Consecrated Life
The consecrated life is a counter-cultural, love-filled, life-giving response to God’s love. In this vocation, a woman imitates Jesus Christ by taking vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, and in doing so, finds a profound source of joy. She gives her heart to God alone, becoming a bride of Christ and an image of the Church -- that is, a witness to the world of the dedication we all should have to the Lord. She witnesses by her life that God is enough to satisfy all the desires of our hearts! A woman who is called to this vocation lives in a community that prays, works, and ministers together, and that community is a profound source of support and joy.
Religious communities have different ministries (or “apostolates”) in which the women of the community can pour themselves out in service to others out of love for the Lord.
All religious women bear profound fruit in the Church by their life of consecration to God, whether their ministry is silent prayer and work in a convent, teaching in a school, giving retreats or spiritual direction, serving the poor, or missionary work. Religious communities all respond to a particular movement of the Holy Spirit in the Church, so they are distinguished by their charism--the particular gift they bring to the Church--as well as by the way they live community and by the work or ministry (called an “apostolate”) that they do. Religious communities fall along a spectrum, from strict contemplatives like the Carmelites, to very active communities like the Daughters of Charity.
The link to the right will help you explore the different religious communities of women serving in or near the Diocese of Austin. Contact them for more information or to arrange a visit!