“Whether we are in a maze of reactions in Jerusalem or the harrowing journey of Exodus, the truth is, we can’t come to liberation alone.”
It turns out, seriously exploring this way of life is a threat to the life one already has…which, of course, is the whole point."
Sarah Jane Bradley was one of the residents of the Nuns & Nones pilot residency. Her reflections are the inaugural blog post of our #surpriseweresoulmates storytelling campaign, highlighting the many instances of alchemy when our communities combine.
From Adam Horowitz, Nuns & Nones organizer: “A long-form personal essay that chronicles the beginnings of Nuns & Nones, the unlikely path that led me to live at a convent in California, and some of the insights and future possibilities emerging along the way. Whether you’ve never met a nun or are one, I hope that there’s something in this story that speaks to you!”
Tom Roberts, editor at large for National Catholic Reporter, writes on where he finds hope in the Nuns & Nones movement.
In Part 2 of this series, Global Sisters Report explores the parallels between the unlikely community of women religious and millennial "nones" and their potential for a meaningful collaboration. While the decline in numbers at institutional congregations may be a discouraging trend to some, the union of these two groups may answer who could inherit the charisms that animate religious life today.
There’s no one-size-fits-all model for Nuns & Nones, nor is there a “checklist” that signals success: In Minneapolis, success has looked like steady, consistent gatherings. In Philadelphia, a standalone gathering in 2017 sparked a lifelong relationship between a queer, Jewish organizer and the Sisters of Mercy. Anneke Kat, Stina Kielsmeier-Cook, and Sr. Stephanie Spandle, SSND share their stories.
Just a week after the launch of the DC Nuns & Nones group, many sisters were involved in a national Catholic Day of Action, at which 70 Catholics were arrested during a direct action in protest of the US government’s cruel treatment of immigrants at the border. Sr. Joan Mumaw, IHM and Brittany Koteles were both involved. Here’s what they shared about their experience.
As with any dialogue across difference, there are bound to be bumpy moments. At one point, it felt like the “honeymoon phase” of the Grand Rapids group was over. But rather than view this shift as a loss, the group took an intentional “pause” in order to collectively discern how to continue to deepen in community. Ellie Hutchison Cervantes and Sr. Justine Kane, OP share their reflections.
You’ve found the spiritual renegades in your community. How do you actually plan a first encounter between these people? Yi Zhang, Adam Horowitz, and Sr. Joan Marie O’Donnell, RSM shared a few of the highlights, how-tos, and secret ingredients that allowed the Bay Area Nuns & Nones group to continue thriving, 2 ½ years after its launch.
