- Ordained Ministry
- Who is the priest?
- Who is the deacon?
- Religious Life
- Lay Ministry
- House of Discernment
- From Brother Craig
Consecrated
Religious Life
What Is a Religious Vocation? A religious vocation is a special grace that God gives to certain persons, calling them to a life of the evangelical counsels.
From the beginning of his public life, Jesus invited ordinary people to join with him in witnessing and preaching the Good News of love, healing and forgiveness. Through the sacrament of baptism, this call has continued throughout the ages and is once again answered today by those who respond with love to the needs of their brothers and sisters. New Testament stories further indicate that some people responded to Jesus' call by coming together to make prayer and service the focus of their lives.
Several scriptural passages offer examples of people called to a deeper relationship with God and to follow in the footsteps of Christ.
- Mark 1: 16-20
- Matthew 4:18-22
- Luke 5:1-11
- Mark 10:21
- Matthew 19:21
- Luke 18:22
- Luke 9:57-62
- live by a vow of poverty, sharing all things in common.
- live by a vow of celibacy, loving all people universally, not making a commitment to one person in particular.
- live by a vow of obedience, listening to God's will through prayer and other people.
Religious Women / Sisters & Nuns
Sisters are women of the Church able to discover the needs of the people and flexible enough to respond to them. Originally, most sisters were in education and hospital work but the variety of ministries has expanded to include ministry to the elderly, sick and dying, to the grieving, the divorced, and alienated; to the homeless and hungry, the refugee, the runaway, the addicted, and to prison reform.
Sisters are found in youth ministry, working with developmentally disabled, family life, parish pastoral ministry, retreat work and care and counseling of battered women, to name only a few.
While there are groups of sisters founded especially as missionaries, most communities provide opportunities for service in other countries and cultures as well as locally.There are also sisters totally dedicated to the contemplative lifestyle.They live a life of silence and solitude, constant prayer and penance.
Religious Communities of Women serving within the Archdiocese of Anchorage
- Adrian Dominican Sisters
- Daughters of Charity
- Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart
- Little Sisters of Jesus
- Medical Mission Sisters
- School Sisters of Saint Francis
- Sisters of the Holy Family
- Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
- Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
- Sisters of Providence
- Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia
- Sisters of Saint Joseph of Boston
- Sisters of Saint Joseph of Peace
- Sisters of Saint Paul de Chartres
- Sisters of the Most Precious Blood
- Ursuline Sisters of the Roman Union
Religious Men / Priests & Brothers
A religious priest / brother is a member of a religious congregation whose ministry goes beyond the geographical limits of any diocese and lives by vows of poverty, celibacy, and obedience within a community of men.
What is the difference between a religious priest and a religious brother?
In addition to other forms of service, a religious priest also administers the Sacraments. Religious priests and brothers may be part of the same religious congregation, living together in community.
What is the difference between a religious priest and a diocesan priest?
A diocesan priest ordinarily serves the church within a geographic area called a diocese. He usually serves the people as a parish priest. A diocesan priest vows obedience to the bishop, which includes living celibately.
Religious Communities of Men serving within the Archdiocese of Anchorage
- Congregation of the Holy Cross
- Dominican Friars (Order of Preachers)
- Jesuits (Society of Jesus)
- Oblates (Oblates of Mary Immaculate)
