List of Catholic religious institutes

The following is a list of current Catholic religious institutes. Most are Roman Catholic, however Eastern Catholic institutes are included.

The list given here includes not only examples of pontifical-right institutes but also some that are only of diocesan right. It includes even some associations formed with a view to becoming religious institutes but not yet canonically erected even on the diocesan level.

The list does not distinguish between institutes that historically would be classified either as "orders" or as "congregations".

Institutes are listed alphabetically by their common names, not their official ones. For example, the Jesuits, officially called the Society of Jesus, would be listed under 'J' rather than under 'S.' If an institute's official name is used more often than a nickname, it will be listed as such.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Z

A.F.S.C.   Affiliated Christian Brothers
A.L.C.P.   Holy Spirit Fathers (Apostolic Life Community of Priests), India
A.M.       Alagad ni Maria (Disciples of Mary)
B.S.       Arrouhbaniat Albassiliat Almoukhalissiat
C.A.M.     Congregazione Mechitarista di Venezia (Mechitarists)
C.B.S.     Congregation of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
C.C.R.     Congregation of Carmelite Religious
C.C.R.S.A. Congregation of the Clerics Regular of Saint Augustine
C.C.V.     Carmelite Sisters of Charity (Vedruna), India
C.F.I.C.   Congregazione dei Preti della Dottrina Cristiana (Concezionisti)
C.F.I.C.   Congregation of Franciscans of the Immaculate Conception
C.F.I.C.   Congregartion of the Sons of the Immaculate Conception, India
C.H.F.     Congregation of the Holy Family, India
C.I.C.     Congregation of the Immaculate Congregation, India
C.I.C.M.   Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
C.I.M.     Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Eudists)
C.J.       Congregation of Jesus, India
C.M.D.A.   Congregation of Mother of Divine Love
C.M.M.     Congregation of Marian Hill Missionaries (Marianhiller Missionare)
C.N.S.     Congregation of Nazareth Sisters, India
C.P.       Passionate Sisters of St. Paul of the Cross, India
C.R.       Congregation of the Rosarians, India
C.R.       Sisters of the Christian Retreat, Chuscian
C.S.A.     Catechist Sisters of St. Ann (India)
C.S.A.     Congregation of the Companions of St. Angela
C.S.B.S.   Clarissan Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament, India
C.S.C.     Congregation of the Sisters of Charity, India
C.S.M.     Sisters of St. Martha, India
C.S.N.     Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth, India
C.S.P.     Sisters of the Cross and Passion
C.S.R.     Sisters of the Holy Redeemer
C.S.S.     Congregation of Samaritan Sisters, India
C.S.S.A.   Sisters of St. Anne, Guntur, India
C.S.S.E.   Congregation of the Sisters of St. Elizabeth, India
C.S.S.T.   Carmelite Sisters Of St. Teresa 
C.S.S.T.   Sisters of the Holy Trinity

C.Ss.R.    Congregation of the Most Holy Redeember 
C.S.T.     Carmelite Sisters of St. Therese
C.S.T.     Congregation of St. Therese of Lisieux
C.S.T.     Little Flower Congregation
C.S.V.B.   Sisters of the Savior and the Blessed Virgin Mary
C.V.I.     Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament
D.C.P.B.   Daughters of Charity of the Most Precious Blood, India
D.C.J.     Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus
D.C.J.M.   Discipulos de los Corazones de Jesus y Maria
D.D.L.     Daughters of Divine Love
D.D.P.     Daughters Of Divine Providence, India
D.D.S.     Disciples of the Divine Saviour, India
D.M.       Society of Daughters of Mary Immaculate, India
D.M.I.     Daughters of Mary Immaculate (Dimesse Sisters), India
D.M.J.     Daughters of Mary and Joseph (Formerly knows as Ladies of Mary)
D.M.L.     Daughters of St. Mary of Leuca, India
D.M.S.E.   Dominican Missionary Sisters of St. Elizabeth
D.N.       Daughters of Nazareth
D.P.       Daughters of Providence, St. Brieuc
D.P.       Society of Devpriya Sisters, India
D.P.M.     Daughters of Presentation of Mary in the Temple, India
D.S.H.     Daughters of the Sacred Heart
D.S.H.J.   Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
D.S.H.S.   Sisters of St. Dorothy (Daughters of the Sacred Heart)
D.S.J.     Daughters of St. Joseph
D.S.M.P.   Daughters of St. Mary of Providence (Guanellian Sisters)
D.S.S.     Dina Sevana Sabha (Servants of the Poor)
E.H.J.     Sisters of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus
F.C.C.     Franciscan Clarist Congregation, India
F.C.J.     Faithful Companion of Jesus, Sisters
F.C.J.M.   Franciscan Companions of Jesus and Mary
F.C.S.     Company of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
F.C.S.C.J. Daughters of Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

F.D.L.C.   Daughters of the Cross
F.D.L.P.   Les Filles de la Providence
F.D.L.S.   Filles de la Sagesse, Daughters of Wisdom
F.D.M.     Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy, India
F.D.N.S.C. Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
F.D.P.     Daughters of Divine Providence
F.D.P.     Sons of Divine Providence
F.D.S.H.J. Fervent Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
F.D.Z.     Daughters of Divine Zeal
F.I.C.P.   Institute of Brothers of Christian Instruction of Ploermel
F.M.I.     Congregation of Sons of Mary Immaculate (Chavagne Fathers)
F.P.M.     Presentation Brothers of Mary
F.P.O.     Franciscans of Primitive Observance
F.S.       Sisters of Our Lady of Fatima
F.S.C.G.   Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Italy
F.S.C.J.   Missioni Africane di Verona (Verona Fathers)
(Frères Sainte Famille)
F.S.M.I.   Congregation of Sons of Mary Immaculate
F.S.P.     Brothers of St. Patrick, Patrician Brother
H.C.       Sisters of the Holy Cross
H.C.       Handmaids of Christ, India
H.C.M.     Sisters of the Holy Cross (Menzingen), India
H.C.P.     Handmaids of Christ the Priest
H.C.S.A.   Hermanas de la Caridad de Santa Ana (Sisters of Charity of Saint Anne)
H.S.C.P.   The Sisters of the Sacred Heart and of the Poor (Hermanas de la Sagrada Corazon y los Pobres)
H.S.M.     Hospitaller Sisters of Mercy, India
I.C.M.     Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
I.C.P.B.   Institut du Clergé Patriarcal de Bzommar
I.C.R.S.S. Institute of Christ the King, High Priest
I.M.C.     Consolata Missionaries
I.M.C.S.   International Movement of Catholic Students, Pax Romana
I.M.E.Y.   Misioneros de Yarumal, Columbia 
I.M.I.M.G. Institute of Our Lady
I.M.S.     Indian Missionary Society
I.S.S.M.   Institute of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary
I.V.E.     Institute of the Incarnate Word (Instituto del Verbo Encarnado)
I.W.B.S.   Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, Corpus Christi
J.M.J.     Secular Order of Jesus, Mary and Joseph
L.C.M.     Sisters of the Little Company of Mary
L.D.F.X.   Little Daughters of St. Francis Xavier, India
L.D.ofS.J. Little daughters of St Joseph
L.S.A.     Little Sisters of the Assumption
L.S.C.     Little Sisters of Christ, India
L.S.J.     Little Sisters of Jesus
L.S.M.     Licentiate in Medieval Studies
L.S.M.I.   Little Servants of Mary Immaculate
L.S.T.     Little Sisters of Sr. Therese of Lisieux, India
L.W.S.H.   Sisters Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts, India
M.C.B.S.   Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, India
M.C.J.     Missionaries of Christ Jesus, India
M.C.M.     Cordi Marian Sisters
M.C.S.T.   Missionary Catechists of St. Therese of the Child Jesus
M.D.S.     Union of St. Catherine of Siena, India
M.E.       Institute of Foreign Missions, India
M.E.P.     La Société des Mission Étrangères de Paris
M.F.C.     Society of the Oblates of Mary at the Foot of the Cross
M.F.I.C.   Missionary Franciscan of the Immaculate Conception
M.F.S.C.   Missionary Sons of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
M.G.       Institute of Our Lady of Guadalupe for Foreign Missions
M.H.M.     Society of St. Joseph of Mill Hill, India
M.H.S.H.   Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart
M.I.       Order of the Ministers of the Sick (Camillians)
M.S.A.     Mission Sisters of Ajmer, India
M.S.A.     Missionary Sisters of the Assumption
M.S.A.     Missionaries of the Holy Apostles
M.S.B.T.   Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity
M.S.C.     Marianites of Holy Cross
M.S.C.     Missionary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
M.S.C.     Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart (Cabrini)
M.S.C.J.   Missionary Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, India 
M.S.F.     Congregation of Missionaries of the Holy Family
M.S.F.S.   Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (Fransalians)
M.S.H.R.   Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary
M.S.I.     Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate (Nirmala Sisters), India
M.S.J.     Missionare Vom Hl. Johannes Des Täufer
M.S.J.     Medical Sisters of St. Joseph, India
M.S.M.H.C. Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians, India
M.S.M.I.   Missionary Sisters of Mary Immaculate, India
M.S.O.L.A. Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa
M.S.S.H.   Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart
M.S.L.     Licentiate in Medieval Studies
M.S.S.     Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament
M.S.S.     Missionary Sisters of Service
M.SS.C.    Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary

M.S.S.P.   Missionary Society of St. Paul
M.SS.S.T.  Congregation of Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity
M.S.S.T.   Missionary Sisters of St. Therese of Infant Jesus, India

M.S.U.     Congregation of Monks Studitas of Ukraine
M.T.       Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity
O.C.D.S.   Order of Discalced Carmelites Secular

O.F.M.I.   Order of Friars of Mary Immaculate (Franciscans)
O.F.M.Reg. Order of Friars Minor Regular
O.F.S.     Secular Francisca
O.F.S.     Servants of the Holy Child Jesus (Franciscans)

O.H.F.     Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
O.L.G.     Sisters of Our Lady of the Garden
O.L.M.     Order of Lebanese Maronite (Baladites)

O.L.P.     Sisters of Our lady of Providence, India
O.L.S.H.   Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

O.M.       Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, India
O.Mar.     Maronite
O.M.C.     Order of Merciful Christ
O.M.I.     Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
O.M.M.     Work of Mary Mediatrix (Opus Mariae Mediatricis)
O.M.M.     Ar-Rouhbanyat Al-Marounyat Liltoubawyat Mariam Al-Azra
O.M.V.     Oblates of the Virgin Mary 
O.R.C.     Order of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross
O.S.       Oblates of Wisdom
O.S.C.     Oblates of St. Charles
O.S.C.     Order of St. Camillus, India
O.S.C. Cap Poor Clare Capuchin Nuns of Perpetual Adoration
O.S.Cr.    Order of the Holy Cross

O.S.F.     Congregation of Servants of Holy Infancy Jesus 
O.S.I.     Oblates of St. Joseph (Josephines of Asti)
O.S.J.     Oblates of St. Joseph 
O.S.L.     Congregation of the Sisters of St. Aloysius, India
O.S.M.     Order of the Friar Servants of Mary (Servites)
O.S.M.     Servants of Mary, Mother of Sorrow, India
O.S.M.     Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows (Servants of Mary of Pisa), India
O.S.P.P.E. Order of St. Paul the First Hermit (Pauline Fathers)
O.S.S.     Opus Spiritus Sancti, India
O.S.S.R.   Order of the Most Holy Redeemer
O.Ss.S.    Brigittine Monks
O.S.S.S.   Order of Our Most Holy Saviour (Bridgettines), India

O.S.T.R.   Oblates of St. Therese Reformed

R.D.C.     Religious of Divine Compassion
R.F.T.S.   Regular Franciscan Tertiary Sisters, India


R.N.D.M.   Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (Religieuses de Notre Dame Missions)
R.S.C.     Religious Sisters of Charity 
R.S.C.J.   Religious of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
R.S.H.M.   Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary
R.S.J.     Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart (Australian Josephites)
R.S.M.     Sisters of Mercy 
R.S.V.     Religieux de Saint Paul de Vincent
R.V.M.     Religious of the Virgin Mary

S.A.       Society of the Atonement (Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement)
S.A.       Society of the Atonement (Franciscan Friars of the Atonement)
S.A.B.     Sisters of St. Anne, Bangalore, India
S.A.B.S.   Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, India

S.A.(P)    Sisters of St. Ann of Providence, India
S.A.S.     Society of the Sisters of St. Ann (Luzen), India
S.A.T.     Sisters of St. Anne of Tiruchirapalli, India
S.B.S.     Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
S.C.       Brothers of the Sacred Heart


S.C.C.     Sisters of Christian Charity
s.C.C.     Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod, India
S.C.J.     Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart
S.C.J.     Congrégation du Sacré-Coeur (Pères de Timon David)
S.C.J.     Society of the Sacred Heart of the Infant Jesus
S.C.J.B.   Sisters of St. John the Baptist, India
S.C.J.M.   Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary, India
S.C.P.     Servants of Christ the Priest
S.C.S.     Satya Seva Catechist Sisters, India
S.C.S.J.A. Sisters of Charity of St. Joan Antida
S.C.S.N.   Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross (Ingenbohl), India
S.C.V.     Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana
S.D.P.     Sisters of the Poor of St. Catherine of Sienna, India
S.D.P.     Sisters Servants of the Poor, India
S.D.S.     Sisters of the Divine Saviour, India
S.D.S.     Sisters of the Divine Saviour (Salvatorian Sisters), India
S.D.S.     Society of the Divine Saviour (Salvatorians)
S.F.I.     Franciscan Immaculative Sisters, India
S.F.C.C.   Sisters for Christian Community
S.F.I.C.   Sororem Franciscalium ab Immaculata Conceptione a Beata Matre Dei
S.F.M.     Scarboro Foreign Mission Society
S.F.N.     Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Indiav
S.F.X.     Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier (Society of Pilar), India
S.G.N.     Sisters of Good News, India
S.G.S.     Sisters of the Good Samaritan
S.H.       Sacred Heart Congregation, India
S.H.C.     Sisters of the Holy Cross, India
S.H.C.J.   Society of the Holy Child Jesus


S.H.M.     Society of Helpers of Mary, India
S.H.S.     Sacred Heart Sisters, India

S.I.       Societatis Iesu, Latin for Society of Jesus, Jesuits
S.I.       Society of the Immaculata
S.I.C.     Sisters of the Imitation of Christ, India
S.I.W.     Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament
S.J.       Society of Jesus  (Jesuits)
S.J.       Sisters of Jesus
S.J.A.     Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition, India
S.J.B.     Sisters of St. John the Baptist and Mary the Queen, India
S.J.C.     Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius [Formerly S.S.J.C.]
S.J.C.     Sisters of St. Joseph's Congregation, India
S.J.C.     Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, India
S.J.L.     Sisters of St. Joseph of Lyons, India
S.J.S.     Saint Joseph Sevika Samtha, India
S.J.S.M.   Sisters of St. Joseph of "St. Marc", India

S.K.D.     Society of Khristudasis, India

S.L.M.I.   Society of Ladies of Mary Immaculate, India
S.L.W.     Sisters of the Living Word, Metairie Louisiana
S.M.       Servants of Mary, India
S.M.       Society of Mary (Marianist Brothers and Fathers)
S.M.       Society of Mary (Marist Fathers)
S.M.       Society of Mary (Marist Sisters)
S.M.       Congrégation des Soeurs de Saint-Martin
S.M.A.     Society of African Missions
S.M.A.     Sisters of Maria Auxilium, India
S.M.B.     Foreign Missions Society of Bethlehem in Switzerland (Bethlehem Father)
S.M.C.     Sisters of St. marth's Congregation, India
S.M.H.S.   Sisters of Most Holy Sacrament
S.M.I.     Sisters of Mary Immaculate
S.M.I.     Missionary Sisters of Incarnation, India
S.M.I.C.   Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception
S.M.M.     Missionaries of the Company of Mary (Montfort Missionaries)
S.M.M.     Comfort of Mary, Saint Montfort Missionaries 
S.M.M.     Montfort Society of Mary (Montfort Father)
S.M.M.C.   Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church (Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington, USA)
S.M.M.I.   Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, India
S.M.M.I.   Sisters Minor of Mary Immaculate
S.M.M.P.   Sisters of St. Maria Magdelena Postel, India
S.M.O.M.   Sovereign Military Order of Malta
S.M.P.     Portuguese Society for Catholic Missions

S.M.S.     Snehagiri Missionary Sisters, India
S.M.S.M.   Marist Missionary Sister
S.M.S.M.   Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary
S.M.S.M.   Seva Missionary Sisters of Mary, India
S.N.D.     Sisters of Notre Dame
S.N.DdeN.  Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
S.N.D.S.   Society of Nirmaladasi Sisters, India
S.N.J.M.   Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary
S.O.Cist.  Cistercians of the Common Observance
S.O.L.A.   Society of Our Lady of Africa, India
S.O.L.M.   Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy 
S.O.L.S.   Sisters Servants of Our Lady of Sorrows, India
S.O.L.T.   Society of Our Lady of Most Holy Trinity
S.R.A.     Missionary Sisters of the Queen of the Apostles, India
S.S.       Society of St. Sulpice (the Sulpicians)
S.S.A.     Sisters of St. Ann 
S.S.A.     Sisters of St. Agatha, India
S.S.B.     Sisters of St. Brigid
S.S.C.     Congregation of the Sisters of Christian Schools
S.S.C.C.   Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary 

S.S.C.J.   Sister Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
S.S.E.     Society of St. Edmund
S.S.H.     Sisters of the Sacred Heart, India
S.S.H.J.   Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, India
S.S.I.     Society of St. John (Societas Sancti Ioannis)
S.S.J.V.   Society of Saint John Vianney
   
S.S.M.I.   Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate (Byzantine rite)
S.S.M.N.   Sisters of St. Mary of Namur

See also

• List of defunct Catholic religious institutes

External links

• Religious Orders - Catholic-Hierarchy.org
• List of religious institutes for men
• List of religious institutes for women
• The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
• VISION Vocation Guide Digital Edition Comprehensive guide of men's and women's religious communities in the U.S. and Canada with links and vocation opportunities]
• Catholic orders at DMOZ
• Vocation Network searchable directory of men's and women's Catholic religious institutes