Religious Life
A life consecrated to God through the vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience.
The Sisters of the Congregation of the Mother of God
For the Glory of God and the Salvation of Souls
A traditional Roman Catholic Congregation of Religious Sisters was founded:
- for the sanctification of its members by the observance of the evangelical counsels of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience and their Holy Rule, and through the practice of Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary;
- and in imitation of the Virgin Mother of God, their apostolate focuses on the Catholic education of youth and the assistance of priests in the salvation of souls.
“Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son and his name shall be called Emmanuel.”Isaias 7:14
Our Way of Life
Prayer, Sacrifice, and Apostolic Service
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The Congregation combines the contemplative foundations of religious life with active service in schools, parishes, and the daily works entrusted to the Sisters.
Marian Devotion
Under the patronage of the Mother of God, the Sisters strive to imitate her humility, purity, and fidelity.
Catholic Education
The principal apostolate is the formation of children in faith, virtue, and sound learning.
Parish Service
The Sisters assist priests through catechism, choir, sacristy work, and other parish duties.
The Spirit of the Congregation
From Our Constitutions
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The spirit and apostolate of the Congregation are expressed clearly in its Constitutions:
- The members of the Congregation are known by the title of “Sisters of the Congregation of the Mother of God.” They are a Congregation of religious women, established with episcopal approbation.
- The primary end of the Congregation is to labor for the sanctification of its members by the practice of the three simple vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience; by the practice of De Montfort Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary; and by the observance of the Constitutions.
- The secondary object is the education of youth, the preparation of children and adults for the reception of the Sacraments, and the assistance of priests in parishes and on missions.
- For the accomplishment of these ends, the Sisters will with fervor keep the religious observances. They will cheerfully acquit themselves of the duties assigned to them by the Superior. In their work of education, they will endeavor, whilst forming the minds of the children to knowledge, to mold, at the same time, their tender hearts to virtue. They will seek to make themselves beloved by the pupils, by governing them with mildness tempered with firmness.
- A work of charity especially dear to the Congregation is that of preparing children and adults for their First Communion; therefore, children whose homes are far distant, will be received into the Academies of the Congregation as boarders at as low a rate as circumstances permit.
Excerpt from the Constitutions of the Congregation of the Mother of God
A life centered on Jesus through Mary.
About the Congregation
Dedicated to Preserving and Spreading the Catholic Faith
The foundation of the Congregation of the Mother of God (CMD) began with its first religious ceremonies on August 15, 1992, the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Congregation received ecclesiastical approval in 1993 from His Excellency, Bishop Mark A. Pivarunas, CMRI. On October 11 of that year, Bishop Pivarunas formulated its Constitutions. Its Constitutions and Rule were derived in large part from those of a traditional religious congregation of the 1940s, dedicated in a special manner to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and to the Catholic education of youth—an apostolate mirrored by the CMD Sisters.
The Sisters lived in temporary housing until moving to their permanent and current Motherhouse, Mater Dei Convent, near Persia, Iowa. The first Holy Mass in the Motherhouse convent was offered on September 12, 1997, the feast of the Holy Name of Mary. Since then, the community has continued to grow and expand by the grace of God.
The Sisters strive for personal holiness through the faithful observance of the simple vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience according to their Rule and Constitutions and the practice of Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary as developed by St. Louis Marie De Montfort.
Their apostolate is centered especially on Catholic education and parish work. Through teaching, catechetical instruction, sacred music, sacristy work, and the ordinary duties of religious community life, the Sisters seek to serve Christ and His Church with generosity and fidelity.
The Congregation presently numbers 50 Sisters from the United States, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Scotland, Switzerland, and Germany. They staff 14 schools and educate approximately 650 children.
Vows & Religious Formation
Consecrated to Christ
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Religious formation prepares a Sister to give herself wholly to God through the three simple vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, and to live the spirit and apostolate of the Congregation faithfully.
Poverty
A spirit of detachment and simplicity by which the Sister places temporal goods at the service of her Divine Spouse and the common life.
Chastity
The consecration of heart and body to Christ, giving the Sister freedom to love God with an undivided heart and to serve souls for His sake.
Obedience
The offering of one’s will to God through the rule of the Congregation and lawful superiors, in imitation of the obedience of Christ.
The Stages of Religious Life
1
Postulancy 6 months
The postulant enters the life of the community and begins the transition from secular life to the discipline, prayer, work, and common life of the Congregation.
2
Novitiate 1 year
The novitiate begins with vestition, or reception of the religious habit, and the giving of a new religious name. This year is devoted especially to the formation of the religious spirit, the study of the Constitutions, meditation and assiduous prayer, instruction concerning the vows and virtues of the religious state, and exercises suitable for the correction of faults, the repression of the passions, and the acquisition of virtues.
3
First Profession 1 year
At the completion of the novitiate, the Sister makes her first profession of the simple vows of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience for one year.
4
Renewal of Vows 3 years
After the first year of profession, the vows are renewed for a further period of three years as the Sister continues to deepen her religious formation and fidelity to the common life.
5
Final Profession
In final profession the Sister gives herself permanently to God in the Congregation. She receives a gold ring as a sign and pledge of her alliance with Christ, her Heavenly Spouse.
Religious Life
Ora et Labora
The Sisters’ rule blends a life of prayer with an active apostolate.
The day is ordered around the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Divine Office, the Rosary, mental prayer, community duties, and apostolic work. The life of a Sister is therefore neither merely active nor merely withdrawn, but a consecrated offering in which prayer gives life to every work.
Holy Mass
Daily participation in the Church’s central act of worship.
Daily participation in the Church’s central act of worship.
Divine Office
The liturgical prayer of the Church throughout the day.
The liturgical prayer of the Church throughout the day.
Holy Rosary
Daily Marian prayer and meditation on the mysteries of Christ.
Daily Marian prayer and meditation on the mysteries of Christ.
Mental Prayer
An hour each day devoted to recollection and union with God.
An hour each day devoted to recollection and union with God.
“Come, O Bride of Christ.”
“My soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” Magnificat · Luke 1:46–47
The Apostolate
Serving the Church Where the Need Is Greatest
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From classrooms to choirs and sacristies, the Sisters’ work is directed toward the care of souls and the strengthening of Catholic parish life.
Teaching
The Sisters teach in traditional Catholic schools, helping form children intellectually and spiritually in a thoroughly Catholic atmosphere.
Catechism & Sacraments
They prepare children and adults for the Sacraments and assist priests in the catechetical instruction of the faithful.
Parish Life
Assignments may include choir direction, sacristy work, parish programs, and the many practical tasks that support Catholic worship and community life.
Life in the Congregation
Prayer, Work, and Apostolic Life
The ordinary life of a Sister is made up of prayer, teaching, service, community work, and the quiet duties by which the whole day is offered to God.
Life in Pictures
Photo Album
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A glimpse of the prayer, apostolate, work, and community life of the Congregation through the years.
Select any photograph to view it larger.
Catholic Education
Schools Operated by the CMD Sisters
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The Sisters presently staff 14 schools in the United States and abroad, with a combined enrollment of close to 500 students. In addition, they provide catechism instruction to 160 students. Their educational apostolate seeks to instill sound learning and a thoroughly Catholic formation in faith and virtue.
Hazel Green, Alabama
St. Philomena Academy
Grades: K–12
Principal: Sr. Rose Marie, CMD
508 Monroe Nunley Rd. · Hazel Green, AL 35950
El Mirage, Arizona
Our Lady of the Sun Academy
Grades: K–12
Principal: Sr. Maria Antonia, CMD
12546 W. Peoria Ave. · El Mirage, AZ 85335
Mountain View, Arkansas
St. John Bosco Academy
Grades: K–12
Principal: Sr. Mary Michaela, CMD
1243 Hwy 5 · Mountain View, AR 72560
Burlington, Colorado
Sacred Heart Academy
Grades: K–12
Principal: Sr. Maria Johanna, CMD
228 11th Street · Burlington, CO 80807
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy
Grades: K–12
Principal: Sr. Mary Catherine, CMD
920 E. Cache La Poudre · Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Mother Cabrini Academy
Grades: K–12
Principal: Sr. Jeanne Marie, CMD
4101 Lamar St. · Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
Melbourne, Florida
Holy Family Academy
Grades: K–12
Principal: Sr. Marie Agnes, CMD
3381 N. Wickham Rd. · Melbourne, FL 32935
Harmony, Minnesota
St. Joseph’s Academy
Grades: K–12
Principal: Sr. Frances Marie, CMD
29968 County 22 · Harmony, MN 55939
Sartell, Minnesota
Immaculate Conception Academy
Grades: K–12
Principal: Sr. Maria Philomena, CMD
931 5th Ave. N. · Sartell, MN 56377
Omaha, Nebraska
Mater Dei Academy
Grades: K–12
Principal: Sr. Mary Gertrude, CMD
7745 Military Ave. · Omaha, NE 68134
Lebanon, Ohio
St. Therese Academy
Grades: K–12
Principal: Sr. Maria Goretti, CMD
500 West Mulberry St. · Lebanon, OH 45036
Seneca, Wisconsin
Mary Immaculate Academy
Grades: K–12
Principal: Sr. Mary Alphonsa, CMD
167 Main St. · Seneca, WI 54654
London, Ontario, Canada
Our Lady of Victory Academy
Grades: K–12
Principal: Sr. Maria Jacinta, CMD
5030 Westchester Bourne · Thames Centre, ON N0L 1B0 · Canada
Stella Maris
The Newsletter of the CMD Sisters
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Read about the Sisters’ ceremonies, schools, apostolic work, community life, and the many blessings of religious life.
Books & Publications
Works by the CMD Sisters
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Saint Philomena: Daughter of Light
Written by Anna Kuck and illustrated by the Religious Sisters of the Congregation of the Mother of God.
View on Amazon
Seven Holy Sleepers
An illustrated volume in the Amazing Saints series by Anna Kuck.
View on Amazon
Saint Philomena: Powerful Love
A coloring and story book for all ages by the Sisters of the Congregation of the Mother of God.
View on Amazon
St. Joseph: A Coloring and Story Book for All Ages
A coloring and story book for all ages by the Sisters of the Congregation of the Mother of God.
View on AmazonSupport the Congregation
Help Support the Sisters
If you wish to support the Congregation and its apostolic work, donations may be made through Venmo.
Contact the Sisters
Mater Dei Convent
For correspondence, vocation inquiries, and information about the Congregation.
Mailing Address
3715 286th St.
Persia, Iowa 51563
Persia, Iowa 51563
Email
materdei431@aol.com
A Religious Vocation
“Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth.”
A vocation to the religious life is a call to belong wholly to God. A woman considering the CMD Sisters is encouraged to deepen her prayer life, frequent the Sacraments, seek prudent spiritual direction, and contact the community for further information.
If you are writing regarding a possible vocation, include your name, age, parish, and a brief note about your interest in religious life.
Email the Sisters