Youngest Orders?

[Annie12]

What are the youngest orders of women religious in the US?

[Blessed&Grateful]

what do you mean by youngest? foundation started, age of entrants/sisters/nuns?

[Annie12]

sorry I mean by average age of the nuns.

[OnlySunshine]

The DSMME have an average age of 21 at the time of entrance. At the odd time that I was looking into them, I contacted Sr. Joseph Andrew and she told me, when I was 26, that if I wanted to enter, I needed to enter soon so I wouldn't be so much older than most of the new Sisters. The average age of all the Sisters is 28 according to their website.

[OnlySunshine]

The [url="http://www.franciscansisterstor.org/"]TOR Sisters[/url] look like most of the Sisters are under 35. They were founded in 1988, so they are a fairly new order.

The [url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/386"]Benedictine Sisters of Mary[/url] only have 13 Solemnly Professed Sisters. The rest look under 30. Their age limit is 16-25.

The [url="http://www.franciscansisterscfr.com/"]Franciscan Sisters CFR[/url] were founded in 1988. Their Sister Foundress, Sr. Lucille is in her 40s or 50s and most of the other Sisters are under 35. Of course, that could just be their Franciscan joy shining through!

The [url="http://sistersoflife.org/"]Sisters of Life[/url] were founded in 1991 and I believe the amount of younger Sisters outweighs the older Sisters. Most of them look under 35.

[the171]

WAIT! 16? Girls can enter at 16??

[AnneLine]

I think it is not 16. I think people can start CORRESPONDING with the formation director at 16 -- and the actual ages are a little different on their website. There was discussion on this on the thread about music of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary over the last few days.....

[Annie12]

[quote name='the171' timestamp='1336776936' post='2429911']
WAIT! 16? Girls can enter at 16??
[/quote]
There was someone from DSMME who entered at 16 (I think, correct me if I am wrong). So I would say yes.

Edited May 12, 2012 by Annie12

[InPersonaChriste]

It is possible, though I was told that I had to wait as Immigration and making sure this is my vocation was vital for entry.

[jen.esis]

I believe in an order of the Dominicans the average age is 26

[Quaesivi Vultuum Tuum]

The canonic law (n°643) says the candidat must be 17 years at the noviciate beginning. So it's possible to start postulat at 16!
And for the first vows, the novice must be 18 years (n°656)

[mantellata]

The DSMME postulant entered at 16 but a month or so in turned 17. They have an aspirancy followed by a postulancy at the DSMME. So she would have been 17 by the time she became a postulant.

Really it was an exception because of where her birthday landed in comparison to the official entrance date.



I think people forget that entrance (and especially novitiate) is not the same as getting married. Even after vows there is a period of discernment. Lots of time to mature. My guess is - since the DSMME turn away plenty of 17s, 18s (and older) based on the fact that they need a little more "life experience" and maturing that the postulant in question was truly an exceptional case.

Edited May 12, 2012 by mantellata

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='mantellata' timestamp='1336829372' post='2430042']
The DSMME postulant entered at 16 but a month or so in turned 17. They have an aspirancy followed by a postulancy at the DSMME. So she would have been 17 by the time she became a postulant.

Really it was an exception because of where her birthday landed in comparison to the official entrance date.



I think people forget that entrance (and especially novitiate) is not the same as getting married. Even after vows there is a period of discernment. Lots of time to mature. My guess is - since the DSMME turn away plenty of 17s, 18s (and older) based on the fact that they need a little more "life experience" and maturing that the postulant in question was truly an exceptional case.
[/quote]

Many communities consider Catholic home-schooled women to be more mature than those that have attended public school. They are more committed to their studies. I have a friend that did the Seton Home Study program and the CFR Sisters thought that was really inspiring. I also have another friend that I met when I visited the RSMs in November last year. She is only 17, but the Sisters allowed her to make an application since she was homeschooled and MUCH more advanced than a regular student.

I do agree that life experience is important, but it's nice to know that communities judge character individually.

[Katiebobatie94]

[quote name='Annie12' timestamp='1336790039' post='2429948']
There was someone from DSMME who entered at 16 (I think, correct me if I am wrong). So I would say yes.
[/quote]

yes she did. she needed special permission though. there was also a 17 yr old who entered.....same thing special permission

[i<3franciscans]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1336603548' post='2429244']

The [url="http://www.franciscansisterscfr.com/"]Franciscan Sisters CFR[/url] were founded in 1988. Their Sister Foundress, Sr. Lucille is in her 40s or 50s and most of the other Sisters are under 35. Of course, that could just be their Franciscan joy shining through!


[/quote]

Its the joy.

[i<3franciscans]

[quote name='MaterMisericordiae' timestamp='1336856222' post='2430091']
Many communities consider Catholic home-schooled women to be more mature than those that have attended public school. They are more committed to their studies. I have a friend that did the Seton Home Study program and the CFR Sisters thought that was really inspiring. I also have another friend that I met when I visited the RSMs in November last year. She is only 17, but the Sisters allowed her to make an application since she was homeschooled and MUCH more advanced than a regular student.

I do agree that life experience is important, but it's nice to know that communities judge character individually.
[/quote]
I am home schooled and know that this is true. I am really teaching myself high school and therefore must be committed and disciplined to keep myself going.

Personally, I am thinking of college before religious life though... I think that time beyond high school will be really important to spiritually grow and become a little more mature in adult matters.

[Strictlyinkblot]

[quote name='i<3franciscans' timestamp='1337983118' post='2434843']
I am home schooled and know that this is true. I am really teaching myself high school and therefore must be committed and disciplined to keep myself going.

Personally, I am thinking of college before religious life though... I think that time beyond high school will be really important to spiritually grow and become a little more mature in adult matters.
[/quote]

God calls at different times, and its always the right time for you

[LaPetiteSoeur]

[quote name='i<3franciscans' timestamp='1337983118' post='2434843']
I am home schooled and know that this is true. I am really teaching myself high school and therefore must be committed and disciplined to keep myself going.

Personally, I am thinking of college before religious life though... I think that time beyond high school will be really important to spiritually grow and become a little more mature in adult matters.
[/quote]

I am going to get ready to be impaled by others, but I think this is really, really important. I know everyone ages differently and matures at a different rate. Everyone tells me I was mature when I graduated high school (and at the time I was a full time summer pastoral assistant for a Catholic Church and their main liturgical person), but I cannot [i]imagine [/i]what my life would be like had I not gone to college. I have learned so much that will only help me in religious life--in whatever order I end up in. I've met people, some very different and some whose stories have made me seriously question my faith, who have helped me get out of my comfort zone and taught me how to minister to others.

It's important, i think, to be on your own at least for a little while, be it one year, two years, or four or five (or even more! One novice I know has a law degree!). It helps you experience a bit more of the world.
Anyway, prayers for all discerners and religious out there, as always.

[OnlySunshine]

[quote name='LaPetiteSoeur' timestamp='1338004249' post='2435013']
I am going to get ready to be impaled by others, but I think this is really, really important. I know everyone ages differently and matures at a different rate. Everyone tells me I was mature when I graduated high school (and at the time I was a full time summer pastoral assistant for a Catholic Church and their main liturgical person), but I cannot [i]imagine [/i]what my life would be like had I not gone to college. I have learned so much that will only help me in religious life--in whatever order I end up in. I've met people, some very different and some whose stories have made me seriously question my faith, who have helped me get out of my comfort zone and taught me how to minister to others.

It's important, i think, to be on your own at least for a little while, be it one year, two years, or four or five (or even more! One novice I know has a law degree!). It helps you experience a bit more of the world.
Anyway, prayers for all discerners and religious out there, as always.
[/quote]

I agree with this. I didn't start discerning until I was 24 because I had no idea about religious life. But, even if I had started earlier, I would like to think that I still would have gone to college. I have learned so much that will be useful to the apostolate that I am hoping *my* religious order has and I am still pursuing higher goals. I also don't think I will be ready until I'm 30 or 31 to enter (1-2 years away). I want to finish my Associate in Science degree in Medical Office Administration so that I can get some experience in and THEN enter. Of course, this could change if God says otherwise.

[mantellata]

[quote name='LaPetiteSoeur' timestamp='1338004249' post='2435013']

It's important, i think, to be on your own at least for a little while, be it one year, two years, or four or five (or even more! One novice I know has a law degree!). It helps you experience a bit more of the world.
Anyway, prayers for all discerners and religious out there, as always.
[/quote]


My experience is that it depends on the individual - - and the community she is entering. Many (maybe most) young women benefit from a little "on your own" experience prior to religious life -- but in many communities you get some of this formation (and experience) by being in the community itself -- especially in active orders. I know A TON of well adjusted, wonderful [b][i]normal[/i][/b] young women who entered religious life right out of high school (I also lived with them). I was grateful for my college memories and experience (I entered at 22) but wouldn't have minded entering earlier. My former community provided a lot of room to be yourself, grow up and all the rest.