Enquirer Re Religious Life

[BarbTherese]

Someone has asked me if I know of any non-Carmelite monasteries fully dedicated to prayer in Rome, USA, UK or Australia.  Also a non enclosed contemplative community.

I know a bit about some communities in Australia (and Carmelites probably more) - but not a great deal at all really about communities here in Aust. nowadays, and certainly not of a community dedicated to prayer alone (without a public ministry of some kind) that is also not an enclosed community.  Here in Aust it seems to me that very small membership of various religious sisters of Franciscan bent do exist - but nothing on the terms of my enquirer. So much is happening it seems especially in the USA with new communities starting up and under new foundresses  - and some overseas as well, I thought members on Phatmass VS might be able to help out in some way and far more than I am able which really was not at all.

[EmilyAnn]

So she is looking for non-enclosed contemplative communities? 

Passionists would fit the bill for that:

Whitesville

Ellisville

Erlanger

Pittsburgh
 

The Trinitarians of Mary might also fit. In the UK, I can't off the top of my head think of that any non-enclosed contemplatives. 

[deusluxmea]

In Australia, there are the Poor Clare Collettines (but they are enclosed), Benedictines of Jamberoo Abbey, Benedictine Tyburn nuns, Redemptoristine Nuns (again, enclosed) 

 

I am curious what she means by non-enclosed, because there are degrees of enclosure. 

 

[God's Beloved]

Some years ago i did come across some websites of Monasteries where the members do not wear habits or have physical enclosures. Yet they were fully contemplative and devoted to prayer although they had to do some work within the monastery itself to earn their living. I think such monasteries are more liberal in thinking and lifestyle. Hope i can find the websites once again to put the links here.

[beatitude]

In England there is the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham, who are non-enclosed contemplatives. They give occasional retreats and help out at the Walsingham shrine, a thousand-year-old pilgrimage site where Mary once appeared, but their primary apostolate is prayer and their retreat work flows out of that. They follow the Carmelite rule of St Albert though, so this may not be what she is looking for.

[Gabriela]

So she is looking for non-enclosed contemplative communities? 

Passionists would fit the bill for that:

Whitesville

Ellisville

Erlanger

Pittsburgh
 

The Trinitarians of Mary might also fit. In the UK, I can't off the top of my head think of that any non-enclosed contemplatives. 

 

So far as I'm aware, the Passionists are enclosed. I interviewed in Whitesville and they are definitely enclosed. Whether it's papal or constitutional enclosure, I'm not certain, but I'm pretty sure it's papal.

 

Benedictines observe constitutional enclosure, which is much more lenient (though how lenient really depends on the community). The Benedictines of Greensburg, PA (habited) are quite lenient, in my experience.

 

Is the Community of St. John cloistered? I think they're not, but they are very devoted to prayer. See here: http://www.communityofstjohn.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65:contemplative-sisters&catid=38:the-community&Itemid=27

 

The sisters of the Institute of Christ the King are super devoted to prayer, and I believe they are not cloistered, though they have no outside apostolate (they sew priests' vestments): http://www.institute-christ-king.org/vocations/sisters/

 

I ran across another community a few weeks ago that I had never heard of. They were a beautiful community, with both brothers and sisters, and their apostolate was contemplative, but they were not cloistered. In fact, I'm not even sure they took vows. They may have been a society of apostolic life, for that matter. But they had beautiful habits. Ring a bell to anyone? I can't remember what their name was...

 

EDIT: I think it's the Jerusalem Community: http://jerusalem.cef.fr/jerusalem/en/en_21tous.html

 

Yay! ;-)

Edited May 3, 2013 by curiousing

[EmilyAnn]

So far as I'm aware, the Passionists are enclosed. I interviewed in Whitesville and they are definitely enclosed. Whether it's papal or constitutional enclosure, I'm not certain, but I'm pretty sure it's papal.

 

Benedictines observe constitutional enclosure, which is much more lenient (though how lenient really depends on the community). The Benedictines of Greensburg, PA (habited) are quite lenient, in my experience.

 

Is the Community of St. John cloistered? I think they're not, but they are very devoted to prayer. See here: http://www.communityofstjohn.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=65:contemplative-sisters&catid=38:the-community&Itemid=27

 

The sisters of the Institute of Christ the King are super devoted to prayer, and I believe they are not cloistered, though they have no outside apostolate (they sew priests' vestments): http://www.institute-christ-king.org/vocations/sisters/

 

I ran across another community a few weeks ago that I had never heard of. They were a beautiful community, with both brothers and sisters, and their apostolate was contemplative, but they were not cloistered. In fact, I'm not even sure they took vows. They may have been a society of apostolic life, for that matter. But they had beautiful habits. Ring a bell to anyone? I can't remember what their name was...

 

EDIT: I think it's the Jerusalem Community: http://jerusalem.cef.fr/jerusalem/en/en_21tous.html

 

Yay! ;-)

Hmm that's interesting. I do think they have constitutional enclosure, I remember reading at least in Whitesville they can leave for family deaths which definitely doesn't fit papal enclosure. Either way, they're awesome. :) 

Outside the US, Benedictines tend to have much stricter enclosure in the US. So in the UK, a lot of Benedictines observe papal enclosure or a very strict constitutional enclosure. Benedictines in the US are very different to Benedictines elsewhere. So Benedictines in the US might fit the requirements here, outside the US they wouldn't so Barbara that is something your friend would need to keep in mind. 

[Spem in alium]

In regards to the Carmelites, I actually contacted the Vocations Director of the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of L.A. in regards to communities in the Aus. region. She said there aren't any these days. 
 

 

 

[FFI Griswold]

Ave Maria!

 

I also am still confused as to what a "non-enclosed contemplative" community is? Perhaps in terms of active and/or contemplative, it may be described as "contemplative-active"? And as far as enclosure, is it not referring to the "stability" of a single, cloistered convent (with the possibility of being transferred to a different convent) with no apostolate, as opposed to a Franciscan friary where there is not "stability" of life in a single, cloistered enclosure but the possibility of being transferred anywhere?

 

 

Someone has asked me if I know of any non-Carmelite monasteries fully dedicated to prayer in Rome, USA, UK or Australia.  Also a non enclosed contemplative community.

I know a bit about some communities in Australia (and Carmelites probably more) - but not a great deal at all really about communities here in Aust. nowadays, and certainly not of a community dedicated to prayer alone (without a public ministry of some kind) that is also not an enclosed community.  Here in Aust it seems to me that very small membership of various religious sisters of Franciscan bent do exist - but nothing on the terms of my enquirer. So much is happening it seems especially in the USA with new communities starting up and under new foundresses  - and some overseas as well, I thought members on Phatmass VS might be able to help out in some way and far more than I am able which really was not at all.

 

The Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate have "contemplative-active" convents ranging from leper colonies in Africa to metropolitan cities in all the above mentioned countries (Italy, USA, UK, Australia). Although the activity level can vary greatly depending on the location, the contemplative prayer aspect is always built into the charism and written in the constitutions. The sisters also have strictly contemplative convents in Italy and the UK, and Poor Clares in Italy. There may be more in other countries like the Philippines... Ave Maria!

 

In Corda Iesu et Mariae Sacratissima,

 

Friar John Paul

[krissylou]

Maybe look at the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master (also often referred to the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master -- I think this is a conspiracy to confuse us).

 

They're the contemplative branch of the Pauline family (Daughters of St Paul) and are present in Australia, the US, Ireland, and Italy (and a bunch of other places too).

 

 

http://pddm.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=27&lang=en

 

[littlesister]

The Benedictines of Perpetual Adoration.  Their main monastery is in Clyde, Missouri.  If i remember correctly, they have a constitutional cloister, and make altar breads for their support.  Also the Trappistines - not Carmelites but enclosed and contemplative.

[BarbTherese]

I took her to mean that the community is not strictly enclosed like Carmel and some other monasteries - although I think that some who follow the Carmelite rule also have some sort of ministry and usually I think on the grounds like a school or retreat house.  Non here in Australia I know about - although things can change quickly at times and what one knows is out dated. Some enclosed do have extern Sisters who can go out the enclosure for shopping, driving Sisters to important appointments etc. and join in the life of prayer of Carmel anyway whenever they are at home.  I know whenever I have been to Carmel for the LOTH, extern sisters are there too, but in modified habit.  The have sat with me outside the cloister proper in the Chapel - although I think that can go onto the enclosure or cloister proper.  I don't know of any other Orders in Australia however, but that does not mean that there aren't any and I certainly do not know much at all about monasteries overseas really.  Also she is enquiring about a community that does not wear a religious habit.  The Benedictines I know about here in Australia all wear habits and are cloistered or enclosed and one anyway strikes me as thinking quite liberally (open to the new) while some Sisters are quite traditional it seemed to me.

 

I would think that most communities would have a solid life of prayer - some not wearing habits - and with some sort of ministry either on the convent/monastery grounds or outside of it.  Seems to me it might be a matter of research on the internet and making enquiries about their way of life, horarium etc. as well as staying in touch with this thread - something might come up.

 

That's right, the Pauline Sisters wear a modified habit - but the last time I was in the Pauline bookshop, the Sisters while in the same coloured clothing more or less and it was more like secular clothing than a habit, they were not wearing a veil and ministry is outside of their convent grounds in bookshops as far as I know.

 

Thank you to all who have contributed and hopefully will contribute.  I am in hospital on 7th May and don't know quite how long it will be before I'm back on deck and feeling like sitting at the computer.  Visitors tomorrow and then final packing Monday.

Edited May 4, 2013 by BarbaraTherese

[AccountDeleted]

Barb - the OCDM (I think the M might stand for Melbourne but I don't know for sure) nuns in Kew, Victoria (Australia) came from Carmelite OCD nuns but changed some of their ways and so did not fit the traditional OCD community anymore and separated. They are under the Archbishop of Melbourne and they do not observe strict enclosure as when I visited them they had me in what looked like a lounge room for a visit with no grille or separation and they answered their own front door and let me just walk in. At Mass, they sat in the sanctuary, not behind a grille, and after Mass they mingled with the guests at a special lunch (it was the Solemnity of St Therese). They make facial products for a living but their main apostolate stills seem to be prayer. I don't know why your enquirer isn't interested in Carmelite, but these nuns might be a combination of charisms that she could find interesting. they wear a brown habit but a light blue gauzy veil and a light blue shirt instead of the white toque and black veil. Their convent has been there a long time and is very pretty and set in lovely large gardens. Just an idea.

[BarbTherese]

Hi nunsense - great to see you on the Board again!  Trust all is cruising along happily at Wolverhampton.

 

I did do a reply but the Board must have timed out before it posted.  I am in a real rush just now, way past bedtime and I am up early tomorrow.

[ChristinaTherese]

Hmm that's interesting. I do think they have constitutional enclosure, I remember reading at least in Whitesville they can leave for family deaths which definitely doesn't fit papal enclosure. Either way, they're amesome. :) 

Outside the US, Benedictines tend to have much stricter enclosure in the US. So in the UK, a lot of Benedictines observe papal enclosure or a very strict constitutional enclosure. Benedictines in the US are very different to Benedictines elsewhere. So Benedictines in the US might fit the requirements here, outside the US they wouldn't so Barbara that is something your friend would need to keep in mind. 

They explain their cloister here: http://www.passionistnuns.org/MothersNotebook/Cloister/index.htm