Women's Religious Communities

"From the beginnings of monasticism to the “new communities” of our own time, every form of consecrated life has been born of the Spirit’s call to follow Jesus as the Gospel teaches (cf. Perfectae Caritatis, 2). For the various founders and foundresses, the Gospel was the absolute rule, whereas every other rule was meant merely to be an expression of the Gospel and a means of living the Gospel to the full. For them, the ideal was Christ; they sought to be interiorly united to him and thus to be able to say with Saint Paul: “For to me to live is Christ” (Phil 1:21). Their vows were intended as a concrete expression of this passionate love." -From Apostolic Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis to All Consecreated People on the Occasion of the Year of Consecreated Life.

Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur Sisters

The Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Cœur Sisters are present in twelve of the Diocesan parishes in addition to the 80 who live in the mother house. Their main ministry is prayer.
 
Although the sisters are no longer directly involved in the fields of education and health, they assure their presence in different ministries throughout the Diocese. Out of the 151 sisters presently living in the Diocese, about 60 % of them are still active, despite of their advanced age, either to answer to the needs of the congregation or to participate in pastoral activities.
 
Among these activities we find the following : diocesan youth, parish and hospital pastoral ministries ; Village des sources en Acadie; hostels for the parents of patients in the Moncton hospitals; S.E.V.E. for young adults « Sources of Hope for life in the Church » or for parents separated from inmates at the Dorchester penitentiary by distance; Mobile One ; social justice ; living communities with the first nations ; meetings with youth at the university level (U de M); Prayer line – a telephone service for those persons in need of prayer and an attentive ear ; entertainment with music in homes for seniors and musical accompaniment during Church celebrations for youth, etc.; and associates to the NDSC sisters.

Visit the Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur Sisters web site

The Daughters of Mary of the Assumption

The Daughters of Mary of the Assumption have been called to witness in the Diocese of Moncton by their Founder, Msgr. Louis-Joseph-Arthur Melanson, the first Archbishop of Moncton. They initially served as, in his terms, ‘Guardians of the Sanctuary’ to the Monument de la ReconnaissanceCathedral in Moncton. Then, faithful to their mission, they dedicated themselves to Christian education of the young in schools in several parishes while showing their predilection for the poor. 
 
Since almost twenty years now, they have engaged themselves primarily in  pastoral work such as Adult Faith Education. The following areas make up their daily spheres of activity: parish pastoral work, catechesis, family pastoral work, catechumenate, visiting and accompanying the sick, and direct involvement with the poor. 
 
The charism handed down by their Founder brings them to work in all spheres where the name of Christ can be announced and where the Virgin of the Assumption can be a sign of hope. They always have at heart the Christians of this diocese where Msgr. Melanson gave the last years of his life which was marked by hard work and the zeal of the apostle serving the people entrusted to his ministry.

Sisters of Notre-Dame Congregation

The Sisters of the Notre-Dame Congregation arrived in St. Louis, Kent County, in 1874. They celebrated the 135th anniversary of their arrival in this village in 2009. Marguerite Bourgeoys founded the congregation in Montreal to be co-workers in the vineyard and teachers for the children of New France and the native people.

 Today the community has 10 members. While it is no longer present in schools, the sisters still help second year students with their reading. They are also active in the life of the parish. Here are a few examples of their involvement and commitment in the life of the Church: local pastoral council, parish liturgy, visiting the sick at home, catechesis, parish choir, assistance with the celebrations in residences for seniors, volunterring for meals to the sick in senior residences, Common Front for the Elimination of Poverty, youth ministry, charismatic movement and Peace and Development.

 The Sisters of the Congregation are also blessed to be able to rely on the collaboration of nine ladies. These associates are quite committed and faithful, filled with the spirit of Marguerite Bourgeoys.

 The kindness of the villagers in St. Louis and of the parish authorities is exceptional, and the Sisters are pleased to be able to offer their services. Mary, the first mother superior of the Congregation, always protects her daughters in Acadia.

Visit de Notre-Dame Congregation web site.

Trappistines Sisters

The Cistercian Order began in 1098. Our own community began in 1817; our ancestors experienced the monastic life in Vaise, France, before being transfered to Rogersville, in 1904. Today’s community is small and made up of anglophones and francophones.

Our formation stems from a long monastic tradition. Historical events have not been the main factor in defining who we are. In its long history, monastic life has somewhat of an “eternal” quality: monks and nuns follow one another throughout the centuries in their quest for God. This is a quest that aims to transform one.

Our life style is caracterized by an atmosphere of solitude and silence that nourish prayer, meditation and manual work in a community life context. The Liturgy of the Hours marks the hours of the monastic life that reaches its summit in the daily celebration of the Eucharist.

The production and sale of communion wafers allows the community to be self-sufficient. For many years, we have serviced the churches and communities in the Diocese of Moncton and in the majority of the other dioceses in the Maritime Provinces.

Women of all denominations are welcomed for private retreats at an eight room hostel attached to the monastery.  They can also celebrate the liturgical offices and the daily mass with the community that carries the world in its prayers.

 

Visit the Trappistine's web site.

'Daughters of Jesus' - Filles de Jésus

During their 2009 retreat, the sisters were quite surprised to learn of the sale of the vice-provincial house and of their looming move to the Parkland Residence in Riverview. 

Called by Jesus to write new pages of the Gospel in their new residence, here is how the sisters are presently attempting to write these new pages by performing simple gestures in the way Jesus would do them:

  • they try to be a presence that spreads life with a welcoming word, a smile; 
  • they accept being interrupted to accompany a sister to the hospital, the doctor or the dentist, or yet to push a wheel chair, to help a sister with diminished faculties eat some food;
  • work persistently so that their colleagues may have the necessary furniture in their apartments, many articles having been sent to Haiti;
  • to offer their services to Habitat for Humanity;
  • to be involved in ministry, catechesis, visits to the sick at the Miramichi Hospital or in homes and; 
  • to help seniors living with their families or in a residence.

The community located at 26 Williams Street has now become the vice-provincial administration house for the Filles de Jésus in the Atlantic Provinces.

Visit the 'Daughters of Jesus' web site.

Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate

This secular institute, founded by Fr. Louis-Marie Parent, o.m.i., began in Grand Falls, N.B., in 1952, under the watchful eye and the encouragement of Bishop Roméo Gagnon of Edmundston. Ten years later, on February 2nd, 1962, it was designated a Diocesan Secular Institute by Bishop Georges-Léon Pelletier of Trois Rivières, Québec, and on March 23rd, 1984, it joined the ranks of a Pontifical Institutes for Consecrated Life.
 

As early as 1953, the Institute extended its presence beyond the New Brunswick border to Québec, and rapidly became an international movement. Today it is found in more than 20 countries. The Oblates live their consecration as lay persons and make their living environment the specific location of their commitment. According to the Institute’s founder, the Oblate’s sphere of activity is wherever Christ works.

 
The Oblates are present in the Archdiocese of Moncton since the Fall of 1958. They came to administer a school in St. Ignace, and then a residence for seniors in St. Louis, Kent County. Others came to offer their services in Diocesan pastoral ministry and in rectories. There are presently two Oblates residing in the Diocese; they are involved in parish movements and volunteering.
 
The Secular Institute of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate has no bounderies; its members participate in the accomplishment of the mission of the Church throughout the world by their own personal life projects in their native environment as well as abroad.