Uncomfortable Martyrdoms https://crisismagazine.com/opinion/uncomfortable-martyrdoms?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=novashare
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Friday, February 14, 2025
Religious sisters are “the foot soldiers of Christ” in Zimbabwe, says bishop - ZENIT - English
Religious sisters are “the foot soldiers of Christ” in Zimbabwe, says bishop - ZENIT - English: Bishop Raymond Mupandasekwa said the Church has been slow to recognize the contribution of sisters to the work of the Church, but fortunately in Zimbabwe this is beginning to change.
Thursday, February 13, 2025
When the worst thing happens, it's an invitation to transformation
When the worst thing happens, it's an invitation to transformation https://www.globalsistersreport.org/node/293541
Saint Francis and St Clare Fratelli Tutti
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Join Us for the 2025 Novena & Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage - Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage
Join Us for the 2025 Novena & Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage - Dominican Rosary Pilgrimage: FacebookMastodonBlueskyWhatsAppEmailPinterest
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Love, laundry and living the mission as an associate
Love, laundry and living the mission as an associate https://www.globalsistersreport.org/node/180165
As US associates track to surpass women religious, both face 'turning point'
As US associates track to surpass women religious, both face 'turning point' https://www.globalsistersreport.org/node/182813
Growing number of associates partner with religious communities to quench spiritual thirst
Growing number of associates partner with religious communities to quench spiritual thirst https://www.globalsistersreport.org/node/180245
As US congregations shrink, associates contemplate a future independent of sisters
As US congregations shrink, associates contemplate a future independent of sisters https://www.ncronline.org/node/293266
Monday, February 10, 2025
Pope Francis asks all Catholics to pray for vocations: here is the video - ZENIT - English
Pope Francis asks all Catholics to pray for vocations: here is the video - ZENIT - English: The Pope invites us to pray during February “that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life.”In the video illustrating his prayer intention, Pope Francis recalls his own vocation, as a youth. He affirms that by listening to young people, they might welcome God’s call “in ways that better serve the Church and the world today.” The Pope invites us to believe in young people, and above all, to trust in God who is the one who “calls everyone.”
Mary's Visitation to Elizabeth explained beautifully and briefly by Pope Francis - ZENIT - English
Mary's Visitation to Elizabeth explained beautifully and briefly by Pope Francis - ZENIT - English: Pope's General Audience, February 5, 2025 on Mary's visitation to St. Elizabeth
Sunday, February 9, 2025
“Fratelli tutti”: short summary of Pope Francis's Social Encyclical - Vatican News
“Fratelli tutti”: short summary of Pope Francis's Social Encyclical - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-10/fratelli-tutti-pope-fraternity-social-friendship-short-summary.html
Saturday, February 8, 2025
St. Josephine Bakhita - Information on the Saint of the Day - Vatican News
Her life had truly become “fortunate,” as she said herself: “If I were to meet those men who abducted me, or even those who tortured me, I would kneel and kiss their hands, for it that hadn’t happened, I
would not be a Christian and a religious today.”
St. Josephine Bakhita - Information on the Saint of the Day - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/saints/02/08/st--josephine-bakhita--virgin.html
Friday, February 7, 2025
How do religious vows give light to men and women of our time? Pope Francis answers - ZENIT - English
How do religious vows give light to men and women of our time? Pope Francis answers - ZENIT - English: Pope's homily on the eve of the Solemnity of Consecrated Life 2025 on how through the vows one is a bearer of light for the men and women of this time.
Thursday, February 6, 2025
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Pope’s February prayer intention: ‘For vocations to priesthood, religious life’ - Vatican News
Pope’s February prayer intention: ‘For vocations to priesthood, religious life’ - Vatican News https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-02/pope-francis-february-prayer-intention-vocations.html
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
ENGLISH SPEAKING SAINTS WITH OTHERS February 5
ENGLISH SPEAKING SAINTS WITH OTHERS February 5
https://www.jesuit.org.sg/feb-5th-pedro-arrupe-sj/
St. Vodoaldus, 725 A.D. Hermit, sometimes called Voel and Vodalus. A native of Ireland or Scotland, he journeyed to France and worked for a time as a missionary. He later lived as a hermit beside St. Mary's Convent at Soissons. Vodoaldus was a great miracle worker.
B.. ELISABETH CANORI MORA, MOTHER, was an Italian Roman Catholic professed member from the Secular Trinitarians. Mora married an abrasive husband who remained unfaithful and abusive to her but at the time of her death secured his repentance - he ended up as a priest. Feb. 5
ST. ADELAIDE, ABBESS, Abbess and miracle worker, the daughter of Megingoz, the count of Guelders, also called Alice. Adelaide entered the Ursuline Convent in Cologne. Her parents then founded the Convent of Villich near Bonan, and she became abbess there, introducing the Rule of St. Benedict to the community. Feb. 5
St_Helens_Bishopsgate-The church of St Helen's dates from the 12th century and a priory of Benedictine nuns was founded there in 1210 England
Rosary Pamphlet - Paulist Evangelization MinistriesPaulist Evangelization Ministries
Rosary Pamphlet - Paulist Evangelization MinistriesPaulist Evangelization Ministries: Click here to download the Paulist Prison Ministries How to Pray the Rosary Pamphlet! (PDF)
St. Peter parishioners give rosary presentation for inmates
St. Peter parishioners give rosary presentation for inmates: Photo: St. Peter parishioners Theresa Knapp (left) and Peggy Ocken (right) are pictured in Limon on Sept. 30. The two women traveled to the Limon Correctional Facility to teach inmates about praying the rosary. (Photo by Deacon Cliff Donnelly)
LIMON. Two local women are being lauded by their parish for presenting the rosary to correctional facility prisoners in what they hope will result in a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.
Theresa Knapp and Peggy Ocken, parishioners at St....
The Mother and Queen Men's Rosary is a large Schoenstatt apostolate involving more than one million men. They meet frequently to pray the rosary and, in many places, they engage in social work. Now, for the first time, a prison in the state of Piauà has a Rosary group.
The Mother and Queen Men's Rosary is a large Schoenstatt apostolate involving more than one million men. They meet frequently to pray the rosary and, in many places, they engage in social work. Now, for the first time, a prison in the state of Piauà has a Rosary group. #prison #jail #inmate #drugtesting #prisoners #prison #firstday #federalprison #portialouder
#devasted #inmate #prison #prisonstories #prisonuniform #fear #gangs
https://schoenstatt.com/prisoners-in-brazil-form-a-mother-and-queen-mens-rosary-group/
Under Pope Francis, it's management, not ministry, for Catholic women
Under Pope Francis, it's management, not ministry, for Catholic women https://www.ncronline.org/node/292671
A light of revelation: The power of witness of consecrated women
A light of revelation: The power of witness of consecrated women https://www.globalsistersreport.org/node/292576
Monday, February 3, 2025
Sunday, February 2, 2025
Opportunities to show God's love flow endlessly
Opportunities to show God's love flow endlessly https://www.globalsistersreport.org/node/287581
Juliet Mousseau
November 22, 2024
When I entered the Society of the Sacred Heart, I didn’t know that "Sacred Heart" referred to centuries of thought and devotion to the heart of Jesus. I knew only that the charism of the sisters I met spoke to my heart and drew me in. They dedicated their lives to sharing the love of God with everyone, and I was hooked. As I learned more about the foundation of the Society, with its origins in the dark times of the French Revolution, I grew to believe, along with the Society, that love shared can transform the world. I also grew in my experience of the mystery of God's love and my own ability (and limitations) to share it with others.
In his new encyclical on the Sacred Heart, Dilexit nos, Pope Francis describes how St. Thérèse of Lisieux desired the love of Christ to fill her heart, so that she could then spread it out into the world and let it transform others. It was not enough for her to share her own love with others. She wanted to be a conduit, an instrument bringing God's own love into the world. She knew that the world always needs more love, more transformation, more kindness.
I can't think of a better way to live, especially in a world that seems so broken right now. In my own formation as a Religious of the Sacred Heart, I had to learn that my capacity to take on the burdens of others was greatly limited — I could only hand over their cares to God. The image that worked for me was that of an aqueduct: I had to allow the sorrow and pain of others to move through me to God because those burdens were too much for me to handle. And the reverse as well: While my love is good, it is tiny in comparison to God's infinity. If I can let God's love pass through me to others, it can transform everyone it encounters.
This November, love is needed more than ever, in our country and in our world. For the last few decades, our political system in the United States has been so divisive that a tiny percentage of voters tips the scales to elect the president of the United States. Whether I find myself on the winning or the losing side, my heart aches for the way people treat each other. We all lose when we allow our humanity to be so divided, and when — worse — we forget that even "they" are human, too. It honestly doesn't matter who "they" are: God loves them more than I can possibly imagine.
by Juliet Mousseau
Contributor
November 22, 2024
When I entered the Society of the Sacred Heart, I didn’t know that "Sacred Heart" referred to centuries of thought and devotion to the heart of Jesus. I knew only that the charism of the sisters I met spoke to my heart and drew me in. They dedicated their lives to sharing the love of God with everyone, and I was hooked. As I learned more about the foundation of the Society, with its origins in the dark times of the French Revolution, I grew to believe, along with the Society, that love shared can transform the world. I also grew in my experience of the mystery of God's love and my own ability (and limitations) to share it with others.
In his new encyclical on the Sacred Heart, Dilexit nos, Pope Francis describes how St. Thérèse of Lisieux desired the love of Christ to fill her heart, so that she could then spread it out into the world and let it transform others. It was not enough for her to share her own love with others. She wanted to be a conduit, an instrument bringing God's own love into the world. She knew that the world always needs more love, more transformation, more kindness.
I can't think of a better way to live, especially in a world that seems so broken right now. In my own formation as a Religious of the Sacred Heart, I had to learn that my capacity to take on the burdens of others was greatly limited — I could only hand over their cares to God. The image that worked for me was that of an aqueduct: I had to allow the sorrow and pain of others to move through me to God because those burdens were too much for me to handle. And the reverse as well: While my love is good, it is tiny in comparison to God's infinity. If I can let God's love pass through me to others, it can transform everyone it encounters.
This November, love is needed more than ever, in our country and in our world. For the last few decades, our political system in the United States has been so divisive that a tiny percentage of voters tips the scales to elect the president of the United States. Whether I find myself on the winning or the losing side, my heart aches for the way people treat each other. We all lose when we allow our humanity to be so divided, and when — worse — we forget that even "they" are human, too. It honestly doesn't matter who "they" are: God loves them more than I can possibly imagine.
If I can let God's love pass through me to others, it can transform everyone it encounters.
Dilexit nos is a reminder of God's immense love for the world, a reminder that we are created in God's image and therefore we, too, are created to love. Pope Francis says:
In union with Christ, amid the ruins we have left in this world by our sins, we are called to build a new civilization of love. That is what it means to make reparation as the heart of Christ would have us do. Amid the devastation wrought by evil, the heart of Christ desires that we cooperate with him in restoring goodness and beauty to our world.
His words remind me of the call St. Francis of Assisi heard from Christ on the cross, to "rebuild my church, which is falling into ruin." If Francis of Assisi strove to place brick upon brick, and then to reinvigorate the local Christian community as well, how do we "build a new civilization of love" except by cooperating with God's love in our world, one act of love at a time?
But how? How do we demonstrate to God that we return love for love? Pope Francis draws devotion to the Sacred Heart into two areas of our lives: our interior spirit and our outward expressions of love to our neighbors. While, inwardly, we may be praising God with song (like St. Cecilia, whose feast day we celebrate today, Nov. 22), outward expressions of praise and love resound in our concrete activities. "Building a new civilization of love" cannot be accomplished without loving interactions with other people. Of course, the Gospels illuminate the way for us: We love God by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, consoling those who are suffering … There are infinite ways to share the love of God with those around us.
In our world, maybe it can even be not doing something: not forwarding that email that contains unverified catastrophic warnings or that spreads paranoia about a political party or a group of people or an individual. Maybe it means ignoring hateful language that is directed at us, responding with kindness and gentleness rather than in anger. It could also be much harder: speaking up to let someone know that their words hurt, or defending the human rights of someone or a group who is being attacked. The opportunities to show God's love are endless. We need only open our eyes and call on the courage within our hearts to do something.
The election is over, and with it goes the hate-filled divisive advertising that called on each of us to see the other side as the enemy. We need to rebuild our culture now, so that we see ourselves as one human family. Half of the family is not our enemy. We are meant to be united in relationship and friendship with one another.
Building a new civilization of love is not just about rebuilding our world to reflect and spread God’s infinite love for all of creation. It’s also about finding our own fulfillment. Made in God's image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27), we are only fulfilled when we share God's love with others. As Pope Francis puts it:
Whenever a person thinks, questions and reflects on his or her true identity, strives to understand the deeper questions of life and to seek God, or experiences the thrill of catching a glimpse of truth, it leads to the realization that our fulfilment as human beings is found in love. In loving, we come to know the purpose and goal of our existence in this world. Everything comes together in a state of coherence and harmony.
The challenge today, it seems to me, rests in setting aside the weapons of hatred and division, picking up instead the tools of love that actively build a new civilization. Trusting that God's love works through us, let's seek unity together.
If I can let God's love pass through me to others, it can transform everyone it encounters. tweet
A light that reveals a promise
A light that reveals a promise https://www.globalsistersreport.org/node/263511
February 2, 2024Share on FacebookShare on TwitterEmail to a friendPrint "Lord, you can now let your servant go in peace, just as you promised" (Luke 2:29). Simeon's words in today's Gospel are powerful and absolute. He waited a long time for the promise to be fulfilled. The Gospel mentions that the Holy Spirit was upon him, revealing that he wouldn't die before seeing the Messiah. A lifetime of waiting! We've all been there — waiting for something significant: an event, an unfulfilled promise, a question waiting for an answer, a conflict in need of resolution, or a wound that needs healing. Waiting can be tough, even when we know God keeps his promises. Will I have to wait forever? Can I hold on for the comfort of Israel? Can I rely on a promise alone? Anna, like Simeon, waited for the promise of a Messiah. Because of that promise, she stayed in the temple day and night. Both waited their whole lives, expecting the fulfillment of a promise they didn't fully understand. A promise that unfolded gradually. They kept going to the Temple every day, faithful to that promise. When they finally saw Jesus, they knew they were at the end of their lives. They could leave with peace in their hearts, having seen a light for revelation. They didn't question or try to control the Messiah. They simply gave thanks and bowed out — maybe both Simeon and Anna knew it was time for them to go. I find comfort in Simeon's words, "Now you can let your servant go in peace ..." As my own community ages and discusses the future, waiting for God's promise, this reading reminds us to stay faithful to the promise, to keep doing what we were called to do, even if the promise isn't fulfilled in our lifetime. And if it is, it's a reminder that others might be the ones to see it through. I pray for the freedom to know when it is time for me to go in peace. What if Simeon and Anna had been disappointed? They were promised a Messiah, but they didn't know the specific circumstances of the fulfillment. Could a mere child bring peace and glory to Israel? In religious life, letting go of ministries, leadership positions, appointments, can be one of the greatest challenges. Perhaps it's distrust in the younger generation or a lack of faith. Perhaps, it is because people do not fulfill our expectations and we become disappointed and scared to let go. When we made our profession, we placed ourselves at God's service, surrendering control. But did we really? Why is it so hard to let go? "Expectations are premeditated resentments" as the saying goes. I can not go in peace if I hold onto my script for someone else's role in life. I truly believe Simeon's eyes saw a light that revealed exactly what he needed at the moment. Maybe Anna experienced the same, each seeing different things. What did that light reveal about themselves? Whatever it was, the light shone right in and through them, opening them up to life. Have you ever had a moment of revelation like that? For me, those moments haven't involved divine visions or light, but rather an assurance that I am in the right place at the right time. For some people, that moment can be at the birth of a child, knowing they were born “for a time like this" (Esther 4:14). I had a moment of revelation one morning in chapel while chanting the psalms — we are Benedictine monastics, so we face each other in choir chapel. It was nothing special, but I knew with my mind and heart that I was in the right place, at the right time, with the right people. It is like finding the missing piece of a puzzle, but a hundred times better! That was my moment of revelation, the light that shone upon my waiting, my fidelity to God's promise despite difficulties. The light of God, that light that reveals, is for us God's way of saying, "Here I am." May our fidelity be the light that enlightens the nations. Today, on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, let's light the candle of hope for a fruitful religious life — one that keeps showing up at the temple, for our faith and for others we serve. May our life be a light that reveals the way to go in peace, allowing others to carry the promise into the future. And may our eyes behold the exact revelation that our heart needs for this moment in time.
Recalled to life
What does being recalled to life mean?
“Recalled to life” in my understanding is getting a second chance at life. It can also mean that a person changes over time compared to what they were in a previous time.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
There were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a plain face, on the throne of England; there were a king with a large jaw and a queen with a fair face, on the throne of France. In both countries it was clearer than crystal to the lords of the State preserves of loaves and fishes, that things in general were settled for ever.
It was the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five. Spiritual revelations were conceded to England at that favoured period, as at this. Mrs. Southcott had recently attained her five-and-twentieth blessed birthday, of whom a prophetic private in the Life Guards had heralded the sublime appearance by announcing that arrangements were made for the swallowing up of London and Westminster. Even the Cock-lane ghost had been laid only a round dozen of years, after rapping out its messages, as the spirits of this very year last past (supernaturally deficient in originality) rapped out theirs. Mere messages in the earthly order of events had lately come to the English Crown and People, from a congress of British subjects in America: which, strange to relate, have proved more important to the human race than any communications yet received through any of the chickens of the Cock-lane brood
'Signs of life everywhere': Old ways, new ideas sustain religious life, sisters say
'Signs of life everywhere': Old ways, new ideas sustain religious life, sisters say https://www.globalsistersreport.org/node/286961
November 18, 2024Share on FacebookShare on TwitterEmail to a friendPrint This month's question brings us to the end of our journey with the inspiring group of panelists for the seventh season of The Life. While public discussion often highlights declining numbers in religious life, there are equally powerful signs of renewal and growth emerging in communities today. This month, we asked our panelists to reflect on their experiences or observations of new spiritual life within religious life: Where have you seen signs of new spiritual life and rejuvenation within religious communities and what forms is it taking? How are these new expressions being nurtured? Julian Cleary Julian Cleary is a member of the Benedictine community of St. Placid Priory in Lacey, Washington. She is a licensed attorney, having worked for many years with adults and children with disabilities before entering the monastery. She has occasionally advocated for detained refugees and hopes to be more involved with this ministry in the future. Her current ministries include work as a spiritual director, participating in the monastery's health care team (she is a former nurse practitioner), liturgy committee, grant-writing and other projects. The community of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Placid Priory, in Lacy, Washington, The community of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Placid Priory, in Lacy, Washington, is pictured in this 2024 photo. Sr. Julian Cleary is in the top row, second from left. (Courtesy of St. Placid Priory) Although people raise concerns over declining vocations, a 2020 study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, or CARA, on recent vocations to religious life, shows a hopeful trend. Significant numbers of women are still responding to the call to religious life and remain hopeful about its future. CARA's findings show that newer members are attracted to their religious institutes not only for its ministries, but for its spirituality, charism, prayer life, mission,and community life. For many, living simply and authentically is essential — a real sign of rejuvenation. 'Evolving Religious Life' A Global Sisters Report series, "Evolving Religious Life," explores how Catholic sisters are adapting to the realities of congregations in transition and new forms of religious life. To read stories from that series, click here. Signs of new spiritual life in the U.S. include the vocations of women who are more ethnically and racially diverse than those in perpetual vows, often from various cultural backgrounds. The United States is increasingly becoming a missionary site, with many vocations now originating from Africa and Asia. With this shift, we see signs of new spiritual life that may expand the old ways or replace them entirely with new types of spirituality. Assisting in the care of our elder sisters can also be a profound sign of spiritual renewal. These icons of faith have much to teach us, while newer entrants bring new life. The wisdom of older sisters and the enthusiasm of newer members can indeed be sources of rejuvenation. The renewal of religious life might come from re-embracing some of the long-standing devotions that communities may have set aside for private practice. The CARA study shows that new members cherish devotions such as the rosary, eucharistic adoration and the Stations of the Cross. Incorporating these devotions into our communal life and prayer practices might respond to calls for authenticity, transparency and simplicity. Hope in religious life abounds. Tweet this The CARA study also showed that new vocations desired a connectiveness with others in formation, whether in the same congregation or with those from diverse religious communities, even world-wide. Benedictines have created a program called Wisdom Connections where those in Benedictine formation across the United States connect monthly via Zoom to share experiences and support one another. Those connections nurture and sustain emerging spiritual lives. Hope in religious life abounds. The new diversity brings rejuvenation, as both established and contemporary forms of community prayer and life sustain our newer sisters. Embracing technological connections has also proven essential, bridging distances and fostering a renewed sense of community. Linda Buck Linda Buck is a Sister of St. Joseph of Orange, California. Her ministry is informed by transformative leadership, psychology, theology and transformational social change. She uses her academic and experiential background to promote culture change within current and emergent systems, including religious life. She is the executive director for the Leadership Collaborative. Prior to this, she was director of initial formation/novice director for her congregation, a psychotherapist and spiritual director. Sr. Linda Buck, executive director of the Leadership Collaborative and a Sister of St. Joseph of Orange, speaks to the Hope-Esperanza Conference Jan. 25 in Chicago. The conference allowed sisters under 65 to meet with others experiencing similar challenges in religious life. (GSR photo/Dan Stockman) Sr. Linda Buck, executive director of the Leadership Collaborative and a Sister of St. Joseph of Orange, speaks to the Hope-Esperanza Conference Jan. 25 in Chicago. The conference allowed sisters under 65 to meet with others experiencing similar challenges in religious life. (GSR photo/Dan Stockman) From my perspective, religious life is flourishing! There is no doubt it looks different from years past. That's OK. The Spirit is doing something new … something different. We are in a moment where we cannot grasp what religious life will become. That's OK. We simply and faithfully discern the smallest next steps and respond as they unfold. I think the most important aspect of these "smallest next steps" is the concrete reality of the global sisterhood. I have the privilege of being involved in two things that energize this idea. The first is a program called Live Out Loud (LOL), a virtual program for religious in initial formation. Now in its fifth year, it allows men and women religious in their earliest stages of initial formation to meet others throughout the world. From their earliest days of formation, this newest group of religious is creating a network of relationships that transcends the boundaries of geography. The Spirit is doing something new … something different. Tweet this The other is the Leadership Collaborative, which fosters transformational leadership and networking. About 150 women religious under the age of 65 gathered in person Jan. 25-28, with more than 100 others joined virtually for HOPE 2024. It is planning a second gathering, HOPE 2025, for any sister under age 65 and creates space for conversations to explore the present and future realities of religious life. Both programs capture the energy of the global sisterhood, spanning countries and cultures, and allowing relationships to develop and strengthen as the new realities emerge. Religious life seems to be shifting in structure and mindset. All generations of women religious have been faithful and discerning about their lives, seeking to respond to God's invitations. I believe this faithfulness continues for the newer generation of women religious. What is different is the deconstruction of the institution itself. Facing the future, I have no doubt I will continue to have a strong network of fellow sojourners, addressing the signs of the times and fostering Gospel values in all we do. What will allow for the rejuvenation of religious life is nothing new: It is simply the continuation of God's action in this way of life, created as we respond to each next step and discern together. What is new is that much of this renewal is taking place outside the bounds of a single congregation or even a solo charism family. For myself, this dynamic is the sign of renewal taking place. Mary Karuna Matthew Mary Karuna Matthew is a native of India and is affiliated with the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame of Coesfeld, Germany. Her areas of specialization include education, theology, formation and psychology. With a wealth of experience in education and formation, she currently serves as part of the general administration, where she oversees the congregation's formation program. She lives in Rome. The church has experienced cycles of decline and revival of vocations in religious life. In recent times, the decrease in religious vocations has raised concerns among many religious communities. We are seeing religious congregations and provinces consolidating due to the lack of new members to continue the ministry. However, a decline in vocations does not signify the end of religious life. Instead, it urges religious communities to revisit the essence of their calling, creating an environment for significant spiritual renewal and rejuvenation. In his book New Seeds of Contemplation, Thomas Merton wrote, "Our vocation is not simply to be but to work together with God in the creation of our own life, our own identity, our own destiny … to work out our identity in God." This quest for a deeper understanding of identity in God extends beyond conventional religious practices, encompassing a broader exploration of spirituality and mission. Sr. Maria Anete Hertha Becker, 99, remains active in her community as an artist and art teacher. Sr. Maria Anete Hertha Becker, a 99-year-old member of the Sisters of Notre Dame Passo Fundo Province in Brazil, remains active in her community as an artist and art teacher. (Courtesy of Sisters of Notre Dame) Despite the decline in vocations, religious life remains rich and fulfilling. There are signs of new spiritual life and rejuvenation in religious life, reflecting a more inclusive understanding of faith and spirituality. I know several religious communities that are small in number, but their essential tasks of being leaven and their charismatic service are commendable, indicating a shift from quantity to quality for a deeper spirituality. Pope Francis reminds us that vocations are about quality, not quantity so that the eventual crisis of "quantity" might not determine the much graver crisis of "quality." The challenges that religious life faces today give rise to a new kairos, a time of grace. Despite decreasing vocations, many religious communities are responding to the needs of the time with introspection and a return to their original spirit and charism and living it with creative fidelity. This spiritual renewal is evident in new forms of prayer, engagement in social justice issues, environmental stewardship and innovative ministry approaches. The focus has shifted from an inward-looking approach to a proactive, outward-looking perspective. Let's not just focus on the "fewness," but appreciate the "richness" in each of us who have responded to the call. Tweet this This renewal has led to intercultural initiatives, intercongregational networking and collaborations such as the project Solidarity with South Sudan. A new inclusive synodal spirituality is emerging in religious life, replacing the self-centered approach with a more open mindset. By remaining open to innovation, embracing diversity and fostering sustainability, religious have begun to adapt to meet the spiritual needs of the people. We want to honor our roots and live our charisms while embracing diversity. Let's not just focus on the "fewness," but appreciate the "richness" in each of us who have responded to the call of the Master for a deeper, more resilient and meaningful religious life. Advertisement Kathleen Noelle Cummings Kathleen Noelle Cummings is currently a novice at Monastery Immaculate Conception, a Benedictine monastery in Ferdinand, Indiana. Before entering the community, she worked in communications at the University of Wisconsin, in marketing for an academic publishing house and taught music. She enjoys reading, writing and discovering how God is present in the moments of everyday life. Before I write about renewal and growth in religious life, I want to write about fear and its reasonableness. Religious communities fear irrelevancy and organizational extinction. Sometimes, I push those fears away. Other times, I let them unwind and tangle around my heart. Sr. Kathleen Noelle Cummings received an encouraging note from one of her sisters. Sr. Kathleen Noelle Cummings received an encouraging note from one of her sisters. (Courtesy of Kathleen Noelle Cummings) In the U.S., many people are unaffiliated with organized religion, and that number increases every year. We all know many people who believe religion is at best an odd, outdated custom, and at worst, a tool of harm, oppression and colonialism. To propose an alternate belief — that religion can guide us on a beautiful path of love for God and others— often seems impossible. However, irrelevancy and low numbers aren't the whole story. Younger members of religious communities want to work together, across religious orders and sometimes even denominations. Religious women share the same mission — which pushes us across the divides of conservative vs. liberal, habited vs. secular clothes and young vs. old. When younger members of multiple religious orders gather to dream about the future, it lights a fire and creates possibilities. Tweet this Signs of new spiritual life and rejuvenation include older members mentoring and supporting younger members to become leaders and preachers. When sisters embrace opportunities to learn about and engage other cultures, especially our Hispanic population, it brings new energy to a community. I'm encouraged when I see different spiritual practices in a community, such as Taize, the rosary, centering prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. When younger members of multiple religious orders gather to dream about the future, it lights a fire and creates possibilities. I've experienced this myself through being involved in the group Giving Voice. Another way to stoke renewal is to encourage increased cooperation between sisters and male religious, diocesan priests and deacons. Imagine the possibilities if every parish had a sister, in addition to a priest! Women and girls would see themselves reflected in church administration and a ministerial presence. I hope more and more diocesan parish and religious community connections will become possible. Finally, religious could renew religious life by intentionally engaging with people outside our communities and ministries. It's easy to get stuck in a routine where we talk with the same friends, visit the same places and stay within a comfortable social bubble. We must follow the call of Jesus (and the reminders of Pope Francis) to reach out to people on the margins and those different from us. This will result in real relationships that keep our feet on the ground and our hearts close to what people need from us. I find hope in the story of Jesus sleeping in the boat while the disciples fear drowning. When they wake him, he quiets the sea and storms (Matthew 8:23-27). Everyone who's lived even a few years knows that the storms aren't always quieted. But in the midst of them, we are not alone. We can't control the future of religious life, but we can control our actions today to shape the future. Let's not give up. May God continually shake us up and out of our routines and indifference and give us the courage to seek renewal and new life. Lucy Zientek Lucy Zientek is a Sister of Divine Providence, Melbourne, Kentucky, and currently serves on the leadership team of her congregation's U.S. province. She has 14 years' experience as a research and development scientist prior to entering religious life. She has served on parish pastoral teams in the areas of adult faith formation, Christian initiation and pastoral ministry. She also presents retreats and days of reflection. Supported by an educational background and career and ministry experience in science, theology and spirituality, her special area of interest is the relationship between science and faith. There is an unmistakable sign of new life within religious communities today — and it is everywhere! We just need to know how to look for it. Signs of new life, of course, are not always obvious. One of the most stunning examples of that is as close to us as the air we breathe. Space — our common, everyday-kind-of space — is actually frothing with new life! We think of it as a kind of container for the stuff of the universe, but physicists know better. Space is actually pervaded by a mysterious something called the "quantum field," which is constantly birthing new particles that are the very building blocks of matter. Where do they come from? Where do they go? Is this all just another curious cosmic mystery that has captured the attention of scientific sleuths? Or another reflection of the God who is ever making all things new in this universe — even its tiniest particles? Or both? "Joy," Jesuit Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin once said, "is the most infallible sign of the presence of God," and when God is present, we can be sure that the world is being recreated. The unmistakable indication of new spiritual life is joy, stretching through every fiber of life in religious communities today, just like the quantum field sprawling invisibly across every inch of spacetime. How very much religious life is like Mary, who welcomed the surprising yet unknown future by proclaiming her joy with the Magnificat in the presence of Elizabeth. A statue of Mary is displayed at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cottonwood, Ariz., Oct. 29. A statue of Mary is displayed at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cottonwood, Ariz., Oct. 29. (OSV News/Bob Roller) Congregations of religious women have been grasping practically every opportunity to "let go and let God" rather than resist change. Proactive in "right-sizing" their properties, they strive to find ways to ensure that their resources will be used in service to God's people and in the spirit of their community's mission. Their members continue to share a clear sense of purpose and overwhelming gratitude for the blessings and the privilege of lives lived in service of the Gospel. These are but a few of the many concrete forms that joy takes in religious communities today, all of them signs of the new life that is already on the way. Life and ministry go on as usual. Some days exhaust and sadden, while others energize and delight, but the signs of new life are everywhere today, and not only in religious life. Appearing at times to be so ordinary that we find ourselves questioning if they are really signs at all, they can easily be missed. But it depends on how we look at things: if God really is always re-creating the world, then something good — something very good — is always happening just below its surface, just beyond our field of vision and even the farthest horizons of our dreams. And because God is present, religious life and the world itself, just like that common, everyday-kind-of-space, are inherently creative, birthing the new. We just need to know how to look for the joy, and embrace the new life it heralds with our own Magnificat! This story appears in the The Life feature series. View the full series.
So what is our generation to do?
Sr. Nathalie Becquart, undersecretary of the Vatican's synod office, speak in the Archdiocese of Newark First, Sister Nathalie presented a much-needed reality check. Not only is synodality essentially "about the reception of the Second Vatican Council," she said, "but the history of the church teaches us that the reception of the council, it's at least 100 … 150 years. So, we are just half-road, and that’s why we need patience and it's not easy.”
The sweeping changes implemented, experienced and witnessed in past decades by today's dominant religious life age cohort, now in their 70s to 90s, marked the beginning of renewal, not the end. The torch is now passing on to the next generations to continue the adaptation and renewal of religious life during this change of era, and beyond, for the sake of mission. So what is our generation to do?
To answer this central question, I have been sitting with the second point in Sister Nathalie's talk that caught my attention. When the council wrote Lumen Gentium, the dogmatic constitution on the church, they chose to place chapter two on the people of God before chapter three on the hierarchy. "That means you need to read chapter three with the glasses of chapter two," she said. In terms of synodality, this leads to a vision of co-responsibility where "those who are in charge exercising their authority are not separated from the community but inside churning together." All the baptized "are bound together as the body of Christ." called to a "relationship of mutuality, interdependency." She sees this as the root of "the most important spiritual attitude for synodality," namely humility. "It's embracing our own vulnerability. It's about recognizing the needs of the others," she said.
As a Catholic born about a decade after the council, I sometimes take for granted the involvement of lay people in the life, mission and ministry of the church. Yet Lumen Gentium marked a radical shift in the recognition of the call of all the people of God to serve Christ's mission. "Upon all the laity, (Upon all the laity, therefore, rests the noble duty of working to extend the divine plan of salvation to all men of each epoch and in every land. Consequently, may every opportunity be given them so that, according to their abilities and the needs of the times, they may zealously participate in the saving work of the Church.) therefore, rests the noble duty of working to extend the divine plan of salvation to all [people] of each epoch and in every land," it said.
https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html#:~:text=Upon%20all%20the,of%20the%20Church.
The generations of vowed religious who first answered the call to the adaptation and renewal of religious life also helped to implement this shift through the faithful accompaniment, education and empowerment of the people of God. I believe that God calls the people needed to meet the wants of the age. Returning to my thought experiment, then, does it not make sense that as more lay women and men have been called to ministry, the number called to vowed life would decrease, that this is right and just, a rightsizing if you will, and something to be celebrated rather than lamented?
I sometimes worry that my elder sisters, looking at the numbers of those passing vs. those entering the community, feel a sense of failure at some level closer to the unconscious. Yet, in the context of my thought experiment, has renewal to date not been a success? They creatively answered the call of Perfectae Caritatis to "both the constant return to the sources of all Christian life and to the original spirit of the institutes and their adaptation to the changed conditions of our time." (Emphasis mine.)
My thought experiment leads me to believe that the church does not need large numbers of vowed women to teach and nurse or even to be principals or chief executive officers of nonprofit organizations. Social and ecclesial conditions have changed, and there are others better poised and prepared to do these important things. We are also no longer needed to prepare the laity for ministry, but rather to work with and alongside them.
We are being called into the next evolution of the dynamic relationship of mutuality outlined in Lumen Gentium:
Let no one think that religious have become strangers to their [brothers and sisters] or useless citizens of this earthly city by their consecration. For even though it sometimes happens that religious do not directly mingle with their contemporaries, yet in a more profound sense these same religious are united with them in the heart of Christ and spiritually cooperate with them .
As we reimagine religious life during this change of era, we are graced to realize again that we are not set apart. Yet we do have a unique call framed by the strength of our common life, the depth of our spiritual tradition and the freedom of our vows. We are called, even in our own vulnerability, to be humbly present to the vulnerabilities of those on the margins. How might the Holy Spirit be calling us to synodality, to journey with the people of God, as people vowed to the Gospel?
The closing call of Perfectate Caritatis still rings true today:
Religious institutes, for whom these norms of adaptation and renewal have been laid down, should respond generously to the specific vocation God gave them as well as their work in the Church today. … Let all religious, therefore, rooted in faith and filled with love for God and neighbor, love of the cross and the hope of future glory, spread the good news of Christ throughout the whole world so that their witness may be seen by all …
Amen.
https://www.globalsistersreport.org/religious-life/my-thought-experiment-religious-life
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