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What occupations are open to Catholic sisters and nuns?
I was wondering about the occupational options open to nuns. Specifically, could somebody be a physician and a nun?
- Maria
A Catholic sister or nun can engage in any occupation or job, including that of a physician. However the choice as to which kind of work or ministry to engage in is discerned according to the mission of the congregation and the needs of the world. Because each community has a particular mission, it might happen that particular occupations will fall outside of that mission proper. Also, communities which are cloistered or semi-cloistered would have additional limitations to working outside of the monastery because their primary ministry is prayer and contemplation.
As mentioned, the choice of what kind of work to do is made through discernment with others in the sister’s community. It is a very intentional discernment that takes into account the mission of the community, the needs of the community, the needs of the world, the sister’s gifts and passions, and most importantly the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
If you are thinking about what it might be like for you to be a sister or nun, I encourage you to get to know a community and, when ready, to chat about this with the vocation director or another sister whom you know in the community.
In my IHM community, for example, our mission is centered around “the liberating mission of Jesus Christ”. Traditionally we have focused this mission around education. So many of us are involved in “traditional”educative endeavors such as teachers, catechists, and professors. We also express our educative mission through ministry as writers, care givers, justice advocates, church leaders, editors, administrators, bloggers, counselors, missionaries, lawyers, doctors, and more.
In what other occupations have you seen sisters or nuns? In what way is that occupation a ministry? If you are a sister, how did you discern that call?
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I’m thinking that perhaps having more religious trained as physicians would really be a great benefit to the Church in her mission. This would reduce the cost and increase the availability of physicians working at Catholic hospitals, clinics, etc., and increase the Church’s ability to provide quality health care to the poor. It would also benefit the community insofar as it would allow them to reduce their own internal health care costs, thus focusing their resources elsewhere.
Just a thought
We had several Sisters who were pharmacists.
Not a bad thought, Michael. A concern however would be a just wage. While religious are certainly not in ministry for the money, we do need money to support our community and mission.
One of my favorite stories about an occupation occupied by a nun is the The Cheese Nun
, Sister Noella Marcellino, a Benedictine nun who was named the official cheesemaker of the Monastery of Regina Laudis back in the 80s.
Cool, Sister Gayle. We did too!
Personally, I have been an elementary school teacher, a director of liturgy, a care giver, and now I am the local archivist/historian.
BTW–Thanks for mentioning about the just wage. We used to get paid a measly stipend (try $25.00 per sister per month!) plus room and board. That’s why we had to begin the annual collection for retired religious. There was never anything to put away for old age bc most of the sister’s stipends had to go to support the retired sisters and those in formation, and we didn’t make enough to qualify for Social Security. Thankfully, that changed–in the 1970s (for Soc. Sec.) and the mid-1980′s (for just wages)!!
Yeah, the just wage is a pretty big deal. Most people are under the assumption that the Church institution gives money for the upkeep and mission of religious women and religious men. But such is not the case. We have to find our own means of support.
While Sisters are not prevented from working in education in Oregon, until recently there was a law that banned teachers from wearing “religious garb” when teaching in public schools. As of July 2011, this will no longer apply, so public education is now a option for ALL relgious women in Oregon!
Interesting twist, Sister Alison! So the limitations aren’t necessarily from within a community (i.e., an occupation does not fit with a community’s mission) but from the occupation itself. Are your sisters religiously garbed and hoping to teach in public schools?
Until about 1935, sisters could NOT be doctors. That’s because the training for doctors included obstetrics, which was considered a threat to the vow of chastity. [I could NOT make this up.] After considerable lobbying, led by Mother Anna Dengel, this policy was changed. Anna Dengel, of course, was the founder of the Medical Mission Sisters, and was herself a physician. [They remained a pious union until the canonical policy was changed, since they were founded to be a community of medical personnel, which they still are.]
In addition to Dengel, see the story of Sister Mary Mercy of Maryknoll, another early sister-physician: “Her Name is Mercy,” by Sr. Maria Del Rey, MM.
Thanks, Peggy. That’s kinda weird about the chastity thing. I’m definitely interested in looking up Mother Anna Dengel and Sister Mary Mercy.
A bit more information on Anna Dengel. There is a popular joint biography of her and of Agnes McLaren (a doctor-convert who had the original inspiration for the Medical Mission Sisters, but who died before anyone joined her): Katherine Burton, “According to the Pattern.” It also contains information on the campaign to change canon law so that sisters could practice medicine.
By the way, Mother Theresa of Calcutta learned whatever medical skills she had from the Medical Mission Sisters, whose first site of mission work was in India….