Explanation

The Call to Religious Life as a Sister of Compassion

Twenty five years ago the Sisters of Compassion were very involved with the hands on work of all the services provided by our Homes and Centres. Since then Religious Life as we knew it has had to move with the times. To keep up with developments in our society, and our health and education systems, we have had to make considerable changes. Our cottage industries or services have become more efficient, with high skill and technology input, to meet with Government compliances. With these changes, and the reduced number of women coming and remaining in Religious Life, our involvement in service has also changed.

Sisters of Compassion are no longer directly involved in education at a primary level, although some do have roles of teaching within Parish groups and in the homes of people. We are more involved with community work in smaller towns such as Flaxmere, Wairoa and Carterton. We still manage and work in our Soup Kitchen in Wellington City. Elsewhere Sisters have governance or management roles in various Homes and Centres of Compassion, while we employ staff for the daily operation of our Nursing Homes and Childcare Centre. There are opportunities for Sisters to use their specific skills and training, including nursing, in our different Homes. Sisters are fully committed to the Pastoral Care role in all our Homes.

So why come to religious life today? What do the Sisters of Compassion have to offer?

Any woman coming to be with us today would be able to have a ministry in our existing Homes or Centres, depending on what her talents and skills are, and the needs of the place. She may also have employment in the community, and make a contribution to ministry in a voluntary way. Women who have a profession are encouraged to work in that area, at least in a part time capacity.

As Sisters of Compassion today, we try to balance prayer and work, and provide opportunities for others to join us in prayer and community. Prayer is a source of nourishment for the individual’s spirit and also for the spirit of the wider community. We offer places of prayer within all our Homes and Centres, and invite people to share in this daily. Places like Jerusalem provide a spiritual space where people can be supported in prayer and in a place for quiet rest or discernment.

The opportunities for Sisters of Compassion today are as big or wide as the gaps may be in our society. We will not be running institutions as of old, but we are able to support other facilities, and be in the community visiting and supporting the elderly, lonely, refugees, and/or new immigrants. Wherever there is a need, a Sister of Compassion can be, as long as the resources of Sisters and religious community are available.

The focus has moved from mainly supporting people’s physical needs, to being inclusive of supporting the spiritual, psychological and emotional needs. Our biggest step in faith today is to accept the challenges that God provides each day. This requires openness to the Holy Spirit, and a big dose of Trust and Courage. These challenges of growth may be within the day to day life of the religious community, or in ministry. The gift is to know that God is in it all.

Vows

In following the call to live our religious life, we take the vows of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience.

Chastity means that we do not take on an exclusive relationship with another. We can still have very good friends and healthy relationships that are special, but we forgo having sex and children in order to give our self completely to God.

Poverty means that we do not own anything in our name, or have the choice to freely dispose of material goods or money. We are provided for economically, and receive a monthly allowance for our personal needs. The vow of poverty enables us to grow in our reliance of God’s providence and love.

Obedience means that we are open to the voice of the Holy Spirit, we hear this through our own discernment, and from others within our religious community and/or congregation. There is a structure to our community life, it is not a democracy, but flourishes on the interdependent relationships with others and the growth of good communication.

If you would like to talk this through some more, get in touch with the Vocation Ministry