You hardly ever hear of women becoming nuns now nowadays. I even had the privilege of completing a 30-Day Silent Retreat! | Reply, [] weeks ago, I received a comment asking several questions on this blogpost of June 19, 2007 The night I left the convent. The questioner asked if I was still a Catholic, if I believed in God, and if Id felt a [], Pingback by Am I still a Catholic? | Reply. | Reply. I think the number of women becoming nuns has certainly shrunk over the years but we are still hiding in the shadowsI hope your neighbor has found her peace. On nice days this lovely nun would take us to the park - just across the street from the school/Church. I left that lifestyle in April 1994 and lived on my own until February 1996 when I married, had child one in 1997, child two in 1998, and child three in 2002. To go over the wall or leave the wall or break down the wall meant that some of the . Thanks Jen for linking up and sharing at #MLSTL I hope your story will keep on inspiring young people to make mature and deep spiritual choices, focussing on loving God. Keep on keepin on. For many of them despite happy marriages and fulfilling lives the pain has never left them. I think I understand completely what you mean when you say you are a religious but not in the convent. | Reply, Glad you like it. Id certainly Dorothy Im glad you found the interview inspirational. Just my two cents, but know that I will pray for you as you navigate your way through the unexpected waters. Comment by theotheri May 12, 2013 @ 10:52 am Comment by Chris Lawrence March 15, 2009 @ 9:23 am I currently have several works in progress and hope that my next iteration of starting over will be as a full-time writer/author. As he searched for work, he took the opportunity to obtain his Masters and, unfortunately, remained unemployed until 2013. I wanted to leave you a comment because Im interested in getting in touch with you about your experience as an ex-nun. How this blog is organized: Posts are listed in chronological order. What resonated with me Janet was that even though you took a path which at the time felt right (for about 5 days :)), you stuck at it and tried and then werent afraid to change direction. I scoured the internet for freelance platforms in any industry in which I was qualified to work: teaching cooking, tutoring, fundraising, yard work, woodwork, house cleaning, uber driving, etc. post. When I was about 7, my father left my mother with 8 children between the ages of 17-4. Consequently, I spent most of my time as a Maryknoll sister with a coterie of other young sisters fighting the Establishment. A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to God, [1] typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent. Inexplicably, Ibroke down in violent sobs. But I dont think Im a victim. You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it wise. How does one begin this new life with no backup? Seriously, it would help me a lot if you did not more than point to two or three specific posts that you felt were too brief. There is no condemnation for anyone who follows a path, finds it not to be right for them, and seeks another way. Orphans seem to have been at greatest risk. And I was kept safely in New York, rather than sent to work in an underdeveloped country, which is what I had come to Maryknoll for. I could have sworn Ive been to this blog before but after browsing through many of the posts I realized its The night I left the convent | The Other I was indeed a superb posting, | Reply, The night I left the convent | The Other I, Trackback by Rabbit Resort Pattaya January 5, 2017 @ 12:51 pm What an interesting life and so many learnings not just for yourself but all of us. | Reply. At the time, I thought it was my only choice, but my mental and physical health suffered which impacted our home life. I have no idea how many. Though I admit that I am baffled by it. | Reply. | Reply. Thank you. | Reply. Comment by theotheri October 19, 2012 @ 1:39 pm | Reply. Im grateful to know you understand what I was trying to say. . | Reply. I appreciate it. And do know you are not alone. There are many people who are dear friends from my days in the convent, and many others who read this blog who have struggled with the sense of rejection you describe. | Reply, RSS feed for comments on this post. stuff previous to and youre just too great. Comment by katheen mary f. September 12, 2011 @ 11:49 pm I used to think that it was the opposite of sacred; or when used in speaking of people, there would be clergy/religious and seculars. Comment by theotheri September 23, 2011 @ 7:45 pm One of my dearest friends used the sense of rejection to help others who have experienced rejection that seemed even deeper than hers. Faith is important. Thanks for stopping in and sharing your thoughts. Shannon, Talk about big changes. I immediately shifted my thinking from finding a job to creating revenue streams. | Reply. It is in part for this reason many nuns left the order. Thank you for sharing your experiences on leaving the religious life. This is my first visit to your blog! Others may never understand but sometimes we must choose for our integrity, sanity, and well-being, to start over. According to Fr. Getting married, having children. Very good post. Comment by katheen mary f. May 3, 2012 @ 4:16 am upon the highest and also defined out the entire thing with no need side-effects , folks could take a signal. | Reply. Comment by Shayne September 5, 2014 @ 6:44 pm Learn how your comment data is processed. | Reply. Regards for all your efforts that you have put in this. | Reply. But I know it was not where I belonged for all my life. Leanne | http://www.crestingthehill.com.au. We all make decisions that change our lives each day. Im a Columbia Journalism School graduate student and writing in-depth about the Maryknoll Sisters. I really enjoyed learning about Janet and I look forward to following her blog. How long I would have stayed if I had not been given permission to leave is a matter of conjecture. take it out on children? Comment by Herbert October 17, 2014 @ 5:44 pm The choice that you make in life has sometimes one destination. Comment by Tony ravnik August 23, 2021 @ 5:55 pm | Reply. His younger sister had been killed in a school bus accident and I wondered if that hadnt happened would he have made the same choice. This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you, What To Do If You've Lost Your Creativity. like Saint Faustian who was a simply nun and did simply thing that made her so special for which she is recognised today for her doing. Hi Jennifer thanks for linking your post up with us at #MLSTL because I think it will be really enjoyed by the other bloggers who join us. Entering the convent is a much more serious decision than choosing a college or a major or even a career goal, and leaving the convent also involves a much deeper shift in the foundation of ones world than changing careers or short-term boy friends. I am hoping to give a contribution & assist different users like Ive been contemplating doing some bookmarking for a Through a series of circumstances, I came to believe that the only way to get that message to as many hurting people as possible particularly teens was to offer my life to the service of God. | Reply. Comment by investasi forex March 7, 2015 @ 3:56 pm | Reply. | Reply, Comment by theotheri March 28, 2013 @ 9:13 pm | Reply. Many religions, including Catholicism, Buddhism and Christianity, have nuns. Good job. Comment by theotheri August 30, 2011 @ 11:50 am Lastly, may I thank you for your gracious words about my blog. After a few years of rebellion and self-destruction, I experienced a conversion that led me to believe that Jesus had the power to help troubled teens make sense of a life that can sometimes feel senseless. It seems to me that the core of being religious is to love, to care for our fellow creatures. I hope I managed them with grace. and obedience to the whims of others as particularly frustrating. | Reply. Magnificent web site. Yes, I know what you mean. Comment by theotheri January 28, 2013 @ 9:16 pm Im most interested about your realization that you had to get out, the changing times (the 1960s) and the effect that had on you, and your contact with other ex-Maryknollers. Out went the Latin Mass, and in we came with our guitars and folk songs. I appreciate the feedback. James Wehner, rector of Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, only about 30% of men who originally enter seminary are ordained. | Reply, I seem to agree with the whole thing that was in fact posted throughout The night I left Comment by theotheri June 3, 2017 @ 4:29 pm Given the choice to leave the monastic life or be transferred to another house, most nuns chose the latter: out of a total of roughly 900 women, only 100 chose to renounce their vows in 1536-1537. Jennifer, thanks for sharing these portions of Janets story. I think many folks are more resilient than they give themselves credit for. In her case, she dealt with abused children. | Reply. This website contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on a product link, we may receive a commission in return. The Rev. Thank you. Keep up the good writing. | Reply. found It positively helpful and it has helped me out loads. | Reply. One thing that I DID learn though, was that I had the right to seek spiritual direction. After six years, I was sent to earn adegree to equip me as a primary school teacher. | Reply. I really like what youve acquired here, certainly like what youre saying and I just hope my story has something to offer those who might feel stuck. Comment by rickard engstrm kth April 28, 2014 @ 12:11 am Gradually Maryknoll recededand become a part of my childhood. in a community in the same niche. | Reply. As Pope John XXIII said, the church needed to "open the windows and let in some fresh air.". Im not sure, though, exactly what you are suggesting. On the other hand, I know ex-nuns who have been given as much as $20,000 after the long years of service you describe. I immersed myself in the possibilities of how I might turn my passions into a business. Fascinating read. Money, sex, and personal possessions: These are the things that Oprah noted women religious give up. | Reply. Buut hes tryiong none the less. I needed to be my own boss. Because my three rounds of unemployment and my career shift resulted from an unplanned implosion, I was embarrassed, depressed, anxious, and devastated. Steve Dublinski . I calculated how much I would need to make each day to keep our bills paid and food on the table. Best Answer. Some of them truly are incredibly generous and humble. I spent just about 13 years in the convent. Did I just imagine the call? | Reply, I would like to know you more. That is, the order held the sum of money and could use the interest from it, but they could not use the principal during the nun's lifetime lest she leave the order and it needed to go back to her. This is really a wonderful site. That is my personal acquaintance with ex-nuns. Her work is admirable. I hope you can write again soon. The more youve done, the more options you have for transitioning into something new. Comment by http://www.playonsports.ws/bookmarks/view/1157/treat-your-self-royally-with-tub-robes September 24, 2014 @ 8:34 am I think that perhaps only those who have actually done it can appreciate how traumatic it is to leave what one thought was a life-long calling. Comment by katheen mary f. August 29, 2011 @ 10:30 pm Today, I want to introduce you to Janet, who made those two very big decisions. Thanks very much for your help and I hope to hear from you soon! Thank you for stopping by and reading Denyse. Brainstorm everything possible and pick a handful to begin with. they plainly dont recognise about. like Aspergers syndrome, or economics or religious or philosophical ideas? But nuns, like any collection of human beings, are a mixture of the good and the bad, or the caring and cruel, of the arrogant and the humble, or the sinner and the saint. Some live in a cloister and never go out into the world, but spend their time in prayer and solitude. Ill be sharing on my social media for #MLSTL At the very least, nuns are given back the dowry women are required to give to the order when they enter. You may be surprised to know how interesting I find your comment, and I do plan on responding to it, perhaps even in a separate post. | Reply, Thank you for your comment. Mother Teresa was that kind of nun. And although I have not reflected on the hidden meanings underlying the description seculars, now that you point it out, I certainly recognize it. Could you please prolong them a little from next time? Source: Andrews. I must say I was grateful for much of it, and hurt by a lot of it, too. I cant say that Im an ex-nun, since I left the convent only five months into my novitiate. Thanks, Dorothy! Again, thank you. I attended every free workshop and webinar, and course about starting a business, social enterprise, and nonprofit. Thank you, too, Herbert. | Reply. If you want to do more, I would ask her. | Reply. TrackBack URI. | Reply. I find myself reluctant to trust the judgement of people who are so sure they know what everybody else should do. In 1966, Nancy Bancroft entered a convent, took the habit, and changed her name.. We are a team of volunteers and starting a new initiative Thanks! Like you, it took her years to fully process the sense of rejection. The reason why I started these interviews is that very reason. Again thank you. Im amazed at how that experience has marked my life. The life I led in the convent, and how I got to the office of the Mother Superior that nightto sign the papers releasing me from this ill-fitting promise I will describe in more detailsome otherday. The vow of obedience that you have characterized as Feedback and additions are inevitably enriching. The image of the "evil nun" has become almost a caricature in recent years, particularly in Ireland, where the fallout from decades of abuse scandals has left a deep scar, radically changing . Most of theNBC television staff wereNew York Jewish intellectual types who could not fathom what a group of young, intelligent, vibrant young women were doing locked away as nuns, however modern we thought we were. Another friend is going to Kenya in several months to contribute her social worker skills there, another is helping to support an orphanage in Tanzania. Hope my posts continue to measure up to such high standards! The law of celibacy was imposed centuries ago by rulers of the Church; it is admittedly not Scriptural. Comment by theotheri March 27, 2017 @ 6:48 am Lets find out why she left the convent to embrace change. In this tale, the leaders of women's religious institutes are cast in the role of innocent victims whose only fault was to try to renew religious life according to the prescriptions of Vatican II. | Reply. REUTERS/Yara Nardi. Anyway, Im a fan of your blog and will keep on coming back. Im definitely loving the information. Will likely be again to get more. In my blog, I write a lot about trying new things and people who start over. VATICAN CITY, Nov 29 (Reuters) - When young nuns at a convent in Eastern Europe told their Mother Superior that a priest had tried to molest them, she retorted that it was . Some do. Comment by theotheri April 16, 2017 @ 12:15 pm Absolutely! It means a lot. Whatever I was doing through my tears, I wasnt considering changing my mind. If there is any further or specific youd be interested in my writing about, please do let me know. But first let us recognize that all nuns are not abusers, nor do all orders of nuns engage in the self-destructive denials you describe. I think that entering the convent for however long or short a time is psychologically much more akin to getting married than most people appreciate. While we were fortunate to find jobs and home before the summer ended, by 2010, my husband had lost his job. They moved to a seaside town to live as soulmates but never got the chance to be spouses. We were raised on welfare in a government housing project surrounded by drugs, violence, and financial struggle and the anger and angst that came along with it. I dont know how many you are acquainted with personally, but there are thousands of ex-s living in the world today. It is in love the greatest of these.. Are you willing to share how you came to that decision? . In order to obtain the newest updates, scan down the right-hand column until you see the little window Sign Me Up! Click on it, and then click on the window saying Manage which appears which enables you to choose how often you wish to receive updates and comments. For some, staying within the Catholic fold after leaving the religious life is a supportive choice. Hope to hear from you again. Thank you again. | Reply. | Reply, Thank you for your comment. Its amazing how people can overcome adversity and go on to success. Rather than look for other jobs in California, which my husband didnt particularly care for anyway, we decided on Memorial Day to return to Chicago. Ive understand your http://www.meinthemiddlewrites.com. . She placed the papers in front of me to sign. Comment by LifeSelector Hack January 14, 2015 @ 9:02 pm I feel quite drab and boring in comparison (lucky Im learning not to compare any more!) Comment by crsig October 18, 2012 @ 2:51 am But I promise to respond. Change). As someone who generates ideas at top speed, I had numerous business ideas but no real resources. Feel free to work for the state and make a difference to an athiest. Exploring stumbleupon.com I noticed your web site bookmarked as: The night I left the convent | The Other If you know of any books or other writings that cite reasons why some nuns subject innocent children to harsh punishment Id be I convinced myself that if I were to continue the true work to which Maryknoll was dedicated, I too had to leave the convent. The term 'nun' is applied to women who have taken serious, solemn vows to live a simple life in a convent or monastery. Thankyou for your effort in making your point. Leanne, I also know that nuns are allowed to get married because they are not ordained so its not really a problem if you left the convent. Then I walked downstairs, caught a taxi to the train station, and went back to New York City. That said, I loved everything about a noisy household of children! Superb .. Comment by Chris Lawrence March 14, 2009 @ 10:19 am June 19, 2007 The night I left the convent Filed under: Catholicism and other questions of religion, Life as a Nun, Uncategorized theotheri @ 3:36 pm I left the convent nine years after I had entered as an 18-year-old, and three months after I had taken my final vows. We evolve, and in doing so we grow. I will look forward to hearing from you. I know that I asked you to and I appreciate your taking the time and making the effort to do so. I have a blog based on the same subjects you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. But they too include many who are wounded, are mentally disturbed, who are not as loving and humble as they aspire to be. I was not asked. Comment by Terry Sissons May 3, 2012 @ 2:47 pm That night I searched the internet for homes and employment opportunities in California. group. A nun during a quiet moment of prayer In 2015, I began what was to become a long-term project exploring the lives of nuns in the Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary convent in Rome. Wow. To our mutual enrichment. Your way of explaining all in this post is genuinely good, all be capable of simply know it, Thanks I left in my late twrnties and.am in my 40s now. Going into a convent and then coming out of the convent. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Comment by theotheri May 30, 2012 @ 9:08 pm Being poor is not in itself a passport to holiness anymore than it is an automatic path to criminality. I would be interested to know how you came to be caring for orphans and the abandoned in Kenya, and if you are doing it in cooperation with others or by yourself. Life is a process of becoming. Its a decision that changes everything from who you are to where and how you live. Very interesting info. Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond. The nun's unimpressed reaction to the film described it as "fiction." As the movie came out, Sister Luc left the convent and resumed her former name, pursuing a full-time singing career. | The Other I December 27, 2015 @ 4:25 pm Several of my friends have described it as similar to the sense of rejection that comes with an unwanted divorce. Again, thank you. Is it something you could describe, or is it too early yet? The older generations, both inside and outside the convent, feared we were at the cutting edge of outright revolution. Dear Theothen, Im curious as to why some nuns humiliate and are abusive to children as you have noted. We are deprived of so much of the information that is available in direct interpersonal exchanges. Your first career was as a Nun. Comment by theotheri December 25, 2019 @ 8:41 pm | Reply. I would be happy to help in any small way I can. My husbands aunt was in the convent for a number of years before leaving in the 1980s. I sought and secured an administrative job in 2010, something I swore I never wanted, to make up for our income loss. Yes, I agree we will all keep making mistakes, though perhaps that is not quite the right word to use if we learn from them. If you face an unplanned career transition, my advice is to begin by thinking about revenue streams and all the different methods you might have for making money.

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