Consecrated Life
Consecrated life is a profound way of Christian holiness rooted in Baptism, where men and women set themselves apart exclusively for God. Driven by the Holy Spirit, they answer a personal invitation from Jesus to leave everything behind, choosing to live out the Gospel in a radical, counter-cultural way. By giving themselves entirely to God, consecrated individuals become a prophetic sign of hope, a visible presence of Christ in the world, and a preview of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Evangelical Counsels: Three Sacred Vows
To live like Jesus as closely as possible, consecrated men and women make public, lifelong promises known as the Evangelical Counsels. Far from being restrictive, these vows offer ultimate spiritual freedom to love and serve wholeheartedly.
| Vow | Spiritual Meaning | Daily Reality |
|---|---|---|
| Poverty | Standing in complete solidarity with the poor and relying entirely on Christ as our ultimate treasure. | Renouncing personal ownership. Earnings and material items are held in common, and members live a life of intentional simplicity. |
| Chastity | Offering one’s capacity to love entirely to God, choosing to love and serve all people rather than one person exclusively. | Embracing a life of celibacy. This vow frees the individual to be completely available to the spiritual needs of the Church. |
| Obedience | Surrendering one’s personal will to the loving will of God the Father, following the example of Christ. | Submitting to the guidance of religious superiors and the community’s rules to discern where and how best to serve. |
Institutes of Religious Men, Priests and Brothers
Six male religious communities work in the diocese and live a communal life. A few other religious men are extra societatum and staff parishes.
|
Capuchins of Central Canada |
(OFMCap) |
|
Carmelites of Mary Immaculate |
(CMI) |
|
Congregation of the Holy Spirit |
(CSSp) |
|
Institute of the Incarnate Word |
(IVE) |
|
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate |
(OMI) |
|
Missionary Society of St. Paul |
(MSP) |
|
Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy |
(SMMM) |
Institutes of Religious Women, Sisters
Four female religious communities serve in the diocese.
|
Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph |
(CSJ) |
|
Daughters of St. Mary of Leuca |
(DML) |
|
Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará |
(SSVM) |
|
Sisters of Our Lady Immaculate |
(SOLI) |
SPECIAL MENTION WITH GRATITUDE
The Congregation of the Sisters of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Passionist Sisters) was founded in 1918 in Poland by Venerable Servant of God, Mother Josepha Halacinska. From 1978 until 2015, the Passionist Sisters fulfilled their apostolate in the Diocese of Peterborough, working at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, maintaining the Bishop’s Residence, and ministering to an active Polish community. The Passionist Sisters have left the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough, and they are retired in Montreal and Poland.