Women invited to share nuns’ work
The spiritual venture, which involves working with young people for a full week in mid-June, has been launched by the Ursuline Sisters in Ireland.
Emphasising there are “no strings attached”, the project may appeal to women who have given consideration at some stage in their lives to a religious vocation.
The order has invited such women to take a risk and participate in its Ursuline Service and Spirituality Programme.
“It will open up new possibilities for young women who find themselves at a crossroads and are looking for something radical,” said Sister Jean Browne.
The programme runs from June 11-17.
“It offers participants a chance to give some service to the local community, share their skills and gifts with others, and spend time in a group of like-minded people while experiencing life in a religious community,” Sr Browne said.
One of the central aims of the service and spirituality programme, she said, is to invite those who have sometimes wondered about religious life but pushed the idea to the back of their mind. “It invites women to take the risk and be open to the challenge of daring to do something different for one week this summer.”
She said many women fit the bill but may feel nervous about approaching a religious congregation.
“This week-long programme is a perfect opportunity to learn more with no strings attached. The sisters are inviting all who are interested to come and see and have the courage to open up new horizons and give something back to the community and to God.”
The initiative is spearheaded by the Vocations Ministry Group of the Ursulines.
Sr Browne said the programme, which will operate from the group’s Cork centre, will be attractive to women of 20-plus years of age who are looking for a challenge.
She said the venture differed from conventional “live-ins” due to the service dimension. It involves working with young people in Cork, while learning about and experiencing
Ursuline spirituality.
Sr Browne said the kind of woman who may be interested is likely to be a seeker and a doer, is interested in giving time to know God better, has initiative and can work as part of a team, is inclined to question and analyse what the important things in life are and who may be at a crossroads in her life.
Accommodation will be provided.
For further information or an application form contact: Sr Jean Browne, Ursuline Convent, Blackrock, Cork, phone: 087-9391669, email:
irishursulines@eircom.net or visit www.ursulines.ie
