Obstacles and options for older discerners

Image: SISTERS IN FORMATION at Mother of God Monastery in Watertown, S.D.: (from left) Sister Terri, Novice Aica, Sister Nancy, and Novice Denise.

The norm for making a lifelong commitment—be it a career choice or way of life—is to do it while you’re young in your mid-20s or 30s. But for a growing number of men and women, commitment readiness is delayed or deferred. When they are finally free to choose the path where they feel called—namely religious life—they find that their age is a barrier to joining a religious community. It may seem unfair or unreasonable, but communities with age-limits have them for a number of reasons related to the life, ministry, and finances of the community.

As the population within many religious communities ages, it is vital for their future to have younger members to continue their mission and adapt their ministries to the needs of a new generation.

Communities also set age-limits because of the time and demands of the formation process. By middle age most people’s habits are set, and it is often harder for them to change and adapt to the particular rhythms and practices of community life.

Additionally, many communities have restrictions during the novitiate year—one of the initial stages of entering a religious community—such as limits on computer use, evenings out, and even work. People over 45 who have lived independently for years can find these conditions difficult if not impossible. Likewise the communal living of religious life involves accountability to a superior and other community members—and that, too, can seem jarring to those who have lived into middle age answering mostly to themselves about personal choices.

Particularly for smaller communities, the toll—both emotionally and financially—of caring for new members nearing or already in their senior years would be too much for the community to bear. And for communities preparing men for priesthood, the cost and time of seminary education—up to eight years—is often considered disproportionate for older candidates in light of the number of years they would be able to serve.

In spite of these factors, not all religious communities have an age-limit. There are communities that will consider each person on an individual basis. “We clearly see tremendous benefits in accepting women who are in their 40s and 50s into community,” says Sister Adrienne Kaufmann, O.S.B. of Mother of God in Watertown, South Dakota. “God is definitely calling them; they make amazing contributions to community!”

In the end, say vocation directors, God does the calling, and no matter your age and your interests, if you surrender yourself freely to God and remain open, you will find the place God wants you to be.