This Is Probably A Silly Question...

[Annie12]

But, do religious orders do anything fun? Like, listen to the radio or watch movies? I don't know... I'm just wondering. hah! :hehe2:

[Lilllabettt]

if you are asking about radio and movies specifically - it varies. Most communities with an active apostolate have occasion to do those things. The very most traditional contemplative communities do not.

Edited February 16, 2013 by Lilllabettt

[TheresaThoma]

I know the Sisters I am discerning with always find fun stuff to do. They love going to the Gonzaga basketball games. They also have community recreation nights where board games make a frequent appearance.

[Pax_et bonum]

Even the ones that can watch movies or listen to radio usually don't all that often. There's many other things to do during recreation that are more fun than staring at a screen. They play sports, cards or dice games, word games, charades, talk to each other, go on walks; once when I visited my sisters before they were enclosed, we walked to a playground. Rest assured that sisters have plenty of fun. I've never known groups of women who laugh more easily than they: Fr. Ben was giving a homily that was pretty funny, but my sisters were behind the grill almost howling with laughter! 

[MissScripture]

My sister (Nashville Dominican) talks of occasionally watching TV- generally sporting events. And they need to get permission, they can't just flop on the couch and watch whatever is on. They also have movie nights, occasionally. I'm not sure about the radio. But other fun activities include lots of games, both sports and board/card games, putting on plays, making cards and other crafts, including knitting and crocheting, singing together (not just religious songs, but also folk songs and country songs and the like), going on walks together, going out in the woods, and all sorts of random things that come up thanks to some very generous benefactors. Actually, my sister has been to a movie in the theatre more recently than I have! They were given tickets to see "There Be Dragons," by some benefactors. Some of the Sisters have gone to NFL games because the owner is one of their benefactors. They do all sorts of fun things for feast day celebrations, and never seem to be short on ideas for having fun. 

[EmilyAnn]

When I was on my live-in, the thing that surprised me the most was how much we had at recreation. There were times we'd be giggling down the cloister on our way to choir. They might not have TV or the internet but they are definitely not lacking in fun or entertainment! 

[Pax_et bonum]

How could I forget watching sports?! When ND football is on, the convent is the place to be. A few sisters go to the games and others watch it at the convent :nun:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjBGL0eqkjE

[nikita92]

MS-Tennessee Titans come to mind!! ;) I do like watching Football. I would go through withdraws if I couldn't watch EWTN every now and then. Radio I don't usually listen to other than when driving..and then it's Catholic radio or traffic info. However.. I don't care for card games or dice games either. I have never seen a picture of sisters Bowling..come to think of it!

[Pax_et bonum]

 

I've gone bowling with a Vietnamese Dominican sister and a Holy Cross brother :)

[Totally Franciscan]

Don't forget swimming!  We all piled into the convent bus and drove to the pool had the whole pool to ourselves after the public swimming season.  I have also gone to horse shows, tickets complements of a benefactor. 

[nikita92]

That is so funny!!! Thank you for the laugh Pax!!! ;))

[Gabriela]

Where's that PCC on rollerblades?

 

[MissScripture]

MS-Tennessee Titans come to mind!! ;) I do like watching Football. I would go through withdraws if I couldn't watch EWTN every now and then. Radio I don't usually listen to other than when driving..and then it's Catholic radio or traffic info. However.. I don't care for card games or dice games either. I have never seen a picture of sisters Bowling..come to think of it!

Actually, the owners of the New Orleans Saints, I believe, are the benefactors. When that happened, the Sisters said it would be hard to know who to cheer for. :hehe: I know they've also watched rugby, because of the Sisters from Australia. And they watch a lot of college sports, particularly Notre Dame, because several Sisters have connections with ND, although, there are also diehard University of Tennessee fans. One Sister, who has since passed away, when asked by my sister if she was a UT fan said, "Honey, I bleed orange!" (Orange is UT's color, for anyone who doesn't know) 

[nikita92]

I actually was going to list the Saints...but figured the Titans were it. It sounds like communities do enjoy assorted activities! Which I feel is a important part of living in community !

[maximillion]

Charades, skits, singing ( esp songs composed by the sisters), little one or two act plays, music making, dressing up and performing....we did all of these and more in a quite austere community.

We had Silence but it was written in our constitution that 'appropriate and considerate laughter' was not a transgression of our Silence. We laughed and giggled picking fruit, canning peaches, hoeing vegetables. And yes, shaking shoulders on the way to LOTH were not at all unusual. I think I can very safely say I had as much fun in the convent as ever I have out of it, possible more!

 

The day a bat got into refectory, and the day a Goliath beetle invaded the choir at LOTH both live on in my memory.