World News
Speakers tell leaders of men's orders how to bring in young people
Published: August 8, 2012
HOUSTON (CNS) -- Positive dreams, humor and a return to the Second Vatican Council's call for reading the signs of the times can help attract young people to religious orders today, several speakers told members of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men at their annual assembly in Houston. Jesuit Father Thomas Smolich, outgoing CMSM president, said the theme of the Aug. 1-4 assembly, "The Dream I Have for You," was "intended to give us, as leaders, some deeper insights into the experiences and perspectives of the dreamers among us ... our current and future younger members." "Historically, religious communities reach out to those most in need, those most alienated -- the dropped out and dropping in are those we are called to be with," he said. "Given the level of crisis, so well-known and analyzed in the digital age, there may not have been another era where the charisms of religious are so needed and offer so much." CMSM is made up of the leaders of men's religious orders who represent more 17,000 Catholic religious brothers and priests in the United States.
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