dominicansoul Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Does anyone know of any communities, where lay people can come and live together with Sisters or Brothers or any Religious and help them in their apostolates for a short period of time...say like 6 months to a year? For example, if I wanted to do volunteer work with the Sisters of Life, could I just move up to New York with them for a year helping them in their apostolate? That sort of thing. Does anyone know of any communities who have programs for lay volunteers? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatherineM Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Dorthy Day's houses used to work like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osapientia Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 [quote name='dominicansoul' post='1747317' date='Jan 9 2009, 04:48 PM']Does anyone know of any communities, where lay people can come and live together with Sisters or Brothers or any Religious and help them in their apostolates for a short period of time...say like 6 months to a year? For example, if I wanted to do volunteer work with the Sisters of Life, could I just move up to New York with them for a year helping them in their apostolate? That sort of thing. Does anyone know of any communities who have programs for lay volunteers?[/quote] The Abbey of Regina Laudis has a year long internship in one of three areas: Land Mangement, Monastic Arts, oh gosh, I can't think of the other one...perhaps Chant? I'll check it out and get back to you. I'm not sure you would consider these "apostolic" though the land mangement program is very much about "their work". You would live in one of their houses set aside for the program participants and work with the nuns daily. Their daughter house, Our Lady of the Rock also has an internship in land management. Pax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TotusTuusMaria Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Missionaries of Charity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the lords sheep Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 (edited) The Servants of the Lord and Virgin of Matara have something called they call the Incarnate Word Lay Missionary Family. It takes various forms in various countries, but you almost always live with the Sisters (as long as there's space... if not, you're very near by, but this always depends on the country and even the house in which you are serving), prayer with the Sisters, Mass, meals and recreation with them. I took part in the IVE Family in Argentina last summer, and LOVED it. I'd be more then willing to help you get in contact with them or to answer any questions. I strongly STRONGLY recommend it. My time in Argentina with them honestly changed my life. In Christ, Lauren edit: [url="http://ssvmusa.org/"]Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara[/url] Edited January 10, 2009 by the lords sheep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melporcristo Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 [quote name='TotusTuusMaria' post='1747347' date='Jan 9 2009, 02:02 PM']Missionaries of Charity[/quote] Yep - their amazing!!! Pretty much if you even just go to their homes (located in almost every major city in almost every country - praise Him!) you can ask for the sisters and meet with them and see if you can volunteer with them. They will put you to work! And to pray! Its very beautiful - an amazing experience. The Lay Movement, Regnum Christi, offers Co-workers where you can volunteer with them for 1-2 years. There are lay Catholic Missions as well, such as Catholic Family Missions and [url="http://www.missioners.org/"]the Missioners of Chris[/url]t - the CFR's are linked with them as well. Many people who are with the missioners are discerning the religious life and commit to 2-3 years but as most missions, can stay as long as the Lord calls them to stay. They just ask you commit at least 6 months. [url="http://www.carmelitesistersocd.com/Vocation/Formation.asp"]The Carmelites of Alhambra[/url] offer something where young women can live, pray, and work with the sisters and I think study for 1-2 years. This is great formation for young women to get the feel for religious life and many who go find it very beneficial for their discernment formation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melporcristo Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 [quote name='the lords sheep' post='1747641' date='Jan 9 2009, 05:31 PM']The Servants of the Lord and Virgin of Matara have something called they call the Incarnate Word Lay Missionary Family. It takes various forms in various countries, but you almost always live with the Sisters (as long as there's space... if not, you're very near by, but this always depends on the country and even the house in which you are serving), prayer with the Sisters, Mass, meals and recreation with them. I took part in the IVE Family in Argentina last summer, and LOVED it. I'd be more then willing to help you get in contact with them or to answer any questions. I strongly STRONGLY recommend it. My time in Argentina with them honestly changed my life. In Christ, Lauren edit: [url="http://ssvmusa.org/"]Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara[/url][/quote] thats so beautiful!!! I have always wanted to go to Argentina ... one day - if God wills it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
passerby Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Madonna House in Canada Blessings, J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stlmom Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 [url="http://larcheusa.org/participate.html"]L'Arche Communities[/url] This movement originated in the Roman Catholic Church. While it is not affiliated with a particular order, it had the blessing of JP2. Some communities are more ecumenical now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeniteAdoremus Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Second the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara - I know several people who went on mission through them and they all had an amazing time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Este Corazon Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 I third the Servants of the Lord, I went to Peru (3 times) and Argentina with them and they live in NY and 15 min from my house so I go there a lot. Plus one of my best friends is a novice. So yeah, they are real good about volunteers. You can email Mother Lumen who is in charge of the volunteers at M.Lumen@servidoras.org. Godspeed! paz, M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MithLuin Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 I think many groups have programs like that. For a long term, organized volunteer program, check out [url="https://www.cnvs.org/volunteers/response_directory.php"]CNVS' Response Directory[/url]. You can search by 'living arrangement', and if you select in community with a religious order, you will get [url="https://www.cnvs.org/volunteers/search.php?pn=&st=&la=16&ps=&fa=&m=&v=&ed=&r=&g=&sq=1&submit.x=100&submit.y=9"]all kinds[/url] of options. You can narrow it down by what area of the world you want to work in, or just browse through looking for a community you are interested in working with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortnun Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 [quote name='MithLuin' post='1749883' date='Jan 12 2009, 10:01 PM']I think many groups have programs like that. For a long term, organized volunteer program, check out [url="https://www.cnvs.org/volunteers/response_directory.php"]CNVS' Response Directory[/url]. You can search by 'living arrangement', and if you select in community with a religious order, you will get [url="https://www.cnvs.org/volunteers/search.php?pn=&st=&la=16&ps=&fa=&m=&v=&ed=&r=&g=&sq=1&submit.x=100&submit.y=9"]all kinds[/url] of options. You can narrow it down by what area of the world you want to work in, or just browse through looking for a community you are interested in working with.[/quote] This is what I was going to suggest. Their website is very helpful in letting you narrow (or expand) the parameters of your search based on your gifts and the needs of specific communities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dominicansoul Posted January 17, 2009 Author Share Posted January 17, 2009 omigosh! Thanx all of you! There are so many to choose from...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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