Religious Life

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Dominican nuns at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary in Summit, New Jersey, make soap and candles which they sell at their Cloister Shoppe.

Christmas shopping? Check out these gifts handmade by monks and nuns

Nov 25, 2022

By Zelda Caldwell

If you’re looking for unique handmade gifts for those on your list, you’re going to love these delicious treats and... Read more

Cristina Scuccia, winner of The Voice Italy 2014

Nun who won The Voice of Italy singing competition leaves consecrated life

Nov 21, 2022

By CNA Staff

Sister Cristina Scuccia, the religious sister who won the 2014 edition of The Voice of Italy, has left the consecrated... Read more

Brother Paul Bednarczyk, CSC, who was elected superior general of the Congregation of Holy Cross July 1, 2022, speaks at the National Religious Vocation Conference in Plano, Texas, November 1, 2012.

Congregation of Holy Cross elects first non-priest superior general

Jul 7, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

The Congregation of Holy Cross has elected the Connecticut-born Brother Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., as superior general. He is the first... Read more

Sister Isabela, Sister Roziane, and Sister Mariana Guimaraes.

Three sisters were called to be nuns in the same religious order

Apr 7, 2022

By Natalia Zimbrão

Sister Mariana, Sister Roziane, and Sister Isabela Guimaraes are three blood sisters who embraced their call to religious life in... Read more

Sister Catherine Wybourne, also known as the "Digitalnun."

Beloved social media nun dies

Feb 25, 2022

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Messages from around the world have flooded Twitter as the beloved “Digitalnun,” Sister Catherine Wybourne, died of cancer Feb. 24,... Read more

Pope Francis meets religious sisters at a general audience on Jan. 19, 2022.

Pope Francis tells religious sisters to fight back when mistreated by 'men of the Church'

Feb 1, 2022

By Courtney Mares

The pope's prayer intention for the month of February is for religious sisters and consecrated women. Read more

What is it that God is calling you to do with your life?

Taking time to ask, 'What is God's will?'

Dec 24, 2021

By Autumn Jones

Discerning your vocation is about more than pursuing a celibate vocation alone, said Father Ryan O’Neill, director of vocations for... Read more

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Benedictine nuns in Missouri honor Christ the King with new album

Dec 3, 2021

By Carl Bunderson

After the harrowing experience of shootings at their abbey in rural Missouri, the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles resolved... Read more

The Benedictine Monastery of San Jose in Costa Rica's Diocese of Cartago, which was canonically closed Nov. 7, 2021.

Costa Rican diocese orders canonical closure of Benedictine monastery

Nov 10, 2021

By Walter Sanchez Silva

The Diocese of Cartago has ordered the canonical closure of the San José Benedictine Monastery, a diocesan foundation that had... Read more

Pope Francis meets with the Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco in Rome on Oct. 22, 2021.

Pope Francis asks religious sisters to pray for him: 'It is not easy to be the pope'

Oct 23, 2021

By Courtney Mares

The pope also shared a story from the life of St. Therese of Lisieux. Read more

Pope Francis' video message to the Confederation of Latin American and Caribbean Religious (CLAR) on Aug. 13, 2021.

Pope Francis: Nostalgia is the 'siren song of religious life'

Aug 14, 2021

By Courtney Mares

“Let us not forget that a faith that is not inculturated is not authentic," Pope Francis said. Read more

Sister Evelyn makes perpetual vows at the Monastery of Santo Domingo el Real in Segovia. Credit: Youtube Capture.

Former Protestant takes final vows as cloistered nun in Spain

Jul 8, 2021

By Blanca Ruiz

Sister Evelyn of the Child Jesus took her final vows as a cloistered Dominican nun at the Santo Domingo el... Read more

Father Matthew Breslin blesses his sister, Sr. Mary Strength of Martyrs, shortly after his May 29, 2021 ordination.

New priest blesses his sister, a nun: 'It's been a real privilege and a joy'

Jun 7, 2021

By Jonah McKeown

It is customary for a newly-ordained priest to impart a first blessing. For Father Matthew Breslin, who was ordained May... Read more

Credit: Unsplash.

Chicago case highlights religious orders that have not published lists of credibly accused clergy

Apr 19, 2021

Recent reporting from the Chicago Sun-Times highlighted several religious orders active in Chicago that have not released lists of members... Read more

Pope Francis speaks from the Apostolic Palace during his general audience livestream April 14, 2021.

Pope Francis: ‘The Church is a great school of prayer’

Apr 14, 2021

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis said Wednesday that an essential task of the Church today is to teach people how to pray. Read more

Day of prayer planned for 357 religious dead from COVID-19 in Spain

Sep 26, 2020

The Spanish Conference of Religious (CONFER) has announced that September 29 will be observed as a day of prayer for... Read more

Sister Anthonia Orji, and Rays of Hope Students

This nun aims to get Ghana's children off the streets, and into school

Jul 29, 2020

Child laborers in Ghana work in hard, dangerous jobs, for practically no pay. Sister Anthonia Orji goes out to the... Read more

Nun at the prayer vigil for consecrated life in St. Peter's Basilica, Jan. 28, 2016.

Italian convent that suffered severe COVID-19 outbreak is now virus-free

Jun 9, 2020

By Courtney Mares

After an outbreak in the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity Mother House in northern Italy led half of its sisters... Read more

The Benedictine Monks of Norcia process with relics of the True Cross. Courtesy photo.

Monks of Norcia praying with 'greater intensity' during coronavirus

Apr 30, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

In the central Italian countryside, at the edge of the Umbrian woods just outside Norcia, a group of Benedictine monks... Read more

Spanish business leaders organize to support cloistered communities

Apr 16, 2020

A group of businessmen in Spain have joined together to help cloistered religious communities that are unable to support themselves... Read more