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| Sr Florence Deacon |
Like the sisters of her era, Deacon began religious life in a long, black habit and expected to live a more insular life than she does today.check out the whole article
But the Second Vatican Council changed that, urging women religious to re-examine the original charisms, or missions, of their orders, and to find new ways to apply them in the contemporary world. For Deacon, as a Franciscan, that charism stressed a care for all creation. [I wonder if any of these so called Franciscans have ever bothered to read what Francis actually wrote, not to mention Bonaventure, Duns Scotus, and down the line.]
"We began to see new needs that were not being met - the homeless on the streets and prisoners behind bars," she said. "Sister moved out to new, social ministries to meet the needs of the marginalized."
Many shed their habits - derided [or cheered] by some as a portable cloister - to be closer to the laity. And today, sisters, who once worked primarily as nurses and teachers, are parish administrators, social activists, social workers, lawyers, academics, presidents of hospitals and universities, and more. [Miserere nobis!]
She entered the Milwaukee based Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi when she was only 16 years old.
The article mentions the average age of LCWR members is well into the 70s.
After reading "Sisters in rebellion" over at Renew America, can these orders be entirely to blame for their own demise?
HT Steve Kuhl
