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Religious Vocations

"Come and see" John 1:46

Consecrated Life Expressions in the Archdiocese of Boston

Welcome to the Home Page for Religious in the Archdiocese of Boston.  Those who have committed themselves to living a consecrated life are engaged in many ministries in the Archdiocese of Boston, including:
  • Spirituality
  • Parish Ministry
  • Health Care
  • Education
  • Campus Ministry
  • Social Services
  • Religious Education
  • Youth Ministry
  • AIDS Ministry
  • Special Education
  • Young Adult Ministry
  • Work with Elderly
  • Pastoral Services
  • Prison Ministry
  • Ethnic Apostolates

For More Information, Contact:

Sister Marian Batho, CSJ
Delegate for Religious
2121 Commonwealth Ave.
Brighton, MA 02135
(617) 746-5637

Visions Magazine is a wonderful online introductory resource for religious vocations (www.visionguide.org/)

Prayer and retreat animators, presenters, resources for vocation talks or service projects.

Types of Consecrated Life:

Those who commit themselves to live the evangelical counsels in an institute approved by the Church.  This structure reflects the inclusion of institutes as members of the peoples of God with a special calling within their vocation as Christians.

Type of Community Number of Men's Number of Women's
Apostolic 31 72
Missionary 8 5
Contemplative 3 5

Other Types of Consecrated and Non-Consecrated Life:

  • Secular Institutes (3) 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.
  • Societies of Apostolic Life (1) Members without religious vows 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.
  • Consecrated Virgins (10) 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 (3) Those recognized 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.
  • Private Associations of Christ's Faithful (2) Associations distinct form the institutes of consecrated life and the societies of apostolic life in which the Christian faithful, either clergy of 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 evangelization to animate the temporal order with the Christian spirit.

 

 

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