Mature Vocations

The purpose of this blog is to assist mature vocations (those usually over age 35) with discernment.   We have culled the list primarily from the Institute on Religious Life (IRL); Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR); and the Leadership Council for Women Religious (LCWR).  With the LCWR, we found four different vocational scenarios:  1.  Those nearing completion, and not accepting vocations.  Lay associates were usually accepted. 2.  Those with no age limit. 3.  Those with an age limit. 4.  Those with an age limit, but were open to mature vocations. The CMSWR congregations usually did not accept mature vocations. The Institute on Religious Life (IRL) had member profiles which stated whether or not mature/belated vocations were accepted.  How to use the blog: The Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church states that no one is permitted to enter a novitiate unless they've achieved their 17th year.  This being said, ea...

The age limit for these congregations begins at 19.   "OIB" means "Older Individual Basis"   19 to: 35: Discalced Carmelite Nuns, Denmark, WI P arish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, Monroe, NY ( A few years over if signs of vocation -- Parish Visitors) 40 (will consider 41-50): Handmaids of the Precious Blood, New Market, TN 45: Missionary Benedictine Sisters, Norfolk, NE OIB: Carmelite Sisters of the Aged and Infirm, Germantown, NY Sisters of St. Joseph - Third Order of St. Francis, Stevens Point, WI

The age limit for these congregations begins at 18.  "OIB" -- "Older Individual Basis." 30: Discalced Carmelite Nuns, Lake Elmo, MN (contact) Poor Clare Colettines, Barhamsville, VA Poor Clare Colettines, Kokomo, IN OIB: Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus, Wisconsin Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, Nashville, TN Poor Clare Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, Santa Ana, CA Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, Alton, IL Sisters of Our Lady Immaculate, Ontario, Canada OIB -- Either Superior Permission or Mother and Council Approval: Daughters of St. Mary of Providence, Chicago, IL Rosarian Dominican Sisters, Silverado, CA Sister Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Cresson, PA 35: OIB: Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, CT Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus, Canada Congregation of the Divine Spirit, OH Franciscan Sisters of St. John the Baptist, Peoria Heights, IL Poor Clare Nuns, Sauk Rapids, MN Poor Clare Colet...

These communities' age limits begin at age 17.  "OIB" means "Older Individual Basis". 17 to: 30: Daughters of Divine Zeal, Reading, PA OIB: Discalced Carmelites, Littleton, CO 35: OIB: Discalced Carmelites, Traverse City, MI Lovers of the Holy Cross, Los Angeles, CA Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, Cleveland, OH 40: Discalced Carmelites, Clinton Township, MI

Might seem odd to begin a Mature Vocations blog with "Younger Discerners," but whenever we come across unique opportunities, we are feign to miss posting them. So, here goes... Will begin working with discerners ages 14-17: Sisters of St. Benedict, Ferdinand, IN 15-35: Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, CA Under 19  Gets a Senior Sister Pen Pal: Sisters of St. Joseph -- Third Order of St. Francis, Stevens Point, WI Under 20 (may stay in contact with the community): Duluth, MN, Benedictine Sisters

The age limits on this page begin at 21.  There were so few with the starting age of 22  and 23, that we've put them on the same page as the 21s. OIB -- Older Individual Basis 21: 35: Sisters of Jesus Our Hope, NJ OIB: Sisters of Life, NY 40: Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement, NY Sisters of Divine Providence, TX Trappistine Nuns, CA (belated rarely) OIB: Discalced Carmelites, Carmel, CA 45: Discalced Carmelites, Little Rock, AR (age limit can be extended somewhat for extern vocation) Discalced Carmelites, Terre Haute, IN Sisters of St. Agnes, WI Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, NJ 50: Benedictine Sisters, Chicago, IL Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament Sisters, Corpus Christi, TX OIB: Presentation Sisters, Dubuque, IA 55: Benedictine Sisters, Boerne, TX 22: 40: OIB: Dominican Sisters, Sinsinawa, WI 23: 50: Benedictine Nuns, Shaw Island, WA (contact for more information)

The age limit for these congregations begins at 20.   "OIB means "Older individual basis" 20 to: Both ends of age range discerned prudently.  No women with children or grandchildren accepted: Franciscan Sisters of Christ the Divine Teacher, Davenport, IA 35: Discalced Carmelite Nuns, Alhambra, CA Dominican Nuns, Linden, VA Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary OIB: Carmelite Sisters of the Eucharist, Charlton, MA Passionist Nuns, Ellisville, MO OIB --> early 40s: Calced Carmelite Nuns, San Angelo, TX OIB -->50: Poor Clare Colettines, Cleveland, OH 40: Discalced Carmelite Nuns, LaPlata, MD Discalced Carmelite Nuns, Santa Fe, NM Dominican Nuns, Girard, IL Dominican Nuns, Lufkin, TX Trappistine Nuns, Wrentham, MA OIB: Benedictine Nuns, Petersham, MA Discalced Carmelite Nuns, Salt Lake City, UT Discalced Carmelite Nuns, San Francisco, CA Discalced Carmelite Nuns, Savannah, GA Discalced Carmelite Nuns, Tasmania, AU Sisters Adorers of the Precious Blood, Manchester, NH S...

These congregations stated only their upper age limit.   40: Franciscan Sisters Minoresses, UK Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, Victoria, TX   45: Sisters of the Resurrection, Chicago, IL  

These congregations have a base age, but no stated top age. 18: Capuchin Poor Clares (Wilmington; Denver; Amarillo; Alamo; Pueblo) Congregation of Mary, Queen of Mercy, Lincoln, NE Congregation of Mary, Queen of the World, Irving, TX Franciscan Sisters, Tiffin, OH Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, Manitowoc, WI Franciscan Sisters of Dilligen, Hankinson, ND Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Peekskill, NY Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity 20: Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids, MI Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, Providence, RI 21: All Saints Sisters of the Poor, Catonsville, MD Glenmary Missionary Sisters, KY Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary, Salisbury, MD 22: Dominican Sisters of Racine, WI

These new congregations are open to mature vocations: Children of Mary, OH Companions of Clare, ME Daughters of Divine Hope, TX Daughters of Mary, Mother of Israel's Hope, TX Eudist Servants of the Eleventh Hour, CA Sisters of Divine Grace, ID Sisters of the Cure of Ars, ME The blogger's new congregation: Company of Charity of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Online/NC

These links were gleaned from the Institute on Religious Life's member congregation profiles. Where vocational information was concerned, there was simply the word "contact." Contemplative Sisters of St. John, Princeville, IL Nuns of Perpetual Adoration, Sioux City, IA Redemptoristine Nuns, Liguori, MO Trappistines, Crozet, VA Benedictines: Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis, Bethlehem, CT Benedictine Nuns of Westfield, VT Discalced Carmelites: Goonellabah, New South Wales, Australia Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada Santa Clara, CA Des Plaines, IA Sioux City, IA Covington, LA St. Louis, MO Arlington, TX San Antonio, TX Seattle, WA Pewaukee, WI JMJ Carmels: Kensington, CA Post Falls, ID Valparaiso, NE Poor Clares: St. Louis, MO Spokane, WA Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration: Canton, OH Cleveland, OH

These established congregations have no stated age limit.   Felician Sisters, Livonia, MI Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth Olivetian Benedictine Sisters, Jonesboro, AR Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, Methuen, MA Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Watervliet, NY

  These congregations will accept transfers from other congregations: Active to Contemplative: Handmaids of the Precious Blood, New Market, TN Poor Clare Colettines, Santa Barbara, CA (Colettine information came from Institute on Religious Life profile). Transfer after three years of discernment: Sisters of Sts Cyril and Methodius, Danville, PA

Vowed community life isn't the only option for mature vocations.  There are several options, of which most Catholics have never heard: Consecrated Virgin living in the world according to Canon 604: We are listing this vocation as many have never heard of it.  Signs of attraction to consecrated virginity (CV) from the beginning are usually better than hearing about it second-hand, though.   The CV vocation is not to be used as either a stop-gap or last resort option.  CVs are the only consecration (vocationally-speaking) in the church. The women are consecrated to God by their bishop, who is a form of superior to them.  The CV vocation was one of the first in the church, and predated actual religious life. The Code of Canon Law of 1983 brought the CV, and diocesan hermits, back as vocations.  For more information on CVs, please see the following link: United States Association of Consecrated Virgins If an organization claims to consecrate either widows ...

OIB -- Older Individual Basis Contact: Charterhouse of the Transfiguration, Arlington, VT 18 to...: 30: Benedictine Monks, Norcia, IT (older vocations - special email. No response, keep discerning). Discalced Hermits of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Fairfield, PA (exceptions for holy orders or lay brothers) 35: Hermits of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, Christoval, TX (OIB) Holy Protection Monastery, Eagle Harbor, MI (older considered if enthusiasm) 40 -->45: Order of the Most Holy Savior (Brigittine) Monks, Amity, OR  19: Sons of Our Mother of Peace, High Ridge, MO 20 to...: 35: Benedictine Monastery of Christ in the Desert, Abiquiu, NM (contact for over 35) Benedictine Monks of Clear Creek Abbey, Hulbert, OK (OIB) 40: Carmelite Hermits of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Lake Elmo, MN (contact) 50: Trappist Monks of Genesee Abbey, Piffard, NY 21 to...: 40: Holy Resurrection Byzantine Monastery, St Nazianz, WI Maronite Monks of Adoration, Petersham, MA 45: Benedictine Abbey of St....