know if it is okay to contact them, and get into a long conversation, when I can't enter yet. [/quote] The SSVMs also have a contemplative branch. I don't know if they have opened a contemplative convent in Ireland, but its worth keeping in consideration. However the SSVMs do require entering the active branch first and going through formation, and then a "call within a call" is discerned to see if you are called to the cloistered monastery. I don't know per se about the SSVMs but I had entered an order where you did share a dorm (it was many sisters within a dorm). In that particular case, the "cell" was not an area for prayer nor study ... you were only permitted in the room for sleeping, changing, to get something (like a notebook) and if you were sick. However -- I suspect (and if I were you I would ask) that things may be different in the cloistered convent, since it is a different way of living. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AccountDeleted Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 I think it is a great idea to get to know a community now. If they get to know you well, and you all like each other, they won't be thinking only about your age when it's time to enter, they will know you as a person and age won't be the main focus. I have found it a bit strange when communities tell me that they won't consider older women because they have found that they often leave. Excuse me? Young women don't leave? How many young women enter as postulants and novices and then decide not to stay? Does that mean that they shouldn't consider young women either? Perhaps because fewer older women are actually allowed to enter, the numbers of them leaving, are proportioniately higher compared with the many young women who enter. I have heard of women who have been 'friends' of the monastery for a long time, and then when their responsibilities are ended in the world, they enter the monastery where everyone knows them already. Won't hurt to check it out and find one where you would like to enter. I don't think you are looking into cloistered communities, but I have heard good things about the Visitation at Waldron. Best wishes for your discernment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah147 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 [url="http://www.rsmofalma.org/"]http://www.rsmofalma.org/[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlySunshine Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 [quote name='JoyfulLife' timestamp='1321833651' post='2338665'] [url="http://www.rsmofalma.org/"]http://www.rsmofalma.org/[/url] [/quote] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah147 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil'Nun Posted November 21, 2011 Author Share Posted November 21, 2011 [quote name='FutureCarmeliteClaire' timestamp='1321818962' post='2338582'] These are some goods ones that I looked into when I was discerning an active religious vocation as opposed to cloistered (what I am discerning now). Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist - [url="http://www.fsecommunity.org/"]http://www.fsecommunity.org/[/url] The Sisters of Life - [url="http://sistersoflife.org/"]http://sistersoflife.org/[/url] (LOVE THIS!!) Dominican Sisters of St. Cecelia - [url="http://nashvilledominican.org/Home"]http://nashvilledominican.org/Home[/url] I never actually "looked into" the Dominicans listed last, but I did get to talk to a few of the sisters on a nun run once. They are a very good balance of active and contemplative, but at the time as I am now, I was beginning to look into the cloistered life. Prayers for you on your discernment!! [/quote] Oh the Sisters of Life and the Nashville Dominicans. I would have loved to discern with them but I cannot as I am too old and crispy around the edges for them. Otherwise they both would have been on my list for sure especially the Sisters of Life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatitude Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Did you know there is a community in Scotland with a similar apostolate, the [url="http://gospeloflifesisters.wordpress.com/"]Sisters of the Gospel of Life[/url]? They are very small at the moment (only two fully professed sisters) but they manage to do the work of two hundred. They're vibrant and orthodox and they have a beautiful spirituality summed up in a verse from John's gospel: "I came that may have life and have it in abundance." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Feankie Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 I'm thrilled you are discerning "later in life" ---- although at my age, you're just a baby !!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnlySunshine Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 [quote name='Lil'Nun' timestamp='1321904266' post='2339094'] Oh the Sisters of Life and the Nashville Dominicans. I would have loved to discern with them but I cannot as I am too old and crispy around the edges for them. Otherwise they both would have been on my list for sure especially the Sisters of Life. [/quote] Have you ever contacted the Sisters of Life, out of curiousity? They accepted an older woman a few years back as she felt she had a vocation to them and she prayed about it. Though they had an age limit, they took her anyway! It says on their IRL page that they consider belated vocations on an individual basis, so it would be worth it to contact them if you feel you may be called there and the charism resonates within you. I have a friend who is a 2nd year novice with the Sisters of Life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lil'Nun Posted November 23, 2011 Author Share Posted November 23, 2011 Eeek. I've just emailed the Stone Dominican and the Dominican Sisters of St. Joseph! Now I've just got to sit here for a while and try not to start chewing my fingernails! Of course they might say it is too soon to be contacting them, but I'm nervous and excited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarieLynn Posted November 23, 2011 Share Posted November 23, 2011 I totally agree with nunsense, make contact with your chosen communities now, and when the time comes for you to go that next step, they will have a much better idea of who you are, and may look past their age restriction, as you discern further. After all age is just a number! The Dominican Sisters of St Joseph sound really promising. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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