Heiligenkreuz Apostolic Visitor "Orders reflect the culture of an era". Impressed by the hustle and bustle of Heiligenkreuz.

 Sister Christine Rod: "Orders reflect the culture of an era"

In an interview with the Salzburger Nachrichten, Sr. Christine Rod, Secretary General of the Austrian Conference of Religious Orders, addresses the question of why some religious orders are threatened with closure, while others are being raided.

In times when bank branches are being reduced, post offices are being closed, and local businesses such as bakeries, butchers, and restaurants are closing, the disappearance of infrastructure is almost a given. Even monasteries and religious orders cannot truly escape this trend: "Orders reflect the culture of a time," Sr. Christine Rod sums it up, elevating the phenomenon of some religious orders separating from their branches to a higher level.

Stable number of 4,000 religious in Austria

Looking at church history, it can be observed that religious orders have an average lifespan of 250 years. Furthermore, there have always been fluctuations in the number of religious. As an example, she mentions that until 1850, there were around 800 to 1,000 religious women and men in Austria. When more attention was then paid to caring for orphans, engaging in healthcare, and promoting education, the number of religious members skyrocketed, quadrupling. The number has now stabilized at a relatively stable 4,000 people living in the 193 religious orders in Austria. "The largest order in Austria in terms of numbers is probably the Sisters of the Holy Cross, with approximately 250 members," says Rod.

When asked how some orders have managed to grow despite social headwinds, the ÖOK Secretary General points to a deeply human behavior: "My hypothesis is: Where there are young people, other young people want to go. Heiligenkreuz, for example, has achieved this in recent decades. I was there recently and was impressed by the hustle and bustle."

Answers to the questions of the day

In an interview with the Salzburger Nachrichten, Sister Christine Rod also appeals for not losing sight of the bigger picture. "The question is: What is a society looking for, what does a society need? And why shouldn't this be reorganized? For some orders, their mission has been fulfilled. For example, in the areas of education or health. These are now integral components of European welfare states." For Rod, there's no doubt that the world will continue to need Christian religious and that they will continue to exist: "I don't believe we're a dying breed. There will always be people who live their faith seriously, live in community, and want to be committed to others."

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