Mom joins the convent; grown sons cope; religious orders get boost as women choose a second vocation - Nation - mothers becoming nuns - Statistical Data Included

National Catholic Reporter, August 16, 2002 by Jean Gordon

"I can't think of it as an end, I have to think of it as a beginning," said Quinn about the changes she has made since joining the Mercys: the move out of her apartment, quitting her teaching job and reshaping her relationships with her sons.

Though she is not yet a full-fledged sister, life as a religious novice has shown Quinn the impact a sister can have. "I think the fact there's a vocation here and the kids can ask questions is good," she said. "A little fourth-grader said, `My mother wanted me to be a sister, but I wanted to get married, and, ooh, you've been married, and now you're going to be a sister! Maybe I could still do that.'"

Quinn said that though she was happy she was a role model to the 9-year-old, she couldn't help but reply with a giggle, "I don't think you're supposed to do it in that order."

Barbara Quinn entered the Sisters of Mercy as a postulant in 2000, will take her first vows in two years and will make final profession in 2007.

A sampling of women's religious communities that accept women who have grown children:

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas www.sistersofmercy.org

Sisters of Mercy, Albany, N.Y. Sr. Helen Dillon (518) 437-3000 hdillon@stpetershealthcare.org

Sisters of Mercy, Detroit, Mich. Sr. Mary Ellen Matts (248) 476-800 memattsrsm@aol.com

Racine Dominicans, Racine, Wis Sr. Kathy Slesarop (262) 639-4100 ksop@execpc.com www.racinedominicans.org

School Sisters of Notre Dame, Milwaukee, Wis. Sr. Marcie Solms (414) 220-9828 msolms@ssnd-milw.org

Sisters of Charity, Cincinnati, Ohio Sr. Mary Kay Bush (513) 347-5471 SMKSfasc@beachlink.com www.srcharitycinti.org

Sisters of St Benedict, Ferdinand, Ind. Sr. Anita Louise Lowe (812) 367-1411 vocation@thedome.org www.thedome.org

Jean Gordon is a freelance writer based in Brooklyn, N.Y.