Rachel Evans
Religious orders in the Catholic Church are groups of men or women who have taken vows to live together under a religious rule and the authority of a designated superior. Women's religious orders, which include nuns, are overseen by the Vatican, which has the authority to suppress an order. Some well-known women's religious orders include the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Bourg, the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Poor Clares, and the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, which was founded by Mother Teresa. The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious is another organization that exists to advance the renewal of religious life by serving its members.
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The Congregation of Major Superiors of Women Religious
The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (Italian: Consiglio dei Superiori Maggiori delle Donne Religiose), abbreviated to CMSWR, is one of two associations of congregation leaders of Catholic women religious in the United States. The other is the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR).
The CMSWR was established on June 12, 1992, with provisional approval from the Holy See's Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. It received definitive approval on October 26, 1995, under Pope John Paul II's pontificate. As of December 2020, the CMSWR includes leaders of 112 religious congregations, with a total of around 5,700 members in the United States.
The council's purpose is to promote collaboration and communication among its members, as well as participation, dialogue, and education about Catholic Church teachings on religious life. It also aims for unity with the Pope and cooperation with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Members of the CMSWR differ from those of the LCWR in that they have "major superiors" instead of "leaders" and wear distinct religious habits. CMSWR institutes have only 20% of the women religious in the United States, but they are younger and growing in numbers. As of 2020, the CMSWR Chairperson is Mother Mary McGreevy, and the Assistant Chairperson is Mother Anna Grace Neean.
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The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious
The council was established on 12 June 1992 with provisional approval from the Holy See's Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. It obtained definitive approval on 26 October 1995 under Pope John Paul II. The purpose of the council is to promote collaboration and inter-communication among its members, participation, dialogue, and education about the Catholic Church's teachings on religious life, unity with the Pope, and cooperation with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The CMSWR is one of four US federations of institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life that have received approval from the Holy See. The other three are the Conference of Major Superiors of Men's Institutes USA, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, and the US Conference of Secular Institutes. In the 1980s, several religious communities saw the Leadership Conference of Women Religious as turning towards secular and political interests and supporting dissent from the Church's teachings. As a result, they requested to form a parallel association loyal to the Magisterium, which the Holy See granted in 1992.
CMSWR members differ from those of the LCWR in having "major superiors" instead of "leaders" and in wearing recognisable religious habits. As of 2020, the CMSWR Chairperson is Mother Mary McGreevy, RSM (Superior General, Religious Sisters of Mercy), and the Assistant Chairperson is Mother Anna Grace Neean, OP (Prioress General, Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia). The current Episcopal Liaison, appointed by the Holy See, is Cardinal Justin Francis Rigali.
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The Order of the Missionaries of Charity
The Missionaries of Charity was officially approved as an institute for the Roman Catholic Church’s archdiocese of Calcutta as a congregation pledged to serve the sick and destitute. The order expanded rapidly, transcending social, religious, and political barriers, and as of 2023, it consisted of 5,750 members serving in 139 countries in 760 homes. The missionaries care for refugees, former prostitutes, the mentally ill, sick children, abandoned children, lepers, people with AIDS, the aged, and convalescent, among others. They run orphanages, homes for the dying, charity centres, schools for street children, and soup kitchens, responding to the needs of the communities they serve.
The Missionaries of Charity has both contemplative and active branches. The contemplative branch, which came into being in 1976, fulfils the needs of the Church and the world by proclaiming the Word of God and living the four vows in a spirit of loving trust and surrender. Candidates aspiring to join the contemplative sisters must have a strong desire for prayer and contemplation, a capacity for silence and a life of penance, and a willingness to surrender their all to God.
The first home of the Missionaries of Charity in the United States was established in the South Bronx, New York, and they have since expanded to other states, serving in both rural and urban areas. In the US, the order is affiliated with the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, a body of female religious representing 20% of American religious sisters.
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The Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The IHM Sisters are dedicated to serving the pressing needs of their time, pursuing justice, peace, and a sustainable way of life. They radiate joyful service and promote Gospel values, offering compassion to all through their charism of love, creative hope, and fidelity. The sisters work in a variety of ministries, including education, catechetical, pastoral, hospital, and prison ministries, as well as parenting programs, counseling, and literacy instruction. They staff schools in multiple states across the United States, as well as in Peru.
The IHM Sisters place great importance on community living and spiritual growth. They have established Spirituality Centers in Riverview and Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, which offer programs for transformational learning and spiritual direction. The sisters also engage in the Liturgy at the Motherhouse Chapel, which is open to the public and livestreamed for those who wish to participate remotely.
As a religious institute, the IHM Sisters are committed to the spiritual and corporal works of Mercy. They are dedicated to the new evangelization of youth, fostering respect for the dignity of the human person, and openness to life in all its forms. Their community lifestyle is simple, welcoming, and focused on serving others. The IHM Sisters are also involved in the Altar Bread Ministry, distributing altar bread products since 2017.
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The Poor Clares
The order's rule was revised several times until, in 1263/64, Pope Urban IV issued a final modification, permitting common ownership of property and greater self-governance for the order. This rule is now in the most general observance among the Poor Clares, and the monasteries that adopted it became known as the Urbanist Poor Clares.
Over time, several branches of the Poor Clares have been established, each operating under its own unique constitution. These include the Colettine Poor Clares (founded in 1410), the Capuchin Poor Clares (founded in 1538), and the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration (founded in 1854).
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Frequently asked questions
A Catholic religious order is a group of men or women who have professed vows to live together under a religious rule and the authority of a designated superior. Religious orders include nuns, monks, friars, and some priests.
Religious orders must be approved by the Vatican, either directly or through a diocesan bishop, to be considered legitimate. The Vatican also has the authority to suppress a religious order.
Some examples of Catholic religious orders of women include the Congregation of Major Superiors of Women Religious, the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM Sisters), the Poor Clares, and the Order of the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa.
