FAQ’s in regards to being a sister:
Q: Why do some sisters wear habits and some don't?
A: Each religious community of sisters determine if the members will wear a habit or not. Many of those who wore a religious habit from the time the community was founded changed with the renewal that was called for by the Second Vatican Council (1960 - 1965). Some were given the option to wear the original habit, a modified (simplified) habit, or no habit. Most communities that were founded after the Council do not wear habits; these usually have a pin or other symbol that signifies their community.
Q: When someone decides to become a sister, what happens to her savings and possessions? What happens to her debts?
A: Initially, a woman can explore becoming a sister while she retains her wealth and possessions, or has some amount of debt. By the time that she makes her first profession of vows, however, she must be debt free. At that time, she also makes a decision about retaining or disposing of her savings, assets, and valuable possessions (e.g., house, land, IRA's, etc.).
Q: Can someone become a sister if they have been dating? If they have been engaged? If they have been married?
A: Dating is a normal part of a single lifestyle. It is perfectly okay and expected that a woman dated during high school, college, or single life prior to considering religious life. However, after a woman begins to seriously respond to a call to religious life, she is expected to discontinue dating in preparation for a celibate lifestyle. For some women, a healthy experience of dating had helped them to discern the call to love celibately in a community setting. If a woman was married, there are some requirements set by the laws of the Church that would be part of the admissions process.
Q: If you become a sister, is it true that you seldom or rarely get to see your family?
A: As in living out any vocation, the ongoing support of family is very important. Sisters are encouraged to be present to and supportive of their community as well as their families.
Q: Aren’t sisters are required to be either teachers or nurses?
A: Ministry for sisters arises from their own individual gifts as well as the needs of their community, the church, and society. Therefore, sisters are involved in a variety of ministries of service. A few of these ministries, in addition to healthcare and education, are parish ministry, ministry to people with disabilities, pastoral care, liturgical arts, counseling, social services, ministry to the homeless and victims of AIDS, administration, campus ministry, and domestic service.
Q: Aren’t all the vows sisters take restrictive?
A: The vows of obedience, stability, and fidelity to their community and its way of life are the glue that holds sisters together and frees us for growth and service in our life of following Christ.
Q: Is it true that sisters have no time for themselves and little, if any, enjoyment in life?
A: Sisters have the same amount of leisure time as most adults. In this time we are free to participate in activities that we find enjoyable and are compatible with our way of life. Each sister is unique, so the activities they enjoy vary. Some of the common choices are sharing with friends, enjoying the outdoors, reading, arts, crafts, music, games, sports, taking classes for enrichment, and film appreciation.
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: Almost anything you really like to do, for example: biking, skating, walking with a friend, swimming, running, etc. Many Sisters enjoy reading, listening to music, or playing a musical instrument or singing. There is a wide variety of crafts and hobbies that are also enjoyed, including playing cards, creating on the computer. Of course, we all enjoy getting together for parties for all occasions.
Q: If a sister takes a vow of poverty, shouldn’t she be living very frugally?
A: Poverty is included in the profession of fidelity to the community way of life. Sisters are called to share both their material and personal resources. They receive from the community whatever they need. This frees sisters from the concerns of personal ownership so that they may focus on their call to service and to good stewardship of all the gifts of creation.
Q: Once a woman enters a monastery, isn’t she there forever?
A: Once a woman and the community she is considering joining have discerned that she is called to that community, depending on the community, she has up to eight years before she makes the decision of a lifelong commitment.
Q: Aren’t monasteries only for men, while convents are for women?
A: A monastery is a place where either women or men are called to live and pray together in community under the guidance of a prioress or abbot.
Q: Is it true that sisters have to go to church every day and pray all the time?
A: Because sisters have chosen a way of life that essentially is to seek God, prayer is central to our lives. We spend varied times each day in prayer: morning and evening prayer with our community, Mass, private prayer and lectio (sacred reading). Prayer helps us to become more sensitive to God's activity in the people, events and circumstances of daily life and empowers us to reach out in ministry to others.