UK religious orders?

[Discerning13]

Hi everyone, I am still looking for a specific religious order/convent that I feel called to, so I thought I'd as for advice here. I know I would like to join an order that wears the habit or at least distinctive clothing and veils. I live in the UK so possible orders should be in the UK (although I speak French so French orders are an option too) and feel called to a life of quiet prayer and helping in the community, but not a fully cloistered life or fully active (nursing, teaching etc). Does anyone know of any particular communities that fit this criteria?

Thanks 

[darcy15]

http://www.dominicansistersofstjoseph.org/community/praye/

A possibility? 

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

http://www.dominicansistersofstjoseph.org/community/praye/

A possibility? 

I, too, was thinking of the Dominican Sisters of St. Joseph. They are an "active" Community in the sense that they are not cloistered, but they do not do traditional classroom teaching or nursing. Instead, they do things such as run classes for catechists and other types of teaching. They do a lot of work in individual parishes--both with children, as well as teenagers, and adults.

However, one thing to consider with this particular Community is education. Do you enjoying studying? Are you a good student? Since you are in the UK, you have your O Levels, and A Levels ahead of you. Are you planning to attend university?

Since the Community is involved in education, even though it is not traditional classroom teaching, the Community will probably have you complete a Bachelor's degree in theology after you enter. Is this something that appeals to you?

Perhaps, at this stage, since you probably have at least a few years before you can seriously discern with a Community, you may not want to focus so much on specific communities, but on larger questions such as the question of cloistered vs active (which it sounds as if you are already doing), but, perhaps just as important or even more so, is knowing your own own spirituality. This is time in your life for you to be learning about the spiritualities of the various Orders to discern which is the best "fit" for you. This is a very important step in narrowing down the best Community for you. Even if a Community has a lifestyle that appeals to you, if its spirituality does not fit your own, you will be unhappy.

 

Edited August 19, 2015 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[puellapaschalis]

@IgnatiusofLoyola, O-Levels went the way of the dodo in the 1980s and were replaced by GCSEs.

@Discerning13 - in addition to the Dominicans of St Joseph there are some other congregations of Dominicans in the UK. A brief overview can be found at http://www.blackfriarscambridge.org.uk/becoming-a-dominican-sister/ (but some of the links are broken)   

The Grace and Compassion Benedictines are especially concerned with the elderly, poor and sick: http://www.graceandcompassionbenedictines.org.uk/

The Sisters of the Gospel of Life do pro-life work in Scotland: https://gospeloflifesisters.wordpress.com/

The Community of Our Lady of Walsingham do vocational work, amongst other things: http://www.walsinghamcommunity.org/

Those spring to mind - hope they're of interest.

[Egeria]

You might want to investigate the Bernadines of Esquermes. They're a branch of the Cistercians, so follow a fundamentally monastic life according to the Rule of St Benedict, but have historically not been as strictly enclosed. Traditionally they often ran schools, but they closed their last school in the UK a number of years ago in order to prioritize their monastic life. But both of their UK houses have guest houses where they welcome people to share their prayer. 

[beatitude]

I am from the UK too.  Based on what you've written, I would recommend the Augustinian Canonesses of the Mercy of Jesus (really lovely sisters!) who have incorporated a nursing home and retreat centre into their convent in the Lake District. I have stayed with them and one thing I noticed is that their work in healthcare and hospitality seems to flow from their prayer life. As they work in their convent, they are able to meet together regularly in chapel for prayer, and the nursing home is run with the help of lay staff so the sisters seem to get a very good balance between prayer and work. They don't host retreats all that often so there is plenty of space and silence in their convent. Then there are the Franciscan Sisters Minoress in Derbyshire, who have a variety of apostolates in the community but who seem to fit your criteria from what I've seen of them.

I second the suggestion of the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham, who aren't enclosed but have a deeply contemplative way of life, rooted in Carmelite spirituality. They help out at the shrine in Walsingham and also run a retreat house in Essex.

It might also be worth looking at a couple of the Benedictine congregations - the Turvey and Oulton Benedictines are contemplatives but not strictly enclosed. They still participate in the lives of their local communities, but in a quiet way that doesn't entail leaving the monastery.

Edited August 20, 2015 by beatitude

[Gabriela]

I am from the UK too.  Based on what you've written, I would recommend the Augustinian Canonesses of the Mercy of Jesus (really lovely sisters!) who have incorporated a nursing home and retreat centre into their convent in the Lake District. I have stayed with them and one thing I noticed is that their work in healthcare and hospitality seems to flow from their prayer life. As they work in their convent, they are able to meet together regularly in chapel for prayer, and the nursing home is run with the help of lay staff so the sisters seem to get a very good balance between prayer and work. They don't host retreats all that often so there is plenty of space and silence in their convent. Then there are the Franciscan Sisters Minoress in Derbyshire, who have a variety of apostolates in the community but who seem to fit your criteria from what I've seen of them.

I second the suggestion of the Community of Our Lady of Walsingham, who aren't enclosed but have a deeply contemplative way of life, rooted in Carmelite spirituality. They help out at the shrine in Walsingham and also run a retreat house in Essex.

It might also be worth looking at a couple of the Benedictine congregations - the Turvey and Oulton Benedictines are contemplatives but not strictly enclosed. They still participate in the lives of their local communities, but in a quiet way that doesn't entail leaving the monastery.

beatitude! Are you back from retreat already? How was it?

[beatitude]

I came back two days early as there were a lot more people there than even the brothers had anticipated (it's a special year in Taize, the anniversary of Frere Roger's death) and the crowds made it not so accessible for people with my disabilities. The brothers were very kind and accommodating, which helped me to have a beautiful retreat (even if it was more penitential than planned  ), but after five days I decided I needed my own bed.

[TheresaThoma]

Community of St John either the Contemplative or Apostolic Sisters. They are a French Community but are now international. http://stjean.com/

[Benedictus]

Hi everyone, I am still looking for a specific religious order/convent that I feel called to, so I thought I'd as for advice here. I know I would like to join an order that wears the habit or at least distinctive clothing and veils. I live in the UK so possible orders should be in the UK (although I speak French so French orders are an option too) and feel called to a life of quiet prayer and helping in the community, but not a fully cloistered life or fully active (nursing, teaching etc). Does anyone know of any particular communities that fit this criteria?

Thanks 

Check out UK religious life

Check these out, as a quick sample:

Order of Saint Bridget

Carmelites Sisters of Corpus Christi

Dominican Sisters of the English Congregation

Congregation of The Dominican Sisters of Newcastle Natal

[Benedictus]

@IgnatiusofLoyola, O-Levels went the way of the dodo in the 1980s and were replaced by GCSEs.

Unless you're in Scotland where they do Standard Grades and Highers I hear the Westminster government is trying to replace GCSE's and A'Levels with a Baccalaureate too. Can't seem to make their minds up regarding policy, which comes as little surprise to me.

[puellapaschalis]

Unless you're in Scotland where they do Standard Grades and Highers I hear the Westminster government is trying to replace GCSE's and A'Levels with a Baccalaureate too. Can't seem to make their minds up regarding policy, which comes as little surprise to me.

I shall invoke discretion being the better part of valour and (for once) keep my pie hole shut.

[TheresaThoma]

Unless you're in Scotland where they do Standard Grades and Highers I hear the Westminster government is trying to replace GCSE's and A'Levels with a Baccalaureate too. Can't seem to make their minds up regarding policy, which comes as little surprise to me.

And the Americans go "What?" and either perform a quick google search or just chalk it up to English oddity. (sorry )

[puellapaschalis]

I taught in the US grade system for a bit.

Oh my :D

Ahum.... sorry!

[Yinepu Sanctimonialis]

On 8/19/2015, 7:56:38, Discerning13 said:

Hi everyone, I am still looking for a specific religious order/convent that I feel called to, so I thought I'd as for advice here. I know I would like to join an order that wears the habit or at least distinctive clothing and veils. I live in the UK so possible orders should be in the UK (although I speak French so French orders are an option too) and feel called to a life of quiet prayer and helping in the community, but not a fully cloistered life or fully active (nursing, teaching etc). Does anyone know of any particular communities that fit this criteria?

Thanks 

For example - if is it still actual - I would recommend to you my favourite religious order - the fantastic Poor Clares - and the closest congregation in my past area (where I was live in London) http://www.poorclares-hereford.org.uk/our-vocation/your-vocation/ If you live there it can be good option to talk with them