Comments on: Nun Beauty Contest CANCELED!

By: Sister Julie

Sister Julie — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:33:34 +0000

Dear Karen, It can take approximately 7 years to become a nun. The inquiry and initial stage is about 1-2 years. Candidacy/Postulancy is another 1-2 years. Novitiate is 3 years. Then a woman professes Temporary Vows for 3 years after which is Final Vows! Click here for more on these stages in my Decoding Formation series. Some religious communities have age limits, usually around 40 years of age. But many also accept women older than 40 including my IHM Congregation. I recommend you check out my post with a good discussion about entering religious life after 40-ish. You'll find a bunch of links there that people have offered. My own IHM community (active) accepts women over 40. Probably all congregations work for and with people who are poor. It is a ministry that many, many nuns have been involved with. All religious communities have convents. There might be a variety of ways that sisters live in community. Many times it is living in a convent that may range in size from 7 to 77 and beyond! Other times ministry or location might dictate that a nun live singly or in smaller communities of 2-7. It really depends on the community. I recommend that you get in touch with sisters. Get to know them and their way of life. You might start by attending Mass at their motherhouse or volunteering to help at one of their places of ministry. It's one of the best ways to discern a call to religious life. And of course remain faithful to prayer and find ways to nurture your spiritual life through the sacraments, spiritual reading, and service of others.

By: karen

karen — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 01:02:09 +0000

How long does it take to be a nun? Is there an age limit? I have been a teacher for 30 years and have two Master’s degrees. I want to do more with my life now. I would like to do some work with the poor.
Do all nuns live in convents? I would like to serve the poor and the sick. My life seems unfulfilled and I have been thinking about this for about 4 years now.

Thank you,
Karen

By: Sr. Fidelis Tracy, CDP

Sr. Fidelis Tracy, CDP — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 17:03:32 +0000

I am glad it was cancelled. Besides the fact that I do not like the image of women that beauty contests give, the whole idea sounded phoney. I think a woman would create a much more positive way to promote a healthy image of sisters.

By: Annie

Annie — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:25:45 +0000

I have to say I’m so glad this contest was cancelled as well! Pagents are bad enough for people who aren’t nuns!

By: sandy, csj

sandy, csj — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:54:28 +0000

aw shucks…i was just getting my photo ready to upload…just kidding…

seriously, i’m sure fr. had good intentions…i hope he learned something from this and that folks did not attack him personally….