I don’t know anything about this group, but apparently a convent has recently been formed for older women, mostly apparently widowed, who feel they have a vocation to religious life. It is in the Diocese of Tyler (which also hosts an FSSP parish). They are called the Daughters of Divine Hope. Anybody know anything about them? Here’s an article from the Marshall newspaper:
new religious community has formed in the heart of Marshall as a once empty convent has become the home of the Daughters of Divine Hope – a unique community of nuns who have decided to take holy vows later in life.
“The Daughters of Divine Hope is being founded in large part to provide an opportunity for women over the age of 35 to enter into traditional consecrated life,” said the Rev. Gavin N. Vaverek, JCL, chaplain to the daughters. “Most religious communities accept younger women, but we live in a world now in which the life expectancy is much greater than in the past.”
The Daughters of Divine Hope was established in a decree Nov. 21 at the feast of Christ the King as Bishop Álvaro Corrado appointed the former Sue Kennedy, now Sister Susan Catherine, as director of the association, according to Catholic East Texas, a publication of the Diocese of Tyler.
Sister Susan Catherine professed private vows that same day and received the habit of the Daughters of Divine Hope for which she is also the foundress………
……”Bishop Corrada and I decided that, before I can direct anyone else through their novitiate, I should have that experience myself,” [It sounds like she is the first and only member of this community at present] she told Catholic East Texas. “It’s our hope that in a year’s time, we will admit several women for their novitiate, and we’ll be on our way.”
Sister Susan Catherine wears a deep-green habit and veil with a creme lace under-veil crossing her brow – green because it’s the color of hope. Her own hope is becoming fruitful as she founds the community, a response to finding no place for older women choosing this lifestyle.
“I discovered there was not an opportunity for women over 50 to enter consecrated life,” she told Catholic East Texas. “I found one community that was open to me, but it wasn’t my charisma.”
This group (of one person?) has their own website, describing them as an assocation of the faithful. I did not get a strong feel for what their charism will be – “serving publicly, offering hope.”
Anyway, perhaps there will be a new religious order at some point in the future.