The Catholic Message Board

This video from 2023 has Raymond Arroyo interviewing (grilling?) Sr Donna Dodge over the Sisters of Charity (New York) no longer accepting new members tolling its soon demise. The order was founded in 1846. Since Vatican II and decisions to have the sisters not focus as exclusively on teaching and stop wearing the garb that was hallmark to the order the order has dwindled in new members.

Some of the men in my parish were discussing this video. Some even more traditionally inclined felt that Raymond was uncharitable in the interview. I'll admit, he doesn't give Sr. Donna Dodge much quarter. At times I'm sympathetic with that view. She seems pretty reluctant to be interview.

She does say some annoying things. It being God's providence that the order is closing.. given modern woman has numerous other ways to care for the poor. Which Raymond replies to with shaking his head "nah".... and reminding her of all of the good things for society the order she's involved with has done over the years: teaching, helping the poor, senior citizens, the homeless.

She ends with saying that it's "almost freeing" that they can serve the poor with the order closing. Raymond's reaction is pretty funny when she says that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUZEPI_wxcc

Don't get me started on my personal experiences with the women's orders. In both the US and overseas. Bipolar.

Most (if not all) dying orders--male and female both--are dying of self-inflicted wounds.

The Sisters I interacted with in Italy and Turkey, plus a couple of Polish Sisters, were inspirational. I was humbled by them.

The Sisters I have interacted with in the US were not.

There are flourishing women's orders in the US. Most of them can be found here: https://cmswr.org/about/member-communities/

Obi-Wan Kenobi wrote: ↑Tue Dec 09, 2025 5:55 pm There are flourishing women's orders in the US. Most of them can be found here: https://cmswr.org/about/member-communities/

I just realized the the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne was founded by a daughter of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

anawim wrote: ↑Tue Dec 09, 2025 7:59 pm

Obi-Wan Kenobi wrote: ↑Tue Dec 09, 2025 5:55 pm There are flourishing women's orders in the US. Most of them can be found here: https://cmswr.org/about/member-communities/

I just realized the the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne was founded by a daughter of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

Thank you for sharing this!

Now I have to find out what led her to the Catholic Church given Nathanial's ambivalence towards organized religion.