Institutes of Religious Men, Priests
There are six male religious communities working in the diocese and living a community life. A few other religious men are extra societatum and staff parishes or work in hospital ministry.
The Capuchins of Central Canada arrived in the Diocese of Peterborough to operate La Verna, a Capuchin House of Prayer rooted in Franciscan Spirituality, and to help out in the parishes of the Diocese. The spirit of St. Francis of Assisi is very much alive as the Capuchins of Central Canada live out the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to God and all people. Their lives and ministries are commitments to the poor, the sick and the needy. Their brotherhood stresses the importance found in the joy they share and the respect they hold for one another.
The Congregation of Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI)is the first indigenous religious congregation in the Catholic Church of India dating back to 1855 when the religious Congregation was canonically approved and the first eleven fathers made their religious profession. During the early period of the religious Congregation, it was founded under the Carmelite influence and accordingly, the rules of the Carmelites with some modifications were given to them in 1855. The Congregation was granted pontifical exemption in 1967. From the very beginning, the religious life in the congregation was rooted in the Indian, Oriental and Carmelite spiritual traditions. Being contemplatives in action, the members preached retreats, conducted seminaries for the training of the local clergy, met the challenge of educating the youth and disseminating Christian literature, laboured for the propagation of the faith and for the reunion of separated brethren, undertook works of mercy and started charitable institutions. At present, the Congregation has about 3000 members including 10 bishops, 1840 priests, 1 permanent deacon, 22 brothers and 1200 brothers in formation. More than half of the priests are working outside Kerala, of whom about 367 are doing pastoral services in 31 countries around the world.
Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) is a religious community of Diocesan Right, founded in 1984 in Argentina. The Institute Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará and The Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE), comprised of religious priests and brothers, along with the Third Order make up the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word. Their specific goal is the evangelization of the culture. In the diocese of Peterborough there are 4 priests who staff 3 parishes and assist in teaching and spiritual capacities at Sacred Heart College-University. The IVE have been serving in the diocese since 2009.
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) founded by St. Eugene de Mazenod arrived to the diocese in 2016. There are 2 priests in the diocese providing the pastoral care in one of our larger parishes.
The Missionary Society of St. Paul (MSP) arrived in the Diocese in 2016. There is one priest of this religious society providing pastoral care in one parish of the Diocese.
Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy (SMMM) is a Religious Congregation founded in 1970 in Nigeria by Late Bishop Anthony Gogo Nwedo, CSSp. The congregation has been serving in the diocese since 2002. There are several priests presently serving in parish ministry.
Institutes of Religious Women
There are four female religious communities serving in the diocese and the Passionist Sisters who served in the Diocese for many years have retired and in 2021, they left the Diocese.
The Sisters of St. Joseph (CSJ) was founded in France in 1650 by Father Jean Pierre Médaille S.J. The Sisters have ministered in the Diocese of Peterborough for 125 years in the areas of education and healthcare. On November 22, 2012 four of the six Canadian Congregations - Hamilton, London, Peterborough and Pembroke - joined together to become one new congregation, the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada.
The Congregation Daughters of St. Mary of Leuca, established in 1938 in Italy have served in the diocese of Peterborough since 1994 operating a daycare facility based on the Montessori method. The sisters assist in parish ministry at the parish adjacent to the school.
The Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará (SSVM), is a religious community of Diocesan Right, founded in 1988 in Argentina. The Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará and The Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE), comprised of religious priests and brothers, along with the Third Order make up the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word. Their specific goal is the evangelization of the culture. In the diocese of Peterborough, they work in 2 parishes to assist with administration, Catholic education and parochial catechesis, and offer spiritual retreats. There are 4 sisters in the diocese - one functions as the registrar for Sacred Heart College-University, and 3 others carry out pastoral works related to education, parish ministry and the elderly. One of the sisters is enrolled in a PhD programme.
The Sisters of Our Lady Immaculate (SOLI) is contemplative-active community of religious women founded in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton in 1977. The general aim of the Community is to strive for holiness of life in imitation of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and His Holy Mother Mary. In response to the needs of the Church, the Sisters have as their apostolates the education of youth, particularly in the field of catechetics, and the care of the elderly and the deprived. The SOLI Sisters arrived in the Diocese in 2016 and currently administer and staff a private Catholic school.
SPECIAL MENTION
The Congregation of the Sisters of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Passionists Sisters) was founded in 1918 in Poland by Venerable Servant of God, Mother Josepha Halacinska. From 1978 until 2015, the Passionist Sisters fulfilled their apostolate in the Diocese of Peterborough working at the Chancery Office, maintaining the Bishop's Residence, and ministry to an active Polish community. The Passionist Sisters have left the Diocese of Peterborough and they are retired in Montreal and Poland.