Yes,
in the 1960s and for decades prior, Catholic orders of nuns generally paid for
the education and training of their members to become teachers and nurses. This
was part of the traditional communal, non-profit model of religious life where,
upon taking vows, a sister's expenses were covered by her community (the
congregation or order).
How Education Was Funded and Conducted
Sponsorship by the Order: After the novitiate (formation) period, religious communities would send sisters to college, nursing school, or university to obtain necessary certifications and degrees.
In-House Training: Many orders operated their own colleges, junior colleges, and nursing schools, allowing them to train their members efficiently to staff parochial schools and hospitals.
"Contributed Services": While the order paid for the education, the sisters worked for very little to no personal income, with their salaries (stipends) being significantly lower than lay workers, often just covering their living expenses. This model allowed the church to maintain a large network of schools and hospitals, especially during the post-war boom.
Shift in the 1960s: The 1960s marked a transition period. While orders still invested in training, the rising costs of education and the decline in the number of nuns after Vatican II (1962–1965) made this model harder to sustain.
Contextual Factors
Role in Schools & Hospitals: In the 1960s, a large majority of Catholic school teachers were members of religious orders. Similarly, in 1960, almost every department of many Catholic hospitals was run by a nun.
Educational Advancements: By the 1960s, it was common for orders to send sisters to get advanced degrees (Master’s or PhDs) to improve the quality of education and healthcare provided.
End of an Era: The financial crisis facing convent retirement and the declining number of vocations starting in the late 1960s changed this system, causing a move away from this traditional, community-funded education model.
In 1960, Catholic religious orders typically paid for and sponsored the education of their members to become nurses and teachers. This sponsorship was a central part of a nun's "formation"—the integrated process of spiritual and professional development.
The funding and structure of this education were characterized by the following:
Order Sponsorship: Communities often accepted young women without degrees and "put them through college" as part of their initial training. The religious congregation covered tuition and living expenses, viewing it as an investment in their mission to staff schools and hospitals.
The Sister Formation Conference (SFC): Founded in 1954, the SFC was a major movement in the 1960s that advocated for sisters to complete their full college degrees before entering the workforce. By 1964, roughly 80% of U.S. sisters had completed at least three years of college before starting their professional service.
Dedicated Institutions: Many orders founded their own "Sisters' Colleges" or Normal Schools specifically to train their members. For example, Mount Saint Mary College was originally a teacher training school for the Dominican Sisters.
Reciprocal Economy: While the orders paid for the education, the sisters typically worked for a small stipend—often about one-quarter the salary of a lay teacher—which was then returned to the community to fund future education, healthcare, and the retirement of older sisters.
Advanced Degrees: After initial service, many orders also paid for their members to obtain graduate and doctoral degrees to serve as administrators, principals, or specialized medical staff.
Comments
Vatican II ended this economic model. Nuns quit and went to work as Nurses.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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