Roman Catholic religious order

Encyclopedia : R : RO : ROM : Roman Catholic religious order

:See also: Consecrated life (Catholic Church)

Catholic religious orders are organizations of laity and clergy in the Catholic Church who live under a common rule. They are to be distinguished from Holy Orders, the sacrament which bishops, priests, and deacons receive.

What distiguishes members of religious orders from the rest of the laity and the clergy is that they try to imitate Jesus of Nazareth by taking vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. They may additionally profess to obey certain guidelines for living,

There are actually two types of Catholic religious orders: congregations, which take simple vows, and orders proper, which take solemn vows. As an example, the Congregation of Holy Cross is a congregation because its members take simple vows, whereas the Society of Jesus is an order because its members take solemn vows.

List of Roman Catholic religious congregations

The following list refers to some of the major religious institutes of the Catholic Church, both orders, and others; it should be understood that communities using the same name may exist in Anglican or Eastern Orthodox traditions as well, as well as more than one Catholic order with the same name. Each is accompanied by its official name in English as well as the acronym (or "post-nominal initials") commonly used to identify its members. In parenthesis is the year it was established.

Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - A.S.C.J.
Adorers (Adorers of the Blood of Christ) - A.S.C.
Adornos (Clerics Regular Minor) - C.R.M.
Angelic Sisters of St. Paul - A.S.S.P.
Assumptionists (Augustinians of the Assumption) - A.A.
Atonement, Society of the (Atonement Friars/Graymoor Friars/Sisters) - S.A. (1909)
Augustinian Recollects - (Order of the Augustinians Recollects) - O.A.R.
Augustinian Sisters, Servants of Jesus and Mary - A.S.J.M.
Augustinians (Order of Saint Augustine) - O.S.A. (1256)
Baladites (Order of Lebanese Maronite) - O.L.M.
Barnabites (Clerics Regular of Saint Paul) - B., C.R.S.P. (1530)
Basilians (Congregation of St. Basil) - C.S.B. (1822)
Benedictines (Order of Saint Benedict) - O.S.B. (1216)
Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (1874)
Bernardine Cistercian Sisters of Esquiermes
Bernardines (also see Cistercians)
Bethany Ashram (Order of the Imitation of Christ) - O.I.C. (1930)
Bridgettines (Order of Our Savior) - C.S.B. (1350)
Brotherhood of Hope - B.H.
Brothers of Christian Instruction of St Gabriel -S.G. (1711)
Brothers of the Christian Schools (Lasallian Brothers or Christian Brothers) - F.S.C. (1680)
Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God (Order of Hospitallers) - O.H. (1100)
Brothers of Mercy of Our Lady of Perpetual Help - f.m.m.
Camaldolese (Camaldolese Benedictines) - O.S.B. Cam.
Camaldolese Hermits of the Congregation of Monte Corona - Er.Cam.
Camillians (Order of Saint Camillus) - O.S.Cam.
Canossians (Canossian Daughters and Sons of Charity) - F.D.D.C.
Canonesses of St. Augustine - C.R.O.S.A.
Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem - C.R.N.J. (2002)
Capuchins (Order of Friars Minor Capuchin) - O.F.M. Cap. (1520)
Capuchin Poor Clares
Carmelites (Order of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel) - O.Carm., O.C.D., O.C.D.S. (1209)
Carmelites of Mary Immaculate - C.M.I. (1831)
Carmelite Sisters of the Aged and Infirm
Carmelite Daughters of the Divine Heart of Jesus - D.C.J. (1891)
Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles
Carthusians - O.Cart. (1084)
Celestines (defunct) (1244)
Christian Brothers of Ireland - C.F.C (1802)
Cistercians (Cistercians of the Ancient Observance)- O.Cist./S.O.Cist (1098)
Claretians (Claretian Missionaries) - C.M.F.
Columbans (Missionary Society of St. Columban) - S.S.C.
Companions of the Cross - C.C.
Congregatio Immaculatae Cordis Mariae (Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary), also Scheutfathers, Scheutists, or Missionhurst - C.I.C.M. (1862)
Congregation of the Disciples of the Lord - C.D.D
Congregation of Holy Cross - C.S.C
Congregation of Notre Dame - C.N.D.
Congregation of St. Therese of Lisieux, Cstbrothers, Kerala, India
Congregation of the Mother Coredemptrix - C.M.C.
Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary - SS.CC. (1800)
Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy (Divine Mercy Sisters)
Congregatio Fratrum Cellitarum seu Alexianorum (Alexians) (Cellites) - C.F.A
Conventual Franciscans (Conventuals or Order of Friars Minor Conventual) - O.F.M. Conv. (1209)
Crosiers (Canons Regular of the Holy Cross) - O.S.C.
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul - D.C.
Daughters of Divine Charity - F.D.C. (1868)
Daughters of Divine Love
Daughters of Mary of the Immaculate Conception
Daughters of St. Paul - F.S.P. (1915)
Daughters of the Holy Spirit - D.H.S. (1706)
Dehonians (Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) - S.C.J.
Divine Word Missionaries - S.V.D. (1875)
Discalced Augustinians - O.A.D. (1592)
Discalced Carmelites - O.C.D.
Disciples of the Lord - C.D.D. (1931)
Dominicans (Order of Friars Preachers) - O.P. (1216)
Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne
Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception - O.P. (1861)
Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia - O.P. (1860)
Dominican Nuns of Our Lady of the Rosary
Dottrinari (Congregazione dei Preti della Dottrina Cristiana) - D.C.
Eudists (Congregation of Jesus and Mary) - C.I.M.
Felician Sisters (Congregation of the Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice) - C.S.S.F.
Fathers of Mercy - (Congregatio Presbyterorum a Misericordia)
Franciscan Apostolic Sisters - F.A.S. (1954)
Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn - O.S.F.
Franciscan Brothers of the Eucharist
Franciscan Brothers of Peace
Franciscan Friars (Order of Friars Minor) - O.F.M. (1209)
Franciscan Handmaids of Mary
Franciscan Hospitaller Sisters of the Immaculate Conception - F.H.I.C. (1876)
Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word
Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular - T.O.R.
Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood - F.M.D.M
Franciscan Missionaries of Mary - F.M.M
Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Franciscan Servants of Jesus
Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity - O.S.F.
Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist - O.S.F.
Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate
Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate
Franciscan Sisters of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother - T.O.R.
Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration - O.S.F.
Fransalians (Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales) - M.S.F.S.
Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart - G.N.S.H
Grey Nuns of Montreal (Soeurs grises de Montréal) - S.G.M.
Good Shepherd Sisters - R.G.S
Handmaids of the Blessed Sacrament and of Charity - A.A.S.C.
Handmaids of the Precious Blood - H.P.B.
Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - A.A.S.C.
Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
Holy Cross Fathers (Congregation of Holy Cross) - C.S.C.
Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters (Pink Sisters)
Infant Jesus Sisters (Nicolas Barre) - I.J
Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest - I.C.R.S.S. (1990)
Institute of the Incarnate Word - I.I.W. (1984)
Jerusalem Communities
Jesuits (Society of Jesus) - S.J. (1534)
Josephines of Asti (Oblates of St. Joseph) - O.S.I.
Josephite Fathers and Brothers (St. Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart) - S.S.J.
Lazarists or Vincentians (Congregation of the Mission) - C.M. (1624)
Little Brothers of the Good Shepperd - B.G.S
Little Brothers of the Gospel - (1956)
Little Brothers of Jesus - (1933)
Little Brothers of St Francis
Little Sisters of the Assumption
Little Sisters of the Gospel - (1963)
Little Sisters of Jesus - (1933)
Little Sisters of Jesus and Mary
Little Sisters of the Poor - L.S.P. (ca. 1700s)
Loreto Sisters (Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary) - I.B.V.M.
Marian Fathers - M.I.C.
Marianists (Society of Mary) - S.M.
Marianist Sisters (Daughters of Mary Immaculate) - F.M.I.
Marianites of Holy Cross - M.S.C.
Marists (Society of Mary) - S. M.(1817)
Marist Brothers - F.M.S. (1817)
Maryknoll (Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America) - M.M. (1911)
Mercedarians (Order of Our Lady of Mercy) - O. de M. (1218)
Missionaries of Charity - M.C. (1950)
Missionaries of La Salette - M.S. (1852)
Missionaries of the Gospel of Life
Missionaries of the Poor
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart - M.S.C.
Norbertines or Premonstratensians (Canons Regular of Prémontré) - C.R.P., O.Praem. (1120)
Olivetans (Order of Our Lady of Mount Olivet) (1313)
Oblates Of Mary Immaculate - O.M.I. (1816)
Oblates Of The Virgin Mary - O.M.V. (1827)
Oblate Sisters of Providence -O.S.P. (1829)
Oratorians (Oratory of St. Philip Neri) - C.O., Cong. Orat. (1500s)
Order of St. Elisabeth O.S.E. (1622)
Pallottines (Society of the Catholic Apostolate) - S.A.C. (1835)
Paris Foreign Missions Society (Missions Etrangères de Paris) - M.E.P. (1658)
Passionists (Congregation of the Passion) - C.P. (1720)
Passionist Nuns
Pauline Fathers (Order of Saint Paul the First Hermit)
Paulists (Congregation of St. Paul) - C.S.P.
Piarists (Clerics Regulars Poors of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools) - Sch.P. (1617)
Poor Clares (Nuns of the Order of St. Clare/(Order of Poor Ladies) - O.S.C.
Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration
Presentation Brothers - F.P.M.
Presentation Sisters - P.M.
Presentation Sisters or Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - P.B.V.M.
Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter - F.S.S.P. (1988)
Racine Dominican Sisters
Redemptorists (Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer) - C.Ss.R. (1732)
Religious of the Assumption - R.A.
Religious of the Cenacle - R.C.
Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary - R.S.H.M.- *[link] - website
Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan - R.S.M.
Resurrectionists - C.R.
Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus - R.C.J.
Rosminians (Institute of Charity) - I.C.
Sacramentines (Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament) - S.S.S.
Salesians of St. John Bosco - S.D.B. (1857)
Salesian Sisters (Daughters of Mary Help of Christian) - F.M.A.
Salvatorians (Society of the Divine Savior) - S.D.S. (1881)
Scalabrians (Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo) - C.S. (1887)
School Sisters of Christ the King
School Sisters of Notre Dame - S.S.N.D. (1833)
School Sisters of the Third Order of St Francis
Servites (Order of Friars, Servants of Mary) - O.S.M. (1233)
Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters
Sister Adorers of the Precious Blood - R.P.G. (1861)
Sisters Adorers of the Royal Heart of Jesus Christ Sovereign Priest
Sisters of Charity - S.C.
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - B.V.M.
Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word
Sisters of the Apostolic Carmel
Sisters of the Holy Cross - C.S.C.
Sisters of Holy Cross - C.S.C
Sisters of the Holy Family
Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary - S.N.J.M. (1844)
Sisters of Jesus, Our Hope
Sisters of La Retraite
Sisters of Life - S.V. (1991)
Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist - O.P. (1997)
Sisters of Mercy - R.S.M. (1831)
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur - S.N.D., S.N.D. de N. (1803)
Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy
Sisters of Saint Agnes
Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi
Sisters of St Francis of the Martyr St George - F.S.G.M.
Sisters of St Joseph - C.S.J. or S.S.J. (1650)
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace [link]- C.S.J.P (1884)
Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart - S.S.J. (1866)
Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis
Society of the Precious Blood (Precious Blood Fathers) - C.PP.S.
Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary – IHM – 1845
Sisters, Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Cresson, PA; Poland; Vatican City) - S.S.C.J.
Society of Saint Paul - S.S.P (1914)
Spiritans or Holy Ghost Fathers (Congregation of the Holy Ghost) - C.S.Sp (1703)
Stigmatines (Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata) - C.S.S.
Sisters of St Therese of the Child Jesus (St Therese Sisters - Tanzania) - S.S.Th.
Sulpician Fathers (Society of Saint Sulpice) - S.S., P.S.S. (1642)
Teutonic Order (1190)
Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis - Cameroon
Theatines (Congregation of Clerics Regular) - C.R. (1524)
Trappists (Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance) - O.C.R., O.C.S.O. (1662)
Trinitarians (Order of the Most Holy Trinity) - O.SS.T. (1194)
Ursulines (Ursuline Nuns of the Roman Union) - O.S.U. (1535)
Ursulines (Ursuline Sisters of Tildonck) - S.U. (1535)
Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity - M.V.D.F
Viatorians (Clerics of Saint Viator) - C.S.V. (1831)
Vincentians or Lazarists (Congregation of the Mission) - C.M.
Vocationists (Clerics of the Divine Vocation) - S.D.V.
White Fathers
Xaverians or Xaverian Brothers (Missionary Society of St. Francis Xavier) - S.X.

Sources, references and external links

[Institute on Religious Life] - links to many Catholic religious communities
[Vocations Online] - directory of men's and women's Catholic religious communities in the USA
[Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious] -religious congregations of women
[Leadership Conference of Women Religious] -religious congregations of women

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