Page 12 - Unity Edn 44

Vocations

Vocations Mythbusters

In the United States a study conducted in 2009

revealed a number of myths about Vocations.
They titled one of their releases, “Mythbusters!”

While there is a difference between the United

States and Australia, and the research is just
over 10 years old, it is the best study to date and is relevant for us

here. Enjoy…

Myth #1: No one is entering a focused mission, who live in
religious life anymore. community, who have regular prayer
Fact: More than 70 percent of all and sacramental life, and who wear
religious communities (both men’s and a habit show a higher proportion of
women’s) report having new members newer members. The study indicates
in formation. Nearly 20 percent have that men and women are also drawn
five or more people in some stage to other types of religious life.
of formation. These numbers do not
reflect the large number of entrants Myth #4: Women entering
in the 1950s and ’60s, although many religious life want to wear habits.
people have used this period as a point Fact: Both men and women seem to
for comparison. The 2009 NRVC/CARA be drawn to habited communities.
Study on Recent Vocations sets the About two thirds of the newer
benchmark for the current century. members say they belong to a
religious institute that wears a
Myth #2: Most vocations are habit. Among those that responded
coming from older/second-career affirmatively, a little more than half
candidates. indicate that the habit is required in
Fact: Our study indicates that the all or most circumstances.
average age of men who entered Interestingly, almost half of the men
religious life since 1993 was 30. For who belong to an institute that does
women the age was 32. The data not wear a habit say they would wear
also shows that 71 percent of those it if it were an option, compared
in initial formation are under 40. to nearly a quarter of the women
Although there always has been, and respondents.
always will be a place for older or
second career candidates in religious Myth #5: Entering religious life is
life, our study results have confirmed a last resort.
what we have tracked in our Vocation Fact: New members to religious life
Match Annual Trends Survey, which is report having rich options available to
that an increasing number of younger them—in terms of career, education,
people are looking at religious life as and personal life choices. Seventy
a possible life option. percent of respondents had at least a
bachelor’s degree before entering, with
Myth #3: Conservative/ one third of these respondents also
traditional communities are the having degrees in higher education.
only communities attracting new Nine out of ten respondents said that
members. they were employed prior to entering
Fact: Religious institutes that have their institutes.

12 Catholic Community of the Northern Territory, Diocese of Darwin