Some, like Mueller, have college experience before they enter. Other women are turning to religious life after pursuing professional careers, often highly successful ones. Older widows and grandmothers are becoming sisters as well. With communities redefining themselves and trying to live up to Vatican II, recruitment has not been a focus, Kolmer said. But that is changing.
Nuns attempt to attract women as associates, who can advance their missions and ministries.
Some of those women opt for a complete religious life as a nun. They invite women who are interested in sisterhood to their communities and often travel to speak to groups. Some orders have established development departments that just don't focus on fund raising, but also on recruitment. Some communities also have gone high-tech, turning to the World Wide Web to get their message out. Still, Travers believes it takes plenty of courage for women to make the leap to religious life.