*** I made the Poll Multiple Choice but did not mean to, so please ONLY PICK ONE ANSWER PER QUESTION! ~ thanks! )

So, I am entering, God willing, the Salesian Sisters in August, but it seems like hardly anyone around here (the Midwest) knows anything about them. Which is really very sad because they are a totally awesome order. They are very happy and full of joy and ever single one I have met has an awesome sense of humor.

They wear a habit, they live in community, they are very devoted to the Eucharist, Mary, and the Pope (see Don Bosco's dream of the Two Pillars and a shorter version here )

They were founded to be a sign of God's particular love for the young and the poor - two groups often discounted and thought of as having nothing to offer by the world. The Salesian Sisters affirm the dignity of each person, and in the family spirit of the Salesian charism, make everyone feel at home with them. It is really unlike any other order I have visited. Yet, I am a little partial, as I have known the Salesians of Don Bosco for seven years and consider them the greatest influences in my spiritual development.

Sr Colleen (happynun) is working on revamping their vocation website (hopefully soon!) and she will be at the Here I am Lord Vocation Confrence this weekend! Just look for a cheerful nun in a gray habit - you can't miss her.

Does anyone have any ideas to help the Salesian Sisters get the word out about their work? They have a really great DVD which they are eventually going to post online (once they get the quicktime files) and Sr C has been all over the internet... and she travels a lot... but I am sure ya'll have some ideas.... I know there is a lot of creativity here!

Another PMer is entering at the same time I am and we have I think 5 or 6 total so far for August, but probably more to come. Isn't that AWESOME!?

Ok, your thoughts, please!

And I have a MySpace and a Facebook, too!

I am truly happy for you. This looks a lovely Community..........I am sure that the Sisters are looking forward to you joining them. GOD Bless and Mary Keep...........LOL

Hellooooo Phatmass...

Just as these Sisters are Philosobrat's Sisters- they are also mine! I've known the Salesian Sisters for nearly my whole life and I, along with Philosobrat and 4 others girls am hoping to enter with them this coming August! I can't wait!.. and it's no lie- this order REALLY is something special, and I'm so glad, and honored, that I'm called to this order!

I have never met any personally, though have heard much about their community and their joyful spirits. NJ has many that are in the school systems. Of course, here in Virginia, we have few if any communities represented(I am in southwest VA, not near DC).
I believe they just need to continue getting the word out. I have seen the dvd and it is really sweet. They seem to have so many positives, and having two phatmassers on board will really help. You are spreading the word here, which is awesome. I believe word of mouth is important. And as some of the more popular orders are finding out, an informative website is vital. Woman like to know alot before they will even make the initial inquiry.
I wish both of you much happiness!
Alicemary

That's right... two PMers are becoming Salesian Sisters. We are up to 6 for August. ... Anyone else want to join them? Anyone even slightly interested? Let me know. You can send me a PM if you want.

Oh am SOOO Happy for you!! Thank you for sharing about your order, they look like a beautiful community, and it's great to have one of their sisters adn two of their candidates here, know that I will be praying for all of you and this wonderful community, may god bless you abundantly!!

Thank you for your prayers!

Yes, I think we are going through that "new Springtime" of JPII now. God is sending us a lot of vocations, but the median age of our sisters is younger than most orders anyway (so its not like we were dying out). We have always had vocations, but God is being especially generous now! God has been very good to us. Don Bosco wanted us to be called the "Daughters of Mary Help of Christians" (which is our formal name) and told us to imitate Mary in all that we do. God is so amazing; I just love him so much!

Bump

Salesian priests are temporarily filling in at my college's chaplaincy. I've never met a Salesian sister though.

Really? Where are you at? Do you know their names? I might know them.

bump

Do the Sisters change their name when they take the habit?

When a Salesian Sister is professed she does not change her name. It has never been our tradition. When St John Bosco founded our Order in Italy religious communities left and right were being suppressed and having their property taken from them.

Don Bosco wanted the Sisters to be able to retain all of their legal rights as citizens, and by keeping their given name this enabled them do to so. He was a pretty smart guy!

A PMer send me a private message and asked about debts. Debts, as long as they are student loans, are looked at on an individual basis. They should not be something to bar a woman from pursuing an inquiry into the Salesian Sisters. If you have any questions about that or would like to learn more, please let me know.

Thank you Sister for your input. I have always felt your community had it all together! And so joyful! Many of the gals on phatmass are so concerened about their debts, and it is good for them to know that not all communities will shut the door on them.
Alicemary

BUMP!

How many convents do you guys have here? Also is there like a motherhouse where all those in formation go? Lastly are you guys contemplative at all?....Like semi-contemplative or something?

A list of places where the FMAs are at in the Eastern Province is here

In the Western Province here

The US is split up into two provinces - the Eastern one (which is what I am a part of) goes to the Mississippi river.

Our Motherhouse is in Italy, our Provincial House for the East is in North Haledon, NJ. Currently aspirants and postulants study in Bellflower, CA with both provinces coming together for formation. That may change in the future, however, as our numbers keep increasing. The Novitiate is currently in Rome, but it may be moved back to NJ, again, because are growing!

If a Sister does not study in Italy she will get to go there at some point because we feel it is very important that we understand our roots and get to visit places significant to the Salesian family.

We consider ourselves active-contemplatives. We have a daily mass, Morning and evening prayer, rosary, and visit to the Blessed Sacrament. A monthly day of recollection helps us to keep ourselves spiritually "fit". All in all there is about 2 1/2 hrs of community prayer a day and one is free to make more visits and devote time to prayer as their ministry allows but we are very busy! We also like to have adoration whenever we can, as Don Bosco emphasized the importance of a Eucharistic/Marian life!


I hope that answers your questions. Thanks for asking!

I guess its my turn....







kind of mesmerizing, isn't it?

Just wondering, I wanted to know what your communites views are on the habit. I know that you guys wear one...but some of the other international houses have stopped wearing it. Do you think this will become a trend with your community in the future? The reason I ask is because there are some active benedictines here...who gradually progress from full habit to wearing no habit at all. I know this issue is very important to alot of discerners here on PM. Thanks!

I can't see the poll questions :-(

Very good question. We love wearing the habit. Among those houses that do not wear the habit it is generally because it is dangerous to be seen as a religious in public. We want our sisters to be able to carry out their ministry. Certainly if martyrdom comes I am sure each sister would gladly testify to her faith, but we do not want to be foolish, either. This is not unusual for religious who wear habits. Bl Miguel Pro was a Jesuit Mexican priest who often could not wear his clericals because of the persecution of the Church





Really? I can see them just fine. Is it your browser? I know PM has had a lot of issues lately.

To parrot my usual question...do the Salesian Sisters ever work with mentally ill adolescents?

Well, first of all the term mentally ill is probably not the best one, but our ministry is to young people of all ages, and some of them, yes, have some issues and problems in their lives, but our job does not involve treating psychological issues (although we will do all that we can to get them help, if they so desire it).

Our cousin Order, The Daughters of St Mary of Providence work exclusively with the physically/mentally handicapped, so if you are looking for an order that does that, here is their website.

Hope that this helps!

Still can't see the poll questions on any of the computers that I have access to ... I have a pretty standard setup (no real changes).

If anyone has any ideas that would be good -- but what would really help is if someone can post them so that I can answer them and get into the conversation.

Thanks!

Here are the questions

How many of you know of the Salesian Sisters?

Are you familar with who the Salesian Sisters are?
Yes
No
I only have a general idea

Have you ever met a Salesian Sister? (happynun on PM is one)
Yes
No

Did you know that St John Bosco and St Mary Mazzarello founded them? (Don Bosco and Mama Mazz rock!)
Yep, I knew that.
REALLY?! I had no idea.
Well, I knew about Don Bosco, but not Mother Mazz

I hope that this helps!

Yeah that helps thanks Sista!

You know, the thing that really makes the Salesian Sisters different from any other teaching Order is that we actually spend most of our time with the young, not just in the classroom, but outside of it. We exist solely for them.

We do not call ourselves strictly a teaching order simply because we do SO MUCH more than that. Young people are really great... I love being with them.

Then come to Minnesota Sister!!!

Actually, I hope to visit Minnesota some time next year... I hear a lot about vocations from that part of the US. In the meantime, I can tell you we are in NY, NJ, FLA, LA, AZ, TX, CO, CA and all over the world - 89 countries and growing. We hope to move into more states as we have Sisters making profession!

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO LET ME KNOW when you do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Totally.

Hey Sr. Colleen! I was just wondering if the Salesian Sisters do campus ministry at all. I've found that college is a time when a lot of young people lose their faith and it's really sad.