Religious Life and COVID-19 Vaccines

[LuciaMaria]

Hi everyone, I found this site recently, and this is my first post here!

I've been discerning religious life, but I was wondering if religious communities in general are requiring vaccination against COVID-19. I am not vaccinated, and I don't think I will get vaccinated. Does anyone have any information on this? I'd imagine that sisters who work among the elderly or the dying may have to get it, but I'm not really sure how common of a requirement it is.

Thanks!

[Bonkira]

It's pretty common among the communities I am familiar with..even cloistered or fully contemplative communities because the risk of harm in the community (nevermind anyone the community may serve) is huge. I don't know any communities right now in my area that have not vaccinated.

[LuciaMaria]

Thanks for the reply! I'm thinking I might have to check with any particular communities I'm interested in because they probably differ considerably. Good to know that a good chunk of communities seem to be requiring them though

[Nunsuch]

Almost every community I know of requires vaccination, (including boosters) not only of members but of any staff or visitors, even to the chapel--IF they allow visitors. I am grateful for this concern regarding the health and safety of members, and others. I honestly do not think they differ considerably.

[LuciaMaria]

Ok, thanks so much! I really appreciate the answers, especially because I wasn't really sure where to find information on this

[underatree]

You will find the most accurate information regarding individual  requirements from the congregations themselves. If you remain unwilling to be vaccinated this is likely to be seen by most (if not all) congregations as a sign that you do not have the necessary dispositions for formation. It’s important in religious formation for a person to be teachable, to be able to see more than one side of something, to be willing to reflect on your opinions and experiences and often do things differently. You might be young and healthy, and not see a vaccine as currently necessary for your health; older sisters in the congregation are likely to see things rather differently. 

[Antigonos]

Certainly Pope Francis is on record as recommending vaccination, so I would expect religious communities to pay attention.

Since many communities have elderly members with chronic health conditions, and live in close proximity to one another, vaccination makes sense, even if they do not have an active apostolate.

[Dymphna]

I was present (as a guest) in "my" community when vaccination became available. The prioress at that time made clear that the vaccination was voluntary, but it was also pretty obvious that for example the work of some sisters simply required vaccination.

So it's really worth talking with the community you're interested in. It may play a role how effective the vaccine is as a protection for others, i.e. the older and frail sisters in a community (that changes when Omicron arrives). Maybe also Novavax would be an option for you.

[JHFamily]

I know for certain that there are communities in which none of the sisters are vaccinated. It just depends on the community.

[Nunsuch]

There have been numerous news stories of communities which lost many, many members due to Covid, before the vaccine was available, and when it was still difficult to get. This was tragic. Many of these sisters were elderly and frail. The communities were devastated by what happened, even those who lost "only" one or two members. 

Most communities I know see getting vaccinated as a pro-life decision, and one of social awareness and concern. And, as @Antigonos said, Pope Francis has called getting vaccinated the moral thing to do, and there is a vaccine mandate at the Vatican. 

[fides' Jack]

It would probably be a good idea to check out communities with younger, more conservative and traditional members.  

[Nunsuch]

9 minutes ago, fides' Jack said:

It would probably be a good idea to check out communities with younger, more conservative and traditional members.  

Most healthy communities (spiritually, psychologically, etc.) have members of a range of ages, including the elderly. This also means that they have been in existence long enough to have proven themselves. Oh, and "conservative" people, including sisters are not immune from becoming infected. Ask the Michigan Felicians, who lost 13 members within just a very brief time. They are quite conservative (and very lovely). 

[fides' Jack]

Just now, Nunsuch said:

Most healthy communities (spiritually, psychologically, etc.) have members of a range of ages, including the elderly. This also means that they have been in existence long enough to have proven themselves. Oh, and "conservative" people, including sisters are not immune from becoming infected. Ask the Michigan Felicians, who lost 13 members within just a very brief time. They are quite conservative (and very lovely). 

You're right, but there are many unhealthy communities (much more so in my area) that are mostly elderly.  

Sisters who are not elderly and that don't have multiple comorbidities are not at serious risk with covid.  

So yes, choose a healthy community that has a wide range of ages, and who are more likely to avoid the covid vax.

[Mhairi]

In the UK, even to visit communities would mean you having had two vaccinations plus booster and then to take a COVID test the day of your visit. And it is simply to ensure that the health and safety of both parties is protected to the best of one’s ability. There are a lot of communities who have lost sisters

[Nunsuch]

1 hour ago, fides' Jack said:

You're right, but there are many unhealthy communities (much more so in my area) that are mostly elderly.  

Sisters who are not elderly and that don't have multiple comorbidities are not at serious risk with covid.  

So yes, choose a healthy community that has a wide range of ages, and who are more likely to avoid the covid vax.

Nope. But then, on the other hand, I am happy to follow the advice of medical professionals and the Holy Father, rather than an anonymous and ignorant fanatic on the internet. Praying that others feel the same.

[LuciaMaria]

Thanks for the replies everyone! Of course, I agree that it's up to the community to be able to mandate them, especially in communities in which there are a lot of elderly sisters. However, since I'm not interested in getting vaccinated at this time, and some of you seem to know of communities that are not requiring them, I would be interested to know the specific religious orders that are not if anyone is willing to share. (feel free to pm me this!)

I think this whole situation gives me a lot to think about, especially in regards to the vow of obedience. Thanks everyone for discussing different perspectives to consider!

[passerby]

Having read the replies, I think the best thing for you to do is to ask the community/ies you are interested in. They would each have their reasons as to why or why not they may be vaccinated. It would be better to hear their reasons from themselves than from conjecture on the internet. And making vaccination a top criteria for your discernment is doing both you and them a disservice. Just ask them. You likely aren't the first person to ask them!

[Dymphna]

I agree with passerby that vaccination should not be a top criteria for deciding which community is for you. It seems to me that there is actually something deeper going on here, and the subject of vaccination is an opportunity for you to learn something important in starting out in a community - which I'm currently learning myself as well. You're right in sensing that it has to do with obedience, but to me it seems it has at least as much to do with trust: I experience that I need to learn to trust my community enough to tell them what I need, what is possible for me and what not. I need to learn to be open with the responsible sister about things I'd rather keep to myself. Not to find a way around (e.g. getting something I feel I need as a personal gift), but to communicate openly and honestly. And then - to trust the community that they've appointed sisters into responsible positions who will deal in a responsible way with my communicated needs. And ideally, be ready to accept their decision whatever it will be. Or, worst case, take the risk to find out that this community is not for me.

It seems to me that restricting your search at this point already to communities which don't require vaccination may not only be a rather short-lived criterion (depending on how the virus and the vaccines develop positions may change in both directions), but more importantly, it would be avoiding this important learning experience. Which certainly would come up later again, with a different subject, but why not try it out now: If you get to know a community you're interested in, dare to talk to the vocation director about your reservations concerning getting vaccinated, being open about your motivations or fears. You may get a chance to learn to trust.

Edited March 8, 2022 by Dymphna
typo

[Feankie]

I'm going to get on my spiritual direction soapbox again :))

LuciaMarie...First off, welcome!  

Do you have a spiritual director at present?  Have you had any in-depth discussions about your motivation, understanding of, and/or parameters you've placed regarding religious life?  If so, has your reluctance to have the COViD vaccine come up?  If not why not?  Have you discussed and explored what particular charism/s you are drawn to?  Plenty of other questions for you, but you get the idea. You cannot simply base your search for communities on non vaccine vs. pro vaccine congregations.  Please do a "deep dive" with this issue and other facets of RL (including your temperament, understanding and views of the vows), etc. before you get too far down the road in your discernment process.

There are plenty of well-qualified and certified women and men (you don't have to be a priest, brother, or deacon to be a SD....most are not adequately trained in seminary as SD won't be their primary ministry focus). Many Arch/dioceses have a list of trained spiritual directors on their websites.  Or they can steer you in the right direction if you call the Chancery Office.  

Discernment is a two-way street with a very low speed limit!  You can't rush it, nor can you proceed using your own "rules of the road!"  

[fides' Jack]

In this current age, the decision about whether or not to vaccinate should be your own.  Your reasons for that should determine where that falls in the order of importance.  My own particular reasons for not getting the covid serum would place it very, very high if I were to be looking for a way to join the religious life right now.  

I'm just saying the advice of others here that "it should not be high on your list of priorities" ignores whatever reasons you might have for making it high on your list of priorities.  That's between you and God, and that particular advice doesn't belong on this forum.

May God bless you, and good luck in your search!