Catholic Sisters Week

About Catholic Sisters Week

Catholic Sisters Week (CSW) invites all to celebrate women religious (Sisters and nuns) from March 8-14. CSW is an annual celebration that began in 2014 to honor women religious with a series of events that instruct, enlighten, and bring greater focus to the lives of these incredible women. It’s a chance to recognize this valuable vocation with the hope that more people will learn about women religious, and invite others to follow their example.

Visit the CSW website to learn about Catholic Sisters Week,  post or find an event near you, and join in celebrating the vocation of Catholic Sisters. You can post your event for others to see here. 

Additional Resources can be found through the numerous VISION Vocation Network articles, Global Sisters Report Resources, the Leadership Collaborative video series, A Nun's Life videos, and this great video from Pope Francis. 

Additionally, the NRVC has published 77 videos centered on the theme of Abundant Hope. All can be accessed directly through the National Religious Vocation Conference YouTube Channel and shared publicly to amplify hope for religious life. One idea is to share one video a day on your social media platforms throughout Catholic Sisters Week or suggest a few videos to share in classrooms, on campuses, at Board meetings, and at parish events. 

Ideas to Celebrate CSW

Host a book club throughout spring using Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister's highly acclaimed 64-page book entitled, What are you looking for? Seeking the God who is seeking you.  Another 99-page book to consider using is Your One Wild and Precious Life written by Father Mark David Janus, C.S.P.  

Donate books about your founder, community history, and Catholic sisters to college campus ministry houses, school libraries, Adoration Chapels, and parish centers. 

There are over 500 religious institutes for women religious in the United States. Check out these links to learn more about cloistered nuns, missionary sisters, apostolic sisters, evangelical sisters, monastics, and sisters in societies of apostolic life. Choose to "like" their social media pages and keep updated on their mission, charism, and spirituality.

Invite coworkers, associates, students, and nones into a conversation using the NRVC Study and Reflection Guide, which features 8 topics with comments from newer entrants to religious life, reflection questions, and inspirational quotes.

Write a poem and encourage others to publicize your poetry! Here's a beautiful poem written by NRVC member, Sister Cathy K. Tshitenge, f.m.m. to share with others:

Who is a Catholic Sister?
She is a woman of faith, strength, courage, and vision.
A follower of Jesus and doer of the Word of God,
A daughter attentive to the cries of the poor, women, children, and migrants.
An advocate of keeping our planet and environment healthy and clean.
A person who prioritizes personal and communal prayer.
A voice for the voiceless and outcasts of society.
A fearless woman of hope and peace.
A caregiver, a listening ear, and a compassionate person towards the sick, children, and the aged.
Let us Celebrate our Catholic Sisters now and always…

Quotes from the NRVC Focus groups of newer entrants
who entered religious life from 2003-2018

"When I met our Sisters, I was not discerning, but I was very struck by how authentic they were, that they were each totally themselves, and they were really happy, and joyful, and normal, and so that was what drew me to our community."

"I saw the passion of our sisters who fight for social justice whether it be the unborn, or those at the border. And that passion for social justice is filled with compassion. Passion with a lot of compassion. That's what fires me; that is what keeps me here."

"I just attended the final profession Mass for four women. Every Sister from around the country came. After they took their final vows, they stood at the front of the Church. Every Sister in the Church got up and walked to them. It took over an hour just to do that. All I could think of is, "This is why I'm here." I didn't know ten people in the whole Church. I just knew I wanted to be part of that."