A friend just sent me a copy of the newsletter Aspirant which is a publication of The Laboure Society. I’ve heard of The Laboure Society but never really knew much about them until I read this newsletter. Here’s what they say:

The Laboure Society affirms and encourages aspirants to priesthood or religious life in the Holy Roman Catholic Church and assists those with financial debt, which prevents them from fulfilling their vocational call.

In the past four years, The Laboure Society has helped 106 individuals to become ordained or professed or to be in various stages of formation: 74 sisters, 11 brothers, and 21 for the priesthood. What a wonderful work they are doing. I encourage you to check out their website.

Financial issues can often be overwhelming for people entering religious life or the priesthood. Aspirants to religious life (people aspiring to be a nun, sister, brother, monk) must be debt free upon entrance to the religious community. While certainly a reasonable requirement, it can be very difficult especially if you’ve just put yourself through school on student loans. I myself have had to deal with the question and I know many other young women and men who are discerning a call to religious life or the priesthood who must delay applying to enter or who give up all together because the debt is overwhelming to them or won’t be paid back for another 30 years on some high interest payment plan.

Here’s an article on just this topic: Debt, the Vocation Killer published by National Catholic Register (March 11, 2007).

If you are discerning a vocation to religious life or the priesthood and have financial debt, read The Laboure Society’s Procedures and Requirements for Aspirant Participation in The Laboure Society and Determination of Funds Allocation.

I can’t tell you how important it is that people like The Laboure Society step up and help out. They are a blessing and a source of encouragement. Without them, many of us might have given up on pursing God’s call to religious life or the priesthood.

In the last week I’ve received a couple personal requests for help. Normally I do not write about such things because requests are often difficult to verify, but these two really struck me as authentic calls for help. Both have web sites which you can check out should you choose.

1. Brittany Harrison is a young woman who is seeking entrance into a religious community. She has student loans to pay off before she can enter. This is a requirement of Canon Law, that a person entering religious life be debt-free. This can often be a challenge, especially for those of us who put ourselves through college. Brittany has asked people to help her pay off her student loans so that she can enter the community. Visit Brittany’s blog Into the Deep to learn more about her story.
2. Velia Koppenhoefer is the mother of Efren Paredes, Jr. She is asking for justice for her son, a Latino honor student who was arrested at age 15 and sentenced to life in prison for a murder and armed robbery he did not commit in 1989. Velia is asking for people to learn more about her son’s story and to consider signing a petition seeking a new trial for her son. You can read more about the petition and Efren’s story at www.petitionspot.com/petitions/4Efren. You can also check out the following web sites:

• www.4Efren.com
• www.myspace.com/4Efren
• www.facebook.com/p/Efren_Paredes_Jr/751765345