A few weeks ago, I was in contact with the Franciscan Sisters (Third Order Regular) of Pennance of the Sorrowful Mother. I'd found myself very attracted to many aspects of their prayer, community and apostolic life. I'd called intending to ask Sr. Catherine Lynn about their "come and see" weekend happening in April.

Offhand, I happened to mention that I don't drive a car. Sister asked me about this and I explained that I have no need to drive right now. Furthermore, I am not even sure if I can safely drive. My vision is not the greatest, and I also have mild Cerebral Palsy. One of its effects is that I have terrible spacial sense and little ability to visually judge distances. As such, I'm not sure I would be a safe driver.

Sister Catherine Lynn told me to keep the driving thing in mind, as it may become an impediment to some other communities I decide to look into.
(Just FYI, I am currently looking mostly at communities which have a strong contemplative basis, but do engage in active apostolate(s)


My question is, how common is this? I realize that, due to location, independent transportation is sometimes required for ministry needs. Is this something I am going to be running into every time I turn around, or is it fairly rare?

Do any of you know of any contemplative/apostolic communities where driving is an absolute must?

I emailed them and never heard from them...

i honestly have never heard of that being a reason on not even telling one visit or enter. I have heard of people who have entered in apostolic communities before and have never driven a car!!!! So i dont it being a must thing. To be honest.....not everyone in the community is going to be driving a car the entire time they are in the convent. The communities are limited to cars and some take turns or have certain people to drive on every outing and such....so i honestly dont see why it would be a problem.

Also when Sisters go out into the town they travel in groups or in 2's.....i rarely see a Sister by herself unless she is going to her ministry. So dont worry about it!!!

When i saw this i laughed. I entered without a driver's license. I had planned on getting it just before i moved in. Then the dmv appointment didn't work out.

Anyways, oddly enough, i just came back with one of the priests practicing. We did parallel parking on a hill. FUN!

But if your looking at orders, i do have a recomendation. I grew up in the neighborhood of these sisters, and i am sure if i was a girl jk anyways, you should check them out. They run a retreat center, and evangelization center, and also a hospital.

And they live in the general area of their apostolate. And being Carmelite, they practice deep prayer. Check out their website and give them a call.

Carmelite Sisters of the Sacred Heart

I have never heard of it as a requirement per se. Often sisters travel in groups anyways so it's really not a hinderance! I've been in contact with the FSGM and Srs. of Life and neither of them have ever mentioned anything about needing to drive...but then since I have a license, it never occurred to me ask specifically...but if you want me to, I can ask the respective vd's for you.

PS--If you're interested in active/contemplative communities, you should check both of them out!

i love the website of the Sisters!!!! The song on thier homepage who was warming and holy.........i'm having it play over and over and over again!!!!

I also never heard of it being a requirement. I know that it's good to have one for ID, but one can get a state non-drivers identification card. The order I am joining has kind of a hierarchy of drivers--some are better than others (the 2 at the bottom are from NY and Boston), and some drive to more complicated places.

I do know the FSGM postulants tend to be in charge of filling up the cars with gas when they wash them, but if there are enough, if one didn't drive, it wouldn't be the end of the world. I also think that if one's vision impaired them from driving, it also would be fine as long as the other health problems don't disqualify you for entrance.