I have been in communication with the following communities, and wondered if anyone else knows anything about them?

The Midland Carmel

Poor Clares of Brenham Texas

Sisters of the Most Holy Trinity Ohio

Sisters of Perpetual Adoration Alaska

Poor Clares of Minooka IL

Hello,

I don't have any direct information about these communities, but wanted to mention two indirect pieces of information.

Have you read the book Sister Bernadette: Cowboy Nun from Texas? It tells the story of Sister Bernadette, who was a sister in an active Franciscan order and then petitioned to join the Poor Clares in New Orleans. When the Poor Clares from Cuba escaped to the Poor Clares in New Orleans she felt called to help them and subsequently went to Texas with them. The book gives details of their efforts to establish these Poor Clare sisters and the end result was the Poor Clares of Brenham, Texas. It's a pretty good book in general, but might be quite beneficial in understanding the history of the Poor Clares of Brenham, Texas.

Regarding the Poor Clares in Minooka, an acquaintance of a friend tried her vocation there, but decided it was not for her. My understanding is that she was surprised and shocked by their Poor Clare practices. So...if you have read the book A Right to Be Merry, please understand that the Poor Clares _do_ practice the penances mentioned in the book (e.g., on some days they eat their meals sitting on the floor). Apparently this person was not prepared for that kind of thing and did not understand or appreciate it. I think A Right to Be Merry gives a clear presentation of the life of a Poor Clare, which is very beautiful -- but a person has to appreciate and understand their way of life or it could well be incomprehensible and a shock. I think it is a grace and blessing when people grasp some of the meaning and intent of the Poor Clare life.

Best wishes for your discernment with all of these communities.

Hi! I have been in contact with the Poor Clares in Minooka. Actually they were the first place that I wrote to back in 2002 when I was first discerning. But I never went for a visit. But now I'm thinking of the Poor Clares again, but hopefully I'll go down there for a visit.

Actually I am pretty glad to hear they do practice all the rigors of Poor Clare life. Another one I know is the wearing of no shoes or sandals, but going barefoot the majority of the time, which I think is pretty neat.

I haven't actually read the book, although I did see a copy of the cover online and read a newspaper article about them. Sr Angela is the Abbess now, and she has invited me to visit. My concerns about them are that there are only 5 of them left (most have died), the youngest at age 50. She says they need new blood, but since most of the sisters are elderly, she doesn't mind that I am 54 - at least closer to her age. So, the smallness of the community concerns me, plus the fact that they raise mini horses. I absolutely adore horses and have been working as a horse trainer for the past two years. Now this might sound stupid to some people, but I thought I would be giving up horses for God, and to go somewhere where they are a major source of income for the convent makes me wonder if I am interested in them because of the horses, or because they are the right order for me!! I don't want to make a decision based on the wrong motivation.

I would love to be able to help Sr Angela grow the community again, but once again, is that arrogant to thinkg that I could be of benefit in this way when I am such a newbie myself - and would this be a danger to my soul in that it might be a source of pride for me? Sr Angels is sweetness itself, so I want what is best for them as well. This descerning thing isn't very easy!




Margaret Clare (my name is Annie Clare!) - I don't mind the idea of penances. I think that I need a lot of these. My main concern about Brenham Texas is the apparent lack of penances as far as I personally am concerned (see other post). The Minooka PCs have been very nice and are certainly of interest to me. I am still having trouble deciding between Carmel and PC though - along with everything else. I have been in contact with Benedictines and Visitation (the Tyringham nuns have invited me to Massachusetts to visit them too) -- but I keep coming back to my love of St Teresa and think that I should be a Carmelite.

The more I discern, the less I feel capable of knowing which is the right order for me. I need to do a lot more prayer to be able to hear God's will for me. I have lots of convents praying for me, so hopefully, God will hear at least one of these prayers and help me understand what He wants from me.

-snip-


Believe me, you're not alone in those thoughts! Did God weave me with a grain of extra smart because He thinks I should be a Dominican, or do I want to be a Dominican because of the grain of extra smart?

It could be possible that even in a community with horses, you won't work with them. In that case, you would have to give up more than you might have "planned" in advance - they'd be so close, yet so far! There's really no way to tell before you're actually there. Don't be too hard on yourself. Go to the place that makes you happiest - maybe God put the horses there to keep you company during your spiritual "desert" times to come! Don't dwell on it too much. My spiritual director warned me about discerning with too many communities, too... visit a couple of places, so that when you find the one you won't end up longing for something you haven't visited, but then, do decide. It will become clear.