What happens when parents become old and/or ill?
That is probably one of the most pressing questions facing both communities and individuals. In the past nuns very rarely went home for any reason, but today, with smaller families and people living longer, it no longer makes sense, if it ever did, to say that nuns may not help their aged parents in any way. However, it is for the superior to decide what would be appropriate. It is never easy to balance the needs of community and family. Every effort will be made to meet genuine need with compassion and generosity, but please don’t expect any “care clauses” in your terms of engagement! That isn’t how a monastery operates.
