So it is that in accordance with the Divine Plan a wonderful variety of religious communities has grown up which has made it easier for the church … to be equipped for every good work and ready for the work of the ministry—the building up of the Body of Christ. —
Second Vatican Council, Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life Perfectae Caritatis, no. 1
A Blessed Advent Season
The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD! (Isaiah 2: 1-5)
HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS

Holy Hour for Vocations
To the Priesthood and Religious Life
Sponsored by the Offices of Consecrated Life and for Divine Worship
First Thursday of Each Month
(beginning September 5th)
2-3 p.m. St. Joseph’s Chapel 13th Floor
Archdiocesan Pastoral Center
All are invited
2:00 p.m. Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament
O Salutaris Hostia (all sing)
Quiet prayer
2:30 p.m. Scripture Reading
Quiet reflection
2:50 p.m. Benediction/Reposition
Tantum Ergo (all sing)
Divine Praises
Advent Retreat
Saturday
December 14, 2019
Office of Consecrated Life
“The Three Comings of Christ”
9:00 a.m. Morning Gathering/Introductions with coffee/doughnuts
Drexel Hall/Neumann Room Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul
10:00 a.m. Conference—Sister Sara Butler, MSBT
11:00 a.m. Quiet Time in Cathedral Chapel or Main Chapel
11:30 a.m. Confessions (Cathedral)
12:05 p.m. Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (Cathedral Chapel)
12:45 p.m. Lunch (Drexel Hall/Neumann Hall)
1:45 p.m. Conference—Sister Sara Butler, MSBT
2:30 p.m. Exposition with Adoration
3:20 p.m. Reposition with Benediction
3:30 p.m. Retreat Day Concludes
All are Welcome! There is no Charge!
Saturday, Dec. 14 2019
- Advent Day of Retreat
Presenter: Sister Sara Butler, M.S.B.T.
Sunday, Feb. 2 2020
- World Day of Consecrated Life
11:00am Holy Mass and reception to follow
Saturday March 14 2020
- Lenten Day of Retreat
Presenter: Sister Sheila Galligan, I.H.M.
Sunday, September 20, 2020
- Jubilarian Celebration
- 11:00 a.m. Holy Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul
Saturday, Dec. 12 2020
- Advent Day of Retreat
Details will follow for each retreat and celebration as we near the dates
Contact
Sister Gabrielle Mary Braccio, RSM
Delegate for Consecrated Life
222 North 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-1299
10th Floor Room 1029
Phone: 215-587-3795
Fax: 215-587-3790
Email: sr.gbraccio@archphila.org
To assist those who feel called to the consecrated life, the Office for Consecrated Life lists those Congregations who serve in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Please see listing below.
Congregations of Men
- CICM • Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Missionhurst)
- CM • Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians)
- CSSp • Congregation of the Holy Spirit
- CSsR • Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists)
- FC • Brothers of Charity
- FSC • Brothers of the Christian Schools
- LC • Legionaries of Christ
- MSC • Missionaries of the Sacred Heart
- MSS • Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament
- OdeM • Order of Our Lady of Mercy (Mercedarians)
- OdeM • Order of BVM of Mercy
- OFM, Cap • Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
- O.M.I • Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate
- O Praem • Canons Regular of Premontre (Norbertines)
- OSA • Order of St. Augustine
- OSFS • Oblates of St. Francis de Sales
- OSPPE • Pauline Fathers
- FSSP • Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter
- SC • Servants of Charity
- Sch.P • Order of the Pious Schools (Piarist Fathers)
- SJ • Society of Jesus
- SM • Society of Mary – Marianists
- ST • Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity
- CO • Congregation of the Oratory
- IVE • Institute of the Incarnate Word
Congregations of Women
- ACJ • Handmaids of the Sacred Heart
- ALCS • Holy Spirit Sisters of Tanzania
- ASSP • All Saints Sisters of the Poor
- CIC • Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception
- CSFN • Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth
- CSR • Sisters of the Holy Redeemer
- CSSF • Congregation of the Sisters of St. Felix (Felicians)
- DC • Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul
- DSMP • Daughters of St. Mary of Providence
- GNSH • Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart
- IHM • Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Immaculata)
- LSP • Little Sisters of the Poor
- MC • Missionaries of Charity
- MMS • Medical Mission Sisters
- MPF • Religious Teachers Fillipini
- MSBT • Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity
- MSC • Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart (Cabrini)
- MSC • Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Hilltrup)
- MSHR • Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary
- OCD • Discalced Carmelite Nuns
- OP • Dominican Sisters of Hope
- OP • Dominican Sisters of Peace
- OSBM • Order of St.Basil the Great
- OSC • Order of St. Clare
- OSF • Bernardine Sisters of St. Francis
- OSF • Franciscan Sisters of Allegany
- OSF • Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
- OSST • Sisters of the Most Holy Trinity
- OSU • Ursulines
- POSC • Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts
- RA • Religious of the Assumption
- RDC • Sisters of the Divine Compassion
- RGS • Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd
- RSM • Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Mid-Atlantic Community
- RSM • Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma
- SBS • Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
- SCC • Sisters of Christian Charity
- SCN • Sisters of Charity of Nazareth
- SHCJ • Society of the Holy Child Jesus
- SNDdeN • Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur(Maryland, Base & Chesapeake)
- SV • Sisters of Life
- SSCJ • Sister Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
- SSJ • Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia
- SSJ • Sisters of St. Joseph of Mombassa
- OP • Dominican Sisters of St. Rose of Lima of Vietnam
- PVMI • Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate
- SSND • School Sisters of Notre Dame
- SSpSAP • Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration
- SSVM • Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara
- VHM • Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary