What's Happening with Religious Orders? New Book Traces the Future of Consecrated Life

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Eileen C. Jaramillo, DMin, JCL

Canon law scholar Eileen Jaramillo examines emerging religious communities and the discernment of authentic charisms
LANSING, MI - For decades, religious life in the United States has often been framed as a story of decline - aging memberships, mergers, and closures. Yet new communities continue to emerge, raising questions about discernment and authenticity.

How does a group know if its founding inspiration is authentic? And what does that process look like in practice?

A new book explores these questions in clear, accessible language. Discerning Charism: The Key to Founding Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life [https://dreileencjaramillo.academia.edu/], written by canon lawyer and theologian Eileen Jaramillo, DMin, JCL, examines the theological and canonical foundations of forming new religious institutes. Now available on Amazon, it arrives as interest in new foundations continues alongside the completion of older orders.

"What is happening with religious orders in the U.S. isn't just one story," Jaramillo said. "Some communities are coming to completion. Others are just beginning."

The book draws on data from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) to track emerging communities since 1965. It outlines the canonical stages a community must navigate, from an association of the faithful to diocesan recognition and potentially pontifical status, and reviews papal teachings on discernment from John XXIII through recent papal teaching.

Jaramillo served for 25 years as a diocesan judge in Ohio and Michigan and has advised bishops and religious superiors internationally. She also served on the Board of Governors of the Canon Law Society of America.

"Anyone working with religious communities needs to understand what is actually happening," she said. "The spiritual and legal dimensions must remain together."

"I wrote this because people came with beautiful visions, and I had to explain what the Church requires," she added.

Discerning Charism: The Key to Founding Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life is available in paperback, hardcover, and eBook formats through Amazon.

About the Author

Eileen Jaramillo, DMin, JCL [https://dreileencjaramillo.academia.edu/], is a canon lawyer and theologian with decades of ecclesial experience. She served 25 years as a diocesan judge in the dioceses of Columbus and Lansing and has advised religious institutes internationally. She also served on the Canon Law Society of America Board of Governors and continues to consult with bishops and religious communities worldwide.

Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, canonical, or professional advice. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of any diocese, religious institute, or ecclesiastical authority.
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