The largest archdiocese in the United States is blessed to have more than 120 communities of women and 60 communities of men. What a gift!

Within the five regions spanning Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, you’ll find:

Cloistered communities: Sisters are often referred to as “nuns,” although that term technically refers to cloistered members of communities, of which the archdiocese has three: Carmelites, Dominicans and Poor Clares. The cloistered nuns within these orders live out their consecrated life within their convent, focusing on prayer, and are not the sisters you would encounter around the archdiocese in active ministries.

Apostolic communities: There are about 110 apostolic communities who are involved in active ministries around the Archdiocese. Some of these apostolic communities have been around for hundreds of years, founded in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries to educate or care for the sick and the poor. The first of the sisters to come to Southern California were the Daughters of Charity in 1856 (to open hospitals) and the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, both in 1889 (to open schools).

Apostolic communities have ministered in a myriad of ways, going out to the margins — or “the peripheries” as Pope Francis would say — to care for the underserved. We have sisters running food programs, doing early childhood education, parish ministry, elder care, evangelization through radio, printing and other forms, running youth camps and bible camps, prison ministry, homes for victims of domestic violence and so much more.

One of the newest groups from the Philippines, the Mary Queen of Heaven Missionaries, are translating their work with prostitutes and their children in their native land to helping victims of human trafficking in the Los Angeles area. They are affectionately known as the “pink sisters” for the color of their habit.

Diverse Forms of Consecrated Life: There are also communities that have come into existence since Vatican II as a response to the call for renewal in religious life and Pope Saint John Paul II’s call to the new evangelization. Many of these communities do not define themselves as religious, so we refer to them as “Diverse Forms of Consecrated Life.”

Secular Institutes: Members of “secular institutes” live “in the world” and work for the sanctification of others “from within,” such as the Institute of Our Lady of the Annunciation. They typically live alone, although we also have the Focolare and Father Kolbe Missionaries of the Immaculata who live in community, and their service to the world is not necessarily in church ministry, although it can be.

Consecrated Virginity: Consecrated virgins live “in the world” while “consecrated to God and mystically espoused to Christ.” Through a sacramental reserved to the bishop, laywomen take vows to resolve perpetual virginity to God and service to the Church. The consecrated virgin living in the world embodies a definitive vocation in itself. She is not a quasi-Religious, nor is she in a vocation that is in the process of becoming a Religious institute or congregation. Nevertheless, she is a consecrated person, with her bishop as her guide. By virtue of the Consecration, she is responsible to pray for her diocese and clergy.

The consecrated virgin attends Mass daily (if possible), prays the Divine Office, and spends much time in private prayer. She can choose the Church-approved spirituality she prefers to follow. Supporting herself by earning her own living, the consecrated virgin is not obliged to take on any particular work or apostolate. Usually, consecrated virgins in the United States volunteer their time to their local parish, diocese, or Church-sponsored association. Some volunteer their time also in civic responsibilities.

A woman aspiring to the Consecration should be practicing her faith. She accepts the teaching of the Church and Sacred Scripture, with a readiness and capacity for personal growth. She should be able to give herself totally to God and the Church.

Contemplatives: Some non-cloistered contemplatives also reside in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, such as the Puso ng Carmelo.

Movements and more!

There are other groups that don’t fit the traditional definitions of consecrated life — such as the Koinonia John the Baptist, a mixed community of men and women that form a Lay Association of the Faithful that has consecrated members.

Other movements have consecrated members as well, like the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity and The Focolare Movement.

The Holy Spirit is alive and well in relation to consecrated life! The diversity within this local church is an incredible gift and reflective of the many forms of consecrated life that exist in the universal Church.

Not sure what’s right for you? Don’t worry, we know this can be confusing and overwhelming! Keep browsing through, and of course, contact us to start talking.