Greetings to all who frequent the Vocation Station. This is my first time on this site and I am looking forward to hearing from many of you. By way of introduction, I am a single Catholic woman who is in the process of beginning a new religious community in the Maryland/DC area. It was recommend to me to begin by reaching others via this form. At present, all women seriously searching into religious life are welcome to inquire (no age limit!!). This new charism in the local Church will be contemplative ( life of prayer and sacrifice) and focusing on the spiritual works of mercy. The main purpose would be to open centers of education, counseling and retreats for the laity and in support of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. At present there is no web page, but I hope to have one up in the near future.

I think that's awesome. I know everyone is going to ask some questions: Is this new community of a certain spirituality (Dominican, Carmelite, etc)? Will they wear habits? Will they have Latin Mass/prayers?

Yes, please expound! Has this been years in the making? Tell us more about the congregation that you are starting. How does that work? Do you have a rule? Is it based off of another foundational charism (Franciscan, Dominican, Redemptorist...)
I am currently in a stage of discernment. Not so much whether or not I am called to be a religious (I grow more confident each day that I am!) but rather, where God is calling me to serve. Keep posting and educating us about your call to begin a new congregation for the glory of Our Lord. I will be supporting you through prayer. Pax!

Jac

Waiting to hear more about this community. And you are in the perfect area to begin such an endeavor. Please share with us!!

Greetings from a fellow aspiring founder. Here are the websites for my two proposed communities, one cloistered and one active:

Reparatrix Society of Our Lady of the Cloister (Cloisterites): http://cloisters.tripod.com/cloisterites/

Congregation of Charity of the Miraculous Medal, Servants of the Poor (CCMM): http://cloisters.tripod.com/charity/

Rule; constitutions; horarium; convent; aspirants; remunerative work; and a tax entity--that's what it takes to start. We are currently trying to arrange meetings with the canon lawyer to discuss everything.

Our Cloisterite aspirants are not yet living together--nor the CCMM ones either, for that matter--but we plan to gather the first group in October. They will begin living the horarium, and when they are ready, the paperwork will already be in order for them to make application to the bishop for recognition. Both sets of aspirants are on their own yahoo groups to facilitate community-building.

I also run a founders forum yahoo group, which is private and by-invitation-only. I am also about to start a "founders and friends" forum which will be open to the public. Foundational matters can be discussed there, also.

So. . .that being said, could we please hear more about your proposed charism?

Name--is it "Women Disciples of Jesus" as noted in the thread title?

Habit--any description yet?

Aspirants--have you any?

Mass/prayer form--TLM or Novus Ordo; English or Latin prayers?

Rule--which of the great rules will it be following?

Convent--do you have one yet?

Remunerative work--what will you do to support yourselves?

Blessings,
Gemma