Monastic Life can be contemplative or contemplative and active. Contemplative-active monastic life maintains the monastic observances while the members live an active apostolic ministry.  Members of monastic communities follow the Rule of St. Benedict (516 ad). It The call to monastic life is an additional call to the Christian’s baptismal commitment to holiness. The monastic is called to seek God in community under the authority of an Abbot/Abbess, prior/prioress. The hallmarks of monastic life include communal prayer (Liturgy of the Hours), personal prayer (lectio divina), communal meals, hospitality, seeing and serving Christ in the young and the old, the sick and the poor, the stranger and the guest.

Dominican Sisters of Hope (OP)

Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia (OP)

Franciscan Monastery of St. Clare Poor Clare Nuns  (OSC)

Sisters of St. Benedict of Beech Grove, IN (OSB)

Religious Institutes of Women

Religious life was born in the East during the first centuries of Christianity. Lived within institutes canonically erected by the Church, it is distinguished from other forms of consecrated life by its liturgical character, public profession of the evangelical counsels, fraternal life led in common, and witness given to the union of Christ with the Church. Religious life in its various forms is called to signify the very charity of God in the language of our time.

Congregation of Divine Providence (CDP)

Daughters of Mary Immaculate (Marianist Sisters) (FMI)

Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg (OSF)

Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (FIHM)

Franciscan Sisters of the Poor (SFP)

Maryknoll Sisters (MM)

Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart (MHSH)

Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ (PHJC)

Religious of the Good Shepherd (RGS)

Sisters of Charity (SC)

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas (RSM)

Sisters of Notre Dame (SND)

Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN)

Sisters of the Precious Blood (CPPS)

Sisters of Providence of St. Mary of the Woods (SP)

Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (Latham, NY) (CSJ)

Ursulines of Brown County (OSU)

Ursuline Sisters of Cincinnati (OSU)

For more information:

Leadership Conference of Women Religious https://lcwr.org/

Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious https://cmswr.org/about/who-we-are/

Religious Institutes of Men

Religious life was born in the East during the first centuries of Christianity. Lived within institutes canonically erected by the Church, it is distinguished from other forms of consecrated life by its liturgical character, public profession of the evangelical counsels, fraternal life led in common, and witness given to the union of Christ with the Church.  Religious life in its various forms is called to signify the very charity of God in the language of our time.  

Congregation of the Brothers of the Poor of St. Francis (CFP)

Comboni Missionaries (MCCJ)

The Congregation of the Holy Spirit (CSSp)

Congregation of the Mother of the Redeemer (CRM)

Dominican Friars – Province of St. Joseph (OP)

Franciscan Friars of St. John the Baptist Province (OFM)

Jesuits – Midwest Province (SJ)

Legion of Christ (LC)

Marianists (Society of Mary) (SM)

Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers (MM)

Society of the Divine Word (SVD)

For more information: United States Conference of Major Superiors of Men https://www.facebook.com/CMSMShares/

Religious Brothers 

A Religious Brother is a member of a religious congregation or religious order who commits himself to following Christ, usually by the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Because of their consecrated life, they are committed to a life of faith, community and service. This is lived out in their sharing a common way of life which, depending on the community can include: prayer, meals ministries and clothing. Although full members in their respective community and share in the charism, they are neither ordained priests nor studying to be ordained. Some Brothers are members of congregations that are made up only of brothers or they may belong to so-called “mixed” communities that include brothers and priests. Whether they are exclusive or mixed, these congregations may be primarily contemplative or apostolic in nature.

Congregation of the Brothers of the Poor of St. Francis (CFP)

Comboni Missionaries (MCCJ)

Franciscan Friars of St. John the Baptist Province (OFM)

Glenmary Home Missioners (GHM)

Marianists (SM)

Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers (MM)

For more information: Religious Brothers Conference

http://www.todaysbrother.com

Secular Institutes

Secular institute members commit themselves to God through the Evangelical Counsels as consecrated lay persons within society. Each institute lives its particular charism, bringing Gospel “salt and leaven” to the world.

Caritas Christi

Company of St. Ursula

Voluntas Dei Institute

For more information: United States Conference of Secular Institutes https://secularinstitutes.org/

Societies of Apostolic Life (Women)

A Society of Apostolic Life is a form of consecrated life within the Church. Its members have come together to pursue the apostolic purpose proper to the society and live fraternally. They make vows or other bonds defined in their constitutions to undertake to live the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Responding to God’s call, they have consecrated themselves to Him in order to serve others in the world; influencing the world and evangelizing it by virtue of their Baptism and Confirmation.

Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi

Societies of Apostolic Life (Men)

A Society of Apostolic Life is a form of consecrated life within the Church. Its members have come together to pursue the apostolic purpose proper to the society and live fraternally. They make vows or other bonds defined in their constitutions to undertake to live the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Responding to God’s call, they have consecrated themselves to Him in order to serve others in the world; influencing the world and evangelizing it by virtue of their Baptism and Confirmation.

The Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri (CO)

Glenmary Home Missioners (GHM)

Missionaries of the Precious Blood (CPPS)

The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP)

Consecrated Virgins

Similar to other forms of consecrated life is the order of consecrated virgins who committed to the holy plan of following Christ more closely, are consecrated by the diocesan bishops, are betrothed to Christ and are dedicated to the service of the Church.

United States Association of Consecrated Virgins

Consecrated Life within an Association of the Faithful

Associations distinct form the institutes of consecrated life and the societies of apostolic life in which the Christian faithful, either clergy or laity, or both together, strive by common effort to promote a more perfect life to foster public worship, or to exercise other apostolic works, namely to engage in efforts of evangelization to animate the temporal order with the Christian spirit. The associations often have within their membership consecrated men and women who are full members of the association and under the governance of the association’s moderator.

Children of Mary (CM)