Our Lady Of The Angels Monastery

[TIWW]

The only personal knowledge I have, is that of living as a Poor Clare for a time. We seriously lived a simple and “poor” life in trying to follow in the footsteps of Francis and Clare. We lived on alms. Our Monastery was not a multimillion dollar structure, even though there were twenty some of us.
 With so many Sisters having left the PCPA community, I really do question how they can expect to live out a life focused on Perpetual Adoration,  in “poverty,” with only 4-5 nuns per place in their new Foundations.  Perhaps someone who knows how they do Perpetual Adoration can explain this.  And is there a reason they need to build such huge complexes to live a simple, prayerful life?  Perhaps I am missing something about the charism of PCPA. 
 

[Nunsense]

I hope this isn't seen as a criticism of any community, as it isn't, merely an observation about ones that have been founded by strong or charismatic (and yes, even celebrity) leaders. It seems IMO that unless a very strong foundation is laid down for living the charism and the continuation of the community after the founder/foundress is no longer in charge, then there is bound to be a time of change and sometimes upheaval when that person dies or cannot function as the superior any more. A strong and charismatic leader is great for getting things started and for initial growth, as they are bound to attract vocations. They can lead to a rapid, but sometimes temporary expansion (much like the stock market).

 

Leaders who are wise will plan for their successor/s to be able to carry on the work without them. In the case of Olam, I do believe that Mother Angelica becoming incapacitated made things difficult for the community and this could just be a period of adjustment (and consolidation) for them while they learn how to live the life without her guidance. I know she is still around, but she isn't in charge any more, and that makes a difference.

 

This is always a concern for me with charismatic leaders and founders of new communities because it seems that the community often becomes dependant upon them, and sometimes the focus is more on the leader than on the purpose of the community. I have been in management in the world and we always know that we need to plan for succession if we want our department/area/whatever to continue to prosper once we leave or move on. I think that some leaders don't want to think of a time without them so they leave this planning for 'later' which, of course, never comes. And sometimes when the leader is no longer able to lead, a leadership crisis results from the vacuum left behind, or even a leadership struggle. It is naive to think that these things don't happen in religious communities, just as they do in the secular world. It is human nature.

 

If the foundations that Mother A laid down are solid, then the community will survive, although perhaps not in the same form as they had in the past. They may indeed find that they need to scale things back at Hanceville and try to continue on in a slower, steadier pace than before.

 

The newer communities that seem to be handling rapid growth well (like the DSSME and the Nashville Doms) - at least in my opinion - don't seem to focus as much on the leader as they do on the community - and this feeling comes across too.

 

As I said, this isn't to criticise Mother A - as hers is not the only fairly new community to go through 'teething problems', especially when the founder/foundress is not longer the superior. This has happened to quite a few others and hopefully will serve as a lesson to other new communities springing up.

Edited November 30, 2012 by nunsense

[Eowyn]

Nunsense, I wish I could give you props.  I think you are spot on. 

[Blessed&Grateful]

Props to Nunsense, and I am glad to hear about the nuns who left are doing well. Seems like I know some of them from my early EWTN days in the 90s.

[nikita92]

Nunsense, that is very insightful and food for thought. Props as well! The only thing constant in life is change. As do people. BlessedandGratfful- out of that huge picture showing 35 (including MA) 4 of them entered in 92,96,97,98 respectively. Marie Michelle,(now gone)Marie St John(still there), Judith Marie, Ruth Marie. (Both gone). I understand what Aspirancy consists of..yet....out of that large group...there were 7 in total who had all enterd in 2008, and only one- Regina Marie who persevered and went on to become Sr.Chiara Marie who professed first vows in July. Also...if the Monastery could hold/house 35 people at that time..indeed bursting at the seams..were they over the 21 rule, and required to reduce in size??

[truthfinder]

Nunsense, that is very insightful and food for thought. Props as well! The only thing constant in life is change. As do people. BlessedandGratfful- out of that huge picture showing 35 (including MA) 4 of them entered in 92,96,97,98 respectively. Marie Michelle,(now gone)Marie St John(still there), Judith Marie, Ruth Marie. (Both gone). I understand what Aspirancy consists of..yet....out of that large group...there were 7 in total who had all enterd in 2008, and only one- Regina Marie who persevered and went on to become Sr.Chiara Marie who professed first vows in July. Also...if the Monastery could hold/house 35 people at that time..indeed bursting at the seams..were they over the 21 rule, and required to reduce in size??

 

Only Carmel has the "over 21" rule.  Remember that up until the 1960s some non-Carmelite monasteries had over 60-70 nuns, and some male monasteries that I know of had over 100. 

[nikita92]

Can you believe i went back to find that hugh picture of MA and all the sisters (t
aken outside)...and now i cant find it. :(

[nikita92]

Antigonos- i actually saw Zunshynn on a diff website..(she seems to be involved with running and has a couple of young children)

[Antigonos]

Antigonos- i actually saw Zunshynn on a diff website..(she seems to be involved with running and has a couple of young children)

 

So she's married now?  Or involved in education, etc.?  Could you post a link to the website?

[OnlySunshine]

Antigonos- i actually saw Zunshynn on a diff website..(she seems to be involved with running and has a couple of young children)

 

If this is the website you are talking about:

 

http://www.meetup.com/Babes-with-Books/member/20223891/

 

That's not her.  I know by the picture since she had her actual picture posted as her avatar for a while.

Edited December 8, 2012 by MaterMisericordiae

[Antigonos]

If this is the website you are talking about:

http://www.meetup.com/Babes-with-Books/member/20223891/

That's not her. I know by the picture since she had her actual picture posted as her avatar for a while.

No, the lady in that link isn't "our" Zunshynn!

[SstrAli]

Don't mean to hijack, but I've never heard of the Canonesses in the Lord Jesus. Do they have a website?  

 

The name of their community is Sisters in Jesus the Lord.  If you would like more information, please PM me :)

 

Allie

[truthfinder]

The name of their community is Sisters in Jesus the Lord.  If you would like more information, please PM me :)

 

Allie

 

Thank you, I found their website:

http://www.cjd.cc/index.html

[Gabriela]

Hey, look at this program the SJL run: http://www.cjd.cc/grandma_mentoring_program.htm

 

That's a-w-esome!

[carmelite15]

I mean its not sad but in a way it kind of is :(

[nikita92]

Mater and Antigonos...that wasn't the website I saw her in.

[nikita92]

Subtuum.com...jan19th 2011 Porziuncola/zunshynn Pinterest.com/zunshynn

[chasmi]

So many have left.  I've followed them from almost the onset when they came on EWTN and were visible and a part of the family.   It makes me wonder what they do when they've been there for literally years and then leave.  It must be difficult to just one day find yourself out in the world after being in such a protected environment for so long.  Sr. Marie Michelle must have been there for 15+ years...what in the world does one do after being away from the hustle-bustle of the world for years.  It must be an incredible adjustment.  I can't help but think that if Mother Angelica is aware of all the changes and decreased numbers in her daughters, that it must sadden her.  There must have been some very painful happenings behind those walls.  They went from literally running out of room to what they are today.

[Chiquitunga]

Don't forget that many or several at least have entered other religious communities. I know of/have heard of three of these, besides the new community their former Mother Vicaress founded in Italy, http://www.benedictinesofdivinewill.org/

 

edit: okay, this was already discussed here and down http://www.phatmass.com/phorum/topic/125538-our-lady-of-the-angels-monastery/?p=2518662

 

but the three I know of were not these already mentioned with their respective communities... one entered an active community (maybe I won't say, but it's good, very good!!) and the two others cloistered (Benedictine & Carmelite - not 100% sure they are still there or not)

 

p.s. btw, I'm happy to hear one entered the Handmaids of the Precious Blood, beautiful community! http://www.nunsforpriests.org/

 

Edited December 31, 2012 by Chiquitunga

[Feankie]

When I was down in Charlotte, I asked how Mother Angelica was doing as Fr. Joseph, Bro.Leo, Sr .Imelda, and some other Brothers (whose names I can't recall.) were there for the Solemn Profession.  They said she's about the same and that one Sister is with her at all times, night and day.  Also, Mother D.M. was saying that yes, they were to be perpetual adorers, but it was difficult to get new vocations as they really didn't have anywhere to put the postulants in their current monastery which is an old convent converted for their use. She longs for the day when there are enough Sisters again to make it a reality.

 

By the way, the Benedictine Daughter of Divine Will just welcomed a postulant from Italy, and one from the States will be joining them in February.  They are here in the States right now getting their religious visas renewed.  I correspond with them and they are super excited about the new entrants.