In 2022, the General Convention established that the third Sunday after the Epiphany would be celebrated as “Religious Life Sunday” to promote awareness about Religious Orders and Christian Communities in the Episcopal Church. This year it falls on January 25.
Many people have no idea that the Episcopal Church canonically recognizes 32 Religious Orders and Christian Communities for men, women, or both. There are even more such orders and communities throughout the worldwide Anglican Communion.
According to the Episcopal Church Canons, a Christian Community consists of members who voluntarily commit themselves for life, or for a certain number of years, to obedience to a specific Rule of Life (commonly known as a “vow of obedience”). A Religious Order has stricter requirements in that members also commit themselves to holding their possessions in common or in trust (commonly known as a “vow of poverty”) and to celibacy (commonly known as a “vow of chastity”).
Within the Diocese of the Susquehanna, we are blessed with a number of members from several of these orders and communities, both laypersons and clergy who serve in a number of parishes in different capacities. These include:
- Anamchara Fellowship
- Community of Francis and Clare
- Brotherhood of Saint Gregory
- Third Order of the Society of St. Francis
- Anglican Order of Preachers (Anglican Dominicans)
- Order of the Holy Cross
- Society of Saint John the Evangelist
Religious Orders and Christian Communities provide opportunities for deepening a life of prayer and provide service to the Church and justice for our neighbors. If you are interested in finding out more or connecting with any of these orders or communities, please contact Br. David Rutledge of the Community of Francis and Clare (CFC), who also serves at St. John’s, Lancaster.