Missionary Nuns :)

[ceciliatherese]

So I've always wondered if there are still any missionary nuns like there were in the old days, like who would go to Africa or someplace like that and start a mission there and teach the kids and everything, haha. The idea's always fascinated me. It seems there aren't really anymore though.

[HopefulBride]

The SSVMs are missionary sisters. I believe also the Salesians are also missionaries.

[Lisa]

The Missionaries of Charity definitely are, too!

[krissylou]

Maryknoll is still around.

[MithLuin]

Oh yes there are!!!

You just have to look in the right place.

There are some missionary nuns. Meaning, they will found a cloistered monastery in a non-Christian community. For instance, there are [url="http://www.discalcedcarmel.com/index.php?Seccion=asiaodir&CodNacion=48"]9 Carmels[/url] in Japan. [url="http://ccacarmels.org/chinacca.html"]Carmelite in China[/url]

But it sounds like you are more interested in learning about sisters who work in an active apostolate (such as teaching or health care). So, let me give you some examples of those:

The[url="http://salesianmissions.org/about-us/daughters-mary-help-christians-fma"] Salesian Sisters [/url](Daughters of Mary Help of Christians: FMA) are the [url="http://salesiansisterseast.org/"]largest order of female sisters in the world[/url], and they serve in 80 different countries. No, really....[url="http://salesianmissions.org/our-work/our-work"]pick a country[/url]! They work primarily with youth in a variety of different apostolates.

The [url="http://www.smainternational.info/"]Society of African Missions [/url](SMA) is a group of priests who serve the Catholic community in Africa. Many of them are African, of course, but some are American, Irish, Phillipine, etc.

The [url="http://www.sercanki.org.pl/"]Sister Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus [/url] (Polish website) are the sisters who took care of [url="http://sacredheartsisters.org/img/sercanki%20iojciec%20sw..jpg"]Pope John Paul II [/url]in the Vatican, and they also have missions around the world, such as this one in [url="http://www.bolivia.sercanki.org.pl/"]Bolivia[/url] (Spanish website). They run orphanages there.

Of course, the [url="http://home.comcast.net/~motherteresasite/addresses.html"]Missionaries of Charity [/url]need no introduction . Mother Teresa's sisters serve the poorest of the poor all over the world.

There are many other Catholic missionary groups out there, so I can come up with plenty more examples if you are interested

[beatitude]

As others have pointed out, there are several missionary communities. Here in the UK we have the [url="http://www.franciscansm.org/"]Franciscan Sisters Minoress[/url] (they have a mission in South Africa). There are also the [url="http://www.corpuschristicarmelites.org/"]Carmelite Sisters of Corpus Christi[/url], an apostolic Carmelite community with convents in the United Kingdom, the United States, the Caribbean, and Liberia (West Africa). I'd like to put in a special word for these sisters - two prominent members of their community in England died recently, including a very gifted prison chaplain who received recognition from the Holy Father for her work with young offenders. They ask for people to pray that they receive the vocations they need for the community to stay alive in England, their birthplace.

That brings me on to my second point. In Africa there is community after flourishing religious community made up entirely of sisters from African countries. In inner city London, there aren't so many sisters, yet missionary work is badly needed there too. If you feel called to be a missionary, look for the order with a missionary spirit. Don't consider the destination. When Paul received his great conversion of heart on the road to Damascus, I doubt he had any idea that now his journey would not just incorporate Damascus, but dozens of other destinations around the Levant and the Mediterranean. A missionary never knows where God will send him or her. That's something to bear in mind.

[MithLuin]

True. Many communities that mostly focus on work in their 'home' country also have a mission foundation elsewhere. For instance, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal are best known for their work in the Bronx, but they also work in London...and in Comayagua, Honduras. I'm sure some of the brothers join in NYC and are surprised to find that they've been called across the ocean!

Maryknoll was founded 100 years ago (it's their anniversary this year!) to begin Catholic missions in foreign countries (specifically, China) from America. Prior to that time, America was viewed as the mission field for Europe . Now, they have a very active formation program for the sisters in New York...but their vocations come primarily from African nations. However, these sisters are then sent out on mission to (for instance) Brazil, because the charism of Maryknoll was always to take the gospel to new places, not to return to your home country.

Edited September 14, 2011 by MithLuin

[FutureSister2009]

The Franciscan Sisters MISSIONARIES of the Heart of Jesus and of Mary Immaculate are clearly Missionaries. I know one of them who is stationed in Africa

[OnlySunshine]

Check out the [url="http://www.sistersofthemostholysoulofchrist.com/"]Sisters of the Most Holy Soul of Christ the Lord[/url].

They have missions in Africa serving the impoverished and uneducated.

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/106"][font="Verdana"][size="2"]Poor Clare Missionary Sisters[/size][/font][/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/119"][b][font="Verdana"][color="#6260a1"]Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus[/color][/font][/b][/url]
[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/78"][b][font="Verdana"][color="#6260a1"]Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows[/color][/font][/b][/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/59"][b][font="Verdana"][color="#6260a1"]Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver[/color][/font][/b][/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/58"][b][font="Verdana"][color="#6260a1"]Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George[/color][/font][/b][/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/127"][b][font="Verdana"][color="#6260a1"]Sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ[/color][/font][/b][/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/21"][b][font="Verdana"][color="#6260a1"]Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate[/color][/font][/b][/url]

[url="http://db.religiouslife.com/reg_life/irl.nsf/org/397"][b][font="Verdana"][color="#6260a1"]Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate Conception[/color][/font][/b][/url]

[das8949]

The order that I was in has Sisters in all of these locations

[b][url=""][/url]Brazil[/b]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/canoas.html"]Canoas, RS[/url]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/passo_fundo.html"]Passo Fundo, RS[/url]
[b][url=""][/url]England (UK)[/b]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/england.html"]Kettering[/url]
[b][url=""][/url]Germany[/b]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/coesfeld.html"]Coesfeld[/url]
[b][url=""][/url]India[/b]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/bangalore.html"]Bangalore, Karnataka[/url]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/patna.html"]Patna, Bihar[/url]
[b][url=""][/url]Indonesia[/b]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/indonesia.html"]Pekalongan[/url]
[b][url=""][/url]Italy[/b]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/motherhouse.html"]Rome (SND International Center)[/url]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/italy_delegation.html"]Rome (Delegation)[/url]
[b][url=""][/url]Kenya[/b]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/kenya.html"]Nairobi[/url]
[b][url=""][/url]Netherlands[/b]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/netherlands.html"]Tegelen[/url]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/onthemap.html#map"]Back to map[/url]
[b][url=""][/url]Nicaragua[/b]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/nicaragua.html"]Jinotega[/url]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/onthemap.html#map"]Back to map[/url]
[b][url=""][/url]Mozambique[/b]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/mozambique.html"]Chimoio[/url]
[b][url=""][/url]Papua New Guinea[/b]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/papua_new_guinea.html"]Kumdi[/url]
[b][url=""][/url]Philippines[/b]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/philippines.html"]Guimaras [/url]
[b][url=""][/url]South Korea[/b]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/skorea.html"]Incheon[/url]
[b][url=""][/url]Tanzania[/b]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/tanzania.html"]Arusha[/url]
[b][url=""][/url]Uganda[/b]
[url="http://www.snd1.org/uganda.html"]Buseesa[/url]

[Freudentaumel]

The Missionary Servants of the Poor of the Third World come to my mind.
Here is [url="http://www.youtube.com/user/MSPTMen#p/u/2/tviNOtXqJ28"]a video about them[/url].

Sorry, I can't unbold this. Seems to be leaking from Darlene's post.

Edited September 14, 2011 by Freudentaumel

[Chiara Francesco]

The Dominicans Sisters of Hawthorne opened a home in Kisumu, Kenya, Africa: [url="http://www.hawthorne-dominicans.org/s303.htm"]http://www.hawthorne...ns.org/s303.htm[/url]


And on page 7 of their e-newsletter, is pictures of the Kisumu, Kenya Home: http://www.hawthorne-dominicans.org/docs/InHisLove-winter2009.pdf

Edited September 14, 2011 by Chiara Francesco

[OnlySunshine]

Here are some more to be mentioned:

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/Apostles%20of%20the%20Sacred%20Heart%20of%20Jesus.htm"]Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/Congregationofmaryqueen.htm"]Congregation of Mary Queen[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/CongRelMissStDominic.htm"]Religious Missionaries of St. Dominic[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/DDC%28HTP%29.htm"]Daughters of Divine Charity[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/DODL.htm"]Daughters of Divine Love[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/DSMP.htm"]Daughters of St. Mary of Providence[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/FMSIJ.htm"]Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Infant Jesus[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/FSMI.htm"]Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/FMSH.htm"]Franciscan Missionaries of the Sacred Heart[/url]
[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/FSOTI.htm"]Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/HRSHJ.htm"]Handmaids of Reparation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/ISOLMC.htm"]Sisters of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/LSSIC.htm"]Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/MSSCBS.htm"]Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/MSHF.htm"]Missionary Sisters of the Holy Family[/url] (I've met these Sisters; they are amesome!)

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/Filippini.htm"]Religious Sisters Filippini[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/SMMI.htm"]Sisters Minor of Mary Immaculate[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/SOOLOS.htm"]Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/SSA.htm"]Sisters of St. Ann[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/SSFIHM.htm"]Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Heart of Mary[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/SHF.htm"]Sisters of the Holy Family[/url]

[url="http://www.cmswr.org/member_communities/SDSH.htm"]Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart[/url]

[MithLuin]

</b> Must [/b] ...stop....bolding....

Dunno if that'll work....

But yes, the short answer is, there are TONS of people all over the world doing exactly that. If you have a desire to do missionary work, by all means, pursue it! Some of these groups even allow lay people to work with them in the missions, so you can get a mission experience before you join.

Edited September 14, 2011 by MithLuin

[MargaretTeresa]

Well, in their own ways, you also have the Daughters of St Paul (evangelizers). They do some missions with their books but I don't know much about it. (Ask Krissy)

Then, also, you have the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, which reach out to people through variety of apostolates. Kind of like the Daughters/Sisters of Charity, but Francisican.