New December 2005!
Communities Which Consider
Women Ages 45+We have drawn this list both from information on websites and from correspondence with individual communities. Unless otherwise stated, these communities accept women over the age of 45. Communities that we know or have corresponded their specific age limits to us have those limits noted . If you know of a community that accepts women over 45 that isn't listed here, or if we have a community listed here in error, please send a correction to us via e-mail.
Remember, even if a community gives an age limit, they will sometimes consider older vocations on an individual basis. It never hurts to contact them if you feel strongly attracted to that community.
Alabama
Arkansas
Olivetan Benedictine Sisters, Jonesboro, AR
Benedictine Sisters - St. Scholastica Monastery, Fort Smith, AR - age limit 18-45 but will consider older applicants on an individual basis
California
Carmelite Monastery, San Diego, CA - Prefer under 45, but will consider each candidate individually
Dominican Sisters, San Rafael, CA
Eudist Servants of the Eleventh Hour, San Diego, CA
Norbertine Sisters, Tehachepi, CA NEW March 10, 2007
Colorado
Benedictine Sisters of Benet Hill Monastery in Colorado Springs, CO - "We do not have an age limit. We take each person on an individual basis. We look at the health of the person and how well she can adjust to a life which is based on dependences on the community and interdependence among the members"
Florida
Benedictine Sisters, Holy Name Monastery, St. Leo, FL - will consider older candidates
Idaho
Monastery of St. Gertrude, Cottonwood, ID - age limit 20-45 with exceptions possible
Illinois
Benedictine Sisters - St. Scholastica Monastery, Chicago, IL - age limit 50
Benedictine Sisters - Sacred Heart Monastery, Lisle, IL
Sisters of Christian Charity, Wilmette, IL - age limit is ordinarily 50, but each applicant will be considered on an individual basis
Indiana
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent Depaul, Evansville, IN
Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, IN - no age limit
Benedictine Sisters - Dwelling Place Monastery, Martin, KY - will consider over 50
Iowa
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque, IA - no age limit
Kentucky
Sisters of the Lamb of God - no age limit
Maryland
Sisters of Bon Secours, Marriottsville, MD - age limit 50 but will consider exceptions
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent Depaul, Emmitsburg, MD
Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary, Salisbury, MD - age limit 50 with some exceptions possible UPDATED March 10, 2007
Oblate Sisters of Providence, Baltimore, MD - age limit 49
Massachusetts
Poor Clares - Monastery of St. Clare, Jamaica Plain, MA
Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception - no age limit but will work with each woman individually
Holy Union Sisters Milton, MA - no age limit, it depends, of course, on the mutual discernment of candidate and congregation
Sisters of St. Anne, Marlboro, MA
Sisters of St. Joseph, Boston, MA
Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield,MA - age limit 50 with exceptions on an individual basis
Michigan
Daughters of Divine Charity, Bloomfield Hills, MI - age limit 50
Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe, MI
Minnesota
Benedictine Sisters - Mount St. Benedict Monastery, Crookston, MN
Benedictine Sisters - St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth, MN - no age limit
Franciscan Sisters of St. Paul, MN
Missouri
Benedictine Sisters - Our Lady of Peace Monastery, Columbia, MO - age limit 50
Sisters of the Most Precious Blood, O'Fallon, MO - no age limit but will work with each woman individually
Visitation Monastery, St. Louis, MO - age limit 45 with possible exceptions UPDATED March 10, 2007
Nebraska
Franciscan Sisters of Joy, Omaha, NE - no age limit
New Jersey
Benedictine Sisters - St. Walburga Monastery, Elizabeth, NJ
Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth, Convent Station, NJ - age limit 21-40 with some exceptions on an individual basis depending on circumstances
New York
Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, NY (Dominican Sisters for Relief of Incurable Cancer) - age limit 50 UPDATED March 10, 2007
Dominican Nuns - Corpus Christi Monastery, Bronx, NY
Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, Brooklyn, NY
Handmaids of Nazareth, Pittsford, NY - no upper age limit and accept some women with physical/medical problems NEW March 10, 2007
Sisters of Life, Bronx, NY - no age 40 but do not accept mothers UPDATED March 10, 2007
Redemptoristine Nuns, Esopus, NY
North Dakota
Benedictine Sisters - Sacred Heart Monastery, Richardton, ND
Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Hankinson, ND
Ohio
Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Hubbard, OH - age limit 49, but each case is reviewed individually UPDATED March 10, 2007
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
Benedictine Sisters - Mount St. Benedict Monastery, Erie, PA
Benedictine Sisters - Transfiguration Monastery, Emmaus, PA - takes each women individually up to approximately age 50
Benedictine Sisters of Elk County, St. Marys, PA
Benedictine Sisters - St. Benedict Monastery, Pittsburgh, PA
Benedictine Nuns - St. Emma Monastery, Greensburg, PA
Sisters of Divine Providence, Allison Park, PA - no official age limit. However candidates are expected to be able to live in community, minister full-time, and continue to develop personally and spiritually
School Sisters of St. Francis, Pittsburgh, PA
Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Philadelphia, PA - no age limit
South Dakota
Mother of God Monastery, Watertown, South Dakota - no age limit
Texas
Congregation of Benedictine Sisters, Boerne, TX
Benedictines - St. Benedict's Monastery, Canyon, TX - age limit 60
Sisters of Divine Providence, San Antonio, TX - accept appropriate candidates up to age 50+
Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, Corpus Christi, TX
Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, Victoria, TX
Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, Ft. Worth, TX - Age limit is generally 18-40, but also accept older women after mutual discernment of candidate and congregation.
Utah
Immaculate Heart of Mary Monastery, Salt Lake City, UT - age limit 50
Virginia
Benedictine Sisters of Virginia, Bristow, VA - age limit 50 UPDATED March 10, 2007
Washington, D.C.
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Sisters of St. Rita (Augustinian Sisters), Racine, WI - age limit 56 UPDATED March 10, 2007
Carmel of the Sacred Heart, Hudson, WI - age limit 45, but willing to make exceptions.
Sinsiniwa Dominicans, Sinsiniwa, WI
Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary, Milwaukee, WI UPDATED March 10, 2007
Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross, Merrill, Wisconsin
Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis, Stevens Point, WI
Last updated May 21, 2007
