“Women Singing Earth,”  by Mary Southard, CSJ

Sometimes Jesuit-educated women are not aware of the richness and variety of women’s spirituality and communal experience, in both the Catholic Church at large and the Ignatian charism in particular.  We forget, as a young CSJ sister once told me with a smile, that “Charisms have congregations, not the other way around – the Ignatian charism has many congregations, of which the Society of Jesus is but one!” It is enriching not only to read about these congregations but also to visit them, or to make a discernment retreat hosted by the sisters.  It’s a big, beautiful world out there!

The Congregation of Jesus (CJ), founded in 1609                                                                                                         formerly the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IVBM)

The Congregation of Saint Joseph (CSJ), founded in 1650                                                                                         also known as the Sisters of St. Joseph (SSJ)

The Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM), founded in 1684                                                     formerly the Beatas de la Compañia de Jesús

The Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (RSCJ), founded in 1800                                                                          also known as rscjs, formerly the Madams of the Sacred Heart   

The Congregation of the Religious of Jesus and Mary (RJM), founded in 1818

Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ), founded in 1820                                                                                                 also known as FCJ Sisters or Fidèles compagnes de Jesus

The Congregation of Our Lady of the Retreat in the Cenacle (rc), founded in 1826                                        also known as the Cenacle Sisters

The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition (SJA), founded in 1841                                                                                    

The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (MSC), founded in 1877                                                         also known as the Cabrini Sisters

The Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (ACJ), founded in 1877

The Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver, founded in 1894

La Xavière (Filles de saint François Xavier), founded in 1921

Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara (the Servidoras or SSVM), founded in 1988

These are just a few – there may be many more women’s orders founded on the Jesuit Constitutions and/or inspired by Ignatian spirituality, discernment, and call to mission. Some could be described as “twin orders” to the Society of Jesus, founded by women who originally felt called to the Society of Jesus, who found SJ methods useful and Ignatius inspiring, or who had befriended a Jesuit priest, whether as coworker, spiritual director, confessor, or even biological brother!

Also included in the list are congregations for whom the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius are essential to formation and apostolic work.  They may not feel akin to Jesuit men specifically, but Ignatian spirituality is in their DNA.

The list will grow, as I am always learning!  Please contact me if you have a community to add.  (I am indebted for her research to Gemma of the Cloisters webpage, which is dedicated to providing “safe harbor” to emerging expressions of vocation in the Catholic Church.)