Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, is greeted by members of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia outside the congregation's motherhouse in Nashville in 2007. CNS photo/Rick Musacchio, Tennessee Register

Since the earliest days of the church, consecrated women have played a key role in building the body of Christ—through active ministries such as teaching, nursing, and assisting the poor as well as in contemplative communities devoted to prayer.

The Diocese of Knoxville is blessed to have several communities of sisters in residence. Many other communities exist throughout the United States (see the links at right).

Those who are serving or have served in East Tennessee include

• the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
• the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Mich.
• the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia
• the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus “Ad Gentes” (MAG)
• the Congregation of Sisters of Holy Cross
• the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth
• the Alton Franciscans
• the Sisters of St. Joseph, Third Order of St. Francis, and
• the Sisters of the Divine Compassion

For more information, contact Sister Mary Christine Cremin, RSM, coordinator of Vocation Promotion for Religious, at 865-690-9266.