committed to “freeing and nurturing women and
children.” Founded in 1874 in western Kentucky,
our congregation embraces the core values of Prayer,
Service, Empowerment, Justice, and Contemplative
Presence, in the spirit of our founder, Saint Angela
Merici. We minister in Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois,
Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Louisiana, New
Mexico, New York, Washington, D.C., and Chile,
South America. Our focus is in four areas: education,
from primary grades to college; church ministry;
social outreach and justice advocacy with the poor,
children, elderly, immigrants, and the homeless;
and ministries of body, mind and spirit. We sponsor
Brescia University and offer opportunities for spiritual
growth and reflection at the Mount Saint Joseph
Conference and Retreat Center. More than 400
Ursuline Associates join us in prayer and ministry.
Vocations: Contact Sister Martha Keller, (270) 229-
4103, ext. 212; vocations.msj@maplemount.org; 8001
Cummings Road, Maple Mount, KY 42356. Visit us at
www.ursulinesmsj.org .
Code #222.
Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union U.S.
Provinces (O.S.U.) The Ursulines were the first
religious women in what is now the United States,
arriving in New Orleans in 1727. We have been
serving God’s people here continuously since that
time. Like our foundress, St. Angela Merici, Ursulines
believe that every day is a journey toward God. We
seek to be faithful to a daily rhythm of contemplation,
community life and ministry. We dare to confront the
oppression of women and to stand in solidarity with
the poor. We fulfill our mission in varied works by
helping people recognize and develop their gifts for
the service of others. For information, please contact:
Sr. Jean Hopman, OSU, sjeanosu@gmail.com, (773)
844-0950; Sr. Elisa Ryan, OSU, elisaosu@gmail.com,
(314) 825-9733; www.usaosu.org; backlitwithjoy.
wordpress.com.
Code #218.
V
Visitation Sisters of Minneapolis (VHM) Learn
more about the Visitation Sisters of Minneapolis
through their Visitation Engagement offerings,
the five offerings available to those who, like the
Visitation Sisters, want to Live Jesus in an urban
setting! •Following the Spirit Discernment Series:
resources and reflection on discernment for all of
life’s decisions. •Visitation Internship Program:
giving young adults the opportunity to live in
community and provide a year of ministry within
north Minneapolis. •Visitation Companions:
committing to an intentional study of Salesian
Spirituality to nourish and deepen one’s personal
spiritual journey. •Monastic Immersion Experience:
a unique opportunity for an in-depth experience of
the Sisters’ monastic way of life in an urban setting.
•Vowed Religious Life: Live a monastic life of prayer
and community: being present and reaching out to
all in the diverse setting of north Minneapolis to
“Live Jesus.” For more information, please contact
Sister Katherine Mullin at katherinefmullin@gmail.
com or call (612) 521-6113. Visit our website at
www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org; follow
us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/minnemonastery;
and “Like” us on Facebook (“Visitation Monastery
North Minneapolis”)! See our web ad at www.
VocationNetwork.org.
Code #086.
ASSOCIATE
COMMUNITIES
Associate Community of the Poor Handmaids of
Jesus Christ We are baptized men and women
who make a non-vowed renewable covenant
with the Associate Community for the purpose
of mutual spiritual enrichment, development
of community and promotion of service. Our
commitment is based on the common call of
the Holy Spirit. The Associates, together with
the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and Fiat
Spiritus Community, live the spirit of their
foundress Blessed Catherine Kasper. Contact:
Donna Sikorski, P.O. Box 1, Donaldson, IN
46513; (574) 936-9936 ext. 733; e-mail:
dsikorski@poorhandmaids.org; website: www.
poorhandmaids.org/associates. See our web ad
at www.VocationNetwork.org.
Code #049.
NEW COMMUNITIES
OF CONSECRATED LIFE
Fiat Spiritus Community (FS) We are a
community of vowed Christian men and
women who are committed to living an
apostolic life. We are called to listen to
the Holy Spirit through community which
empowers us to discern our response to the
needs of our time especially with the needy and
underserved. The Fiat Spiritus Community,
together with the Poor Handmaids of Jesus
Christ and Associate Community, live the
Spirit of Blessed Catherine Kasper our
foundress. Contact: Brother Bob Overland,
FS, P.O. Box 1, Donaldson, IN 46513; (574)
936-1726; e-mail: boverland@poorhandmaids.
org; website: www.fiatspiritus.org. See our web
ad at www.VocationNetwork.org.
Code #049.
SECULAR
INSTITUTES
Caritas Christi, Secular Institute of
Pontifical Right Founded in Marseilles,
France, in 1937 by Fr. Joseph-Marie Perrin,
OP, and Juliette Molland, Caritas Christi is
now one of the largest secular institutes for
single women in the United States and has
members in over thirty countries. The purpose
of Caritas Christi is to form and give to the
Church contemplative apostolic laywomen
who, in every condition of life, strive to live
as consecrated Catholics by loving God and
making him loved where he has placed them.
All members have a sponsor to help them live
a life in which God comes first even though
they are working in the heart of the world.
After three years of initial formation, members
take a vow of celibate chastity and promises
of poverty and obedience at a first dedication,
followed by a definitive dedication five years
later. For further information write: Jo Ann
Ballinger, joannbear@gmail.com; website:
www.ccinfo.org.
Code #347.
Don Bosco Volunteers (DBV) Don Bosco
Volunteers are consecrated lay women living
the Salesian spirituality of Saint John Bosco,
(Don Bosco), while fully immersed in the
ordinary occupations and careers of secular
society. We participate in the evangelizing
mission of the Church by witnessing Christian
joy and service especially to young people
and those most in need. We do not live in
community but share communion through
regular prayer and Days of Recollection.
Founded in 1917 by Blessed Philip Rinaldi,
Don Bosco Volunteers are a Secular Institute
of Pontifical Right for single Catholic women
who are consecrated to God through the
vows of chastity, poverty and obedience while
maintaining their lay status within the Church
and world. Candidates must be women who
have never married and who want to dedicate
their life in a radical way to love of God and
neighbor. Members follow a formation plan
of discernment and preparation for vows, six
years of temporary vows, then perpetual vows.
Contact information: PO Box 334H, Scarsdale,
N Y 10583-5834; e-mail: seculardbv@aol.com.
Code #360.
United States Conference of Secular
Institutes (USCSI) The United States
Conference of Secular Institutes is an
association of all the Secular Institutes in
the United States. Its mission is to provide
education, resources, and support for member
institutes, and to assist inquirers in finding
the Secular Institute that is right for them.
USCSI is committed to making known,
understood, and appreciated the call to
consecrated secularity in the Catholic Church.
Total consecration to God through the
evangelical counsels of poverty, celibate
chastity, and obedience is the hallmark of
all Secular Institutes. Institutes are for single
women or for single men, and some are for
diocesan priests. It is the newest and fastest-growing vocation in the Church today. For
more information see www.secularinstitutes.
org. Inquirers may be helped by writing to
or talking with Sharon K. Lewis, Vocation
Committee, 26673 Franklin Pointe Drive,
Southfield, MI 48034-5615; (248) 352-8425;
e-mail: sklewis@comcast.net.
OTHER COMMUNITIES/PROGRAMS
Code #147.
UK/IRISH
COMMUNITIES
Find UK and Irish Communities online
through our community search or in
our digital edition of Vision: www.
digitalvocationguide.org.
VISION 2013
For more features go to VocationNetworkorg
