The Apostolate

Frequently Asked Questions

 

1. What is an Apostolic Visitation?

An Apostolic Visitation is conducted under the auspices of the Apostolic See. A visitation is a formal but personal meeting with the superiors and members of a religious community which offers an opportunity to comment on various aspects of community and religious life.

2. Who is the Apostolic Visitator?

Mother Mary Clare Millea, A.S.C.J., Superior General of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, has been appointed to oversee the entire Apostolic Visitation.

3.  What has prompted this Visitation?

The Congregation for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life exercises oversight in relation to all religious institutes throughout the world. Like other vocations in the Church, religious life has passed through challenging times. The Congregation for Consecrated Life is aware that many new congregations have emerged in the United States while many others have decreased in membership or have an increased median age. Apostolic works have also changed significantly because of societal changes.  These and other areas need to be better understood and assessed in order to safeguard and promote consecrated life in the United States.

In a press statement released on November 3, 2009, Cardinal Rodé indicated that for many years his dicastery “had been listening to concerns expressed by American Catholics – religious, laity, clergy and hierarchy – about the welfare of religious women and consecrated life in general, and had been considering an Apostolic Visitation as a means to assess and constructively address these concerns.” He expressed his hope that “the Apostolic Visitation will not only provide the Holy See with a thorough analysis of the condition of religious life in the United States, but also be a realistic and graced opportunity for personal and community introspection, as major superiors and sisters cooperate with this study.” 

4. What is the process for the Apostolic Visitation?

The process is being carried out in four chronological phases: input voluntarily offered by superiors general; documentation and information requested by the Visitator; on-site visits by visitation teams; and the compilation of findings into a report to the Prefect of the Congregation for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

5. Why are cloistered contemplative communities not included in the Visitation?

Since the life style and needs of contemplative communities are very different from those of apostolic communities, this study is limited to focusing on the quality of life of the nearly 400 institutes in the United States engaged in apostolic activities.

6.   Why are congregations of male religious not included in this Visitation?

Various congregations of male religious were interviewed during the recent United States Seminary Study. In addition, this Visitation is guided by the scope of the mandate given to the Visitator.

7.   Are the United States bishops responsible for funding the Apostolic Visitation?

No. The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life is ultimately responsible for funding the project. The bishops have been invited by the Holy See to voluntarily contribute their financial support to help offset the expenses which will be incurred by this work for the future of apostolic religious life in the United States.

8. How will data collected in the course of the Apostolic Visitation be used?
Data gathered through the personal interview of the superiors general with the Visitator, the responses to Parts A, B, and C of the Questionnaire, individual correspondence, and site visits will be used to provide a comprehensive and composite profile of the congregations in light of the charge given to the Apostolic Visitator.  Religious congregations are complex organizations so a broad spectrum of data helps the Apostolic Visitator assess the strengths and concerns for the congregation.

9. With whom will congregational data be shared? 
The Apostolic Visitator will use the data gathered to prepare her report for Cardinal Rodé, Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated life and Societies of Apostolic Life.  The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) will prepare an aggregate report of the quantitative data collected from all reporting institutes in Part A of the Questionnaire. Individual Congregations will not be identified in any way. Cardinal Rodé has authorized the public release of this report.

10. What happens to the documentation submitted in response to Parts A, B, and C when the Apostolic Visitation is concluded?
All documents and information received in response to Parts A, B, and C of the questionnaire will be returned to the major superior or destroyed once they have been studied and are no longer needed.  No copies of these documents will be retained by the Apostolic Visitation Office. 

11. Do the religious institutes have to submit financial information?
Mother Clare’s letter of November 5, 2009 to the major superiors indicated that this requirement has been withdrawn.

12. Will I get a response back from the Apostolic Visitation if I send them a confidential letter?
The Apostolic Visitation Office will not normally respond to confidential letters, but each one is carefully considered. The Office continues to welcome and appreciate correspondence from sisters or anyone else who would like to share their concerns, hopes, or stories.

13. Is the Apostolic Visitation connected to the Doctrinal Assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious?
The Apostolic Visitation is independent of the doctrinal assessment of LCWR. The Apostolic Visitation was initiated by the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. It is concerned with individual congregations. The LCWR study is an initiative of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and is being carried out by that dicastery.

14. How are visitors chosen for the visitation teams?
Many fine religious were recommended as potential visitors by their major superiors, bishops, priests, and sisters. From these nominees Mother Clare invited representatives of various congregations, ministries, and areas of expertise to serve on visiting teams.

15.  On what basis will congregations be chosen for an on-site visit?
Once the questionnaires and other materials gathered about the individual congregations have been evaluated by core team of religious who are aiding the Visitator, Mother Clare will choose a representative sample of congregations to be visited. The size of the congregation, its principal apostolic works, and its geographical location will be considered. On-site visits will be made to both diocesan and pontifical right congregations.

16.   When will the visits take place?
The on-site visits will take place in the spring and fall of 2010.

17.   What will be expected of those to be visited?
The congregations to be visited will be asked to provide lodging and meals for the visiting team and, if possible, to cover their transportation expenses. More specific details will be sent to the selected congregations in a timely manner.

18. Do all the sisters who are visited have to make the profession of faith and the oath of fidelity?

No. The sisters who are visited will not be asked to make a public profession of faith and an oath of fidelity.  Only the members of the visiting teams will have pronounced an oath of fidelity to the Apostolic See made by those assuming an office to be exercised in the name of the Church. This profession carries with it a special grace which will strengthen the Visitors in their delicate task. It will assist them to faithfully carry out their role in communion with the sound teachings and practice of the Catholic Church and not according to their own private judgment or subjective ideology.

19. The media, as well as other sources, offer widening opinions about the Apostolic Visitation.  The sisters are confused at times.  How can you help?
As Mother Clare stated in a letter to the Major Superiors, the Apostolic Visitation has been initiated so that religious life and the life-giving works that flow from it will continue far into the future. It is widely acknowledged that our witness to Christ and our works of love have in large measure built up the Church in the United States and continue to contribute to the vitality of its faith. The Apostolic Visitation seeks to listen to and affirm the dignity of all women religious who serve the Church with exemplary love.
In addition, as Cardinal Rodé recently stated, “this Apostolic Visitation hopes to encourage vocations and assure a better future for women religious.” It offers women religious a valuable opportunity for prayerful and thoughtful self-examination to discern and foster avenues of growth and vitality in their congregations.

 

Please continue to forward questions and concerns to 

Apostolic Visitation Office, P.O.Box 4328, Hamden, CT 06514-9998 

Phone: 203-287-5467