Motherhouse
The principal home for a women’sreligious community. The leaderof the community lives there, andusually the community’s administrative offices are located in or nearthe same building.
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Novice
A man or woman taking part inthe initial stage of entering a religious community. The novice istypically involved in discernment,preparation, and formation activities, including study of the order’scharism, history, constitution, andway of life. This period usuallylasts from 12 to 24 months and iscalled the novitiate. At its end, thenovice can go on to take temporary vows of poverty, chastity, andobedience.
Nun
Although people use the terms nun
where between apostolic and clois-
tered. Monastic men and women
place a high value on prayer and
living in community life, but many
are also engaged in active ministries.
Monasticism centers on communitylife, work, and common and individual prayer.
MISSIONARY communitiesfocus on promoting the gospeland Good News for the poorin other countries or areas oftheir own country where thechurch is not yet present ina robust form. Brother ChrisSweeney, S.C. is part of a teamthat has revived a Catholicschool in Mozambique.