Question about the convent

[black_rain]

I have been considering looking into becoming a nun in a couple of years and was wondering if anyone knew anything about where to start? I really don't know much about how to get information on it.

 

[Alexis OCA]

These might be a good place to start:

http://www.vocations.com/womenrel.html

http://www.vocations.com/

Good luck and God Bless.

 

[Dream]

I would take it one step at a time if I were you. Am I correct in saying that you haven't converted to Catholicism yet?

 

[Rising_Suns]

Black_Rain, peace be with you,

First, welcome to the boards.

With regards to your question, you have a few options availble to you. I would first call up your local diocese and ask them what convents there are in the area, just to get a sense of what's around you.

I would also search online as well. I have a link to a directory of all the convents in America, but I misplaced it. Once I find this link, I'll post it here for you.

In the mean time, it is important for you to begin learning about the various orders out there, so you can better discern where God is calling you to. Also, convents and monasteries vary significantly and largely depend on the people that compose them. Some convents are small, with only a handfull of elderly woman, for example. Other convents are flourishing with young women as yourself. It really depends.

For example, the Nashville Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia are *extremely* well known and respected; they are thriving and I believe the average age of young women in the convent is something like 28. They are doing amazing things for God in the area of teaching and so forth; this would be my first recommendation to you;

http://www.nashvilledominican.org/

You can see their video by clicking on "Dominican Joy: LIVE"

May the Lord give you His peace!

-Davide

 

[black_rain]

Am I correct in saying that you haven't converted to Catholicism yet?

yes

 

[black_rain]

Am I correct in saying that you haven't converted to Catholicism yet?

Yes, that is correct. I realize that I would have to wait a couple of years, and is why I said..in a couple of years. It is something I have felt pulled to since I was young, but of course then my thoughts were, "There's absolutely no way, I'm not even Catholic and have no intention of EVER being Catholic!" Needless, to say, I've found my way home to Rome and now can actually pursue the possiblities of that pull.

 

[Dream]

Yes, that is correct. I realize that I would have to wait a couple of years, and is why I said..in a couple of years. It is something I have felt pulled to since I was young, but of course then my thoughts were, "There's absolutely no way, I'm not even Catholic and have no intention of EVER being Catholic!" Needless, to say, I've found my home to Rome and now can actually pursue the possiblities of that pull.

Well God bless you on your journey home. If God is calling you to the religious life, don't ignore the call, just make sure you understand what God is telling you to do.

 

[Rising_Suns]

.

 

[romaneagle13]

Black rain, I once was interested in the religious life myself. The first thing you really need to consider (other than becoming Catholic), is what you would like to do as a nun or sister. What apostolate are you inclined towards--do you want to be a teaching sister, or a nurse, do you want to work with people outside the convent? Or do you want to live the contemplative life as a cloistered nun (they make rosaries, altar cloths, priestly vestments and spend much of their time in prayer and adoration)? The apostolate you choose will direct you towards certain types of orders--like Dominicans or Benedictines are often nursing or teaching orders and Poor Clares and Discalced Carmelites often live in cloistered communities. Once you figure out what you want to do in the religious life, then you can often search on the internet and find out about the various orders. They all have slightly different requirements on length of time for formational stages--aspirancy, posulant, novitiate and temporary and solemn profession of vows. Many orders have websites that will show you pictures of their convents, what type of habit they wear, and they often tell you what their typical day is like and what you could expect there, with an email address and or physical address by which to contact their vocations director.

God bless you and may our Blessed Mother guide you in your love for her Son as you seek your path in His service.