When Mother Mary Veronica Fitch set out to establish a new religious community, she never imagined that it would one day provide an animal therapy program. People are “willing to extend love to [animals] that they might not extend to people when
Members of the Community of the Lamb, a young religious institute, are gathering at their motherhouse in France to elect a successor to their founder, Little Sister Marie. This community, known for its mendicant lifestyle and joyful demeanor, has made significant impacts
On a cold day in January of 2000, Sister Joaquína Hernández Pereira rode in the back of a truck, laden with supplies and religious habits, into a rural town in the mountainous region of Oaxaca, Mexico. She had a near-impossible mission ahead
About 150 women religious under age 65 gathered in person Jan. 25-28 with more than 100 others joining them virtually, to discuss, discern and embrace the future of religious life.
A new report shows a continued decrease in the number of permanent vocations to consecrated life in the U.S. -- but key factors such as family life, devotional practices, Catholic education and personal encouragement can positively impact those numbers.
"Women and Men Professing
It was a summer evening in early August, and we were anxiously awaiting the visit of our daughter, Sister Juan Maria of the Holy Spirit (Emily Rose), who was about to begin her final year of novitiate with the Franciscan Sisters of
Growing up in a devout Catholic family, Sister Nancy Usselmann knew of many religious orders. But, she said, she never considered joining one. “Many of them would see me with my sisters and cousins around the same age and ask if we
The population of priests in the U.S. has fallen by at least 25,000 since 1965, according to data from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. Over three thousand parishes were pastor-less in 2022. Around the country, parishes are closing, merging,
For the troubled teenagers they serve in Rhode Island, the Brothers of the Christian Schools strive to be what their name suggests: brothers. “We take the term ‘brother’ very seriously, that we are called to stand next to, to walk with, to
Born on a farm in Normandy, France, John joined the Congregation of the Oratory and was ordained at 24. He worked tirelessly for the sick and the poor, especially caring for victims of the plague that struck Normandy in 1625 and 1631.