Laboure Society

Friday Trivia! According to the recent CARA Study, Religious Communities report that 1 in __ serious inquirers in the past four years have brought student debt with them. Hint: https://buff.ly/3AiK1rL

Study on priest and religious student debt finds it can be a barrier to vocations Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune poses alongside many of the priests of the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, at a recent ordination. The diocese has seen a recent surge in vocations / Credit: The Catholic Miscellany/Doug Deas CNA Staff, Aug 1, ...

"What we see in Mary’s glorious Assumption is our own potential for holiness." While a Labouré aspirant, Br. Anselm Kelly, O.P., wrote a beautiful reflection on the Assumption of Mary. Two years later he made his first vows on this Feast Day!

Since Our Lady was conceived without the stain of original sin on her soul, God chooses her to be the Mother of His only begotten Son. The Son of God receives a human nature through her acceptance of and cooperation with God’s will. Of course, her role as the Mother of God does not end with giving birth or even raising the Son of God. Her role as His mother is a much deeper and intimate role as she completely adheres to the Son’s redemptive work (CCC, 966), remaining with Him throughout the pain and agony of His Passion until his last breath. (Lumen Gentium, 58). Furthermore, since she was detached from all sin, she did not suffer the effects of sin, namely death and decay. For this reason, she was assumed body and soul into heaven. What we see in Mary’s glorious Assumption is our own potential for holiness.

Mary is without a doubt the perfect model of faith and charity. She was never separated from God and was never resistant to His grace. It is easy to say that we should all be like Mary because she does what God wants, but if we put ourselves in Mary’s place, we see that God was asking a lot of her. Enduring pregnancy, giving birth and raising a child is no small feat; the fact that the child is the Son of God undoubtedly increases the pressure. Furthermore, Mary had to see her Son scourged, taunted, beaten, humiliated, made to carry His cross and die while standing by. Only Mary’s incredible faith and trust in God sustained her through those moments.

When Our Lady was Assumed into Heaven and crowned the Queen of Heaven, she became “more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death” (CCC, 966). When we place our trust in God, when we rely on His grace to free us from the burden of our sins. When we live charitably, when we accept and follow God’s will, we too become more conformed to Christ. If we persevere in pursuing God and His will in this life, by not allowing ourselves to become separated from Him through sin, we too will be more fully conformed to Him in heaven in the communion of saints in the next life.

Dominican Friars of the Province of Saint Joseph

A DOZEN Labouré alumni have been ordained or made final vows this year! Our recent study with CARA revealed that student loan debt is still a significant obstacle to Vocations, but it is clear that The Labouré Society program is concretely working to resolve this issue as we continue to deliver more priests, sisters, and brothers to the Church.

“It is because of Labouré that I am able to enter into the Sisters of Life, a community that serves women who are in pregnancies vulnerable to abortion, and that helps women heal after abortion." Sr. Israel Mercy Magnificat, Sisters of Life; Labouré Alumna

Did you know? Canon Law says of Religious Communities: "Superiors are not to admit to the novitiate...those who, burdened by debts, cannot repay them." (Can. 644) In Her wisdom, the Church, allows Religious Communities to maintain the freedom of poverty by protecting them from being burdened by debts. This rule and obstacle becomes a blessing for the aspirants of The Labouré Society.

Father Brandon Dang, former Vocation Director for the Diocese of Orange: “there are many people who are discerning, and because of [their debt]..., they don't even come to the door at the vocation's office.” What else do Vocation Directors want you to know about Vocations and student loan debt? Find out here: https://buff.ly/3SDrU64

Happy Feast of St. Dominic to all of our alumni who are Dominican religious. Here are some of their smiling faces!

Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Albert the Great
Dominican Friars of the Province of Saint Joseph
Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist
Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia

EWTN honored us with their presence at our recent Labouré Live Training Weekend. We are so grateful for the recent exposure about the CARA study and our mission. This episode includes interviews with current aspirants and alumni at LLTW. Sr. Josephine Garrett and John Flanagan also break down the findings of the CARA study. Check out this excellent EWTN News In Depth episode! https://buff.ly/4dzrQwq

EWTN NEWS IN DEPTH - 2024-08-02 - Exclusive Report on Student Loan Impact on Vocations; Major Prison A study exclusively reported on by EWTN News reveals religious institutions and dioceses are spending big dollars to help pay off the student loan debts of t...

In this interview Fr. Scott Bahrke, Labouré alumnus and Board Member, shared about his Vocation and how Labouré gave him hope that he could become a priest despite his student loan debt. They also discuss the new CARA study! Listen here: https://buff.ly/3AleVj0

EWTN Catholic Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee

Congratulations to recent Laboure alumnus Michael Horka and his fellow postulants on entering this next stage of formation with the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph (also home to Laboure alumnus Fr. Javier Rodriguez)!

The study conducted by The Labouré Society and CARA found that:
1. 80% of dioceses face formal applicants with student loan debt
2. 70% of religious institutes report being impacted by the student loan debt of serious inquirers
3. 19% of religious institutes are seeing an increase in candidates with student loan debt.

Did you know that some never fulfill their Vocation to priesthood or religious life due to student loans? This eye-opening article by the National Catholic Register lays out the latest findings of the study done by Labouré and CARA on educational debt and Vocations. https://buff.ly/4d4B6sd

National Catholic Register CARA

Study on Priest and Religious Student Debt Finds It Can Be a Barrier to Vocations John Flanagan, executive director of the Labouré Society, noted that canon law requires those entering religious life to be free from debts that they are unable to pay.

“This report sheds invaluable light on a growing barrier to religious vocations—educational debt. Our commitment remains stronger than ever to support these courageous men and women who must navigate these financial hurdles to answer their true calling." John Flanagan, Executive Director of the Labouré Society

CARA

We were honored to have EWTN News Nightly break the story on our updated study with the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA). This study unveils new findings on the impact of educational debt on vocations to the Catholic Priesthood and Religious Life. Learn more here: https://buff.ly/3AiTvmA
The segment about the CARA study begins at 18:05: https://buff.ly/3SwVgmO

EWTN News Nightly | Wednesday, July 31, 2024 In the span of 12 hours, the leaders of both Hamas and Hezbollah were killed in targeted assassinations. A new study takes a closer look at the impact of edu...

Please join us in praying for Sr. Faustina Lightfoot, M.S. who will celebrate her final profession of vows with the Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln, NE this Sunday, August 4th. Sr. Faustina is a beloved Labouré alumna and will be joining our Board of Directors! Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln, NE

Have you heard Sister Josephine Garrett's talk from the National Eucharistic Congress? We are so blessed to have this sister as a Labouré graduate and she is such a gift to the Church! https://buff.ly/4c8s4sW

Sister Josephine Garrett's Full Speech at the National Eucharistic Congress Watch the full speech of Sister Josephine Garrett on day two of the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana.Sr. Josephine was born and raised ...

The Laboure Society teaches a relationship-based model of philanthropy. The pillars of this model are: Letter, Call, Meeting, Gratitude. We train aspirants in forming relationships through one-on-one meetings with benefactors. Benefactors support Vocations and are promised life-long prayers!

Can you guess which major Catholic news station we were privileged to have at Labouré Live Training Weekend? Tell us your best guess and keep an eye out for the exclusive story they are running next week about The Labouré Society and our mission to rescue Vocations from student loan debt. We are so grateful for the opportunity to spread the word about this problem and what can be done to solve it.

At our recent Labouré Live training, we were delighted to welcome a Dominican trifecta: Fr. Samuel Hakeem, OP, Vocation Director for the Dominican Province of St. Albert, along with current Class 28 aspirant Christian, discerning with the Dominicans, AND his mentor, Labouré alumnus Br. Joseph Hilliker, OP!

Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Albert the Great

Labouré helps aspiring priests and religious brothers and sisters develop confidence and evangelism skills as they overcome educational debt. Case in point: alumni Sr. Josephine Garrett, Eucharistic Congress presenter, and Fr. Scott Bahrke (pictured attending the EC with current Labouré aspirants)!



Catholic Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee

Did you experience a call to religious life or priesthood at the National Eucharistic Congress? You are not alone! The Eucharist is closely tied to Vocations. We often hear of calls to religious life and priesthood beginning in Eucharistic Adoration or Mass, where we are most intimately united with Christ. If you are feeling this tug and are worried your student loan debt is an obstacle we are here to help! Contact us today: https://buff.ly/4flKols

Rebecca Goldberger, a postulant with the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is just one of many Laboure graduates attending the National Eucharistic Congress. What an amazing way to prepare for the next stage of formation, as she gets ready to enter novitiate on July 27th!

National Eucharistic Revival

𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀!
We are pleased to announce that Sr. Allison Masserano will profess Perpetual Vows on July 27! That same weekend, Sr. Clara Johnson, Sr. Catherine Phillips, Sr. Patricia Young and Sr. Allison Zink, our junior professed Sisters, will renew their temporary vows. Last but not least, our postulant Rebecca will enter the Novitiate, joining Sr. Sinéad Doyle and Sr. Laura Young. Thanks be to God! Please pray for these Sisters as they make their annual retreat this week in preparation for these milestones in their continued formation journeys!

Photo: (from left) Sr. Sinéad Doyle, Sr. Catherine Phillips, Sr. Clara Johnson, Sr. Patricia Young, Sr. Allison Masserano, Sr. Allison Zink, Sr. Laura Young and Rebecca Goldberger.

We are blessed to have many alumni attending the National Eucharistic Congress! Can you find and meet any of them? Sr. Josephine Garrett and Sr. Alicia Torres are just two who are helping out with the event. Can you imagine the Church without these two amazing women? It is devastating to think that their vocations were blocked by student loan debt and might never have been fulfill if it weren't for the generosity of many benefactors. Let us thank and adore Christ in the Eucharist for our wonderful religious and priests!

Are you attending The National Eucharistic Congress? If so, let us know by commenting on this post. Also, tell us what you are most excited about! We are praying for all those attending and for a growth in love for the Eucharist throughout the whole Church.

Labouré Live Training Weekend was a HUGE success! Thank you for your prayers. One of our favorite parts of the weekend is having alumni come to help with training. They are living examples to the current aspirants that the obstacle of student loan debt can be overcome!



Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph
Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln, NE

Labouré Live Training Weekend for Class 28 has already been so blessed! Yesterday we got to meet our new aspirants and begin filming for the class video (we can't wait to share it!). We also welcomed our alumni trainers, community representatives, and staff. There is such a wealth of wisdom here!

Labouré Live Training Weekend begins today! Please pray for our new class, including brand new aspirants and returners. We're excited to bring you behind the scenes and share about the wonderful things the Holy Spirit will do this weekend!

“Labouré is a community effort; it provides a lot of support and connects the aspirant with other people in the same situation. There is a fidelity to the magisterium and uses the best things of the world for the sake of the Church and its mission.” Sr. Mary Fidelis, School Sisters of Chris the King in Lincoln Nebraska

One lesser known outcome of Labouré is lifelong friendships. Each class comes together for Labouré Live Training Weekend. Yes, this is for training in our relationship-based fundraising model, but it is so much more than that! The aspirants of each class are working together towards a common goal, so it is incredibly important that they get to know one another and bond as a class. A powerful moment during the weekend occurs when each aspirant turns to their classmates and promises: "I pledge to see you into formation."