Dubuque, Ia. - At 62, Elsie Kippe was looking forward to retiring from 44 years of teaching in Iowa schools and touring the United States in an RV. Instead, she attended a spiritual retreat and asked the retreat director what to do with the rest of her life."
"She said to me, "Elsie, go home, turn off your television and listen to what God says to you." I went home, I listened, and this is what happened!" Kippe says, looking around her modest room at Mount St. Francis in Dubuque, the Motherhouse for the Sisters of St. Francis.
Kippe exchanged her retirement RV dream for another lifetime as a Franciscan sister.
"Elsie was the exception to join our community at 62," says Sister Janet May, vocation director for the Franciscans. "Our cutoff age for joining is 50. The formation process takes several years and we still want people active enough to do their chosen ministries."
Why would the Franciscans even consider accepting a retired schoolteacher into their community? Weren't all new sisters dewy-eyed and impish, as Sally Field had been in her role as "The Flying Nun"?
Not anymore. Changes in church regulations and in the American culture have given Catholic women increased options to becoming nuns.
"In the "40s and "50s religious vocations were rapidly expanding," Sister Janet says. "Families were larger and women had few options. If a young woman wanted an education or to experience growth, she joined the convent."
In the 1960s, the Catholic Church experienced radical changes and a spirit of reform and renewal was brought about by the Second Vatican Council. The changes promised relaxed regulations, liturgical reforms and a greater involvement in the church by lay people.
The sisters changed their lifestyles and clothing; there was an increased autonomy in their lives. The habits disappeared and the convents emptied out into smaller groups of sisters living together in apartments. Many sisters left their teaching and hospital work to capable lay people and went to "hidden ministries of prison, elderly, poor, shelters and social justice causes. Without the traditional habit and familiar ministries the sisters became invisible.
Not only were the sisters "invisible" but they also had fewer numbers. Sisters were making an exodus from their communities in large numbers, disillusioned or unable to cope with the changes set down by Vatican II. Fewer candidates were applying. Most convent communities were dwindling and aging.
The Franciscans were aging as well. The median age of its members is more than 70, but they are determined to remain viable. Creativity and flexibility for candidate recruitment are necessary survival skills.
"We haven't had any new candidates for a number of years, but the interest is starting to increase again . . . there is a thirst for spirituality and community out there," Sister Janet says.
Individuals who wish to share the life of faith and ministries of the Franciscans while living their own lifestyles become Franciscan associates. This program is open to either gender without regard to marital status. The associates proceed through a formation process but do not take vows of commitment.
Although the median age of current new candidates in formation is in the 30s, there is little difficulty bridging the generational gap.
"We are fascinated by the older sisters . . . they are the wise grandmothers of our community," Sister Janet says. "The new candidates and younger members of the order are inspired by their elders" stability, prayerfulness and deep commitment to their vows and community life. They are a gift to our community."
In the evening Sister Elsie joins the community in the chapel for prayer and meditation. An occasional dark brown veil interrupts the pattern of bowed, gray heads.
After prayer the Franciscan Sisters of the Holy Family gather for their evening meal. Laughter and lively conversation fill the large dining hall as anticipation heightens for tomorrow evening's Mardi Gras party. Snippets of the conversations reveal details of the outlandish costumes the sisters are planning to wear to the party.
"People believe sisters have to be something special," Sister Janet says. "We're just common, ordinary people."