Here is some information from the Westminster Diocese website about an event for women discerning a call to consecrated life.
On 4 February 2012 women aged 20-40 are invited to a special day of discernment.
In 1997 Pope John Paul II instituted a ‘World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life’ on February 2nd, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Each year since then the Church has thanked God for the gift of the different forms of consecrated life, and prayed that our world will continue to be enriched by the lives and witness of consecrated men and women.
In 2012, Westminster Diocese will mark this ‘World Day of Prayer’ in a new way. On Saturday February 4th, there will be a day for women interested in finding out more about consecrated life; a ‘Come and See’ experience from a ‘neutral’ perspective, held in the Carmelite Priory in Kensington Church Street. The idea is that it will enable women to make a first step into exploring what consecrated life is, with the opportunity to ask questions and interact with religious and with others who are discerning their vocation.
A variety of women religious (representing both active and enclosed congregations) will speak about consecrated life and how to discern if God is calling a person to this way of life. There will also be time set aside for prayer, with both Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
If you, or anyone you know might be interested in attending the day please contact Fr Richard Nesbitt for more details at richardnesbitt@rcdow.org.uk
We, as Christians, should all pray for women to be able to discern their vocation. In publishing this post, I’m sure you have helped someone in this process Father Stephen.
But why restrict to no older than 40?
A lot of orders and congregations (but not all) have an upper age limit for starting e.g. 30 or 35 or 40. It’s not to say that it’s absolutely impossible to enter after that, and there are often exceptions; but it’s a way of showing that they want the focus of their vocational work to be with younger men and women, who are at that ‘young adult’ stage of wondering what to do with their adult lives ahead, and who will be able to give their whole adult lives to the vocation. It’s not a criticism of those who come later, and it doesn’t usually mean a completely closed door; but it shows the priority for an order of wanting to reach out to younger people, and to revitalise the congregations in this way. It’s also a realism about how much harder it can be for someone say over 40 to adapt to a radical new vocation, both spiritually and physically. I think these are some of the reasons – but if any religious are reading this, please comment, or disagree!
Clocks forever out of sinc. Must have been consecrated for Love!
Fr. Stephen
Thank you for your reply. I do understand the realism, but. . . as a woman who began law school as a second career at age 37, and had my only child at age 50, I understand and know others who are “older” and start something new. One brings an entirely different perspective to a new career when one is older, and with good health and the life expectancy now, a woman of 41 has many many years of good work, good life, left! I am just now becoming familiar with the Religious Sisters at my daughter’s school. What wonderful, dedicated women, and all but a few are my age or older. Why should the Church deny anyone their choice of Religious life, at any age? What better way to show to others, “this is the way. After all of the things I have done in my life, this is how I choose to live the remainder of my life.”
I quite agree – and most religious orders would as well! Even those with age restrictions will usually make exceptions. It’s not really about excluding older ones, but encouraging younger ones!
A lot of orders and congregations (but not all) have an upper age limit for starting e.g. 30 or 35 or 40.
Might it also be that, due to a rising number in their elderly population(s), the Orders need a younger membership to continue their work?