Religious Congregation With The Same Name

[dymphnamaria]

Is it allowed for religious congregation to have the same name? I was wondering because their is another congregation of sisters named Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate.

[Sr Mary Catharine OP]

I could be wrong but I don't believe they can have exactly the same name. Don't forget, communities go through various stages before becoming full approved religious communities. For example, the Dominican Sister of Mary are only becoming a religious institute of diocesan right this month (or is it next, I forget). Before, technically they weren't a religious institute but a public association of the faithful.

 

A community of diocesan right isn't the same as one of pontifical right, etc. So, you might have many diocesan right communities that share the same name but are different congregations. This happened a lot with the Sisters of St. Joseph.