Expert: Edward Bode - 6/7/2011

Question
QUESTION: I am a writer from India and wanted to know information about nuns and Convents. I am a convent student myself. I wanted to know about Sisters and Mothers in a convent. My school was run by a convent with a church, a boarding house for orphans and a school. I remember we had many sisters but only one Mother. Is that how it always is? Is there always one Mother? Novices and Postulants are called Sisters. When do they get the title of a Mother? Can a convent have Mother Supreme and a Father? Can there be multiple Fathers in one convent. Please forgive me for my lack of knowledge. I just want to be sure before I start writing about it.

Thanks.

ANSWER: Nice to hear from India.  Thanks, Prity.
I cannot speak to the particular instances of nuns in India.  
However, here is the usual custom:  
Women who want to join a convent, go through an initial period of trial and are known as Postulants and are called Sisters.  Upon completion of the trial period and acceptance by the postulant and the convent, the women become Postulants, for a second trial period of several years.  At the completion of this trial, the novices take life-long religious vows [poverty, chastity, obedience] and become full members of the convent.  The Sister who has been elected to govern the convent is referred to as Mother, that is, Mother Superior.
There are no male members of a convent.  Often, the priest who administers the Sacraments to the convent is referred to as Father, since the priest is a man.  However, the chaplain Father is not a member of the convent.
If you want detailed and particular information about a convent, you could contact the Catholic bishop of the area where the convent is located.  His office could supply you with detailed information.
If you wish more from me, please feel free to write again.
Best wishes,Prity, in your efforts.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sorry to bother you again. I tried contacting a couple of convents here in Mumbai but none of them are willing to entertain my request. I just wanted one bit of information. What kind of life does a postulant, novice or a nun lead. Do they have private rooms? Private showers? What kind of clothes they have to wear, especially at night. Sorry if I am being offensive in any way, but I am trying to understand how a nun lives in a convent.

Thanks for your efforts.

Prity

Answer
Nuns devote their lives to prayer and to work.  Each of these two major efforts vary greatly in accordance with the rules of the particular convent.  The work concerns some religiously-oriented efforts such as teaching school, caring for the sick, elderly, poor.  They also take care of their own food, washing, cleaning, etc. -- household chores.
Living quarters are rather specific to various convents; most have a small private room [reading, sleeping] for each nun.  Most groups of nuns have an official garb for postulants, novices, and sisters.
I hope these additional thoughts are of some help.
Again, best wishes Prity.