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Nuns, priests, and brothers in the news
FRANCiSCANSBRiNG hOpETOThE BRONx
Share your sightings
If you spot a member of a religious community in the news, please e-mail the details to us at mail@vocationguide.org. LiViNG AMiD the urban ills of the south Bronx can be tough, yet it is the intentional home for the more than 20 members of the Franciscans of the Renewal—a religious community with both men’s and women’s branches.
The two groups, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, founded in 1987, and the Franciscan sisters of the Renewal, established in 1988, follow a strict lifestyle of about four hours of prayer per day. in between—from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.—the friars and sisters, sometimes separately and at other times together—are immersed in programs meant to help their neighbors spiritually and physically.
The Franciscans of the Renewal recognize that their no-frills lifestyle is rigorous—for example, no internet, rare meals out, no personal cars—but they also point out its joy. says Father Luke Mary Fletcher, C.F.R.: “Joy is the fruit of living God’s purpose for your life and giving everything for Jesus.”
The men’s and women’s branches have communities in other New York locations, New Jersey, New Mexico, Central America, ireland, and england.
SiSter Kelly FranciS, c.F.r. (center), Brother david, c.f.r. (right) and other franciscans of the renewal at a Palm Sunday procession.
Brazil: This land is their land
NEARlYADECADE after Sister Dorothy Stang, S.N.D.deN. was martyred in Brazil for upholding poor people’s land rights in opposition to wealthy landowners, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur carry on in her spirit.
The mostly native-born community, now numbering 18 in northern Brazil, works in the areas of land rights, education, community organizing, legal aid, and other social justice and pastoral concerns. “we celebrate the strong faith of the Brazilian people which helps them to survive today,” said Sister Anne Stevenson, S.N.D.deN. in an article for her community newsletter.
In the communities where the sisters minister, concerns about land use continue. for example, Sister Sandra Araújo dos Santos, S.N.D.deN., a lawyer, works with Justice on the Rails, a group that supports people in Pará state who live along the rail line of a multinational iron ore company. The people are working to reduce noise, improve track-crossing safety, and protect the environment around the rail line.
two SiSterS of notre dame de namur transport water on Brazil’s marajó island. the sisters are aiding islanders in their efforts to obtain a healthy running-water supply.
up ClOSE AND pERSONAl
NoTHiNG BeATs face-to-face contact when it comes to exploring religious life, and the VisioN VocationNetwork “events” section can guide you to connecting with religious communities offering vocation discernment events—including “come and see” visits—service opportunities, retreats, online events, and educational opportunities.
The database is searchable by type of event, date, geographical area, and whether the event is for women or men or both. Go to vocationnetwork.org/opportunities to find the event that’s right for you.
Brian PaPPaS, former redeemer ministry corps volunteer, with children at the drueding center shelter in Philadelphia. information about the redeemer Ministry corps and other volunteer opportunities is available on the ViSion Vocation network’s “events” section online.
–Sister Mary edward Urban, O.S.F. of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Providence of God, Whitehall Franciscan Newsletter
–Sister Susan francois, c.S.J.P., Giving Voice Update, December 2012
ink & ceramics keep monastery fires burning
TAPPINGINTO the monastic tradition of printing, the men of St. Andrew’s Abbey market recycled ink cartridges to help support themselves and their ministries, which include a youth center and a retreat house. St. Andrew’s ink and toner business—monksink.com—alsoreflectsmodernconcerns for ecology as many of its products are recycled. They also produce an extensive line of ceramic plaques.
The guiding force behind the monks’ ceramics was the late father Mauer van Doorslaer, O.S.B., an abstract artist of note in the art world, who created the popular ceramic plaques after studying Mexican folk art. father Van Doorslaer did abstract painting in his home abbey in Belgium for half the year and spent the remainder working on the ceramic plaques at St. Andrew’s Abbey, saintandrewsabbey.com, in Vayermo, California.
CerAMiCpendants from st. Andrew’s Abbey.
SchoolruleS: of those who recently chose to enter religious life, 43 percent attended catholic primary school.
in A 2012sTuDY sponsored by the u.s. Catholic bishops’ Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and vocations, the georgetown university-based Center for Applied research in the Apostolate surveyed those who professed perpetual vows in 2012 about the major factors in their choice to enter a religious order. some of the findings included: • The average age of those professing perpetual vows is 39, and the age range is 23-66 years for women and 25-62 years for men. • 43 percent of the professed attended Catholic elementary or middle school, and 60 percent earned an undergraduate or graduate degree before entering their religious community. • 82 percent of the professed reported prior work experience. 72 percent of the class was active in parish life before entering religious life. • 82 percent said someone— parish priests, friends, and religious brothers and sisters among them— encouraged them to consider a vocation to religious life. 74 percent experienced discouragement by one or more persons, including parents and family. • Those entering religious life knew the members of their religious institute on average four years before entering the community.
SEEDS FORVOCATiONS
THe NATioNAL Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC), publisher of VISION Catholic Religious Vocation Discernment Guide and the VisioN Vocation Network, is in the process of completing several initiatives aimed at strengthening religious communities with an eye toward new vocations.
women religious moving for-
ward in hope and men religious moving forward in hope gather vocation directors and leaders from various communities to study current trends and demographics in the church and their effect on vocations. These workshops have been very well received for their concrete ideas and constructive discussions.
moving forward in hope: keys
to the future is aimed at internal study, discussion, and action-planning for new vocations. Dozens of individual religious communities have used the “Keys” ready-made process to get their whole community involved in inviting new members.
Vocation miniSterS took part in training to use the “keys to the future” process to strengthen the vocation potential of their communities. educational Debt and
Vocations Study found that student debt is having an impact on people’s freedom to join a religious community. in response to this finding, NRVC is in the process of developing a national plan to address debt for those entering religious life. Beginning in 2013 with a formal study, the heart of multiculturalism in Vocation ministry project is looking at how communities successfully integrate new members of color. Based on the results, NRVC will promote best practices in this area. For more details about any of these activities, see nrvc.net.
look who wanted to be a priest . . .
JACk wHITEof the band white Stripes grew up in a religious household and gave serious thought to becoming a priest. Both of white’s parents worked for the Archdiocese of Detroit and white was accepted into a Catholic seminary. In the end he decided to try his hand at musicfirst.
“I was thinking at 14 that possibly I might have had the calling to be a priest,” he told interviewers with BBC’s Radio 4 Today. “Blues singers and people who are singing on stage have the same feelings and emotions that someone who is called to be a priest might have. At the time I thought I needed to give myself a chance to play music while I’m a teenager.” —Source: BBC Radio 4 Today via huffingtonpost.com
Jack white of white Stripes
