A Community That Could Use More Candidates

[nikita92]

One of our members posted back in August that the Sisters of Saint Rita are in dire need of new candidates in order to keep their community from disappearing altogether! Their wonderful charism is Community focused, Apostolate is health care and family based, Spirituality is Augustine with his simple rule "Of one mind and heart one the way towards God"" They do wear a full habit, yet because of the active work they do, I don't think it goes down to the floor. They are hosting a come and see January 25th-28th. They do live in a convent located in Racine, Wisconsin. Now obviously if you are mainly interested in a cloistered community where the majority of the sisters are in there twenties, THIS community would not be a fit. However..if you might know of a older discerner interesting in a active/contemplative community, please by all means pass this information on. Much Thanks and Blessings to everyone!

[OnlySunshine]

I wish they had some younger candidates, as well, to balance things out.  I'd visit them if I had the money.  :)

[Chiara Francesco]

Here is their website:  http://www.sistersofstrita.org/

 

And their videos:

 

Part One:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sRDtPdKTQSg

 

 

Part Two:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvuW2FLVv4M

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is Part Three of the videos:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSlalCsptvc

Edited January 9, 2013 by Chiara Francesco

[OnlySunshine]

I am very attracted to Augustinian spirituality and I wish there were more communities in the USA.

[AnneLine]

Mater, I agree, I'd like to see a vocational mix, and Nikita, as you discern, with a community that is older, you need to always be sure that there is enough community to give good training to new vocations...and enough stability to be able to live the life not just now but in 10 or 15 years.   BUT.... if you can get good formation now,  and enough of the core community is still actually living the life so you can get and keep new vocations, it can be done.

 

Look at the Summit Dominicans -- ten years ago, they had only had one or two novices in about 20 years who stayed..... and in the last 10 years, they've replaced half of the community with new vocations.   Nearly 10 in the last 5 years!  Of all sorts of ages!

 

Nikita, if I was interested in their spirituality and in the work they do, I'd give 'em a look.  You aren't committing to join them -- just checking out if they are a good fit.....

 

You never know.  Once you have a few people in formation, others will find the community.

 

There was a time, with my Secular Order Community, when they tried to just get young vocations, because they thought it would be the way to keep us alive.  Didn't work.  When I joined, I was in my late teens... the next vocations were in their late 40's and up.  WAY up.   Lived with all the St. Therese jokes.... knew exactly how St. Catherine felt when she wanted to join the mantellate and they told her she was TOO YOUNG!!!!!

 

But in our case, God kept sending the older ones.  Our 'plans' came to nothing.  And we complained we had no vocations!!!!

 

Finally we re-discerned and took this stand: 

 

God is in charge of the vocations -- we can't manufacture them.

We pray for vocations.  Good, strong, prayerful vocations.

We look with respect at EVERYONE who comes to discern, even if we are pretty sure they don't fit with us. 

We help them figure out where they DO fit.  That is also part of vocations work.

Bottom line -- If God sends' em, we train 'em.

We don't complain if there are too many or too few... God knows what God is doing.

 

We've had a good, steady stream once we finally got that plan going.   Made us a lot humbler...'cause the ones we THOUGHT would stay never did... and often it was the ones we would have written off who ended up perservering.

We currently have about 8 people in formation, ranging from 20's to late 70's.  

Each and every one of them has had a major impediment -- or two or three.   God cleared them.  And they are working together and making great community... by helping each other.

 

For other people, there were reasons we had to tell them we don't think you have this vocation.  Never easy for them or for us.  But we do it in love, and we help them figure out what God IS asking of them.  We even do that with people who don't have a vocation to our community.  It is what we do.

 

Praying for BOTH of you and everyone else on VS... .if I can help, please let me.....

We had to get creative, and we have to be flexible.  But It can be done... when WE stop trying to tell God what to do, and start living the life we are suposed to life.

 

Mater and Nikita, you are both really good examples of people who are doing just that.  God will put you in the right holes.  I am SURE of it.   Just keep moving forward in His love....

Edited January 9, 2013 by AnneLine

[OnlySunshine]

Thanks, AnneLine.  :)

[nikita92]

I just spoke with Sister Angelica! Two of those sister passed away. The younger one had to leave due to a very ill sister. one went on to a Benedictine community, one left all together. Leaving Sister CM. So...if they got interested discerner's of younger ages...it would end up being a "younger" community! ~O;-)

[OnlySunshine]

I just spoke with Sister Angelica! Two of those sister passed away. The younger one had to leave due to a very ill sister. one went on to a Benedictine community, one left all together. Leaving Sister CM. So...if they got interested discerner's of younger ages...it would end up being a "younger" community! ~O;-)

 

That's too bad that their community is so short on members.  We must pray that they receive new vocations.  Hopefully, they won't have to be suppressed due to lack of membership.  :(

[nikita92]

I know!! She is so sweet!!! I am praying hard!!!

[Thijs]

I am still praying that God will send vocations to Sisters of St Rita and I am not keen in giving up with my intention in my time of adoration and on Offertory during Mass..

I dedicate every third mystery of the holy rosary for them

Edited January 13, 2013 by MichaelKoenigTalidong

[nikita92]

Thank you MKT also AnneLine! I think the really small older communities need to be flexible. Speaking specifically of the active ones. I don't want to see anything happen to this community that is vital to the retirement home connected to it.