The Community of the Holy Family

An Affirming Emergent Benedictine Monastic Order

Bold Women Making Good Trouble in Christ

Who We Are

The Community of the Holy Family is a Emergent Benedictine Religious Order for women born out of the graceful unlikely combination of the Oxford Movement, Mysticism, and the Emergent Church. We follow in the examples of the Blessed Mary, Saint Joseph, and Christ Jesus.

Our ministry aims to embolden women in an affirming and unique monastic community that challenges you to learn more about yourself, who God wants you to be, and reconciling the two, all the while fostering an environment for you to have your own thoughts, interest, and passions. We give you a large amount of freedom to be a huge part of the world. We challenge you to learn, grow, and most importantly have some fun along the way.

“Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Luke 1.38 (NRSVue)

About Our Religious Order

The Vows

Obedience of the Gospels

A sister makes a vow of Obedience by endeavoring, through self-examination and deep inner work, to learn who she is, who she is to become as the person God wants her to be, and to reconcile the two.

Christian Chastity

Christian Chastity does not mean giving up sex in this Order. It does mean that a Sister thinks through her actions and decisions reflecting on how to show Christ through her actions.

Poverty

A sister makes a vow of poverty by living a life that respects all creation and recognizes that all we have is God-given.

The Rule

Our sisters live out a Rule of Life that includes a strict daily prayer schedule.

Levels of Sisters

Postulant

A woman discerning her place in the Companions of the Holy Family and her desire to take our Vows and follow The Rule.

Novice

A Sister who has decided to take the Vows for a six-month period as she continues to Discern her relationship with The Rule. She will dress in a white habit.