For hundreds of years Jesus has called people to live together, to pray together and to serve him in a unique way. Religious sisters, brothers, and priests are individuals who live out their Christian faith as members of a larger group known as a religious community. There are many different kinds of religious communities and each community lives according to a particular charism which inspires and identifies them and gives a focus to their prayer and work.
There are many religious communities in the Church. Some religious communities serve God through meditation, prayer and solitude. These groups are known as contemplative orders or "cloistered" orders. Women who belong to this type of a religious community are called nuns and the men are called monks. Other religious communities are known as "active" or Apostolic orders/congregations. These orders and congregations are active in the world, serving others in a variety of activities/apostolates. Women who belong to this type of a religious community are called sisters and the men are called brothers unless they are ordained priests.
Each religious order or congregation has its own special charism which forms its identity and mission. The charism envisioned by the founder or foundress is the motivating spirit that is the heart of the religious order or congregation. Some orders and congregations focus on serving the poor, such as the Franciscans. Others, such as the Dominicans, are preachers and teachers. Due to the variety of charisms, each religious order or congregation has a unique identity, mission, spirituality, and set of guidelines for living.
Those who join religious orders and congregations take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. They vow to share all their goods in common, not to marry and to obey their religious Superior. Contrary to popular thought these vows are actually quite liberating. They allow the religious sister, brother or priest to remain free to love and serve God and the Church with an undivided heart by putting all of their energy into prayer and the ministry of their order or congregation.
After acceptance an individual enters the first step, called candidacy or postulancy. This period gives the candidate/postulant a chance to get to know the community. There is no set length of time for this period. The next step is the novitiate, which lasts between one to two years. This period allows the novice to learn more about the charism of the community through instruction, by participating in community life and apostolic service. At the end of this period, the novice makes first/temporary vows of poverty, chastity and obedience which are renewed on a yearly basis. During the period of temporary vows, a religious sister or brother continues their education in preparation for future ministry within their order/congregation. After having determined, over a period of at least 3 years, that the religious community is a right fit for them, a religious sister or brother becomes a full-fledged member of their community by making final/permanent vows. The entire process can take between 7-10 years.
Fr. Tom Whelan, OSA, 415-387-3626
osacole@pacbell.net
www.osa-west.org
Fr. Peter Banks, OFM CAP., 805-686-4127
peterbanksofmcap@yahoo.com
www.beafriar.com
Fr. Dedi Riberu. SS.CC. 808-321-9776
riberufrans@yahoo.com
Fr. Brian Guerrini, SS.CC. 575-495-9331
ssccbvg@gmail.com
Fr. Paul Gawlowski OFM Conv, 510-671-0537
californiavocation@gmail.com
www.franciscanfriars.org
Fr. Steven Maekawa, OP, 510-658-8722
vocations@opwest.org
www.opwest.org
Fr. Alberto Villafan, OFM, 408-258-7057
avillafanr@yahoo.com
www.sbfranciscans.org
Fr. James Gallagher, CSC, 574-631-6385
vocation.1@nd.edu
www.holycrossvocations.org
Fr. Christopher Nguyen, SJ, 714-469-2874
ctnguyen@jesuits.org
www.jesuitscalifornia.org
Br. Tim Raible, MM, 510-896-8689 or 510-552-1846
traible@maryknoll.org
www.maryknoll.org
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
Rev. Joy Kumarthusseril, MF, 510-315-7001
kmfrjoy@gmail.com
St. Philip Neri-St. Albert the Great Parish
Rev. Robert Kennady Chinnapan, MF, 510-373-5201
robertmf@live.com
Fr. Ken Schnipke, CPPS, 937-228-6224
vocation@cpps-preciousblood.org
www.cpps-preciousblood.org
Fr. Martin Lukas, OSFS, 419-724-9851
mlosfs@aol.com
www.oblates.us
Fr. David Farnum, CSP, 212-757-4260 or 800-235-3456
dfarnum@paulist.org
www.paulist.org
Fr. Tat Hoang, CSSR, 718-321-1394
vocationscssr@aol.com
www.redemptorists-denver.org
Mr. John Ridout, 510-845-3326 or 866-298-3715
jrsmtom@yahoo.com
www.maristsociety.org
Fr. Tom Whelan, OSA, 415-387-3626
osacole@pacbell.net
www.osa-west.org
Fr. Peter Banks, OFM CAP., 805-686-4127
pmbanksofmcap.vocations@yahoo.com
www.olacapuchins.org
Fr. Dedi Riberu. SS.CC. 808-321-9776
riberufrans@yahoo.com
Fr. Brian Guerrini, SS.CC. 575-495-9331
ssccbvg@gmail.com
Vocation Director Fr. Paul Gawlowski, OFM CONV., 510-671-0537
californiavocation@gmail.com
www.franciscanfriars.org
Br. George Van Grieken, FSG, 707-252-3861
br.george@dlsi.org
www.brothersvocation.org
Fr. Steven Maekawa, OP, 510-658-8722
vocations@opwest.org
www.opwest.org
Fr. Alberto Villafan, OFM, 408-258-7057
avillafanr@yahoo.com
www.sbfranciscans.org
Fr. Christopher Nguyen, SJ 714-469-2874
ctnguyen@jesuits.org
www.jesuitscalifornia.org
Br. Tim Raible, MM, 510-869-8689 or 510-552-1846
traible@maryknoll.org
www.maryknoll.org
Br. Larry Lujan, CSSR, 718-321-1394
vocationscssr@aol.com
www.redemptorists-denver.org
Mr. John Ridout, 510-486-1232 or 866-298-3715
jrsmtom@yahoo.com
www.maristsociety.org
Sr. Mary Ellen Lecicjewski, OP
mellen@chw.edu
www.adriandominicans.org
Sister Maria Therese, O. Carm.
(518) 537-5000
www.carmelitesisters.com
vocationdirector@valstar.net
Sr. Celine Pathiaparambill, CMC, 510-724-4178
weisscarmel@yahoo.com
Sr. Trang Truong, DC, 650-949-8890
www.daughtersofcharity.com
Reverend Mother Prioress
Carmel of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph of Kensington, CA
68 Rincon Road
Kensington, CA 94707-1047
All contact is done via physical mail.
Sister Dulce Aguilar, OP
209-406-8111
dulce@msjdominicans.org
www.msjdominicans.or
Sr. Jodi Min, OP, 510-635-1480
oakfordominicans@gmail.com
www.oakforddominicans.org
Sr. Patricia Farrell, OP, 415-257-4939
pfarrellop@sanrafaelop.org
www.sanrafaelop.org
Sr. Mary Boyce, MM, 925-689-7729
www.Maryknoll.org
Sr. Maggalena Duong, LHC, 925-674-9639
http://mtgqn.org/index.php/about-us/congregation
Sr. Angela O'Donoghue, RSM, 510-233-6769
angelaod@yahoo.com
Sr. Maria Campos, RSM, 650-340-7434
mcampos@mercywmw.org
Sr. Jacinta Martinez, SNDdeN, 650-722-1040
jacinta.martinez@sndden.org
www.snddenca.org
Sr. Graciela Martinez, OSF, 510-534-4330
gracielamar@sbcglobal.net
www.stfrancisprovince.org
Sr. Jan Huang, CSJ, 310-889-2117
vocations@csjla.org
www.csjla.org
Sr. Elizabeth Schille, RGS, 415-586-2822
lschillergs@aol.com
SistersOfTheGoodShepherd.com
Sr. Gladys Guenther, SHF, 510-624-4500
vocations@holyfamilysisters.org
www.facebook.com/pages/Fremont-CA/Sisters-of-the-Holy-Family/19423411523
www.holyfamilysisters.wordpress.com
www.holyfamilysisters.org
Sr. Rosemary Everett, SNJM, 408-873-7858 or 408-656-1311
everettsnjm@earthlink.net
www.snjmca.org
Sr. Stephanie Still, PVBM, 415-422-5020
sstill@pbvmsf.org
www.presentationsisterssf.org
Sr. Catherine Connell, SSS, 916-444-5590
cconnellsss@comcast.net
www.sistersofsocialservice.com
Sister Mary Pat White, RSCJ, 510-525-5692
rscj.org/vocations
Sr. Julie Hurtado, PVBM
JulieCielito2@aol.com
www.pbvmunion.org