Religious institutes are attracting new associations

by Judy Schindler,

SSND Associate

Vocation... Call... To Catholics, these words have a special meaning. We recognize that we are each called by God to a way of life that will best enable us to "grow the kingdom."

We choose to become a priest, sister, brother or to remain single or to marry. A further choice a person in any of these states of life may make is to become affiliated with a religious community. The choice to this form of affiliation is called becoming an associate.

Associate? As defined by Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), associates are those "outside of vowed membership in a religious community who share in the mission and goals of the institute."

Many varied life experiences draw associates to a particular religious community. Some associates were taught by sisters and brothers in their school years. They may have a relative or friend who is a member of a community and so they learn about the particular gifts of the spirit, called charisms, for which the religious community is known. Perhaps the sister who ministers in their parish has certain qualities, which they admire and want to emulate. Central to the call to be an associate is an attraction to be in relationship on a temporary basis. Religious orders all around the world are attracting people of all ages to this new form of relationship.

I first became aware of this different way to participate in the life of a religious community about 10 years ago, when a friend referred to a widow I greatly admired as "one of our associates." I asked questions, liked what I heard, and felt called to join them as an associate. I am not alone! There were 25,000 associates in 1990. The May 2000 CARA study, which surveyed about 1,100 religious institutes, showed an 11% increase since 1995 in the number of associate members. This shows phenomenal growth.

Associates are attracted to the religious communities because they want to be in community with others who are seeking the same thing they seek, support for living Gospel values in a secular society. Associates bring freshness to the lived expression of the congregation’s charisms, and the vowed religious give the associates the richness of their traditions. Associates and religious, in relationship, are partners in mission.

Associates spend some time in discernment and formation, and then make a formal commitment for a specific period of time, usually one to three years. The commitment is renewable.

As I learned more about this movement, and especially as I learned about the charisms of the School Sisters of Notre Dame and their foundress, Mother Theresa of Jesus Garhardinger, I felt called to join. Little did I know when I first asked, "What did you say she was?"about a widow I admired, that I would learn about a whole movement!