I am Sr. Meera, a perpetually professed member of a Religious Institute. I would like to receive information on the canonical procedures required for transferring from one Religious Institute to another.
Canons 684- 685 of CIC and canons 487-488 & 544-545 of CCEO explicate the norms concerning the transfer of perpetually professed religious to another Religious institute or to another Institute of Consecrated life. There are significant considerations inextricably bound up with this decision: a re-orientation of one’s vocation.
Only perpetually professed members can request to transfer to another Institute due to a strong attraction to its charism or a calling for a higher vocation. Before making the decision, the member should prayerfully deliberate with their major superiors, vicars for religious, spiritual directors, or counselors to ensure the intention to transfer is not due to bitterness or problems with authority, ministry placement, or community life. If essential elements of religious life are problematic in their current Institute, they should consider if they can be lived in the new Institute before proceeding with the transfer process.
Canons of both Codes require that the member seeking to transfer to another Institute must obtain permission from the Superior General of each institute with the consent of their respective councils, particularly in large institutes with provinces. If the member has difficulties in observing the essentials of Religious life, the Superior General should help them realize that these same difficulties may arise in the new institute. The Superior General of the receiving institute should request an evaluation of the petitioner from the initial institute’s Superior General, and an honest appraisal should be given before seeking consent from the council.
Sr Navya Thattil OSF
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