Oooh, This Is Going To Be A Good Thing!

[Lisa]

[url="http://imaginesisters.org/comingsoon/"]http://imaginesisters.org/comingsoon/[/url]
[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=x6sge19dMVw&noredirect=1"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=x6sge19dMVw&noredirect=1[/url]

[LaPetiteSoeur]

Two fantastic orders on there!

[Odin]

Now these are REAL religious. So great to see orders that still use the habit. Solid stuff.

[Sister Marie]

[quote name='Odin' timestamp='1338068358' post='2435219']
Now these are REAL religious. So great to see orders that still use the habit. Solid stuff.
[/quote]

All religious who have made public profession of vows are real religious according to the Church who accepts their vows and the constitutions/rules of their respective communities. To say otherwise is to go against the authority of the Church.

[AnneLine]

All who leave everything to follow where God is calling them and live that life to the hilt are soldiers in God's army.

(and that includes of us who are supportive of vocations but who aren't being called to live as religious, too -- God's home army!)

(Appropriate for Memorial Day weekend...!)

[Lisa]

This is the description of the program, which is still in development.

[quote]

[color=#333333][indent=1]Imagine Sisters is a web and campus-based movement that aims to inspire the imaginations of young women to consider the beautiful call to consecrated life as a sister.[/color][/indent]
[color=#333333][indent=1]
[b]Mission[/b]The Church needs sisters, and we need saints to prove the very existence of God to a world that so desperately challenges the foundations of our Catholic faith. By living out a truly authentic life in service and love, sisters give testimony to the perfect love of Christ. There is something beautiful about meeting a young sister joyfully in love with Christ, and we think the world needs to know about it.

We'll be releasing our website, a short documentary, campus discernment tools, and a selection of free online resources in the coming months. We ask for your prayers as we continue to work with our team to develop resources that will truly ignite the discussion about the vocation of professed sisters.[/color][/indent]
[color=#333333][indent=1]
[b]Description[/b]
Imagine Sisters is a web and campus-based movement that aims to inspire the imaginations of young women to consider the beautiful call to consecrated life as a sister. With the guiding truth that one sister can change the world, Imagine Sisters strives to connect the world with sisters passionately embracing their call to serve the Lord.

[b][/b][/quote]

[size=4]I'm especially excited that they want to get Sisters on campuses to meet young people. A lot of people- myself included- who didn't go to a Catholic school (with or without Sisters) and overall have had very limited exposure. One talk, retreat, or interaction can plant the seed for a vocation.[/size]

[size=4]Maybe the same thing could be done for each vocation! Have a "Couples night" and have a married couple come and talk about the joys and challenges of married life, etc. Single life, priesthood, etc.[/size][/color][/indent]

[Odin]

I guess I meant those sisters who actively fight the moral teachings of the Church. Many of whom misrepresent the Church in theological courses in colleges (know from experience).

[Odin]

And coincidently have also abandoned the habit. Not saying this is most by any means.

[Strictlyinkblot]

Great stuff and badly needed.

[Odin]

Again I say. These sisters seem solid. Good stuff.

[Maximilianus]

Okay, I'll say it

[spoiler]WHERE'S THE IMAGINE BROTHERS MOVEMENT!?[/spoiler]

[Strictlyinkblot]

[quote name='Maximilianus' timestamp='1338074231' post='2435246']
Okay, I'll say it

[spoiler]WHERE'S THE IMAGINE BROTHERS MOVEMENT!?[/spoiler]
[/quote]

I'm sure its in the works. Maybe you should look into it.

[Lisa]

Maybe you should start it, Max!!!!

[BarbTherese]

Some religious orders are not following what The Church teaches, and maintain a religious habit - others have abandoned the habit and these might be probably in the majority; however, there are religious who are in secular clothing who are dedicated in every way to The Church and adhere wholeheartedly to what The Church teaches. They are holy religious.

Judging a person, or forming an impression of any person, by what they wear is totally inacurate criteria and in any walk of life. It is a mentality of this world not of The Gospel. What a religious may wear is certainly not what religious life is all about - the criteria of religious life or what makes a person a religious sister, for example.

[TheresaThoma]

That is great! I know I really started thinking about religious life after spending time with some Sisters and Brothers.
I think there are similar things popping up in different places. I know in Spokane they are having a "Vocare" weekend. Vocation Directors from the different women's communities in Spokane will be there and sharing a bit about their communities.

[TheresaThoma]

Edit: Double post

Edited May 27, 2012 by TheresaThoma

[emmaberry]

For everyone getting up in arms about the habit comments: come on!

For the most part, habit-wearing orders ARE more faithful to the Magisterium. People will say that's not true, but then we can play the numbers game and that will be fun! Of course, on the flip side, there are MANY orders who don't wear a habit and are also completely faithful to Rome. However, I would argue that religious wearing habits inspire more vocations in young people. I know for me, the intensity and passion I gained for my vocation after meeting a School Sister of Notre Dame was dim compared to when I met a Carmelite nun!

I love this movement--too bad I don't have a Facebook to like them

[emmaberry]

[quote name='Lisa' timestamp='1338073373' post='2435240'][size=4]Maybe the same thing could be done for each vocation! Have a "Couples night" and have a married couple come and talk about the joys and challenges of married life, etc. Single life, priesthood, etc.[/size][/color][/indent]
[/quote]

While I really appreciate your enthusiasm for the sacrament and vocation of marriage , I don't think time and effort needs to be put in to convincing people to get married! They will do plenty of that themselves. Now, if we are talking about evangelizing marriage to the secular world, that would be fantastic! With all the cohabitation occurring, I think young unchurched people do need to be ministered to about marriage.

[BarbTherese]

[quote name='emmaberry' timestamp='1338099340' post='2435672']
For everyone getting up in arms about the habit comments: come on!

For the most part, habit-wearing orders ARE more faithful to the Magisterium. People will say that's not true, but then we can play the numbers game and that will be fun! Of course, on the flip side, there are MANY orders who don't wear a habit and are also completely faithful to Rome. However, I would argue that religious wearing habits inspire more vocations in young people. I know for me, the intensity and passion I gained for my vocation after meeting a School Sister of Notre Dame was dim compared to when I met a Carmelite nun!

I love this movement--too bad I don't have a Facebook to like them
[/quote]

Your personal experience and entirely valid as your personal experience. Others may have different personal experiences.

A vocation to religious life is a call from God and a response to God of selfless giving of one's entire life to Him.............was it the habit of the Carmelite nun that motivated you, or was it the person wearing the Carmelite habit? Not unusual for a candidate for religious life and accepted into postulancy to have romantic notions about religious life and related matters, which gradually give way as the postulant lives the actual life. Such a disillusioned candidate in the early stages of religious life may well persevere despite loss of illusions and persevere to final vows or she may decide to leave. The Lord disperses His Graces as He May.

As to the 'numbers game' obviously and quite apparent (due to the numbers) it is God's Will/Divine Providence at this point in time that habited religious outweigh those in secular clothing in numbers of religious - as simple as that. And I am not suggesting nor even remotely hinting that His Will may change. Who can know The Mind of God and scrutinize His Ways.

Edited May 27, 2012 by BarbaraTherese

[maximillion]

Where is the Imagine Sister programme for the UK? We want one! (Well, I do).

Praying for the success of this programme, which sounds avvsome.