Abbey-Roads2

Support for vocations. 

There is a very long tradition in the Roman Catholic church of fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life, with special emphasis upon providing financial support for young men who feel called to the priesthood.  There are fraternal organizations, such as the Knights of Columbus  who have generously sponsored vocations to the priesthood through scholarships and financial support as they respond to their vocation.  Indeed, many holy people have contributed to the education and support of seminarians throughout the years, either directly or through contributions to organiztions such as the Knights.

A canonical impediment.

It is well known a canonical impediment to religious life and the priesthood is outstanding debt, which must be satisfied before admittance to holy orders or final profession in religious life.  Through the good will of individuals and fraternal organizations, these debts may be taken care of, especially in the cases of worthy candidates to the priesthood and religious life.

[For information on the Knights of Columbus and their vocation programs, go here.] 

Not quite the rock group.

California Daily reports the religious women of the Sisters of Mercy will consolidate communities in an effort to reorganize their Congregation, which was founded in Dublin in 1831.  Today the average age of the sisters is 73 and the order has not been attracting vocations, mainly because they have long lost a truly Roman Catholic identity.

The Institute’s six California communities will merge with communities in the West and Midwest into an Omaha, Nebraska-based organization called the West Midwest Community. The restructuring was approved at a meeting in Chicago, March 24-30, and will take effect July 1.The new organization will bring together 861 Sisters of Mercy and 525 associates. The Institute itself, covering the Americas, Guam, and the Philippines, numbers 4,194 sisters and 2,800 associates. The average age of sisters in the institute is 73. - California Daily

I’m sure other orders of like-minded women religious will follow suit.  Throughout the ages, religious communities and monasteries of monks and nuns have dissolved when the original charism is either lost or the religious observance has grown decadent.

Of course, the Holy Spirit seems to raise up new communities in every age, and will occasionally renew existing communities that appear to have lost their original charism.

NOTE:  This group is not to be confused with the thriving Religious Sisters of Mercy, a separate institute sharing the same foundress.  (Thanks to S.B. for the heads up.)

[Photo: Mother Catherine McAuley, foundress of the RSM.  The remaining members of her Congregation promote the beatification of their foundress who had been declared venerable by John Paul II.  Interestingly, the Congregation often uses an image of the foundress dressed in secular clothes, much like the contemporary sisters dress.] 

Will He find any faith on earth?

But then he addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness but despised everyone else… - Luke 18: 8-9

“This is the one whom I approve: the lowly and afflicted man who trembles at my word.” - Isaiah 66: 2