Cohousing-L Mailing List: religious community screening (was Re: [C-L]_Income levels, jobs and stability)

[WOLF1GDSFM (WOLF1GDSFM]

In a message dated 03-12-27 11:16:23 EST, rivendell_ranch [at] reachone.com 
(Guy 
Koehler, Rivendell Ranch) wrote:

<< What was that screening process? >>

I think you might mean the process used by the Poor Clares.  I was there in 
the 1970's and the process screened me out (appropriately, as it turns out; I 
was devastated (not an exaggeration) at the time.)  What I recall for sure are:

Bofore admission to the community enclosure (this is a cloistered community): 
 
multiple pre-admission interviews with community leaders (Mother Abbess and 
the Novice Mistress; others? -- I am no longer sure); 
pre-admission physical exam; 
documentation required from home parish priest, including recommendation

After admission to the community enclosure:  
a period, I believe it was a year, as a postulant (I was screened out during 
my postulancy); 
at least a year, I think it was two years, maybe more, as a novice.  
Upon successful completion of the novitiate (novice process), I think, one 
was permitted to become fully professed, that is, a full member of the 
community.  

Also, I have heard of fully professed nuns being forced to leave, although 
not from this community.

Note: postulants, novices and fully professed wore different clothing.  
Anyone could tell who was which.  I think this is still the case.  They were 
still 
wearing habits as late as 1995, when I visited them on my way somewhere.

Jan

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