A recent article in the British press suggests the trend of empty seminaries and convents may be leveling off there, too, as it is in this country. Though the Times site is behind a paywall, there’s a partial summary of the piece on the Bridges and Tangents blog:
Until recently, nuns in Britain had fallen out of the habit. In parts of the country, years went by without any women seeking to get themselves to a nunnery. Then, suddenly, convents have reported a spike in interest.
It is not huge in numbers; but in significance it is of a new order. In the past three years the number of women entering the religious life has nearly tripled from six to 17 and there are also many more who have entered convents but have not not yet taken their initial vows. This influx is thought to be a result of the Pope’s visit to Britain last year. Such has been the sudden surge in inquiries that religious orders have had to ask bishops how to cope, so unused to receiving new vocations have they become, and so accepting of the received wisdom that, with many convents closing and being sold off, their way of life was likely to be coming to an end.
As in the United States, this upward tick, while by no means signaling an ‘end’ to the vocations crisis, does represent a mild reversal of a decades-long trend, and that is cause for gratitude enough. Interestingly, the British article offers a bit of a different take as to why the decline has suddenly leveled off, focusing more on “new movements” and ecclesial communities in the church:
…new Catholic movements such as Youth 2000 have been key to the increase. Among the general Catholic population of more than five million across the UK, about 10 per cent have had contact with new movements but among those entering monasteries, convents and seminaries, the proportion is 50 per cent. In a further new development, one in five of the new vocations are converts to Catholicism, compared with the 1970s when nearly all those seeking to become priests, monks or nuns were cradle Catholics.
The statistics mentioned above do lend credibility to this narrative, though at bottom these are still hypotheses (if good ones–as is the observation of the Wall Street Journal authors that a return to the clear enunciation of Catholic teaching is aiding vocation growth by making the choice to enter religious life much starker). In any event, the Church is beginning to turn a proverbial corner with vocations, and that the rebuilding work ahead can only benefit from this renewed spirit of obedience and evangelization.
May 3rd, 2012 | 5:15 pm
Is there anyone, anywhere, who can publish an article about nuns without a play on the word “habit”?
May 4th, 2012 | 1:01 am
[...] More Evidence of the Vocations Reversal – Matthew Cantirino, First Things/First Thghts [...]
May 8th, 2012 | 2:22 pm
It makes sense that a vast majority of those pursuing a religious vocation have had some exposure to or involvement in some kind of an intentional Christian community or movement. In the US, one example would be Christ the King parish in Ann Arbor (over 20 priestly vocations in recent years?). Another is the Alleluia Community in Augusta GA (I forget what %, but a majority of recent priestly vocations in the Savannah diocese are from this community). A return to orthodoxy and tradition, and also discipleship focused community — I do think all of these elements have a role to play.
May 9th, 2012 | 8:05 am
Actually, Christ the King, Ann Arbor, has seen nearly 30 men become priests and 20 more of their men are seminarians and the next generation is right behind. CTK emerged from a long standing charismatic covenant community although about half the current membership has no community background.
I’ve worked in hundreds of parishes and CTK is the most extraordinary I’ve ever encountered. (I spent three days at CTK in the fall, interviewing people for my book on parish based evangelization that will published July 1.) 8 deacons, 12 sisters and a local community of sisters, 2 members of Pontifical Councils, etc. from a community of 900 families.
CTK’s secret: they evangelize their children at all levels – and I do mean evangelize, not just catechize. They don’t focus on giving them just concepts but a powerful, lived experience of God which is then nourished and supported by a very vibrant community of adult disciples. In addition, they do have great catechesis and preaching, 24/7 Adoration, 98% Mass attendance (terrifically prayerful), and a spirit of extraordinary generosity.
I would estimate that. at least, 80% of the parishioners are intentional disciples which is truly astonishing since experienced parish leaders have told us over and over that the average in their communities is only about 5%.
Want vocations? Make disciples. Everything changes.
May 9th, 2012 | 12:20 pm
It’s becoming clear that the future of the Catholic church is Protestant converts. So many of the most devout and active Catholics in media are Protestant converts. EWTN is practically full of them.
Many cradle Catholics in America grew up during a time of an inconsistent, uninspired liturgy, a time when “Evangelization” only occured in Africa, and the church was utterly complacent in terms of its duty to inspire the flock.
Too many priests were “company men” only too happy to lead parishoners through a recital of that tedious, mind numbing policy statment known as the Nicene Creed instead of making the liturgy an actual celebration.
And cradle Catholics let themselves become so distracted by the minutia of daily life that here in Boston the mass attendance rate as of May 2012 is down to 15.8%!
Fortunately, or unfortunately, the future of the Catholic Church is small intentional Christian communities or movements.
May 9th, 2012 | 12:27 pm
Fortunately, or unfortunately, the future of the Catholic Church in America is small intentional Christian communities or movements. They are the only parts of the Church that are growing.
Also, it’s becoming clear that the future of the Catholic Church is Protestant converts. So many of the most devout and active Catholics in media and elsewhere are Protestant converts. EWTN is practically full of them.
The least obidient, least observant, least active Catholics are those who grew up in the Church. I think the Church and layity are both to blame.
In many of the old Catholic Centers of the northeast US, there was an inconsistent, uninspired liturgy, “Evangelization” only occured in Africa, and the church was utterly complacent in terms of its duty to inspire the flock.
Too many priests were “company men” only too happy to lead parishoners through a recital of that tedious, mind numbing policy statment known as the Nicene Creed instead of making the liturgy an actual celebration.
And cradle Catholics let themselves become so distracted by the minutia of daily life that here in Boston the mass attendance rate as of May 2012 is down to 15.8%!
May 9th, 2012 | 12:30 pm
Proof that we do not need a watered down easy catholicism, but one that adheres to tradition and deeply rooted in scripture as well. I mean really, who would offer their lives us for a half truth or a watered down spirituality! Praise God for an increase in vocations. Let’s pray the trend continues. :0)
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