About Religious Life

Anyone joining a religious order will be following in the footsteps of men and women who have dedicated their life to following Christ in a life shaped by their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, whilst guided by the charisms of their particular religious order.

The are many religious orders and they are all unique! 


The main distinction is between monks and nuns, who live in an enclosed convent or monastery, and religious who work outside the cloister, for example in education, health-care, or evangelisation.

Connect with Religious Orders

Discover the religious of our Diocese.

Benedictine Hermits

Following the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict

Dominican Sisters

The Sisters of the English congregation of S. Catherine of Siena

Dominicans

The Order of Preachers at Holy Cross Priory

Little Company of Mary

Founded in 1887 by Venerable Mary Potter in Nottingham.

Poor Clare Colettines

The reformed Order of S. Clare

Presentation Sisters

Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Rosminian Sisters

Sisters of Providence

Sisters of Mercy

The Institute of Our Lady of Mercy

Sisters of Providence of Ruillé sur Loir (SP)

Living a life of hope in complete trust, simplicity and joy, announcing Jesus Christ to the poor.

Sisters of S. Joseph of Peace

We commit ourselves to promote peace in family life, in the church, and in society.

Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ

We are an apostolic Religious Institute finding God in all things with a strong missionary zeal and Marian character.

The Cistercians

The Cistercian Monks of Mount Saint Bernard Abbey

The Franciscan Sisters Minoress

We take to ourselves the call to be 'little ones'.

The Holy Ghost Fathers

The Congregation of the Holy Ghost

The Rosminians

The Institute of Charity

Joining a Religious Order

Those considering a vocation to a religious order will not only turn to God in prayer to ask for guidance on whether to pursue this vocation, but also for guidance to the order they are being called to join. 

It would normally be advisable that someone considering joining an order should approach a community so that a member can provide assistance during the process of discernment. 

Should a decision be arrived at to begin formal study and discernment that could lead to vows, then formation is undertaken by the guidance of that religious order.

Vocation Stories

Good Reads

When considering reading material about the religious life, often a good source is material recommended by the order that you may be considering joining, particularly items about the founder, as that will give an indication of the spirit that motivates the members of the order.

Other books related to religious life:

  • ‘Religious Vocation: An Unnecessary Mystery’, by Fr Richard Butler OP

  • ‘In Good Company: The Fast Track from the Corporate World to Poverty, Chastity and Obedience’, by Fr James Martin SJ

Meet Sister Susan

Sr Susan Richert
Vicar for Religious
Vocations

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