Future of religious life

Future of religious life

Future of religious life

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Let’s build a future for religious brothers

By Br. Paul Bednarczyk C.S.C.

Although this article is aimed at brothers, it holds much wisdom for religious communities in general. Read on and see how it might speak to your particular congregation. Read more...

Portrait of emerging religious communities in the United States

By Sr. Patricia Wittberg S.C.

The current population of emerging religious communities and lay movements is a dynamic and changing one. The data for this report were gathered between mid-1998 and early 1999. Read more...

What has happened since the FORUS study gave religious life 10 years to make life-saving changes?

A year-eight report

By Miriam D. Ukeritis C.S.J.

When David Nygren, CM and I published the study, “Future of Religious Orders in the United States” (FORUS) in 1992, we suggested that religious congregations had a 10-year window to make changes needed to ensure their viability. Failure to do so would likely set them on a path of irreversible decline. Read more...

Sustainability: New membership through an ecological lens

By Sister Mary Pellegrino C.S.J.

The concepts of sustainability, niche and diversity offer a helpful framework for thinking about the future of religious life. Read more...

Belonging to God, each other and the future

By Br. Paul Bednarczyk C.S.C.

We’re connected to those who came before us in community and to those who will follow us. Those bonds have special importance to vocation ministers because we uphold the dream and vision of religious life as we carry it into the future. Read more...

Can we allow a new generation to shape religious life?

By Sr. Laurie Brink OP

Although some religious communities have grown older and more settled, they can still find ways to recover the passion and commitment of earlier decades. Read more...

Emerging religious communities and lay movements

By Sr. Patricia Wittberg S.C.

What are the new communities like? What do they mean for established religious communities? A sociologist looks closely at emerging forms of religious life and what they might tell us about the future. Read more...

The new interest in religious life

By Patrice J. Tuohy

VISION VocationMatch.com recently confirmed what vocation ministers have been talking about: Catholics are turning toward religious life with new vigor. Here is a snapshot of who’s coming and what they’re looking for. Read more...

Translating the religious way of life to a new generation

The automaker Toyota may have something to teach religious communities about passing on a way of life to a new generation. Leaders and vocation ministers can glean lessons from the Toyota model. Read more...

Paths to the future

By Sara Butler M.S.B.T. and Christine Vladimiroff O.S.B.

Three sisters weigh in on the article by Laurie Brink, OP. While these writers understand the issues differently, all agree that communities need to discuss their choices for the future. Read more...

Shifts in religious priesthood and the resulting challenges

Religious communities of priests often have an unclear idea of the role of priesthood within the mission of their institutes. Yet inviting a new generation to join the community demands a clarity of identity and purpose. Read more...

What does it mean to be a priest within a religious community?

By Father Kevin Nadolski O.S.F.S., Father Ken Schnipke C.PP.S., and Father Andrew Carl Wisdom O.P.

Clarity about a community’s charism and clarity about the role of priesthood are crucial, say three religious priests who respond to the article by Ted Keating, SM. Read more...

Inquirers and applicants continue to increase

By Patrice Tuohy

The Second Annual Survey on Trends in Religious Vocation shows that interest in religious life remains strong. Read more...

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, let’s work together to build our future

By Br. Paul Bednarczyk C.S.C.

With the Holy Spirit inspiring and guiding us, we can create a vocation culture in our church in spite of its tensions. We can seek common ground and move forward together. Read more...

Inviting thresholds

How communities might respond to shifting times

By Sr. Maria Cimperman O.S.U.

Many religious communities stand at a threshold. This is a sacred time for listening carefully to God’s call and—despite risk and uncertainty—daring to cross over in hope. Read more...

The call to new evangelization

By Dave Nodar

As many young, robust religious communities claim “new evangelization” as their focus, it’s helpful to know what this emphasis means in terms of ministry and what it means for the future of the church. Read more...

The current state of vocations and where we go from here

By Br. Paul Bednarczyk C.S.C.

Let's believe in a future for our congregations and make vocation ministry a top priority. Read more...

The NRVC-CARA study and its meaning for religious life

The NRVC-CARA study and its meaning for religious life

By Br. Seán D. Sammon F.M.S.

Religious communities have experienced seismic change in recent decades, and now the opportunity to build a future lies before us if we listen and act. Read more...

How can we strengthen the witness of religious life?

How can we strengthen the witness of religious life?

By Sr. Doris Gottemoeller R.S.M.

Religious communities have learned a great deal since the early days of renewal. Today it’s time for bold decisions and action so that the life can be a witness to the possibility of human goodness under the action of God’s grace. Read more...

Who are the emerging pastoral leaders?

By Marti R. Jewell

A recent study about interest in and attitudes toward ministry is helping us understand the young Catholics who are making a life choice for ministry and why. Read more...

The chilling effect of education debt

The chilling effect of education debt

A recent study shows candidates are regularly turned away from religious communities because of student loans. Others don’t seek out communities knowing their debt presents problems. Read more...

A loving gaze at religious life realities

A loving gaze at religious life realities

By Sister Susan Francois C.S.J.P.

Right now religious life is in “crunch time.” Looking ahead,the future isn’t about anxiety. It’s about a cleareyed embrace of God’s abundance and creativity. Read more...

The shape of religious life to come

The shape of religious life to come

By Sr. Amy Hereford C.S.J.

Religious life may be moving toward communities that are smaller, more local, and more collaborative. Read more...

11 reasons to keep building our future

11 reasons to keep building our future

By Fr. Bernhard Eckerstorfer O.S.B.

We need a fresh perspective on religious life and a new way of thinking about the present and future. Read more...

Vocation promotion in contemporary culture

Vocation promotion in contemporary culture

By Br. Seán Sammon F.M.S.

Communities can forge a future if they can let go of the past, explore new options, and embrace fresh ways of attracting the young. Read more...

A marginal life: pursuing holiness in the 21st century

Consciously or not, religious communities of women appear to be headed in four different directions: death, acquiescence, "sojourning” or moving away from the church, or reconciliation with church authorities. Read more...

Vocation ministry on the precipice

Vocation ministry on the precipice

By Sr. Amy Hereford C.S.J.

Men and women are still joining religious communities, but those communities are dramatically smaller and fewer. How does this affect vocation ministry? Read more...

An open letter to vocation ministers about our future

By Mary Waskowiak R.S.M.

Dear sisters and brothers in vocation ministry, Read more...

Book notes: Lessons to learn from letting go

By Sister Judith Schaefer O.P.

In Patricia Wittberg's book From Piety to Professionalism—and Back? the author provides analysis and insight into the contemporary issue of religious identity and its accompanying ambiguity by illustrating how personal and corporate identity have been radically affected by changes in institutional commitment and sponsorship over the past 40 years. Read more...

Book notes: Connecting the dots to find a hopeful future

Book notes: Connecting the dots to find a hopeful future

By Sr. Linda Bechen R.S.M.

“Dot to dot” is the image that comes to mind when considering what Tim Muldoon accomplishes in his book about the contemporary American Catholic Church, Seeds of Hope: Young Adults and the Catholic Church (Paulist Press, 2008). Muldoon has been able to connect some of the significant “dots” of our life as a church and to be hopeful for our future. Read more...

The future depends on listening to the Spirit, the young and each other

The future depends on listening to the Spirit, the young and each other

By Mother Shaun Vergauwen F.S.E.

With respect and acceptance of one another, we in religious life are called to live with love in the face of tensions and move forward in faithfulness. Read more...

Book notes: Minding the gap between our vision and our reality

Book notes: Minding the gap between our vision and our reality

By Sister Cindy Kaye R.S.M.

What does religious life have to offer today’s world and our own places of call and commitment—our convents, rectories and monasteries, those places we call home? Read more...

A new form of membership: temporary commitment

HORIZON interviews Joan Chittister, OSB, about the temporary membership program of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pa.

Permanent commitment scares away young people. That’s not news to vocation ministers, for American culture has made a decisive shift toward postponing major life commitments. Read more...

A new springtime in vocation ministry

A new springtime in vocation ministry

By Sister Joyce Detzel C.D.P.

An unlikely community begins to receive new members. Among the reasons is a conscious decision to embrace new life and not allow grief and downsizing to take center stage. Read more...

Feed your spirit: Thoughts on being faithful and fruitful

Feed your spirit: Thoughts on being faithful and fruitful

By Pope Francis

No single act of love for God will be lost, no generous effort is meaningless, no painful endurance is wasted. All of these encircle our world like a vital force. Read more...

Book notes: Young voices brim with insight

Book notes: Young voices brim with insight

By Sister Katarina Schuth O.S.F.

In an exceptional book, 13 young women describe their journey into religious life and provide details about their present experience and hopes for the future. Read more...

Overview of newer members

Overview of newer members

In our contemporary U.S. church around 400 men and women each year begin religious life formation. Who are they? How did they come to take this transformative step? Read more...

Younger members reflect on the study

Younger members reflect on the study

The gifts of old and young, faithfulness, and awareness that we are not alone in our demographic challenges are among the key themes from the 2020 Study on Recent Vocations that resonate with young religious. Read more...

Leaders reflect on the study

Leaders reflect on the study

Leaders from within the world of religious life respond to the 2020 Study of Recent Vocations to Religious Life. Read more...

A call to define community

A call to define community

By Sister Mary Johnson S.N.D. de N.

It is incumbent on each institute to articulate the value that community is for members and the ways that community is manifest within their institute. Read more...

Synodality and new life

Synodality and new life

By Carol Schuck Scheiber

Perhaps a sign of the way forward for consecrated life is revealed in the very nature of the Synod on Synodality. Read more...

HORIZON Fall 2024 ...

This edition focuses on discernment, particularly how vocation ministers can accompany ... More

Convocation Gratitude ...

The National Office and Board extend its appreciation for your participation, ... More

Nominate a board member ...

Board members have the opportunity to lead the NRVC into the ... More

World Day for Consecrated Life ...

There are several ways to celebrate World Day for Consecrated Life! ... More

Bold and Faithful Storymap ...

Our Bold and Faithful Storymap links people interested in religious life ... More

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Sister Jenny Wilson, R.S.M.

Sister Jenny Wilson, R.S.M.

Short-term volunteer stints have proven to be a good way for Sister Jenny Wilson, R.S.M. to get to know women who might consider religious life. Building a relationship with people is key, she says, and the volunteer experience allows time for that. Read more...

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