Religious Life - Then,  Now,  Now What ? was the title of a gathering with young adult women held at The College of New Rochelle on Saturday, October 27. This was a follow up to last spring’s meeting, held in Greenwich, CT,  which focused on a panel of five young adult students addressing the topics of Religion and Spirituality. The panelists were:  Ursulines: Jeanne Brennan, and  Pat Schifini, Religious of the Sacred Heart: Nancy Kehoe, Margo Morris, and Kim King , and one V.H.M. Anne Elizabeth Fiore from Georgetown  Monastery. Each person on the panel represented a different age decade - a spread of some fifty years! They had been asked in advance to prepare the following questions for the presentation:

1. What was your image of religious life when you entered? What has met your expectations? How have you been disappointed?
2. If you could change one thing about religious life, what would it be? Why?
3. Have you ever encouraged or discouraged someone from entering? Why?
4. Given the challenges of religious life and the discouraging press it seems to receive, what keeps you in? Why are you still committed to it?

In spite of the age, ministry, and congregation differences, the panelists came across as happy, fulfilled women whose image of religious life has changed with the times and who seem to have successfully adjusted to these changes. All agreed that the media seems to present only negative stories of women religious, often focusing on those who have lost their way. The religious came across as alive, very involved in their ministry, very concerned for the poor and suffering, very interested in the wider world, very aware of,  and concerned about the issues facing the Church and the need of change for the future.

Following the presentations there was an interval for round table discussion on agreement and /or disagreement with the presentations. The religious present were then asked one last question, “what is one concrete thing you can commit to doing to encourage your own spiritual growth/religious life and that of young women?” The Young Adults were asked to pose questions or suggestions to the religious present and to name one concrete thing women religious might do to help young women’s spiritual growth. All agreed that the media and the lack of religious women’s visibility were obstacles to young women considering religious life. When the formal session ended it was heartening to hear animated conversations continue in small groups. Elisabeth Brinkmann, RSCJ and Imma DeStefanis, RSCJ were the prime movers behind both gatherings.