Active Life
The active religious life usually refers to religious communities whose members minister in settings outside their convent or monastery—in education, health care, pastoral service in parishes, social service, and social justice advocacy, among others.
Active religious women and men generally live with one or more other members of their religious community in convents, apartments, or houses. Whether living alone or with others, their lives are distinguished by the values, vows, and habits of prayer that they hold in common.
The Benedictine Sisters of Chicago
An active women's community that receives grants.
By 1952, the 200 Benedictine Sisters of Chicago were well known for their long tradition of excellence in education at St. Scholastica Academy, and at far flung archdiocesan elementary schools, as well as mission schools in Colorado. But by 2006, the median age of the community's 62 members was 74. The sisters continued to advocate for justice and conduct outreach to marginalized people, and engaged in prison ministry and social action. But their income from ministry, Social Security and Medicare benefits was $500,000 short of annual expenses at their huge monastery, built in 1906, which dominates a 14.5-acre property two miles from Lake Michigan.
After 18 years of participation in the Retirement Fund for Religious, the sisters say they think differently about retirement than they did when members were young and numerous enough to adequately care for one another. Their strategic planning focuses on the health care needs of elderly members, and the sisters are at peace with accepting help from those they once taught.
Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Augustine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
An active men's community that receives grants.
It was 2002 and the Capuchin evangelization ministry flourished. In an inner city parish, an auditorium filled with couples of all ages who came to hear talks by a popular Capuchin who had been preaching for 27 years. The provincial secretary was leading pilgrimages to Assisi that were attracting more applicants than could be accommodated. Millions were tuning in to EWTN Global Catholic Network to hear the Capuchin host of Catholic Essentials: A Franciscan Living Retreat. At the same time, the median age of the community's 132 members was 62 and their retirement was 60 percent unfunded.
When the province sold its novitiate on the Severn River near Annapolis, it invested the proceeds for retirement. In 1980, the province entered the Social Security system. More recently, it set up a financial advisory board of external experts that monitors investments. An annual Basic Grant from the National Religious Retirement Office is applied to the province retirement fund. "Each working friar must support three—himself, an elder, and a young novice," said then Provincial Father Paul Kuppe. "That they do this is a testimony to frugal living. Salaries average $12,000 to $16,000, plus benefits."
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