Catholic Religious Orders

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List of Catholic Groups and Institutions 

Lists of Religious Orders and Vocations of the Roman Catholic Church are also available under “Support Religious Life & Vocations” 

Religious Institutes of Men 

The names in brackets are alternate organizational names, and the initials in parentheses denote the self-identifying symbol used by members when signing documents. 

• Augustinians [Order of St. Augustine] (O.S.A.)

• Barnabites [Clerics Regular of St. Paul] (C.R.S.P.)

• Belgian Foreign Missionaries of Scheut [Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Missionaries of Scheut] (C.I.C.M.)

• Benedictines [Benedictine Fathers] (O.S.B.) 

• Carmelites [Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Calced Carmelite Fathers, Calced Carmelites, Discalced Carmelites] (O.C.C.) (O.C.D.)

• Brothers of the Sacred Heart (S.C.) Comboni Missionaries [Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus, Verona Fathers] (F.S.C.J.) (M.C.C.J.) 

• Capuchins [Capuchin Fathers, Capuchin Franciscans, Franciscan Capuchins, Order of Friars Minor] (O.M.Cap.) (O.F.M.Cap.)

• Catholic Foreign Mission Society [Maryknoll] (M.M.)

• Christian Brothers [Brothers of the Christian Schools] (F.S.C.) 

• Claretian Missionaries (C.M.F.)

• Comboni Missionaries [Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus, Verona Fathers] (M.C.C.J.) 

• Congregation of the Augustinians of the Assumption (A.A.)

• Congregation of Holy Cross [Brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross, Priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross] (C.S.C.)

• Congregation of Priests of the Sacred Heart [Sacred Heart Fathers] (S.C.J.) (The Dehonians)

• Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (S.S.S.) 

• Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary [Missionhurst, Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary] (C.I.C.M.)

• Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary [Picpus Fathers (C.C.J.M.)] (SS.CC.) 

• Conventuals [Order of Friars Minor Conventual, Conventual Franciscans] (O.F.M.Conv.)

• Crosier Fathers [Canons Regular of the Order of the Holy Cross, Fathers of the Holy Cross] (O.S.C) 

• Discalced Carmelites(O.C.D.) Dominicans [Order of Preachers] (O.P.)

• Franciscans [Franciscan Fathers, Order of Friars Minor] (O.F.M.)

• Glenmary Home Missioners (Glmy.) 

• Hijos de la Sagrada Familia [Sons of the Holy Family] (S.F.) 

• Holy Ghost Fathers [Congregation of the Holy Ghost and of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Spiritans] (C.S.Sp.)

• Holy Fathers of Notre Dame [unknown] 

• Jesuits [Society of Jesus] (S.J.)

• Marian Fathers [Congregation of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception] (M.I.C.)

• Marianists, Marists (S.M.) 

• Marist Brothers (F.M.S.) 

• Missionaries of La Salete [Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette] (M.S.) 

• Missionaries of the Holy Apostles (M.S.A.)

• Missionaries of the Holy Spirit (MSpS)

• Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (M.S.C.)

• Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity ((M.S.S.S.T.) (S.T.)

• 5 Oblates of Mary Immaculate [Missionary Oblate Fathers of Mary Immaculate, Oblate Fathers, Oblates of Mary] (O.M.I.) Pallotines [Society of the Catholic Apostolate] (S.A.C.)

• Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (OCist, SOCist)

• Order of the Discalced Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (O.C.D.)

• Passionists [Congregation of the Passion] (C.P.) 

• Paulist Fathers (C.S.P.)

• Premonstratensians [Canons Regular of Premontre, Norbertine Fathers, Norbertines] (O. Praem.) 

• Redemptorists [Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris] (C.Ss.R.)

• Regular Franciscans [Third Order Regular of St. Francis] (T.O.R.)

• Rosminians [Institute of Charity](I.C.)

• St. Columbans Foreign Mission Society (S.S.C.) Salvatorians [Society of the Divine Savior] (S.D.S.)

• Seminary of the Foreign Missions Servites (O.S.M.)

• Society of African Missions (S.M.A.)

• Society of the Atonement [Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, Graymoor Friars] (S.A.)

• Society of the Divine Word (S.V.D.)

• Society of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S.)

• Society of St. Edmund [Edmundites, Society of St. Edmund Fathers, Society of the Fathers of St. Edmund] (S.S.E.)

• Sons of the Holy Family (S.F.) 

• Sons of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary (C.M.F.)

• Sulpicians [Society of St. Sulpice] (S.S.)

• Theatines [Theatine Fathers] (C.R.)

• Trappists [The Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance] (O.C.S.O.)

• Vincentians [Congregation of the Mission] (C.M.)

• Xaverians [Brothers of St. Francis Xavier] (C.F.X.)

Religious Institutes of Women 

The names in brackets are alternate organizational names, and the initials in parentheses denote the self-identifying symbol used by members when signing documents. 

• Adorers of the Blood of Christ (A.S.C.)

• Adrian Dominican Sisters [Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary] (O.P.) 

• Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (A.S.C.J.)

• Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (O.S.B.)

• Benedictine Sisters of Pontifical Jurisdiction (O.S.B.)

• Canonesses of St. Augustin of Louvain, Belgium Canossian Daughters of Charity [Daughters of Charity of Canossa] (Fd.C.C.)

• Carmelites [Carmelite Nuns, Carmelite Sisters, Sisters of Our Lady of Mount Carmel] (O.C.D.) 

• Carmelites of St. Therese [Carmelites of St. Therese of the Infant Jesus] (C.S.T.)

• Congregation of American Sisters (C.A.S.)

• Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (D.C.)

• Daughters of the Heart of Mary (D.H.M.)

• Discalced Carmelites [Discalced Carmelite Nuns] (O.C.D.)

• Congregation of Our Lady of the Rosary [Dominican Sisters of Sparkill, Sisters of St. Dominic, Dominican Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic] (O.P.)

• Dominican Sisters, Congregation of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart [Sisters of St. Dominic, Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic] (O.P.)

• Dominican Sisters, Congregation of the Sisters of St. Dominic of the Immaculate Heart of Mary [Sisters of St. Dominic, Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic] (O.P.)

• Dominican Sisters Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary, Sinsinawa, Wisconsin [Sinsinawa Dominican Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary, Sisters of St. Dominic, Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic, Spokane Dominicans] (O.P.)

• Dominican Sisters, Edmonds Congregation of the Holy Cross [Sisters of St. Dominic, Aberdeen, Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic] (O.P.)

• Dominican Sisters of Great Bend [Great Bend Dominican Sisters, Sisters of St. Dominic, Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic] (O.P.)

• Dominican Sisters of San José [Dominican Sisters of Mission San José, Congregation of the Queen of the Holy Rosary, Sisters of St. Dominic, Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic] (O.P.)

• Dominican Sisters of St. Rose of Lima [Dominican Sisters, Congregation of St. Rose of Lima, Sisters of St. Dominic, Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic] (O.P.)

• Dominican Sisters of the Roman Congregation [Sisters of St. Dominic, Sisters of the Third Order of St. Dominic] (O.P.)

• Felician Sisters (C.S.S.F.) 

• Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (F.M.M.) 

• Franciscan Sisters, Clinton Iowa [Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa] (O.S.F.)

• Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity [Franciscan Sisters of Charity of Alverno, Franciscan Sisters of Manitowoc, Wisconsin] (O.S.F.)

• Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (O.S.F.)

• Franciscan Sisters of Peace (F.S.P.)

• 7 Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration [Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration of La Crosse, Wisconsin, Sisters of Perpetual Adoration of La Crosse] (F.S.P.A.)

• Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement (S.A.) 

• Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (F.I.H.M.)

• Franciscan Sisters of the Poor (S.F.P.) 

• Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart (G.N.S.H.)

• Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis [Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, Hospital Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis] (O.S.F.)

• Humility of Mary Sisters [Sisters of the Humility of Mary] (H.M.)

• Lady Missionaries of Mary [Lady Missionaries and Catechists, Lady Missionaries of St. Mary’s Mission, The Madams] (L.M.M.)

• Little Sisters of Jesus (L.S.J.) Marist Missionary Sisters [Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary] (S.M.S.M.) 

• Little Sisters of the Assumption (L.S.A.)

• Maryknoll Sisters [Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America] (M.M.) 

• Missionaries of Charity (M.C.)

• Missionary Benedictine Sisters (O.S.B.) 

• Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity [Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity] (M.S.B.T.) (M.S.S.S.T.) 

• Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (M.S.C.)

• Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary (S.M.S.M.)

• Notre Dame Sisters (N.D.) 

• Oblate Sisters of the Assumption (O.A.)

• Oblate Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (O.S.B.S.) 

• Orantes of the Assumption (Or. A)

• Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance (OCist, SOCist) 

• Order of the Discalced Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (O.C.D.)

• Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters (O.L.V.M.) 

• Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration (P.C.P.A.)

• Poor Sisters of St. Francis Seraph of the Perpetual Adoration [Franciscan Sisters of Lafayette, Indiana, Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration] (O.S.F.) 

• Religious of the Assumption (R.A.)

• Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco (F.M.A.)

• School Sisters of Notre Dame [Notre Dame Sisters School Sisters of Notre Dame of Milwaukee, Wisconsin] (S.S.N.D.)

• School Sisters of St. Francis (S.S.S.F.)

• Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth [Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas] (S.C.L.) 

• Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of the Church (S.C.M.C.)

• Sisters of Charity of Providence [Sisters of Providence] (S.P.) (F.C.S.P.)

• Sisters of Charity of the Assumption (S.C.A.)

• Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (B.V.M.)

• Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word (C.C.V.I.)

• Sisters of Christian Charity (S.C.C.) [Daughters of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Immaculate Conception] 

• Sisters of Life (Soroses Vitae, S.V.)

• Sisters of Loretto [Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of the Cross] (S.L.)

• Sisters of Mercy [Sisters of Mercy of the Americas] (R.S.M.)

• Sisters of Mount Carmel Sisters of Notre Dame (S.N.D.)

• Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (S.N.D.deN.) 

• Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods

• Sisters of St. Agnes [Sisters of St. Agnes of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin] (C.S.A.)

• Sisters of St. Anne [Sisters of St. Ann] (S.S.A.)

• Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity [Franciscan Sisters of Buffalo, New York, Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity and Penance, Sisters of St. Francis, Buffalo, New York, Sisters of St. Francis of Stella Niagara] (O.S.F.)

• Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia [Sisters of St. Francis of Glenn Riddle, Pennsylvania, Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis of Philadelphia] (O.S.F.)

• Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross [Bay Settlement Sisters] (O.S.F.)

• Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Family (O.S.F.)

• Sisters of St. Francis of the Third Order of Joliet, Illinois [Congregation of the Third Order of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate, 8 Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate, Joliet, Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate] (O.S.F.) 

• Sisters of the Holy Cross (C.S.C.) 

• Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (C.S.F.N.)

• Sisters of the Presentation of Mary (P.M.)

• Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana (O.S.F.) 

• Sisters of St. Joseph, Baden, Pennsylvania (C.S.J.) (S.S.J.)

• Sisters of St. Joseph, Lewiston, Idaho (C.S.J.) (S.S.J.)

• Sisters of St. Joseph, Nazareth, Michigan [Sisters of St. Joseph of Kalamazoo, Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth] (C.S.J.) (S.S.J.)

• Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet [Sisters of St. Joseph of Muskogee, Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Louis] (C.S.J.) (S.S.J.)

• Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille (C.S.J.) (S.S.J.)

• Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange [Sisters of St. Joseph, Orange, California] (C.S.J.) (S.S.J.) 

• Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon (S.S.M.O.)

•  Sisters of St. Rose of Lima [Sisters of St. Rose of Lima, Texarkana, Texas]

• Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People [Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament] (S.B.S.)

• Sisters of the Convent School of Fort Smith, Arkansas Sisters of the Divine Savior (S.D.S.) 

• Sisters of the Good Shepherd (C.G.S.) (R.G.S.)

• Sisters of the Holy Cross [Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Holy Cross Sisters] (C.S.C.)

• Sisters of the Holy Family (S.H.F.)

• Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth (C.S.F.N.)

• Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary (S.N.J.M)

• Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (I.H.M.)

• Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Mother of Christ, Nigeria (I.H.M.)

• Sisters of the Infant Jesus (I.J.)

• Sisters of the Love of God Sisters of the Presentation of Mary (P.M.)

• Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary [Presentation Sisters] (P.B.V.M.)

• Sisters of the Precious Blood (C.P.P.S.)

• Sisters of the Propagation of the Faith Sisters of the Snows [Oblates of Our Lady of the Snows, Sisters of Our Lady of the Snows] (S.S.)

• Sisters of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart [Sacred Heart Sisters] (S.D.S.H.) 

• Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother [Third Order of St. Francis] (S.S.M.)

• Sisters of the Third Order of Penance of St. Dominic [+ Spokane Dominicans] (O.P.)

• Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi [Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi] (O.S.F.)

• Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (I.H.M.)

• Society of the Holy Child Jesus (S.H.C.J.)

• Society of the Sacred Heart [Religious of the Sacred Heart] (R.S.C.J.)

• Soeurs grises de Montréal [Sisters of Charity of Montreal, Grey Nuns] (S.G.M.)

• Soeurs grises de Québec [Sisters of Charity of Quebec, Grey Nuns] (S.G.Q.) (S.G.N.)

• Ursulines [Ursuline Nuns] (O.S.U.)

• Visitation Nuns [Nuns of the Visitation of Mary, Visitandines, Salesian Sisters] (V.H.M.)