Religious Opportunities for Women

 Ministries : Vocations : Religious Opportunities for Women

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines a religious sister, or nun, as a woman who belongs to a religious order or congregation devoted to active service or meditation, living under the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. 

Well, you may not be Whoopi Goldberg from Sister Act, but there are ways to have fun while being a nun. There are numerous volunteer and teaching opportunities. 

For more information, please contact the Vocation Office or any of the numerous religious communities in the area.

FAQs About the Sisterhood

What is a religious sister? 
A religious sister is a woman who seeks to dedicate her life to the service of the church, while living the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience within a religious community. She is a woman who commits her life in faith, hope and love, to the many needs of the world. [Top]

What do sisters do?
Service and prayer are the primary aspects of a sister's life. Different communities express their life of service and prayer according to the spirit of their community's foundress, as well as their own special calling. Each order is different, responding to the needs of the church in a unique way. [Top]

Me, a sister? 
The choice for religious life may seem strange at first. It is a vocation not easily seen or acknowledged in today's world. Many women are very active in church ministry without taking the vows of religious life. But for some, the call to religious life is a natural one. Baptism calls all men and women to manifest Christ's presence to the world and raise consciousness to God's invitation to salvation. Baptism unites us as a community of believers. [Top]

How do I know this is what I am called to? 
A vocation to religious life is a gift from God rooted in mystery; it is important to respond to this gift in faith and love. To discern a call to religious life, a woman is advised to spend time in prayer, as well as to seek counsel from a spiritual director. [Top]

How do I find the right religious community for me? 
During your discernment process, you should develop some criteria or expectations. Through prayer, you need to look at your talents, your sense of ministry and church, as well as your views on community living. You should look at different groups of women and try to find one with whom you will feel at home, one in which you can use your gifts to the fullest. It must be a community in which you are able to fully gift of yourself, as well as be nurtured by others. [Top]

How do I find out more? 
The best way to learn about a religious community is through personal contact with one of its members. Religious communities serving in the Diocese of Dallas are listed below. Contact several of them. Meet with those that interest you. Many communities host retreats or discernment weekends for women interested in religious life. The Serra Clubs of Dallas and Fort Worth sponsor an annual Vocation Awareness Program. For information on that program, call Juanita Ramirez at 214-528-2240. Some communities welcome women to spend a few days with the community, allowing you the opportunity to learn about their lifestyle and ministry firsthand. Some have lay associate programs, which also allow for a close contact with the community and its ministries. [Top]

What is the next step? 
Each community is different. After a period of increased contact with the community, the vocation director can help you decide whether to enter the community's formation program. Although formation programs vary, all are geared to help you explore your capacity to live religious life, and in particular, religious life with the particular community which you have contacted. Formation is a time for growth, self-knowledge and decisions. It is a time when you closely look at yourself, with the aid of others who care about you and your vocation.

Tammy Grady
Contact for Women Religious
tgrady@regnumchristi.net
214.907.9906