The firm conviction of being loved by God is at the center of your vocation: to be for others a tangible sign of the presence of God’s Kingdom, a foretaste of the eternal joys of heaven.
– Pope Francis
Religious Communities
Religious Institutes
Religious life exists within institutes canonically erected by the Church which are distinguished from other forms of consecrated life by its liturgical character, public profession of the evangelical counsels (poverty, chastity & obedience), fraternal life in common and witness given to the union of Christ with the Church. Within the Religious Institutes there are many forms of expression of religious life, from enclosed contemplative orders of monks and nuns, to more recent apostolic congregations of priests, brothers and sisters. Examples include most of the religious orders – such as the Benedictines, Cistercians, Franciscans, Dominicans, (Discalced) Carmelites & Jesuits and the congregations, such as the Marist (Priests and Brothers), MSC, Redemptorist, Josephite, Mercy, Little Sisters of the Poor and so forth.
Religious Institutes of Men
- Brothers of St Patrick (Patrician Brothers) (FSP)
- Brothers of the Christian Schools of St Jean-Baptiste de la Salle (De La Salle Brothers) (FSC)
- Congregation of Christian Brothers (CFC)
- Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of the Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin Mary (Oblates) (OMI)
- Congregation of the Missionaries of St Charles Borromeo (Scalabrinians) (CS)
- Congregation of the Most Blessed Sacrament (SSS)
- Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) (CSsR)
- Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ (Passionists) (CP)
- Dominicans – Order of Preachers
- Hospitaller Order of St John of God (OH)
- Marist Brothers of the Schools (Marist Brothers) (FMS)
- Missionaries of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD)
- Missionaries of St Francis de Sales (Fransalians) (SF)
- Missionary Society of St Paul (MSSP)
- Missionaries of St Thomas the Apostle (MST)
- Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré (Norbertines) (OPraem)
- Order of Friars Minor (Brown Franciscans) (OFM)
- Order of Friars Minor (Capuchin) (OFM Cap)
- Order of St Benedict (Sylvestrine) (OSB)
- Order of St Paul the First Hermit (OSPPE)
- Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB)
- Society of Christ (SChr)
- Society of Jesus (Jesuits) (SJ)
- Society of Mary (Marists) (SM)
- Society of the Missionaries of Sacred Heart (MSC)
- Society of St Paul (SSP)
Religious Institutes of Women
- Australian-New Zealand Federation of the Sisters of St Joseph (Goulburn Congregation) (RSJ)
- Australian-New Zealand Federation of the Sisters of St Joseph (Lochinvar Congregation) (RSJ)
- Australian-New Zealand Federation of the Sisters of St Joseph (Perthville Congregation) (RSJ)
- Caritas Sisters of Miyazaki
- Congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid (Brigidines) (CSB)
- Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of Orange California (CSJ)
- Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian) (FMA)
- Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia (OP)
- Daughters of St Anne
- Daughters of Our Lady of the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (FDNSC)
- Daughters of St Paul (FSP)
- Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia (OP)
- Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM)
- Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto Sisters) (IBVM)
- Little Company of Mary (Blue Nuns) (LCM)
- Little Sisters of the Poor (PSP)
- Missionaries of Charity (MC)
- Missionary Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS)
- Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (MFIC)
- Missionary Sisters of Mary Queen (CMR)
- Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (Marist Missionary Sisters) (SMSM)
- Our Lady’s Nurses of the Poor (OLN)
- Passionist Sisters of St Paul of the Cross (CP)
- Religious of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (RGS)
- Religious Sisters of Charity (RSC)
- Religious Sisters of Mercy of ALMA (RSM)
- Servants of the Blessed Sacrament (SSS)
- Sister Adorers of the Blood of Christ (ASC)
- Sister Disciples of the Divine Master (PDDM)
- Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict (SGS)
- Sisters of Mercy (Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea)
- Sisters of Mercy (North Sydney Congregation) (RSM)
- Sisters of Mercy (Parramatta Congregation) (RSM)
- Sisters of Our Lady of China (OLC)
- Sisters of Our Lady of Sion (NDS)
- Sisters of the Order of St Clare (Poor Clare Sisters) (OSC)
- Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Lismore (PBVM)
- Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Wagga Wagga (PBVM)
- Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart (RSJ)
- Sisters of St Paul of Chartres (SPC)
- Society of Mary (Marist Sisters) (SM)
- Society of the Sacred Heart (RSCJ)
- Ursulines of the Roman Union (OSU)
Monastic
There and no Monasteries of Contemplative Life within the boundaries of the Archdiocese
There are Monasteries of Contemplative Life within nearby Dioceses:
- Monastery of St Benedict (OSB Sylvestrine) – Benedictine Monks – Diocese of Broken Bay (Monks)
- Tyburn Priory (OSB) – Benedictine Adorers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Montmartre – Tyburn Nuns – Diocese of Parramatta (Nuns)
- Abbey of the Presentation of the Lord (OSB Subiaco) – Benedictine Nuns – Diocese of Wollongong (Nuns)
- Bethlehem Monastery (OSC) – Poor Clares (Second Order) – Diocese of Wollongong (Nuns)
- Carmel of Mary & Joseph (OCD) – Discalced Carmelites – Diocese of Wollongong (Nuns)
- Monastery of the Most Holy Redeemer (OSsR) – Order of the Most Holy Redeemer – Redemptoristines – Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle (Nuns)
Secular Institutes
A secular institute is an institute of consecrated life in which the Christian faithful living in the world strive for the perfection of charity and work for the sanctification of the world especially from within Examples – Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ, Prado, Notre Dame de Vie, Society of Christian Doctrine.
- Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ
- Secular Institute for Schoenstatt Fathers
- Schoenstatt Institute for Diocesan Priests
- Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary (ISSM)
- Society of Christian Doctrine (SDC)
Societies of Apostolic Life
Members who do not take vows as ‘religious’ and who pursue the particular apostolic purpose of the society, and leading a life in common according to a particular manner of life, strive for the perfection of charity through the observance of constitution. Examples – Daughters of Charity, Congregation of the Mission, St Columba’s Mission Society.
- Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) (CM)
- Oblate Apostles of the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary
- Priestly Fraternity of St Peter (FSSP)
- St Columban’s Mission Society (SSC)
- Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul (DC)
- Leaven of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Marian Community of Reconciliation (Fraternas)
Consecrated Virgins
Similar to other forms of consecrated life is the order of consecrated virgins who committed to the holy plan of following Christ more closely, are consecrated by the diocesan bishops, are betrothed to Christ and are dedicated to the service of the Church.
Canonical Hermits
Those recognised in the law of the Church as dedicated to God in a consecrated life, by publicly professing the three evangelical counsels confirmed by a vow or other sacred bond in the hands of the diocesan bishop and who observes their own plan under his direction.
Consecrated Life within Associations of the Faithful
Associations distinct form the institutes of consecrated life and the societies of apostolic life in which the Christian faithful, either clergy or laity, or both together, strive by common effort to promote a more perfect life to foster public worship, or to exercise other apostolic works, namely to engage in efforts of evangelisation to animate the temporal order with the Christian spirit. The associations often have within their membership consecrated men and women who are full members of the association and under the governance of the association’s moderator. Examples – Consecrated Brothers and Sisters of the Emmanuel Community, Regnum Christi, Consecrated Brothers and Sisters of the Beatitudes Community, Focolare Movement, Communion & Liberation.
- Emmanuel Community
- The Grail
An Institute of Consecrated Life
- Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity
“Wherever there are consecrated people, seminarians, men and women religious, young people, there is always joy! It is the joy of freshness, the joy of following Jesus; the joy that the Holy Spirit gives us, not the joy of the world.”
– Pope Francis to Seminarians and Novices, 6 July 2013
Religious Orders
Clerical Religious
- African Mission Fathers
- Antonine Monks
- Augustinians
- Australian / Aotearoa NZ Redemptorist Province
- Benedictine Monks (OSB) – New Norcia
- Benedictine Monks (OSB) – Sylvestrine Congregation
- Blessed Sacrament Fathers (SSS) – Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament
- Camillians
- Capuchin Franciscan Friars (OFMCap)
- Carmelites of the Ancient Observance (O.Carm)
- Congregation of St Michael the Archangel CSMA (Michaelite Fathers)
- Discalced Carmelite Friars & Nuns (OCD)
- Cistercian Monks
- Claretians
- Divine Word Missionaries
- Dominicans – Order of Preachers
- Franciscan Friars
- Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate
- Holy Ghost Fathers
- Jesuit Province of Australia
- Lebanese Maronite Missionaries
- Lebanese Maronite Monks
- Legionares of Christ
- Missionary of the Sacred Heart (Priests) | Sacred Heart Fathers’ Mission
- Marian Fathers
- Marist Fathers
- Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
- Missionaries of St Francis De Dales'(MSFS)
- Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
- Missionary Society of St Paul
- Norbertine Canons
- Order of Friars Minor Conventual
- Pallotines
- Passionists
- Pauline Fathers
- Resurrection Fathers
- Salesians of Don Bosco
- Salvatorian Fathers
- Scalabrinian Fathers
- Servite Fathers
- Society of Christ
- Society of St Paul
- St Joseph’s Missionary Society
Religious Brothers
- Christian Brothers in Australia
- De La Salle Brothers
- Marist Brothers
- Mother of God Brothers
- Patrician Brothers
- St John of God Brothers
Societies of Apostolic Life
- Columban Fathers – St Columban Mission Society
- Priestly Fraternity of St Peter
- Vincentians
Women Religious
- Adoration Sisters
- Antonine Sisters
- Augustinian Recollect Sisters
- Augustinian Sisters (OSA)
- Basilian Nuns
- Benedictine Nuns
- Blessed Sacrament Sisters
- Brigidines
- Canossian Sisters
- Cenacle Sisters
- Sisters of Charity
- Cluny Sisters
- Sisters of Compassion
- Conventual Sisters of St Dominic
- Daughters of Charity
- Daughters of Divine Zeal
- Daughters of St Paul
- Discalced Carmelite Nuns – OCDM
- Discalced Carmelite Nuns – OCD
- Disciples of the Divine Master
- Dominican Sisters of Australia
- Dominican Sisters of Malta
- Dominican Sisters (of Manila)
- Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia
- Family Care Sisters
- FCJ Sisters – Faithful Companions of Jesus
- Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood
- Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus
- Franciscan Immaculatine Sisters
- Good Samaritan Sisters
- Good Shepherd Sisters
- Holy Angels Sisters
- Holy Faith Sisters
- Holy Family of Nazareth Sisters
- Holy Family Sisters
- Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters
- Little Company of Mary Sisters
- Little Sisters of Jesus
- Little Sisters of the Poor
- Loreto Sisters
- Marist Missionary Sisters (SMSM)
- Marist Sisters (SM)
- Maronite/Lebanese Sisters
- Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing
- Missionaries of Charity
- Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception
- Missionary Sisters of Service
- Missionary Sisters of Mary Queen
- Missionary Sisters of St Peter Claver
- Missionary Sisters of the Sacred
- Heart of Jesus – Cabrini Sisters
- Missionary of the Sacred Heart (Sisters)
- OLSH Sisters – Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (FDNSC)
- Our Lady Help of Christians
- Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor
- Pastorelle Sisters
- Poor Clare Colettines (PCC)
- Poor Clare Nuns
- Poor Clares
- Presentation Sisters
- Redemptoristine Nuns – Monastery of the Most Holy Redeemer
- Religious of the Sacred Heart
- Religious Sisters of Mercy of ALMA (RSM)
- Resurrection Sisters
- Salesian Sisters
- Servite Sisters – Servants of Mary
- Sion Sisters
- Sisters Adorers of the
- Blood of Christ – Croation Sisters
- Sisters of Nazareth
- Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions
- Sisters of St John of God
- Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition
- Sisters of St Joseph of the
- Sacred Heart – Josephites (RSJ)
- Sisters of St Joseph – The Australian/NZ Federation
- Sisters of St Joseph of Orange
- Sisters of St Paul of Chartres
- Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate
- Tyburn Nuns (Benedictine Adorers of the Sacred Heart)
- Ursuline Sisters
- Ursulines of the Roman Union
- Franciscan Federation of Australia
Secular Institutes
- Missionaries of the Kingship of Christ
- SCD Brothers – Society of Christian Doctrine
- Schoenstatt Fathers
- Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary
- Servitium Christi
- Volunteers of Don Bosco
- United States Conference of Secular Institutes – USCSI