Vocation Information

FAQ's

Q: Do the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus have an age limit?
A: Yes, we have an upper age limit of 35. This can occasionally be waived, with the permission of our General Superior (the Sister who leads all the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart throughout the world). We have an age limit because we have found that women who are beyond this age often have a more difficult time adapting to their new way of life. If you feel a strong call to our way of life, however, it never hurts to ask.

Q: What do I do if I am a "mature" vocation (in my 40's, 50's, or beyond)?
A: God can and does call women beyond the so-called "traditional" age of beginning religious life. If you are one of those called by God at a mature age, don't give up! Be very clear and explicit about your age when you correspond with religious congregations, so that you can know right away where you stand with that particular community.

Q: How do I choose a community?
A: There are as many ways of choosing a community as there are people. Some people choose according to a spirituality, for example, Ignatian, Benedictine, etc. Others choose in search of a prayer style, for example, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament or Liturgy of the Hours. Others may begin their search from their background of education or health care or foreign mission experience. Some seek local congregations instead of international ones. Some may have special circumstances, such as physical challenges, that limit their choices. It is important to be in touch with yourself, your own desires and dreams, and how you find God working in your life, before you decide on a particular community. Pray with several communities, and visit a few that appeal to you. This will give you a better idea of what's out there, before you apply to enter one. Find the community that seems to fit you, one that appeals to the life God is calling you to. Try to be open to all paths of life... from contemplative to active, monastic to missionary.

Q: Do you live in communities, or in apartments, etc?
A: We do not live alone or in shared apartments. The Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus have a mission of reconciliation. Community life, living together in a residence, gives us the opportunity to practice the healing and community building we want to provide to the world. We have the privilege and responsibility to spend time in Adoration and make that time available to others. This means that we live together with a chapel or church at the center of our home.

Q: Do you wear a habit?
A: Each Handmaid around the world wears a distinctive cross that serves as a sign of our identity. Many people on the streets know us by our cross! In the USA, most of us dress in simple, contemporary clothing, in the manner of the people whom we serve. Some sisters here and abroad do choose to wear the habit.

Q: Do I need a degree to be a Handmaid of the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
A: You do not have to have a college degree to be a Handmaid of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. However, we do ask that candidates have experience beyond high school, especially in some sort of service, or in the work world or an educational setting. Handmaids give a solid theological education to all our trainees. We ourselves are fundamentally educators from the time of our foundress, Saint Raphaela Mary. So, we want and the church needs our Sisters to be fully equipped for ministry!

Q: What do you do (as a career?)
A: Historically, our first ministries were schools and retreat centers. Today whatever educates invites our collaboration. Some of us are hospital chaplains and artists; others, therapists or ethnic community leaders. Still others, administrators, translators, community organizers. Handmaids work in immigration legal services, at parish and diocesan level, and more. We are not a "teaching order". We are a "repairing" or "reconciling" congregation that takes many forms of service. This world needs a lot of repairwomen doing all sorts of things!

Q: What do you do all day?
A: Well, as far as our "day jobs", read the question above! We Handmaids center our lives on Eucharist, so Mass and Adoration take priority in daily life. We pray in community and individually. We do the various things that any family must, like cook, clean, and take out the trash! Some of us study, others work full-time outside the home, while still others work within the community as our "job".

Q. Are American Handmaids ever missioned beyond the United States?
A: Yes, American Handmaids have been missioned in Asia, Europe, Central America and South America. Indeed, our stance before our world is one of concern about how to evangelize, using the resources of our charism. Our international dimension is key to a Handmaid vocation. Its source is twofold. Our Constitutions invite the Handmaid to be available for "any part of the world where there is hope of God's greater glory"; And Saint Raphaela Mary dreamed that we would be "universal like the church".

Q. Do you make retreats during the year?
A: Yes. Once a year, all Handmaids make an eight-day retreat of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola. During the first year novititate and immediately before final profession of vows, we make the Ignatian 30-day retreat.

Q: Is there a "brother" community of men associated with the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
A: No, however, men can become lay associates. We value the experience and wisdom of men and find their participation in our mission of reparation enriching to us and to them.

Q: How do you live out poverty?
A: Each Handmaid community owns everything in common. Being women of Eucharist, our Core Values of Simplicity and Hospitality, urge us to share all that we are and have. We conserve our resources and try to provide an alternative life to the consumerism that is devouring the world. .We are committed to preserving our earth. At the same time we know that to serve well, we need to provide comfortable meeting spaces in our homes, have a dignified chapel, use a computer (like the one I am working on now), and so on. The defining factor is: "Will this item help further God's kingdom?"

Q: Are you "conservative?" "liberal?"
A: Yes. (Smile). The Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus are diverse like the Church, which means we have many different points of view. We do not identify ourselves by a political moniker. Rather, we use Jesus and the compassion of His Sacred Heart as our context. We conserve what is holy and move to liberate what is in need of freedom. So, yes, we are conservative and liberal. We think with the church, whose leader, Jesus, both fully conserves who God is for us and liberates all that lacks truth, justice, and love. Handmaids strive to do the same.

Q: Do Handmaids visit their family?
A: Certainly! Handmaids value family ties and we appreciate renewing the bonds we have with our blood family. Of course, many Handmaids around the world are not living in their home country and cannot visit their family every year. We count the blessings of this internet age to keep us closely in touch. Our local community and province is our "immediate family", but just like your married friends, that doesn't stop us from going back to mom, dad, and the cousins.

Q: What do I do if I think I want to be a Handmaid?
A: The first step to becoming a Handmaid of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is to get to know us. If you live nearby one of our communities (in Wyncote, Haverford, and Philadelphia, PA, or Athens and Atlanta, GA, or in Miami, FL), come and meet us! If you live farther away, email us a little information about yourself and we can start getting to know you through cyberspace.

Q: [Your Question]
A: There have to be more questions out there. Ask them! Email us, or if you want to be anonymous, use our feedback form.

For Additional Vocation Inquiries:
Contact person: Sister Uyen-Chi Dang, acj
Telephone: (610)-642-5715
E-mail: uyenchidang@hotmail.com

Director of Formation: Sister Sagrario Núñez acj
Telephone: (267)-627-5292
Email: sagrario1@juno.com