Last Updated: Friday - 09/24/2010

Each religious order is unique in its charism

When I first thought of being a religious sister, I took for granted that all sisters and priests were the same. But soon after meeting sisters from a number of different orders, I learned each order was unique in their charism.

A charism is the spirit that gives life to the purpose and ministry of each order. The charism is believed to be a gift given by God to the founder or foundress of the order of sisters or priests and is to be lived by the generations of that religious order that follow.

Below are the names of some of the many religious orders that are in the Edmonton Archdiocese followed by a few words about their charism. Search them out, meet them, and you will discover, like me, a wealth of gifts that are being shared in our Church today.

ORDERS OF WOMEN

FAITHFUL COMPANIONS OF JESUS

We are inspired by the example of the women who were faithful to Jesus in his deepest suffering, death and resurrection. Through this example we strive to be companions to all, finding God in all persons, things and events.

LES FILLES DE JESUS (THE DAUGHTERS OF JESUS)

We honour the sacred humanity of the Son of God, striving to imitate his virtues, especially his love and to be at the heart of the world and the Church, witnesses of life and to favour the most unfortunate.

PRESENTATION SISTERS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

We live the charism of our founder, Nano Nagle, by listening and reaching out as we hear the cry of the poor. We continue the mission of Jesus to bring forth a sustainable society founded on respect for earth, universal human rights, economic justice and a culture of peace.

RELIGIOUS OF THE VIRGIN MARY

We, bearers of the legacy of Mother Ignacia del Espiritu Santo, courageously venture into new paths and through our life and ministry, contribute to the transformation of society.

SISTERS OF CHARITY OF MONTREAL "GREY NUNS"

Dedicated to the ministry of charity, our mission is to manifest Jesus' confidence in the Providence of his Father and his compassionate love for the poor. In the spirit of St. Marguerite d'Youville, woman of universal love, we dare to creatively shape new ministries in response to the unmet needs of our society.

SISTERS OF CHARITY OF ST. LOUIS

Our charism is expressed in works of education and in human development in the social and spiritual spheres. We manifest the compassion of God and the joy of salvation in our special concern for the young, for women and especially for persons in difficult situations.

SISTERS OF HOLY CROSS

Impassioned with God and the world, we burn with the desire to liberate life and foster hope so that, with others, we may build a world of justice, love and peace. Together and with one heart, we reach out to the young, to women, to the poor and to emerging churches.

SISTERS OF OUR LADY OF SION

God's love and fidelity for the Jewish people is at the heart of our charism. It is through this love and fidelity that the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion make their threefold commitment to the Church, the Jewish people and a world of justice, peace and love.

SISTERS OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD

In gratitude of Christ's love by giving himself up for us, this love urges us to become one with him in his atoning sacrifice. The surest way of participating in Christ's act of reparation is by an attitude of willing sacrifice and loving surrender to whatever the Father wills.

SISTERS OF PROVIDENCE OF MONTREAL

We, daughters of Mother Emilie Gamelin, manifest in the society of our times the Providence of God and the compassion of our Mother of Sorrows. We do this through the practice of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, in keeping with our heritage and in solidarity with the poor.

SISTERS OF PROVIDENCE OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

We are gifted with compassionate caring for God's people, especially the most destitute. In union with the suffering Christ and Mary, Mother of Sorrows, we give service in a spirit of humility, simplicity and charity as we rely on the providence of God which we are called to proclaim.

SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF CANADA

We are called to be women of unity and reconciliation in every area of life, living lives of active and inclusive love. We can do that in any ministry; going where the needs are, meeting the needs and moving on when they are met along with moving to new areas of need, always aware of the "dear neighbour" in every aspect of our lives.

URSULINES OF JESUS

We contemplate the words from John's Gospel: "God's Word is made flesh and lives among us" and strive to recognize God's faithful love among our sisters in community, the sisters and brothers we meet every day and in all creation. Opening our hearts and our homes, we welcome anew the invitation of Jesus, the Incarnate Word, to be a missionary presence wherever and to whomever we are sent.

ORDERS OF MEN

FRANCISCAN FRIARS

The Franciscans are, first, a brotherhood. Inspired by St. Francis of Assisi's vision of Gospel life, we live communally and fraternally to support each other in following Jesus more closely. Our primary "ministry," therefore, is simply to be a Gospel witness in the world.

HOLY CROSS FATHERS

We continue to live out our historical charisms: missionaries, educators in the faith and pastors as two distinct societies of clerics and laymen bound together in one indivisible brotherhood. With our motto: The Cross Our Only Hope, we experience the urgency to nudge along the kingdom of justice, love and peace reaching out to the broken, afflicted, poor and oppressed in a preferential way.

MISSIONARY OBLATES OF MARY IMMACULATE

We are an international missionary congregation living in community, serving the poor with their many faces and growing in our own faith as a result. Contemplate a life with us as a brother or priest!

REDEMPTORISTS

We are called, as a community, to proclaim God's redeeming love and be evangelized by the poor.

PALLOTTINE FATHERS

All of its members are committed to the common goal of spreading faith and re-enkindling charity. All efforts of our apostolic mission are a response to the experience of God as infinite love and mercy.

SULPICIAN FATHERS

The Priests of St. Sulpice are a community of diocesan priests who have as their charism the formation of future diocesan (parish) priests. Today, Sulpicians are found in France, Vietnam, Africa, Japan, Colombia, Brazil, Canada and the United States.

SONS OF MARY MOTHER OF MERCY CONGREGATION

We live the charism of charity and manifest this in our ministry in schools, hospitals and parishes.

SECULAR INSTITUTES

SECULAR INSTITUTE OF THE OBLATE MISSIONARIES OF MARY IMMACULATE

A constant availability to the will of the Father to live the charity of Christ everywhere through service, with the help of Mary.

ASSOCIATION OF CHRIST'S FAITHFUL

MADONNA HOUSE

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