Apostolic Visitation of Women's Religoius Communities

Long over due....

And, it ought to be interesting. There are many faithful sisters who have given up their lives to serve the Lord in various ways. What is interesting is the sudden explosion of vocations in traditional religious orders where there is a focus on the fundamentals: Building virtue and holiness through the grace of Marian and Eucharistic devotion. Some would say that time spent in prayer is time lost working with the needy. Consider that Mother Teresa spent 4 hours daily in prayer, and probably only as much time sleeping. The rest was all work. And, the graces that followed in her work, were the fruits of that prayer.

Unfortunately, many religious orders in the US have moved away from that Marian and Eucharistic focus, with some even slipping into new age spirituality. It is also interesting to note that if one were to compare vocation statistics of these kinds of orders, to those which are more traditional, there is a real contrast. Those with a new age focus will reveal an older, average age with few new vocations. Those with a traditional focus don't have enough beds to handle all the young women who want to come on discernment weekends, and there are constant expansions being made on chapels, dorms and convents. In some cases, a handful of nuns must leave their communities to start a new branch in some distant location, such as that case with sisters from Mother Angelica's order in Alabama, who went to Phoenix.

Vatican begins visits to strengthen women religious in U.S.

Washington DC, Jan 30, 2009 / 01:25 pm (CNA).- The Vatican announced today that it is initiating the first-ever visitation of women’s religious communities in the United States. The visitations are being undertaken to help strengthen religious communities in the U.S., which are suffering from a sharp drop in vocations and gentrification of their ranks.

On the heels of issuing a report on the health of U.S. seminaries—which were found to be in relatively good condition—the Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, headed by Cardinal Franc Rodé, is embarking on a comprehensive study of the more than 400 congregations present in the United States. The visitations will only assess those religious who engage in apostolic or active work, and will not involve contemplative communities.

The visitation process is being spearheaded by Connecticut native Mother Mary Clare Millea, A.S.C.J., who was appointed by Cardinal Rodé. Mother Clare is the superior general of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a group of sisters that is based in Rome but has 135 sisters in the U.S.

According to a December 22, 2008 Vatican decree authorizing the visitations, the study is being undertaken “to look into the quality of the life” of the members of U.S. religious institutes.

Mother Clare estimates that the project will take about two years to finish, and says that upon completion she will submit a confidential report to Cardinal Rodé. There are no plans to publish the findings.

Sr. Eva-Maria Ackerman, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, explained how the several-stage process will work at a press conference in Washington D.C. on Friday.

Continue reading at Catholic News Agency: Vatican to Begin Visitation of Women's Religious Communities in US

Also visit: AposotlicVisitation.org

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The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!

New Monastery Established in San Antonio, TX from Mother Angelica's Order

Please pray for the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, who have established a new monastery at Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic parish in Texas. It is an Anglican-use parish in the Diocese of San Antonio.

Five nuns of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration will be arriving in the parish sometime in May, when they will be taking up residence in our St. Joseph House. Pictured here, they are (l. to r.) Sr. Marie St. Clare, Sr. Rose Marie,
Sr. Grace Marie, Sr. Mary Peter and Sr. Elizabeth Marie.

Fr. Christopher G. Phillips announced made an announcement back in February which gives us a little more background:

His Eminence, Franc Cardinal Rodé, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has communicated permission to establish a monastery for the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration here in San Antonio.

We can now prepare in earnest for the arrival of five nuns from Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama. They will be taking up residence in our St. Joseph Parish House. There is, of course, a chapel there with the Blessed Sacrament, although they will be attending Mass ordinarily here at the parish. We’re looking forward to welcoming the Sisters as part of our extended “Atonement Family,” and we need to pray for them as they get ready to leave their present beloved monastery to begin this new work.

There are many good things at the Our Lady of Atonement website, including Catholic tracts. You can probably stay abreast of what is happening there through the parish blog.

Any Catholic is free to assist at an Anglican-use Catholic Mass. So, if you live in the area or are passing through San Antonio, check it out.

Recall what I said when the "Phoenix 5" left Hanceville for the Diocese of Phoenix to establish a new Monastery at the request of Bishop Thomas J. Olmstead: The surest sign that a religious order is graced by the Holy Spirit is when so many vocations require it to branch out. I don't know what the limit is on Poor Clare communities, but cloisters do not typically have as many sisters as does Mother Angelica's order so something had to give. That is, sending sisters out to establish new monasteries. I am assuming these will be cloistered, but someone correct me if I am wrong.

A similar thing is happening with the Mary, Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans in Ann Arbor, Michigan (but they may not be establishing new orders as opposed to being assigned out at parishes), and I'm sure others. In fact, if anyone is aware of other communities spreading out like this, drop me a message in the combox or email me at TeDeumBlog@gmail.com.

As a side note, Cardinal Rode also made an excellent statement about some clergy becoming too worldly. The same can be said of men and women in certain religious orders.

A good bishop will always seek a contemplative and/or monastic community to work within his diocese. The world cannot begin to comprehend what graces come to a diocese from the prayers and sacrifices of these fine men and women.

I should also mention that many bishops have made requests of Mother's community, as well as others like the Mary Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans, but they simply cannot respond to all requests, and cannot do too many such moves quickly. Each of these communities will draw more vocations by their example. Young people not previously exposed to them will hopefully hear God's voice above the noise of the world if they are called.

As a reminder, please pray for the five men being ordained as I write this post, at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit. CTND Detroit will likely rebroadcast it many times in the coming weeks and months.

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Bishop Finn celebrating Mass in Ephesus with Benedictines of Mary

Some of the Benedictines of Mary enter Our Lady's House at Ephesus in Turkey

I know I posted on this before, but there was another picture-post up with a single, interesting shot (see below). On their blog, the Benedictines of Mary - a traditional monastic order, write about that photo :

Here you can have a little glimpse of eternity touching time. Most Reverend Robert W. Finn, DD, offered Mass for us in Our Lady's House at Ephesus, Turkey, each day of our pilgrimage, very early, before the typical crowd of 6,ooo other pilgrims arrived.

This is a bishop who truly understands and values a cloister in his diocese and he is a frequent visitor there as indicated by the many photo posts on the sister's blog. This time, it was some of the sisters who accompanied Bishop Finn to Ephesus, Turkey. It just so happens that they make their home at the Priory of Our Lady of Ephesus in the diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. You can see more photos in this blogpost at the Benedictines of Mary.

Bishop Robert W. Finn, D.D. is one of our Bishops with Backbone for many reasons, including a pastoral letter he wrote back in February against the plague of pornography.

Home page for the Benedictines of Mary

More about Bishop Finn, including a collection of his letters and statements at the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph.


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Vocation Video - Dominican Nuns of Summit, NJ

One of our two "cloistered blogs" - Moniales OP - Dominicans (see the blogging priests, religious, and deacons section), has made a vocational video called, Seeking the Face of the Lord. I got a preview of this not long ago and want to pass along the full version for you to review. It is a dignified look at cloistered life in this Dominican convent, Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Sister is a regular visitor of the Te Deum blog and I hope readers will become regular visitors of their blog, and the blogs of other priests, religious and deacons, willing to share their thoughts.


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What's Out? Lay clothes. What's In?: Clerical Garb and Habits

On the vocations front, I've been following something for the last two years: Traditional clerical garb and religious habits are making a comeback. Here's more evidence found among the many comments in this thread at the blog of Fr. Z:

I have a friend who is a seminarian in Rome who belongs to a newer religious Order called the “Servants of Mary Immaculate”. They wear their particilar habit, which is just a Roman cassock with a royal blue cord around the waist, 15 decade rosary, and shoulder cape with an embrodered Immaculate Heart image on the left side. They also wear saturnos (Roman platter hats).

There are not many of seminarians for the Order in Rome, only about 20-30, but then again, it’s a relatively new Order. But my friend said that in the last 2 years He’s been studying in Rome (but He’s been in the Order in Italy for 5 years), he’s seen a perceptable visible change in the number of religious wearing habits (both men and women).

It’s a growing trend to see more habits, cassocks, soutanes on the streets. And even the wearing of the saturnos by some seminarians. And even some wearing the national cassocks (particularly on the streets of Rome on Sundays) of their Pontifical Seminaries. He said that there are dozens of Orders of sisters wearing habits he’s never seen before, and in the old fashioned “1950’s” style habit, a la Audrey Hepburn in “The Nuns’s Story”, not the typical little short grey, brown white or beige skirt and small veil like most communities wore for the last 35+ years.

He’s seen Franciscan Friars of new branches of the Order in ahbit (two new communities), Dominicans, and Trinitarians all in habit in seminary and on the streets of Rome. The only seminarians who still cling to layclothes are some of the Pontifical seminaries and universities, the Gregorian UNiversity (unfortunatly). The only groups of seminarians who never ever wear clericals apparently are the very few Jesuit, Salesian, and some diosecean seminarians. The “dying” policy against wearing habits and cassocks is mainly from the liberal Orders. The Legionaries of Christ are all over Rome in cassock, as are the OPus Dei seminarians. Also the INstitute of Christ the King.

My friend said He’s seen the liberal Orders of nuns still hanging around in layclothes, but they are all very aged women in their 70’s, while the nuns who wear the conservative or even old fashioned “1950’s” habits are much younger. He was surprised that some groups of traditionally habited nuns He’s seen in St. Peter’s Square and other Churches are hardly more than girls just in their 20’s, compared to the liberal nuns in their 70’s and older. What a contrast.

My friend said that it’s a statement on two different images of the Church. One is the “dying” image of the Church…the rad progressives of the 1960’s which discarded everything (including the TLM). The other is the reborn Catholic Church, which is the Church of tradition, of John Paul II , Benedict XVI, and Summorum Pontificum.
You’d have to see the e-mails and booklets he’s sent me to prove His point, but from the hundreds of photos and films He’s sent me over the last few years, it’s quite a contrast between two interpretations of the Church.

Source comment

I've been saying this for two year now. Then again, in the Detroit area we have "recognizable sisters" in Sisters of the Holy Cross (ORC) at Grotto, as well as through orders like the Dominicans Sisters - Mary Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor. We see the youthfulness of those choosing the habits.

I also still have a belief that the surge of vocations taking place in cloisters, like that of Mother Angelica's order, is much like the way the military soften's the target by sending in artillery ahead of troops. Their prayers and sacrifices are preparing the Church for less ambiguous times ahead, and I believe the fruit of that work will be more orthodox priests and sisters in parishes where we so desperately need them.

The cassocks are coming! The cassocks are coming!!!

Are you seeing a trend in this direction in your area? Tell us about it.

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6 Nuns Excommunicated in Arkansas

First on September 14th, news broke about a declaration of excommunication incurred by members of the Army of Mary - a seemingly traditional and orthodox society, now considered a heretical one by the Vatican. Heresy and disobedience are far from orthodox, no matter how traditional or devout they are. The Vatican had been involved in a 6 year investigation, along with Canadian bishops, of the Army of Mary which has its base in Canada, and they found things that put up all kinds of red flags. Among the most notable, is that the 86 year old founder claims to be a reincarnation of the Blessed Mother. For heaven's sake! How can any Catholic not see that this is heretical?

In 2001, the Canadian Bishops made a doctrinal note on the Army of Mary citing a list of troubling qualities. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), which was headed by Josef Cardinal Ratzinger - now Pope Benedict, joined the investigation.

Now, 6 nuns at the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity in Hot Springs, Arkansas have refused to let go of the Army of Mary after being counseled on the matter by diocesan authorities on the heresy involved (in other words, they chose disobedience over humble, Marian obedience), and have thus have brought upon themselves excommunication.

The website has a link to the Community of the Lady of all Nations, which is affiliated with the Army of Mary.

There are various affiliations which the CDF has named as follows in it's declaration (the first link above):


"THE COMMUNITY OF THE LADY OF ALL NATIONS,"
AND OF ITS WORKS: "THE ARMY OF MARY",
"THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITIES OF THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF MARY", "LES OBLATS-PATRIOTES", "L’INSTITUT MARIALYS"

From CBS News: [emphasis mine; my comments in red ]

The six nuns are associated with the Good Shepherd Monastery of Our Lady of Charity and Refuge in Hot Springs. Sister Mary Theresa Dionne, one of the nuns excommunicated, said the nuns will still live at the convent property, which they own.

"We are at peace and we know that for us we are doing the right thing," the 82-year-old nun said. "We pray that the church will open their eyes before it is too late. This is God's work through Mary, the blessed mother, and we're doing what we're asked to do." [Translation: NON-SERVIAM! I will not serve! Sorry Sister, but Mary was the model of obedience and can't be too pleased with this choice.]

At a news conference, Hebert said the nuns "became entranced and deluded with a doctrine that is heretical." He said church officials removed the Eucharist - which Catholics revere as the body of Christ - from the monastery on Tuesday night. [How terribly sad that they still don't see their non-serviam - God have mercy on them.]

In the same article:

A spokesman for the Army of Mary called the excommunication of the nuns and the other members of the sect an injustice. Father Eric Roy said Giguere has not claimed to be the reincarnation of the Virgin Mary, and said the 86-year-old Quebec woman "receives graces" from the Virgin Mary and God. "The Virgin Mary took possession of her soul. I would rather say it that way," said Roy, superior general of the Sons of Mary, an associated group. [Possessed by Mary?!?!?!]

Excommunication is not "kicking someone out of the Catholic Church". It is the way that Holy Mother Church lets her children know that they are taking a position on something which seriously jeopardizes their salvation. It is an attention-getter. We can only hope that removing the Eucharist will have sparked some deeper reflection on their parts.

The problem here is that people get caught up in the good fruits, devotions, and other God-pleasing things, and dismiss negative things as nothing to be concerned with. In some cases, it's a matter of people weighing the large amount of good over the seemingly small amount of bad things - a very, very dangerous and presumptuous thing to do. When it comes to private revelations authenticity is verified or negated by alignment, or misalignment, to Catholic teaching. It's one of the very first steps in the discernment process.

This whole episode, from unauthorized ordinations to not accepting the Church's judgment - that the Army of Mary involves heresy (as in not suitable for Catholics), is a good illustration of what can happen when too much stock is put into a private revelation before it has gained full approval. People can't let go when a negative judgment comes down, and this is why the Angel of Darkness likes to use this tactic. He gets Catholics to disobey the Catholic Church, in favor of their own personal judgment. And, I might add, there were good fruits such as vocations, availability of adoration, confessions, etc. People wonder how Satan can make use of seemingly holy things and behaviors. Now it is visible - by using their attachments - even positive attachments - to fall into disobedience.

Folks, even when we don't fully understand why the Church condemns something, we must ascent and accept the decision in humility. We have to consider that we may not have all of the facts considered by the Vatican. In fact, I would not be surprised to learn that there are Catholics involved in one of those affiliations, who were unaware that the founder was claiming to be a reincarnation of the Blessed Mother.

If you are involved with the Army of Mary or any of the other groups named, please - don't get caught playing into Satan's hand through a non-serviam (I will not serve). Meditate on the obedience of Mary: Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.

Authentic private revelations do not yield heresy! Catechesis is desperately needed in this regard with the way people follow alleged apparitions and private revelations these days. It's not to say some aren't authentic, but there is a discernment process that must take place and we should never get so involved as to disregard Holy Mother Church when she speaks contrary to our own feelings.

Please join me by including all members of these named groups in your prayers. May humility rule and bring them home for a new beginning.

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More talk on vocation boom in traditional women's orders

Gerald over at the Cafeteria is Closed has an excellent post up on a topic I spoke about here some time ago. There are two councils of women's religious orders. Those affiliated with the CMSWR - Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious are in growth mode with a young average age, and those affiliated with the Leadership Council of Women Religious have stalled and are dying out with a much older average age.

Click here for Gerald's first blogpost on this topic

My original blogpost on this topic



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Are you a young female looking for and active, traditional Catholic order?

Picture Source

I've been saying for the past year that I believe I may actually live long enough to see recognizable nuns back in parishes and running schools.

I know there are many females out there who want a traditional and orthodox religious life experience, but in many cases this often means a cloister. For those who are attracted to the old Mass looking for contemplative life in communion with Rome, I am aware of the Sister Adorers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest and, a new community - the Benedictines of Mary. The Mary, Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans and their sister order, the Dominicans of St. Cecelia in Nashville are probably among the few exceptions of more traditional orders because they are semi-contemplative, traditional and orthodox (meaning semi-active). The latter are not, to my knowledge, celebrating the old Mass, but that may change with the motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum. Other orders may include the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal who are tied to the very orthodox Fr. Benedict Groeschel and work among the poorest of the poor. What is lacking here, are ordinary parish nuns - habited!

We need active nuns back into parishes the way they use to be. I'd go so far as to say I wish some diocese would pilot it in a few parishes, filling those positions with nuns from the more traditional, semi-contemplative orders. More young girls will respond if this becomes an option because not all are called to the contemplative life or to working with the poor. Furthermore, we all need sisters back in parishes to invigorate parish life and to be role models to young women who may not hear that call without such examples in their lives. I pray that other bloggers will begin to discuss this to highlight the need.

FSSP ACTS ON GRACE IN RESPONSE TO WOMEN

Here is more proof and this time, it comes from the FSSP - the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, known for their celebration of the old Latin Mass acknowledging that young women are indeed interested in serving at FSSP parishes. This is quite fascinating and I am grateful they are responding to what I believe is a grace of the Holy Spirit. It is just a training course at this point but I fully expect to see it mushroom and then for the concept to spill over into Novus Ordo communities that are more traditional and orthodox.

Unfortunately, the training is not here in the US, but in France. However, anyone from any country may go, but they stipulate what is required for that to happen below.

Here is the scoop from an icon link at the FSSP homepage:

Communiqué: Vocational Training Program for young ladies

For several years the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter has received requests from young ladies asking whether we could help them answer a possible calling to an apostolic (non contemplative) consecrated life. These young ladies wish to devote themselves to God in the active service of the neighbour in a parochial setting, or possibly in our missions. We propose to them a Vocational Training Program within the following framework :

1) Duration: from October 2007 until June 2008 included, in Perpignan (Southern France) under the responsibility of Fr. William Vojtek, FSSP. Applications to be sent (see address below) until September 14, 2007.

2) Program: Initiation with the spiritual life and the community life; secondarily: pedagogics, liturgical chant and parochial services (for example teaching children, visiting the persons in need, contributing to sacristy tasks).

3) Trainers: The trainees will be under the pastoral responsibility of priests from the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (an international community of pontifical right, of Extraordinary Roman rite). Director of the training course: Fr. William Vojtek, FSSP: with a rich experience of many years in the formation of applicants to consecrated apostolic life, also in regular contacts with numerous religious female communities. Fr. Jean-Eric Diehr, FSSP, a medical doctor, will bring additional training on some psychological aspects of the pastoral service. Visiting speakers, in particular some apostolic religious nuns, are envisaged.

4) Costs: The expenses of lodging, teaching and subsistence will be covered by the FSSP, but transport charges, health insurance and personal expenditure will have to be covered by the trainees or their families.

5) Engagements: no formal promises or vows of any kind and no religious habit during these 9 months.

6) Criteria: French-speaking young ladies (from any country), at least 18 years of age, baptized Catholics, in good physical and psychological health.

7) Next step: If it pleases God, the training course will lead to a formation with the consecrated life (in a noviciate linked with the FSSP), but it does not guarantee it. It is expected that such further formation might be provided in North America. However, the training course is conceived in itself as an enriching experience, offering to young ladies a 9-month initiation to the spiritual and community life, including teaching and charity work, during one school year. The training course will have achieved an estimable goal while bringing the benefit of a spiritual maturation and a deepening of the Christian virtues in the service of neighbours, through the Roman traditions of the Church.

Signed: General House FSSP

Postal address: Stage vocationnel 2007-2008, Maison Saint Pierre Canisius, Chemin du Schoenberg 8, CH-1700, Fribourg, SWITZERLAND

E-mail address: In contact page, please select "Vocations secretary"

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Online Video of Local News Segment on Mary Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans

Click the pic to go to the Mary, Mother of the Eucharist website

I first notified readers a couple days ago here of the upcoming video segment that Detroit's local ABC affiliate - Channel 7, WXYZ-TV would be doing on the Mary Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans. They are a very young community (in more ways than one) which began with just four sisters ten years ago. Now they are 70 with an average age somewhere in their 20's.

The segment aired last night and that video is now online. I don't know how long WXYZ-TV will keep it there. If the video is taken down, you may want to email them and ask if they can archive it somewhere online for future reference, or get permission to upload it to YouTube, if that is possible.

Here is a direct link to where the online video of that news segment by Ray Sayah on the Mary Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans.

The introduction is as follows:

By Ray Sayah
February 27, 2007

Today more young women are saying no thanks to married life and high-powered jobs. Instead they’re pursuing a higher calling

Some young women in their 20’s and 30’s have already gone after money, careers and material possessions, but it didn’t make them happy. They say they’ve found what’s missing in a lifestyle that’s making a comeback.

If you're reading sisters - all I can say is....



.....for your example, your prayers and sacrifices, and for saying, "Yes" when He called.

Local News station will discuss why young women are flocking to this Convent

If you are within the metro Detroit viewing area for ABC - Channel 7 in Detroit, tune in at 11:00 or tape the broadcast. Ray Sayah has done a story that will air about the vocation "problem" they are having at Mary Mother of the Eucharist (at least, so it appeared by their habits). The problem is that the young women are "coming in droves".

Catholic Culture has an article archived from 1997 in which covers the origins and beginnings of this local Dominican order in Ann Arbor. It is an offshoot from the Dominicans of popular notoriety in Tennessee. As I've mentioned before, good orders grow by sending out small groups of sisters to begin new communities. This one will have to do something soon (and it would be nice to see some sent out to the east side of Metro Detroit to run a Catholic school).

Yes Virginia, it is springtime for traditional convents, holy orders, and dioceses!

If you don't live in the viewing area, skim the Channel 7 Action News website at 11:00, or even tomorrow for anything they may have online. It's not likely to be online for very long.

Vocations: Religious Family of the Incarnate Word

I like to profile traditional religious orders that are Eucharistic, Marian, and in communion with the Holy See - for those searching for such communities. Communities which lean towards more new age, or a strictly social focus, imho, tend to be doctrinally challenged. All it takes is to challenge one Church teaching and the community is out of focus. Mother Teresa proved to the world that one can be devout, Marian and Eucharistic while serving the poor. In fact, without those things, she would be the first to say that had she worked around the clock, she would never have accomplished what the grace of God aided her with by her devotion.

Reader Javier in Argentina has sent me several links on the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word. While it originated in Argentina, they have provinces in other countries, including the US and Canada, among others. In the US, the Province of the Immaculate Conception has a website that is available in English and in Spanish.

Like other emerging traditional orders, this was recently founded - appropriately, on March 25, 1984. Like the other communities I've been profiling, the only apparent vocation "crisis" is that they are booming with young people. Their founder is the Rev Carlos Buena, who is the Superior General of the clerical branch. Pictured at left is the founder with Pope John Paul II.

There are three branches as outlined in the above link:
Institute of the Incarnate Word - the clerical branch of priests. This branch also includes brothers, and there is a contemplative arm of priests and brothers, as well. There are three houses of formation here in the US: The Bishop Sheen Residence (you gotta like that name) in Chillum, MD; St. Isaac Jogues Novitiate, Mount Rainier, MD; and, the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, OH. I had difficulty linking so go to the home page and click on "Houses of Formation")


Servants of the Lord and of the Virgin of Matara (SSVM) is made up of active and contemplative nuns. Here you see sisters gathered from the numerous countries from which they come. They too have a province in the US of the same name. Click around this website for a real treat.

Here you see their habit and you can read more on these sisters in their "about" page.

The apostolic sisters are visiting the contemplative sisters of the "Edith Stein Community" in Brooklyn, NY.

Finally, the Family of the Incarnate Word has is a Third Order.

NATURE AND OBJECTIVE

The Third Order of our Religious Family of the Incarnate Word is an Association of the Faithful whose Members, living in the world, desire to participate in our spirit. For this reason, this Secular Association commits itself to form with the Members of this Religious Family, a unique family united by the same faith, goals, charism, and spirit. The Third Order is an essential part of our Religious Family because it is a prolongation of our works in their own environment.

Something else that may be of interest to all is that they have a retreat center, and make available the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. They don't have their 2007 calendar up yet, but keep checking or contact them should you desire to to go.

If you are in the Secular branch or are familiar with these priests and sisters, feel free to discuss your experiences in the comment box.

Time Magazine: Today's Nun has a Veil -- and a Blog!

As you will see, I decided to place an emphasis on vocations for my posts today - in paritcular, women's vocations.

I had previously covered the death of Bernie - long time Grotto parishioner and security guard. Please click here on details of Bernie's funeral arrangements.

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Time Magazine is confirming exactly what many of us have been saying: Traditional religious orders are booming. I know the same holds true of priestly vocations. Where there is sound orthodoxy, there is no vocation shortage - male or female.

This is a decent article done by Time Magazine on today's young nuns - and it reveals their traditional nature. Go read: Today's Nun has a Veil -- and a Blog! As Dom points out in his link below, it's too bad they didn't expand on the charism of the Sisters of Life.

One interesting stat that was in there was the contrast between Mary Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans with an average age of 24, and another community (non-habited) which had an average age of 70. the latter is using "focus groups" to try to attract young people. All they truly need to do is look at any community with 10-15 postulants and novices and focus groups will be unnecessary. What is drawing so many to some, while others only experience a trickle. The answer is pretty apparent.

H/T to Thomas at American Papist.

Dom has a good commentary up on this piece out of time, as well.

Two Major Councils for Women's Religious - What does it all mean?

If you are a woman looking for a religious order, you may be trying to find various orders via the web. There are several ways of doing this, such as using google and searching for "traditional nuns". There is one danger in this and I fell into the trap inadvertently some months ago before someone pointed out my error. You can stumble upon a traditional order which is schismatic and not in communion with Rome. It will have all the appearances of being Catholic, and even call itself Catholic. It may even say that it is in communion with the "current pope". However, by not naming him you don't know if that is Pope Benedict XVI, or "Pope" Michael. I always look for links to the Vatican and at other links within new sites that I discover. When you stumble upon a schismatic site, pray for them and move on.

One other thing is that a habit and traditional community in communion with Rome is no guarantee that it is solid in its understanding and application of religious life. If you see a significant emphasis on psychology, you may want to do a little more probing before jumping in. Find out if there is adoration and how they feel about Marian devotion, for example. Now, you should expect most any community to put you through an initial pyschological examination. However, you should not see a huge emphasis on pyschology in religious life, and especially in formation, as opposed to solid Catholic philosophy and theology. If catechetics is part of the program that is a plus because in today's society, most of us for the last 40 years have been very poorly catechized. How can one study theology without solid grounding in catechetics, as in the CCC? If you are even pondering religious or priestly life, you should have your nose in the CCC every evening and learn it like the back of your hand. Should someone try to convince you that Jesus did not multiply all the loaves of bread, and fish (indirectly challenging his divinity), you will know you are being sold a bad bill of goods.

You might also ask what scriptural exegetes, theologians & philosophers they include in their studies. Is it Ratzinger, von Hildebrand, John Hardon? Or, is it Richard McBrien, Raymond Brown, & Karl Rahner.

On the other extreme, sometimes upon searching you will find orders with traditional sounding names, then wind up in the midst of a social justice website with an emphasis on recycling and saving trees. Like with some habited communities, you will find fans of McBrien and company, but probably in a greater percentage. The emphasis on pyschology, feelings and experience is likely to dominate. On some of these sites you may find many practices affiliated with the new age, such as "enneagrams".

This is not to say that all non-traditional orders are bad. There are many women who do not wear traditional habits who work tirelessly in hospitals, with the poor, as missionaries, and other situations. I know for a fact there are such nuns in these orders whom you will find have a Marian and Eucharistic devotion, among those who do not. Hence, we can't judge individual sisters from these communities because we simply don't know. Likewise, when you stumble upon something disturbing among some community websites, pray for these sisters.

One thing you may want to ponder is whether you want a community that will support what you feel in your heart to be the proper path in religious life, or whether you believe you are strong enough to hold on to your values amidst a community which seems disoriented religiously. In other words, in some communities you will feel out of place if you have a devotion to Mary or enjoy adoration. It could be an uphill battle. Why not seek out one where others share the same devotions?

More and more are emerging - some new and some not so new. Newer orders were created so they could start afresh with a traditional reform. Some older orders which ditched the habit long ago, you will see younger novices and sisters opting to wear the traditional habit among the many in the order who do not. Tradition is being restored through the young in these orders. But, this takes thick skin and perseverence to weather out in some cases.

Here, I give you at least one solid resource to consult. From there, let your email do the work. Don't settle on just one community, but explore many and make arrangments to participate in discernment weekends.

I strongly suggest spending time at the website of the Council of Major Superiors for Women Religious (CMSWR), pictured at right. You will find a stark contrast in what is promoted at this site, versus the Leadership Conference for Womens Religious (LCWR). The titles alone are very telling. One sees itself as a council of superiors from various communities. The latter sees itself as a conference for women's religious using the very business term, "leadership". Clicking through their site and viewing photos, it appears to be more like a business conference. Compare and contrast the kinds of communities profiled at each. Chances are, if you are reading this blog, you will identify with communities which fall within the CMSWR, rather than the LCWR.

If you have explored some communities through the CMSWR, please let us know about your experiences - anonymously or otherwise. As always, be charitable.

Where the Vocations are: Sisters of Life - Bronx, NY

I've profiled several communities and would like to make mention of yet another booming traditional religous order for women, which I knew about some time ago, but forgot about. One thing you want to do if you are considering religious life is to poke around their websites. Especially study the formation pages, prayer and community life pages, and look for their daily schedule.

The Sisters of Life in Bronx, NY are fairly new. As an example, here is their schedule:

Though apostolic needs may require local convents to re-arrange the general horarium below, all houses follow this outline:

5:00 am Rise
5:30 am Common Prayer - Office of Readings/ Morning Prayer/ Meditation
6:45 am Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
7:30 am Breakfast (silent with reading)
dishes
8:30 am-12:00 noon Apostolate (common silence kept)
12:00 noon Midday prayer

12:30 pm Lunch (silence broken)
dishes
1:30- 2:30 pm Personal recreation
2:30 - 5:00 pm Apostolate
5:00 pm Eucharistic Holy Hour - Rosary/ 45 minute meditation/ Vespers
6:45 pm Supper (silent with reading)
dishes
7:30 pm Community recreation
8:15 pm Compline
Grand Silence after Compline

You will find this kind of schedule, which varies between communities, on most sites. Some will have a schedule posted for professed, versus those in formation. The latter will have a greater focus on study time than is seen with professed, especially in the case of Mary Mother of the Eucharist Dominicans in nearby Ann Arbor, MI who are engaged in teaching, as well as the Dominicans in Tennessee, often discussed in the media.

You will also note that many of these new booming orders are semi-contemplative, as well. Some set time aside for "meditation" or "mental prayer". If you've ever seen a sister sitting in total silence with their eye's closed for considerable time, she's not sleeping (of course, being humans there are always occasional exceptions). Rather, she is engaging in mental prayer. Discussion of various forms of prayer is a whole subject in itself, but you can get introduced to it in the CCC.

More photos can be seen in the profile of the Sisters of Life at the Council of Major Superiors for Women's Religious, which is the leadership arm of more traditional religious orders.

National Catholic Register: Fr. Frank Pavone's New Religious Order is Growing

Fr. Frank Pavone's order is growing - in discerning young men, and in lay associates. It's wonderful to hear there is an associate program for lay people. I brought you the news earlier this year, straight from Fr. Frank's own blog, when the order was officially accepted by the Church.

---

Father Pavone’s Congregation Growing

Missionaries of the Gospel of Life spring from Priests for Life

BY TIM DRAKE

Register Senior Writer

October 8-14, 2006 Issue

Posted 10/4/06 at 8:00 AM

AMARILLO, Texas — For an organization devoted to promoting the sanctity of human life, there were signs of new life everywhere at a recent groundbreaking ceremony.

There was the religious profession of the first member of a new religious community dedicated to the pro-life cause. There were lay associates joining. And the first spades were driven into the Texas earth on a 60-acre site for a multi-building headquarters.

The new religious community is the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life, founded by Father Frank Pavone, longtime director of Priests for Life. During a Mass Aug. 24 at the Cathedral of St. Laurence in this Texas panhandle city, Father Pavone professed his permanent promises as a member of the community in the presence of Bishop John Yanta of Amarillo and Cardinal Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

Doing so, Father Pavone takes on new initials: M.E.V.: Missionarii Evangelii Vitae, Latin for Missionaries of the Gospel of Life.

The priest then accepted the society’s first two seminarians, Patrick O’Donnell and Daniel Cochran, and introduced four men who have been accepted for a year of inquiry, a period of discernment possibly leading to formal studies for the priesthood. And he received the promises of the society’s first five lay associates. Continue reading MEV at the Register Online

New Traditional Dominican Order Bursting at the Seams

I'll be adding this post to my Vocations section in the sidebar, along with the recent post about Assumption Grotto Vocations of 2006.

I want to focus, once again, on the new Domincan order which started about 9-10 years
ago in the Ann Arbor area of Michigan. I call it traditional, because these sisters wear traditional habits and their work is reminiscent of that done traditionally by sisters over the centuries. The youthfulness of this order is visible, as is their joy and enthusiasm whenever they are found at local events. Follow this post through to the bottom and you will see where they are spreading their wings. Is your town next?

Clicking the other pics will yield a larger photo. All of these pictures are taken from the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist website.



As of August 29, 2006 the order has 15 new Postulants....



And, 19 Novices...



There are 30 temporarily professed sisters listed. You can read about each Novice and temp-professed sister, and see from where they come in search of such a religious life on the vocations page. As of August 28, the order reported a community of 70 - a real boom for one that is only 9 years old.

--->History of The Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist


THEIR NEW CHAPEL

A new chapel was completed. There is no denying, or speculating, or wondering what faith they witness: It's......distinctly Catholic!



Below I post only a few out of the many photos they have of the dedication and construction. In this first photo, you see Bishop of Lansing, Michigan, Carl Mengeling consecrating the altar.


The choir sings during the ceremony and frosted glass is seen in the background.


Concelebrants present........ A careful eye will recognize Fr. Perrone, pastor of Assumption Grotto, off to the left.




BURSTING AT IT'S SEAMS, THIS DOMINICAN COMMUNITY OVERFLOWS ELSEWHERE

Now, what comes next is even better news. At the bottom of this post, I discussed how Mother Angelica's order had to send out 4 sisters to begin a new branch in the Phoenix, Arizona area, at the invitation of Bishop Thomas J. Olmstead. Like a healthy tree, a good order will sprout new branches. This is how the Holy Spirit prevents too much of a good thing from being isolated in one place (and prevents one monastery from turning people away).

Well, Bishop Olmstead recognizes a healthy tree and good things, so he invited some sisters from this traditional Dominican order in Ann Arbor to his town. They have answered the call and have moved in to St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, where they will be teaching and working.

I shouldn't have to tell you that this will be a magnet for young girls to hear their calling in that area. I suspect this will not be the last of the branches that will sprout from this amazing order. It is a testimony that young people are interested in the full Catholic package of prayer and works, as opposed to just works, which has been the empahsis for the last 40 years in many dying communities. Some of these communities which have shifted their focus almost exclusively to social justice are lucky to find one new member every few years.

The Dominicans from Ann Arbor were not done spreading good things and extending branches...

On August 9, Fr. Andrew Bloomfield reported on his blog, that not only had sisters been sent to the Phoenix area, but four others were sent to one of my favorite places: Hilton Head South Carolina.

And, Deal Hudson, in an article entitled 1400 Percent Growth of Dominican Sisters, also points out that Bishop Baker had invited the sisters to South Carolina. They had been doing mission work there in the summers and it was very successful.

God Bless them on their journey - lets keep them in our prayers.

This, to me, is yet another sign that in another 20 years, we will see nuns in traditional habits working in parishes, and Catholic schools will make a strong comeback......God willing!

Oh, and one more thing about this order........ I've heard them singing in Latin and I believe they study the language - something to check out if you have a calling and treasure the language of the Church!

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Deo Gratias!