In the United States, less than 1% of nuns are aged 30 or younger, a statistic that has not changed significantly over the last ten years and shows little indication of improvement. Each year, between 100 and 200 young women consider entering a religious vocation, although not all will successfully complete the journey to become fully initiated nuns.

For those who do choose this path, it requires significant sacrifices, including foregoing relationships, material comforts, and, in some cases, even the use of cell phones and trendy apparel, as they commit themselves to a deeply spiritual life and a community that spans generations. Meanwhile, the average age of a nun in America is around 80, highlighting the urgency and challenges that the Catholic Church faces in recruiting new members. Earlier this year, the Pope called on religious orders to intensify prayers for an increase in both priests and nuns, acknowledging the decline of individuals entering the Catholic faith, particularly in Europe and the U.S.

In August, 24-year-old Zoey Stapleton became a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother, located in rural Toronto, Ohio. This group is part of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, an association known for its more conservative stance compared to the larger Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Emulating their patron saint, Francis of Assisi, who led a life of poverty, these nuns wear simple habits — a long white veil and grey robes, often paired with modern footwear. To preserve their lifestyle, they limit their interaction with modern technology, sharing a few flip phones and using internet access sparingly for their ministry. Stapleton felt drawn to the community due to the joy and freedom she perceived in the sisters’ connection with the divine, expressing her desire to deeply share her love for the Lord.

Financial burdens, such as student loan debt, present significant obstacles for many educated young women considering a religious life. Katie Power, a 23-year-old aspiring nun with the Carmelites of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in Pennsylvania, stated, “Like almost half of all those discerning in the U.S., I’m blocked from my vocation because of student loans.” She has been actively fundraising with the help of the Labouré Society, a Catholic organization dedicated to assisting young women with religious vocations in settling their debts. Power continues to share her journey with various church communities in search of donations to help finance her transition into the religious life, hoping to enter as a postulant by summer after becoming debt-free by December.

Typically, it takes between seven to ten years for a woman to complete the process of becoming a Catholic sister or nun. This journey begins with a postulant stage, where individuals begin to live with the order. A woman officially becomes a sister once she enters the novitiate, followed by a year of focused prayer and study regarding the order’s vows. After making temporary vows, she can then proceed to make final initiatives. Sister Seyram Mary Adzokpa faced her unique hurdles when seeking her vocation during the pandemic, having to meet Sisters of the Holy Family virtually. With a background in nursing, Adzokpa, at age 30, stands among four women in the New Orleans community who are under 40. Her new order differs from groups like the Franciscan Sisters, whose members have an average age of 40, as the Sisters of the Holy Family average in the 70s, maintaining a commitment to welcoming new members despite the recruitment struggles many face.

The Sisters of the Holy Family operate a nursing home named Lafon Nursing Facility of the Holy Family, where the presence of older sisters allows Adzokpa to utilize her nursing skills actively. She assists in health assessments and care for the sisters, working alongside the facility’s professional nursing staff. Adzokpa shares her appreciation for not experiencing isolation due to the significant age differences, finding joy in the conversations and connection she maintains with the elderly. “The joy is undeniable,” she affirms, painting a picture of a communal existence filled with purpose and spiritual fulfillment that intergenerational living can provide.