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A religious sister is a woman who belongs to a religious community for women. Religious sisters make vows and serve God according to the charisms of their respective community. Sisters are not married and work in many different jobs, according to the needs of the religious community and/or the needs of the local area. A sister in a cloistered religious community is referred to as a "nun."
Sisters live or are attached to local communities in which they share faith together and support one another. In New Wineskins, Sandra Schneiders, I.H.M., defined the goal of community as follows: “Religious should be on the cutting edge in the development of new forms of community life and organization structured by and for justice…Religious should offer a prophetic witness that it is possible for a group of people to live together in love and justice celebrating their own freedom and equality in the very act of celebrating God’s absolute and respectful reign in their lives.”
| Every sister takes at least three vows. |
| 1) The vow of obedience is aimed at listening as Jesus did in openness to God's will. Obedience demands openness to the leaders of a community in sharing one's sense of what God is asking as well as listening to the needs of the community. |
| 2) The vow of chastity or celibacy requires loving wholeheartedly and inclusively all God's people. Sisters are called to be warm, loving, and vibrant women. Celibacy is another way of loving. |
| 3) The vow of poverty means living simply in joyful dependency on God. Sisters are called to stand in solidarity with the poor, challenging structures that oppress. |
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| Different types of communities also exist: |
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Monastic sisters live in communities in which they pray the Liturgy of the Hours several times each day together |
| and often share a common timetable. They live in a monastery. |
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Active Apostolic communities are usually involved in diverse ministries with varying schedules and meet to |
| share faith as the community determines. The mission or ministry usually shapes the community life. |
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Cloistered Contemplative nuns usually live in the same convent for life. Their ministry is to pray for the needs of |
| the Church and the world. These sisters do this ministry within the convent grounds and often make altar breads, |
| engage in art and music as well. |
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Missionary sisters are involved in bringing the Gospel to people in inner cities, reservations, to people in various |
| needy situations and to the ends of the earth. Their community life is defined by the culture and mission in which |
| they live. |
Sisters are called to diverse ministries. Not only do sisters work as teachers, nurses, and social workers, they are also involved in the arts as sculptors, painters, graphic artists, and writers. Some sisters are composers, concert pianists, music directors and teachers, choir directors, and liturgists. Some sisters are educators, school principals, and university administrators. Some are doctors and physical therapists; others are advocates for the poor, lobbyists, and social workers.
Sisters are community organizers, parish ministers, directors of religious education, and pastoral associates. In some dioceses, where the parish has few priests, sisters actually run the parish. Some sisters are diocesan directors of ministry programs and administrators.
Whatever talent a sister has, it can be used for ministry. Whatever ministry a sister does, all sisters are treated with the same dignity and respect. The money earned by a sister goes into the community account.
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