Religious Life

The Latest

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

CNA

Spanish business leaders organize to support cloistered communities

Apr 16, 2020

By CNA Staff

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

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

Six sisters from same Italian convent have died, as coronavirus spreads among religious orders

Mar 30, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Six sisters in one northern Italian convent have died of coronavirus, and nine sisters are being treated in the hospital... Read more

A 3-d rendering of the plans for a new residential community at Mount Mary University. Courtesy photo.

Can a dorm for single moms and retired nuns bring new life to this Catholic college?

Jan 29, 2020

By Perry West

A Wisconsin Catholic women’s college has just announced plans to build housing welcoming both single mothers and retired nuns living... Read more

The Daughters of Jesus the King. Courtesy photo.

A religious congregation of blind sisters contemplates the face of Christ

Dec 6, 2019

In Turin, Italy, the Daughters of Jesus the King is a religious community of  blind and visually impaired sisters who... Read more

Pope Francis prays Terce with contemplative nuns in Madagascar Sept. 7, 2019.

Perfection is found in small acts of charity, Pope Francis tells contemplative nuns

Sep 7, 2019

The path to holiness is made up of small, daily acts of obedience and love, Pope Francis told the contemplative... Read more

Sister Mary Jo Sobiek, OP, prepares to throw the first pitch at a Chicago White Sox game.

'Sister Strike' nominated for Best Viral Sports Moment

Jun 26, 2019

By Mary Farrow

Maybe it’s the signature bump of the baseball off her bicep before pitching the perfect curve ball. Maybe it’s that... Read more

Sister Mary Jo Sobiek, OP, prepares to throw the first pitch at a Chicago White Sox game.

'Sister strike' gets her own baseball card

Apr 8, 2019

By JD Flynn

A religious sister can expect that if she is faithful to her vows, fervent in prayer, and zealous in following... Read more

Pope Francis greeted Father Jean Pierre Schumacher in Morocco March 31, 2019. His martyred community was beatified in December 2018.

Pope Francis urges religious communities to charity and dialogue in Morocco

Mar 31, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis urged religious communities in Morocco to practice an “ecumencism of charity,” calling for dialogue, not proselytism, in the... Read more

Pope Francis at a General Audience in Rome, June 2018.

Pope Francis changes canon law for religious who desert the community

Mar 26, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis amended canon law Tuesday to create a new mechanism for dismissing a religious man or woman who has... Read more

Dr. Ruth Pfau at a charity; event, May 2009.

Meet the religious sister known as the ‘Mother Teresa of Pakistan’

Mar 1, 2019

Sr. Ruth Pfau, a German-born Catholic missionary who devoted her life to eradicating leprosy in Pakistan, died Thursday at the... Read more

Religious superiors voice shame over child abuse failings

Feb 19, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus

Superiors general of men’s and women’s religious communities expressed sorrow Tuesday for sexual abuse committed within religious congregations and orders... Read more