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Religious Life

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Women's Vocations

Women's Vocations

two nuns with heads bowed praying while another nun hugs a woman in a flower print dress

Missionaries of the Word - Baileyʼs Harbor

The Charism of the Missionaries of the Word is: To live in Jesus, the Fatherʼs one Word, and to empty ourselves, out of love, that we may become dwelling places of the Word, and so cultivate Godʼs life in souls.

Contact
Sr. Maria Lucia, MW
Phone: (920) 574-4133
Website: www.missionariesoftheword.com

sisters of Missionaries of the Word in Bailey's Harbor Wisconsin

Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity - Manitowoc

God calls you. We invite you. Franciscan Sistersʼ vocation is to serve as Catholic Sisters and live our Franciscan charism. God has called us to follow St. Francis in rewarding ministries of Catholic Health Care, Education and parishes in rural and urban communities. Simplicity, Joyful acceptance of poverty, Love for the Church, and Selfless dedication to others.

Contact
Sister Julie Ann Sheahan, OSF
Phone: (920) 682-7728
Email: vocations@fscc-calledtobe.org

a smiling group of Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity on the lake shore in Manitowoc Wisconsin

Discalced Carmelite Nuns - Denmark

“A Carmelite is a soul who has gazed on the Crucified One, who has seen Him offering Himself as a Victim to His Father for souls and, recollecting herself in this great vision of the charity of Christ, has understood the passionate love of His soul, and has wanted to give herself as He did!ˮ - Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity

Contact
Mother Mary Elizabeth of the Blessed Trinity, OCD
Email: holynamecarmel@catholic.org
Website: http://holynamecarmel.org

stone statue of Mother Mary in front of the Carmelite Monastery

Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross - Bay Settlement

As Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross, our lives in Community are rooted in the Cross, Word, and Eucharist. Guided by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, we compassionately respond to the needs of our times through prayer, presence, and hospitality.

We serve as parish leaders, educators, health caregivers, campus ministers, artists, minority and environmental advocates, social workers, literacy counselors, retreat directors, missionaries, and administrators. With the same courage, tenacity, and faithfulness as our founders, we actively engage in improving the spiritual and material condition of those with needs.

Contact
Leadership Team
Phone: Call/Text (920) 884-2725
Email: mail@gbfranciscans.org
Website: www.gbfranciscans.org

a sister of St. Francis of the Holy Cross, Bay Settlement Wisconsin tending to flowers in front of a building

Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother - Oshkosh

The Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother participate in the mission of Jesus to bring fuller life to others by revealing the love of God for all, especially the poor.

The Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother both serve and empower others by sharing Godʼs love. We are advocates, supporters, and companions to those in need—the sick, the poor, the vulnerable and those in crisis.

Contact
Sr. Dorothy Ann Dirkz, SSM
Phone: (920) 230-6157
Email: ssmvoc@gmail.com
Website: www.sistersofthesorrowfulmother.org
www.becomingasister.org

a large group sitting together of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother Oshkosh Wisconsin

For Love Alone

“For Love Alone" is a 17-minute film on the vocation to women's religious life. The Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR) commissioned this film to be produced by Grassroots Films, the acclaimed producers of the film on the priesthood, Fishers of Men. This film, completed for the Year of Consecrated Life, aims to share the beauty and depth of the vocation to the religious life.

Men's Vocations

Men's Vocations

Norbertines at St. Norbert Abbey

Mission Statement: “We live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the traditions of Saints Norbert and Augustine. We live a common life “one in mind and heart on the way to Godˮ through celebration of the Eucharist, liturgical prayer and service to the People of God.ˮ

The Norbertines are a religious order of men, rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who live a common life according to the Rule of St. Augustine. We welcome young men ages 18-40 to discern a vocation to Norbertine religious life and/or priesthood. Our vocation director, Fr. Johnathan Turba, O. Praem., strives to journey with vocation contacts, introducing them to Norbertine confreres and ministerial apostolates while answering questions about our common life.

Contact
Vocation Director Fr. Johnathan Turba, O. Praem.
St. Norbert Abbey
1016 N. Broadway, De Pere, WI 54115
Phone: 920-337-4333
Email: vocations@norbertines.org
Website: https://norbertines.org

Capuchin Franciscans (OFM Caps.)

Every religious order has its own charism or mission. The Capuchin-Franciscan charism is to build up relationships, inspired by Jesusʼ gospel and Francis of Assisiʼs example, as often as and wherever possible. This leads Capuchins to be involved in a great diversity of ministries, since every area of church life and ministry needs the healing touch of wholesome relationships. Capuchins are drawn strongly to the places and people whose relationships are particularly fragile and vulnerable. Thus, many Capuchins minister among poor and marginalized people.

Further, the needs of the poor and the demands of justice shape all Capuchin ministries. Capuchins work to promote the equality of all people within the Capuchin Order, the Catholic Church, and the world. In the words of Fr. Solanus Casey (1870-1957), a Detroit Capuchin who is being considered for sainthood, “To be children of God, we must be lovers of justice, truth, and peace.ˮ Our Diocese is blessed by the service of the Capuchin Franciscans in some of our parishes. If you are interested in learning more, contact the Midwest Capuchin Franciscans today!

Contact
Vocation Director for the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph:
Br. Nathan Linton, OFM Cap
Capuchin Vocation Office
1927 N Vel R. Phillips Ave Milwaukee, WI 53212
Phone:
Email: midwestcapuchins@gmail.com
Website: https://capuchinfranciscans.org/

Conventual Franciscans (OFM Conv.) - Midwest

The Conventual Franciscan Friars (OFM Conv.) serve the following parishes in our diocese:

  • St. Mary Parish, Bear Creek
  • St. Rose of Lima Parish, Clintonville
  • St. Francis Solanus Parish, Gresham
  • St. Mary Parish, Leopolis
  • St. Mary Parish, Algoma

The worldwide Franciscan Order was founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1209, and our Chicago-based Province was established in 1939 to serve the Midwestern region of the United States.

St. Francisʼ simplicity, love for the Eucharist, and devotion to the Virgin Mary remain at the heart of our Province. This solid Catholic foundation unifies the friars as they live their 800-year tradition of Gospel fraternity and deep love for the Church.

Our Franciscan identity is further shaped by the life and mission of St. Maximilian Kolbe, our confrere who became a “Martyr of Charityˮ in Auschwitz.

Contact
Br. Bernard Mary Fonkalsrud OFM Conv.
Vocation Director - St. Bonaventure Province, Midwest USA
St. Bonaventure Friary
6107 N Kenmore Ave, Chicago IL 60660
Phone: 872-325-6518
Email: friarvocations@franciscancommunity.org
Website: https://franciscancommunity.org

Franciscan Friars, Order of Friars Minor (OFM)

Some parishes in our Diocese are served by Franciscan Friars, Order of Friars Minor, of the Province of our Lady of Guadalupe.

Contact
Fr. Patrick Gawrylewski, OFM
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Friary
143 E. Pulaski St.
PO Box 100
Pulaski, WI 54162-0100
Phone: 920-822-8125
Website:

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

Discernment of Spirits Retreat

For Women

Order: Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, Manitowoc, WI
Date: January 16-18, 2026

Are you a 20-something young woman discerning if God is calling you to religious life or to married life or to single life? Or seeking to follow His will more closely? Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity, Sr. Jacqueline Spaniola, is offering a silent retreat January 16-18, 2026 based on the Rules of Discernment of St. Ignatius. This timeless and always useful “exercise” is a guide in the spiritual life as you seek to do God’s will. This free time will be spent in silence in order to pray and to ponder how God is working in your life. The retreat begins Friday, January 16 at 6 p.m. CST, and ends after a noon meal on Sunday, January 22. The retreat is being held at the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity’s Motherhouse in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

Contact: Sister Julie Ann, O.S.F. (920) 323-9632 call or text

Come and See!

For Women

Order: Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, New York
Date: March 20-22, 2026

Women (ages 18 - 40) who are discerning a religious vocation are invited to come experience the life and charism of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne. Those attending join in our community prayers, witness our apostolate and meet some of our sisters.

Motherhouse: Rosary Hill Hawthorne, NY 10532

Contact: Sr. Diana Marie, O.P. (845) 745-1319 or vocationdirector@hawthorne-dominicans.org


Milwaukee Come & See

For Men

Order: Capuchin Franciscans
Date: February 28 - March 2, 2026

Contact Vocation Director for more details: Br. Nathan Linton nlinton@thecapuchins.org

The Milwaukee Come-and-See not only allows men to visit our monastery and ministries in the Milwaukee area, but to explore postulancy, the first year of our formation. During this weekend, candidates will have the opportunity to talk with the men currently in formation about their experiences and ask the directors of the postulancy program and questions they might have. Along with visiting Capuchin Community Services in Milwaukee, candidates will visit St. Lawrence Seminary: our boarding high school seminary (think Catholic Hogwarts) and the site of the first Capuchin foundation in the United States.

Triduum Retreat

For Men

Order: Norbertines
Date:

St. Norbert Abbey
1016 N. Broadway
De Pere, WI 54115

Join the Norbertines for a discernment weekend during the holiest weekend of the year, Holy Week. This is a silent retreat, in which you will attend prayer and Mass, and meet daily for spiritual direction.

To learn more about our Come & See Retreats, contact:
Vocation Director Fr. Johnathan Turba, O. Praem
Phone: 920-337-4333
Email: vocations@norbertines.org
Website: https://norbertines.org/come-see-retreats

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