14 replies to this topic

[MaterMisericordiae]

I just visited the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal's website and saw that they had updated their photo gallery. I love all the smiling faces! They radiate such joy and I truly wish, sometimes, that I was called to them.

Photo Gallery

[Kathgirl]

I just visited the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal's website and saw that they had updated their photo gallery. I love all the smiling faces! They radiate such joy and I truly wish, sometimes, that I was called to them.

Photo Gallery

Beautiful!

[InPersonaChriste]

So wonderful!

[maximillion]

Thanks....love them!

[regina_coeli]

My favorite active order!

[Katiebobatie94]

I know one of them! Sr Kelly Francis. She just made temporary vows and goes to my summer camp every year!! She is amazing!

[MaterMisericordiae]

I know one of them! Sr Kelly Francis. She just made temporary vows and goes to my summer camp every year!! She is amazing!

Oh, yes! I know who you are talking about. She was in the same novitiate class as Sr. Guadalupe. I've never met them personally, but I saw them at Youth2000 in Westchester, NY. Sr. Agnes and the novices were leaving as Sr. Joseph and the retreatants (including me) came in to help out.

[MaterMisericordiae]

I just found out that my friend, who I roomed with in January 2010 while on retreat with the Sisters, is inquiring to enter the CFRs!!! When I met her, she didn't feel like God was calling her to religious life at the time and she thought she needed some time before she could seriously discern. Well, after 2 years, she visited them again in January this year and felt such extraordinary peace that she just knew that it was THE place. The Vocation Director agreed. She has to raise $6,000 for health insurance the first year and she really needs prayers that she can raise the money before she leaves in September. She is supposed to go for a visit in July for a 2-week aspirancy program.

I am THRILLED for her! I love this order and I really hope they get more vocations!!!

[ACS67]

Is it common for aspirants/postulants to have to pay for their own insurance?

[StClare_OraProNobis]

Yes, it is common.

[AnneLine]

It is common, although some communities do have donors (or donor programs) that can help with the insurance costs.

Many communities ask for insurance for the first year (or postulancy and novitiate) and some also ask for a sum for expenses of the novitiate (clothing, toothpaste, etc.) and/or a dowry.

The dowry is a sum (usually a few hundred dollars [perhaps more now that expenses are higher?]) that is returned to the person if for any reason they need to leave the community. (Those of you who have seen the Nun's Story probably remember her father giving them a sum when she enters... and the same sum is returned to her when she left. That's the dowry.)

I believe that the purpose is to help a sister get re-established on the outside if for any reason she has to leave. It is held in trust until after profession (and I think even until death?) and then the Sisters (or Brothers, I guess?) are allowed to use the money, but not until then.

Maybe one of the Religious on the board can explain more about this?

[MaterMisericordiae]

Is it common for aspirants/postulants to have to pay for their own insurance?

Yes, most communities have you raise a certain amount to bring with you. For most, if you cannot raise it, it doesn't prevent you from entering -- like the community I am discerning with -- they just ask you to bring what you can.

Unfortunately, the New York diocese requires that she bring $6,000 so there's no way around it. She must raise this money or she can't enter this year. She needs so many prayers!

[mantellata]

$6000 makes sense... less than that really doesn't help much (speaking from experience).

Yes Anne Line you are correct - a dowry must be held in a secure account and not touched until a Sister's death or departure. Interest accruing from the dowry however may be kept.

Canon Law actually has stipulations governing the dowry.

[ACS67]

It sounds like this aspirant to the CFR's needs to pay for health insurance so in that instance the money would be spent immediately. It would not be in a secure account. It sounds like in this instance the 6000 is not a dowry but health insurance. I have heard of new orders asking for the aspirants to help pay for expenses during their first year or two. Daughters of Mary, Mother of Israel's Hope ask for around $3000 plus health insurance.

Thanks for the answers. I was just curious as to how many orders are now asking for dowry's/expenses. I had heard of it in the "Old days"/pre-Vatican II times but I had thought that practice went by the wayside....It seems not.

[AnneLine]

In the 1980's I think I was asked to bring $350 for expenses prior to first profession (postulancy & 2 years of novitiate), $500 as a dowery (I believe), and I was suposed to bring insurance. What they told me was to have 'your parents keep you on their insurance as you will be in school.' I tactfully pointed out to the community that I had not been living at home nor on my parents' insurance for nearly 10 years, that I was too old for them to keep me on their insurance at any rate, and while I could remain on my insurance, someone would have to pay for it, and it wouldn't be my retired parents. (I think I was the first applicant they had in a while who wasn't just out of high school....) We ended up with me bringing the first two sums, and we hoped & prayed I would stay healthy. I did.

The $500 was returned to me when I left.... at that point, $500 was not enough to even get an apartment, so I moved back in with my mom until I could earn enough to get set back up, but I was able to get some clothes with it...

Irritating as it may seem to have to bring in a larger sum, it really does make sense, because you never know what God has in mind... and it is impossible to re-establish yourself without the cash if you or the community discern you don't have a vocation or have to leave for some other reason. Hard to hear, but just common sense.

Edited by AnneLine, 13 May 2012 - 03:08 PM.