What is your charism?
The charism of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity is love. While that can sound ambiguous, it actually allows each individual person to respond to the needs of the Gospel given their unique skillset and gifting within certain parameters of the Community. While we are not an active order, there are opportunities for itinerary ministry and hospitality. While we are not an educational or institutional community, there are opportunities to learn and teach.
Are you orthodox in your Catholicity?
We maintain our fidelity to the teachings of the Catholic Church, especially as is written in the Catechsim of the Catholic Church. We also maintain filiial obedience to the the Bishop of Rome and the local bishop of the Diocese of Little Rock, under whose vigilance, we were established as a Public Association of the Faithful.. We also hold that dogmatic accuracy is not a substitute for the mystical and contemplative life, of which there are an abundance of resources and traditions that we use while viewing them all within a Catholic and Franciscan monastic perspective.
I still carry debt …
An obstacle to pursuing a religious vocation, indeed. In an ideal scenario, candidates would already have retired personal debt (educational, mortgage, credit cards) prior to entering. While the Brothers and Sisters of Charity cannot assume that debt on behalf of candidates, we can help in finding resources aimed specifically at helping candidates alleviate debt prior the entering a religious vocation.
Can I visit? Can my family visit?
There is a Vocation Retreat weekend scheduled in the year. But if that weekend is not available for you, then we can arrange for a Come and See visit at a time mutually convenient. This can be arranged with the Vocations Director and/or Guest Master in advance.
As for family visits once you have entered, yes! Of course your family can arrange a visit. St. Francis of Assisi is noted as saying, “something about a Friar’s parents being the parents of all the friars.”
What are the living arrangements for a mixed gender community?
Of the housing arrangements here, there is a designated separate section for the monks and one for the nuns.
The Sister’s Skete is a U-shaped building with private rooms along an interior hallway. Each room has a captain’s bed, a closet and a chair. Each room also has an exterior door that leads to a small private garden. There are common bathrooms, common lounge, and common laundry.
The Brothers’ Grove has separate private units with a lake view. These hermitages are about 230 square feet, each with a private bath, a closet and limited storage. There’s enough space for a single bed, a desk, and a set of drawers.
Do I have to be a Roman Catholic?
While we do have ecumenical sensitivities, we function as a community from a Roman Catholic monastic perspective. Those considering joining the Catholic Church should participate in the RCIA program at the local parish and acclimate themselves to a new ecclesial tradition. Participation with Domestic Expression of the Brothers and Sisters during that time would be encouraged.
Am I worthy enough for a monastic vocation?
The monastic vocation is a mysterious calling from the Lord. None of us deserve it, yet He still calls in order to carry out His Will for establishing the Kingdom. Everyone has a past, but the sublime calling of monastic life does not preclude one’s history; rather, it will be redeemed.
I have a chronic health condition? And what about health insurance?
Our remote location — we are 11 miles outside of town to the nearest clinic and 35 miles to the nearest large-scale hospital — make access to doctors and pharmacies complicated because of the disruption it causes to the daily routine. We do maintain a small cupboard with everyday over-the-counter medications to help with aches and pains, colds and fevers.
Regarding health insurance, the community does not provide it. Members are encouraged to avail of state-funded insurance programs to help minimize the cost regular and routine medical attention.
My family is not supportive of this prospect right now …
The vocation stories of St. Francis and Assisi and St Therese of Lisieux are well noted. They represent the wide-spectrum of a family’s response to a religious vocation. In the case of an unsupportive family and in light of the Fourth Commandment to “honor your father and mother, one can feel a tension caused by the desire to follow the Lord’s call and the responsibilities of family relationships. These delicate situations are common, so this is no reason to despair. But these situations are best navigated with the assistance of a wise Spiritual Director and/or Vocations Director who can help you see the providential hand of God in all things.
What about giving up all the things of the world? It sounds so sour ..
Indeed, the monastic life is one filled with sacrifice. In Chapter 49 of his Rule, St. Benedict does say that “the life of a monk ought to be a continual Lent.” While there are many commentaries as to what St. Benedict meant, we understand this from the perspective of balance and moderation in our spirituality and common life. Yes, there is struggle and sacrifice in embracing the Cross of Jesus, but there is also joy in experiencing His resurrection. Our community does have the opportunity to watch movies and listen to music during times of scheduled recreation; we are able to keep in contact with our family and some of our friends once in a while. There are rare opportunities to go off-site on hikes or to restaurants for the sake of building relationships among members. On occasion, we even enjoy a scrumptious home-cooked meal … with desert even! We find ourselves become more grateful for pleasurable occasions of respite from our disciplines because we have voluntarily given up all for the sake of all.
Why the Brothers and Sisters of Charity?
In the course of monastic history, there are notable reforms that vivify life that has become stale. The vision of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity is a modern-day response towards the revivification of monastic life in this country. While firmly rooted within the monastic tradition, and canonically embraced by the Catholic Church, the Brothers and Sisters of Charity — especially the Monastic Expression — is poised, with this lofty vision, to be discovered as part the contemplative beating heart of the Church today.