Institute on Religious Life

09/04/2026

During this Jubilee Year of St. Francis, the Franciscan Sisters of Dillingen invite you to join them for a time of prayer and reflection, inspired by St. Francis’ spirituality. This year’s theme is "St. Francis & the Our Father," with different content each month. Consider joining the Sisters online or in person at St. Francis Retreat Center in Hankinson, ND. Their first day of the season will be Saturday, September 19th, with additional days offered the third Saturday of each month through May, 2027. The suggested donation is $30.

Visit sfcretreats.org/register-online for more information or contact Sr. Mary Ruth: (701) 242-7195 or [email protected].

09/03/2026

The Dominican Nuns of the Monastery of the Infant Jesus in Lufkin, Texas invite you to spend a day of prayer with them on Saturday, September 26. For more information and to register, please contact Sister Mary Christine at (936) 634-4233 or email her at [email protected].

09/02/2026

The Institute on Religious Life is excited to be hosting its 2026 Midwest Regional Meeting for the first time at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas this year on Saturday, October 3 in the beautiful new Moritz Library, modeled after Independence Hall.

The theme of the meeting is "Mary, Mother and Model of the Consecrated Life," and is inspired by IRL Founder, the Servant of God Father John A. Hardon, SJ. Father Hardon wrote, "at the Annunciation . . . [Mary] became the patroness of every priest and religious until the end of time. Her acceptance of God's invitation to become His Mother made her the Mother of all vocations to the priesthood and religious life."

We hope you will join the IRL for a day of inspiring speakers, to include IRL National Director, Father Thomas Nelson, O.Praem., Abbot Austin Murphy, OSB, and Benedictine College President, Mr. Stephen Minnis. Mass, lunch, rosary and benediction will be part of the day, beginning at 8:30 and concluding at 4 pm. Students are invited and may attend at no cost!

For more information, please visit religiouslife.com/events/regional or register at ReligiousLifeCatalog.com.

09/01/2026

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Fr. John A. Hardon's death, December 30th, 2025, the Institute on Religious Life will be launching a series of Fr. Hardon talks from our own archives!

Father Hardon entered the Society of Jesus in 1936. He authored over 200 books, including The Catholic Catechism (1975) and was a consultant for the drafting of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He wrote countless articles, conducted numerous catechetical classes for religious and lay people, developed a series of full-semester courses and was a popular speaker and retreat master as well as a spiritual director and confessor to many. He also founded the Institute on Religious Life, Marian Catechists and Eternal Life.

Father Hardon died on December 30, 2000. His cause for canonization has been opened.

Today, we will be listening to his talk titled, "The Teaching of the Church on Vows: Poverty."

Thank you for listening, and we hope you enjoy!

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Fr. John A. Hardon's death, December 30th, 2025, the Institute on Religious Life will be launching a series of Fr. Hardon talks from our own archives! Father Hardon entered the Society of Jesus in 1936. He authored over 200 books, including The Catholic Catechi...

08/31/2026

The Handmaids of the Precious Blood in New Market, Tennessee invite young women ages 18 to 39 to visit them on a date of their choice throughout 2026. Please contact the Handmaids at [email protected] to schedule a visit. You may find out more about the Handmaids at https://nunsforpriests.org/.

08/28/2026

Young adults, where is God calling you to serve Him? The Catholic Corps men and women invite you to spend a weekend, October 30-November 1, learning and praying about the call to a celibate vocation. A celibate vocation includes: priesthood, consecrated life, religious life, and consecration of life. There are 3 goals we have for you this Discernment Weekend:

Help you better understand your calling and specific vocation.
Motivate and equip you to grow in the spiritual life.
Present you with a clear understanding of the beauty of the consecrated vocation.

This event is for any practicing Catholic (ages 18-35) who is open to or discerning the call to a celibate vocation. Both men and women are welcome. During the weekend, Mass and talks will be in common. Prayer times, meals, and recreation will be separate. You’ll hear from the Catholic Corps, a keynote speaker, and participate in small group discussions. Most importantly, you’ll benefit from attending daily Mass and have plenty of time for prayer during Eucharistic Adoration. We look forward to accompanying you on your journey to find God’s plan for your life! Consider also staying for our 1-Week “Come & See” the following week, for even more time for intentional discernment.

Visit afc.org/discernment-weekend/ for more details.
Apostolate for Family Consecration, 3375 County Rd 36,
Bloomingdale, OH 43910.

08/27/2026

The IRL joins our affiliates, The Canons Regular of Saint John Cantius in Chicago, in their joyful celebration of two brothers making final vows to their community. Brother Marko Culjak, SJC and Brother Joshua Smerker, SJC made their Profession of Final Vows on the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady on August 15th.

Superior General Very Rev. Joshua Caswell, SJC and the Canons Regular "ask all our friends, benefactors, parishioners, and supporters to keep Brother Marko and Brother Joshua in your prayers now that they have made this lifelong commitment to Christ and His Church. May Our Lady of the Assumption obtain for them the grace of joyful perseverance and faithful service throughout their lives."

May God bless Brother Joshua, Brother Marko, and all of the Canons Regular of SJC!

08/26/2026

The Oblates of St. Joseph invite all men ages 18 to 35 who are discerning a vocation to religious life to a three day retreat on Friday, September 4 to Sunday, September 6 at the Mount St. Joseph Seminary, 6530 Wells Avenue, Loomis, CA 95650. Please contact Father Sergio Perez, OSJ at [email protected] or (831) 295-5374 for more information and to register.

08/25/2026

On today’s episode, we will be featuring a talk from our recent 2026 National Meeting by Bishop Joseph N. Perry.

Bishop Perry served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Chicago from 1998 to 2023. Bishop Perry is a past vice-president of the board of the National Black Catholic Congress, and chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Subcommittee on African-American Affairs.

Since 2010, he has served as the diocesan postulator for the sainthood cause of Father Augustus Tolton, a former slave who became the first recognized priest of African descent in the United States.

Today, we will be listening to Bishop Perry’s talk, "Mary, Mother and Model of the Consecrated Life”.

Thank you for listening and we hope you enjoy!

On today’s episode, we will be featuring a talk from our recent 2026 National Meeting by Bishop Joseph N. Perry. Bishop Perry served as an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Chicago from 1998 to 2023. Bishop Perry is a past vice-president of the board of the National Black Catholic Congress, ...

08/24/2026

The Little Sisters of the Poor of Kansas City invite you to a discernment retreat weekend on Friday, October 9 to Sunday, October 11.

As a young woman, Jeanne Jugan, the founder of the Little Sisters of the Poor, realized that God had a plan for her life, and yet for many years she had no idea exactly where he was leading her. She confided to her mother, “God wants me for himself. He is keeping me for a work which is not yet founded.” Years went by before Jeanne saw the unfolding of God’s plan, but when God revealed her mission, she followed it with her whole heart.

If she were here today, Jeanne would offer this advice to anyone discerning their vocation:

Pray often, asking God to reveal his will and to help you know yourself better.
Find a church or chapel that has Eucharistic adoration and set aside time each week for silent adoration.
Live a sacramental life: attend daily Mass whenever possible and take advantage of the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Read Scripture and other good spiritual books such as the lives of the saints, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, classics of the spiritual life, etc.
Find a spiritual director who has a good understanding of the consecrated life.
Visit a religious community.
Commit to some form of service to God’s people, especially the poor.
Spend time with friends who are also serious about their faith, and who will support your desire to grow spiritually.

To register for the retreat or to receive more information, please contact Sister Mary Thomas at [email protected] or call (816) 560-7846.