Debt Elimination For Vocations

[Laudem Gloriae]

Does anyone know of any organization, business or person who helps or pays off debt for a person to follow a religious vocation? [img]http://forums.catholic.com/images/smilies/confused.gif[/img][img]http://forums.catholic.com/images/smilies/confused.gif[/img] Though several or many of us are in the same boat! If only we could get on the boat Our Lord and the Apostles were on we could ask them for help!

My debt is is $8,000 [img]http://forums.catholic.com/images/smilies/frown.gif[/img] and a house to sell but I have a serious buyer for the house so I pray he follows through and DOES buy it!.

As my debt is NOT a student loan, the Mater Ecclesiae Fund for Vocations and Laboure Society are not for me. Laboure used to be open to all debt or handle "personal debt" but at some point they changed to only student loans. I did just write them to ask and double check if this is true, but from their website and other people, it seems like they have changed what type of debt they pay off.

Plus Laboure used to have a program something like they had you find the donators and these places/people send them the money and then Laboure pays your debt. I did try Laboure in 2007 when they did a wider range of personal debt but as I couldn't find places/people to donate (tried Knights of Columbus and Sierra Club as they suggested, etc.) it didn't help me and they dropped me after so much time, as I was with them perhaps over their time limit? I was on their list of vocation discerners needing help and then not. So as their program wasn't working me - I didn't have "connections", I didn't asked to be re-instated or whatever the term would be.

So I thought I'd post in case others know of other places or people who could help.

I am doing things on my own to pay off the debt: selling things on ebay, Craigslist, have a blog with a "DONATE" button (like many others do) and a Facebook page and another FB page for my vocations for donations and near the end sell my car but I need it for now (and it might not garner that much in money as it is a 2001!). But these methods are slow or not very helpful.

My order wants to set an entrance date but as much as I want to, I would hate to set one and then have to reschedule if I am still not free! Though I believe in Divine Providence, I am also trying to be prudent and not presume! Though perhaps I should and maybe that will nudge Our Lord to quick action!

Any help or suggestions from others would be very much appreciated.[img]http://forums.catholic.com/images/smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[cmaD2006]

Laudem -- I've been in the same boat. It is frustrating. A woman who has been on her own for more than a few years is bound to get some sort of debt. I haven't found any org that would help in the past.

I know we had the thread "Broke Daughters (and Sons) of St. Dominic" where we were praying for such situations. It helped, from the point of view of knowing that others were in the same shape and were also praying.

Ah, maybe a philanthropist will come along to help

[cmaD2006]

Oh and I forgot to say "YOU CAN DO IT." $8000 is manageable. . There are much bigger debts. Sure it will take some time though, but I am confident that you will dwindle it down in due time.

[SstrAli]

[quote name='Laudem Gloriae' timestamp='1348088504' post='2484314']
Does anyone know of any organization, business or person who helps or pays off debt for a person to follow a religious vocation? [img]http://forums.catholic.com/images/smilies/confused.gif[/img][img]http://forums.catholic.com/images/smilies/confused.gif[/img] Though several or many of us are in the same boat! If only we could get on the boat Our Lord and the Apostles were on we could ask them for help!

My debt is is $8,000 [img]http://forums.catholic.com/images/smilies/frown.gif[/img] and a house to sell but I have a serious buyer for the house so I pray he follows through and DOES buy it!.

As my debt is NOT a student loan, the Mater Ecclesiae Fund for Vocations and Laboure Society are not for me. Laboure used to be open to all debt or handle "personal debt" but at some point they changed to only student loans. I did just write them to ask and double check if this is true, but from their website and other people, it seems like they have changed what type of debt they pay off.

Plus Laboure used to have a program something like they had you find the donators and these places/people send them the money and then Laboure pays your debt. I did try Laboure in 2007 when they did a wider range of personal debt but as I couldn't find places/people to donate (tried Knights of Columbus and Sierra Club as they suggested, etc.) it didn't help me and they dropped me after so much time, as I was with them perhaps over their time limit? I was on their list of vocation discerners needing help and then not. So as their program wasn't working me - I didn't have "connections", I didn't asked to be re-instated or whatever the term would be.

So I thought I'd post in case others know of other places or people who could help.

I am doing things on my own to pay off the debt: selling things on ebay, Craigslist, have a blog with a "DONATE" button (like many others do) and a Facebook page and another FB page for my vocations for donations and near the end sell my car but I need it for now (and it might not garner that much in money as it is a 2001!). But these methods are slow or not very helpful.

My order wants to set an entrance date but as much as I want to, I would hate to set one and then have to reschedule if I am still not free! Though I believe in Divine Providence, I am also trying to be prudent and not presume! Though perhaps I should and maybe that will nudge Our Lord to quick action!

Any help or suggestions from others would be very much appreciated.[img]http://forums.catholic.com/images/smilies/wink.gif[/img]
[/quote]


Not sure where you are located, but did you try contacting the central office of your diocese? Maybe like the vocation director, he might have some ideas. Or the diocese itself might be willing to help you out. Just a thought.

[Laudem Gloriae]

[quote name='SstrAli' timestamp='1348091377' post='2484338']
Not sure where you are located, but did you try contacting the central office of your diocese? Maybe like the vocation director, he might have some ideas. Or the diocese itself might be willing to help you out. Just a thought.
[/quote]

I just emailed my diocese's vocations department before I posted this! So I'll have to see. I wrote to 2 Knights of Columbus orders or whatever they are called and never got an answer.

So hopefully the diocese will have some help or ideas.

[Laudem Gloriae]

[quote name='cmariadiaz' timestamp='1348090959' post='2484333']
Oh and I forgot to say "YOU CAN DO IT." $8000 is manageable. . There are much bigger debts. Sure it will take some time though, but I am confident that you will dwindle it down in due time.
[/quote]

Actually it's not manageable at the moment! I was laid off last week and am job searching but it may or may not go well - long story not posting now. So praying God can help with this and the debt!

Yes, so many have much higher debts for sure. It's just a shame there is no help for us older people that have life debt.

[inperpetuity]

Yes, this is a problem, as I have debt as well, but I am not as close as you are to entering. I havn't heard back from the community I have been in touch with and so I have some more time perhaps. But, what does your prioress suggest?

I have known people who have had debt and when they actually had a date to enter, suddenly the debt was taken care of. I myself have had this happen in the past, but it was a temporary unexpected live-in situation that I was able to work in and make very good money really fast. Now I'm back up there again only this time it's $7000 including my car. It's only really manageable if you can live for free while you work. Another idea is to put an ad in a Catholic newspaper like your diocesan paper or some other Catholic paper or blog that you frequent or even your parish bulletin. I would say if your prioress thinks you should set a date, then go for it. What's the worst that could happen?
Prayers for you and all those whose only obstacle to following their vocation is debt.

Edited September 20, 2012 by inperpetuity

[Jennifer]

Prayers that you will resolve your problem very soon.

[Laudem Gloriae]

I received a response from my diocese' vocation office, their admin assistant I emailed. She forwarded/cc'd my email about my situation to the Sierra Club and Knights of Columbus contacts as she says they help with this.

I wrote the Sierra Club and 2 different K of C groups several years ago and no one wrote back. Maybe because the diocese contacts them they will respond while before I could be just anyone looking to have their bills paid with no vocation! Who knows. I'll have to wait and see if any contacts me this time and if they can help.

[cmaD2006]

[quote name='Laudem Gloriae' timestamp='1348161300' post='2484672']
I received a response from my diocese' vocation office, their admin assistant I emailed. She forwarded/cc'd my email about my situation to the Sierra Club and Knights of Columbus contacts as she says they help with this.

I wrote the Sierra Club and 2 different K of C groups several years ago and no one wrote back. Maybe because the diocese contacts them they will respond while before I could be just anyone looking to have their bills paid with no vocation! Who knows. I'll have to wait and see if any contacts me this time and if they can help.
[/quote]

Actually someone did give a great idea ... the idea of "living for free."

I was very lucky ... when I entered the 2nd time, I was working quite hard at paying down my debts. I downscaled from a 2 bed/2bath apartment to a single room (saving $700). Then a wonderful family opened their doors for 3 months, allowing me to live free in their home to save additional money.

I know you need to sell your home. May St. Joseph help in that regard. And may you get more than expected .

[quote name='Laudem Gloriae' timestamp='1348091818' post='2484343']
Actually it's not manageable at the moment! I was laid off last week and am job searching but it may or may not go well - long story not posting now. So praying God can help with this and the debt!

Yes, so many have much higher debts for sure. It's just a shame there is no help for us older people that have life debt.
[/quote]

And let's pray that you get a new job soon .

[emmaberry]

I don't know if this is a viable option, LG, but my parents flip houses every now and then. Maybe you could renovate your house before it sells then sell it for the profit of the debt you need to pay off? The tricky thing here is making your profit bigger than the cost of the work you have done.. When my parents do this, it takes up most of their weekends, so you would have to have free time for it.

Other than that, I have nothing but prayers. Please let us know if your home sells!

[Laudem Gloriae]

[quote name='emmaberry' timestamp='1348198825' post='2484931']
I don't know if this is a viable option, LG, but my parents flip houses every now and then. Maybe you could renovate your house before it sells then sell it for the profit of the debt you need to pay off? The tricky thing here is making your profit bigger than the cost of the work you have done.. When my parents do this, it takes up most of their weekends, so you would have to have free time for it.

Other than that, I have nothing but prayers. Please let us know if your home sells!
[/quote]

Unfortunately, with paying off other debt, I have no money to invest in any renovations. Plus the I am pretty much getting the going rate for my area. It wouldn't be too bad if there weren't those idiotic enclosing fees, etc. to pay! THAT is what will eat up either a portion or all of any extra money we'd get out of the house!

[Laudem Gloriae]

I got this response from my local Sierra Club person:

[i]"The Serra Group receives requests like this several times a year. Unfortunately, we do not raise money, so it is hard for us to assist in this manner. I will forward this on to our members in case one of them would like to personally help out."[/i]

So here is hoping there is a Good Samaritan or a rich philanthropist among them who wants to help!

[emmaberry]

[quote name='Laudem Gloriae' timestamp='1348253773' post='2485085']
Unfortunately, with paying off other debt, I have no money to invest in any renovations. Plus the I am pretty much getting the going rate for my area. It wouldn't be too bad if there weren't those idiotic enclosing fees, etc. to pay! THAT is what will eat up either a portion or all of any extra money we'd get out of the house!
[/quote]

Ouch. Yes, that would definitely not work. I would think with our economy, even selling a house at the price it deserves might be difficult. It depends on where you are though-I am in oil country and people are camping out so they can keep a well-paying job in the oil fields.

Often, rich benefactors will be more likely to give their money to someone with an entrance date set, as inperpetuity said. I could understand not wanting to set a date in case the debt is not paid by then... That would be very difficult on you. Still praying!