Why become a sister if I can work for the church as a lay woman?

It is true that the works of sisters today can be done by people not in religious life. We believe, however, that the value of religious life is not found in what we do but in the essence of the life itself.

Religious life steeps its members in a very conscious relationship with God. All that we do and are is centered on our efforts to make visible God’s loving presence. Religious congregations encourage their members to pursue the search for God and to proclaim what we know of God and the Gospel to the world.

Religious life is one way of being a Christian in the world. It is a lifestyle that is meant for those who have a passion for life -- with all its mysteries and wonders. Religious life is not for everyone, but for some people, it is the way that we can be our truest and best selves. For people for whom the fit of religious life is right, the possibilities for a full and vibrant life are endless.

Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB, describes what it takes to life religious life today in this way:  "To live a religious life takes all the life we have. To live a religious life takes the heart of a hermit, the soul of a mountain climber, the eyes of a lover, the hands of a healer and the mind of a rabbi. It requires total immersion in the life of Christ and complete concentration on the meaning of the Gospel life today. It presumes a searing presence."

Read more about the efforts of IHM sisters to be this searing presence in the world in Who We Are