Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit
The Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit (WSHS) is an international covenant community in the Anglican Communion and a Christian Community of the Episcopal Church[1] which offers women, regardless of marital status, a path for spiritual growth.
History
The community was founded in December 1972 in the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri[2] by Sr. Angela,[3][4] a nun in a traditional Anglican religious order who left to found an organization that would offer a rule of life for lay women who lived separately and worked in the secular world.[4] The name Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit was chosen due to the community drawing inspiration from the worker priests of France.[5]
Charism
The charism of the Worker Sisters is to nurture the "Fruit of the Holy Spirit". To support this charism, they follow a Benedictine rule of life which includes scripture study, prayer, reflection, dedication to simplicity, and participation in mission and ministry.[6] The fruit of the Holy Spirit is identified as love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control.
Membership
Membership is made up of three orders which are bound together under a life commitment to a common rule. There are also companions and friends of the Worker Sisters. Young adults ages 13–25 may belong to any category of membership.[7]
- 1st Order: Women - lay workers and lay sisters
- 2nd Order: Men - lay brothers and lay workers (Worker Brothers of the Holy Spirit)
- 3rd Order: Clergy
- Companions: Lay people and clergy
- Friends: Lay people and clergy
References
- ↑ "Religious Orders and Faith Communities | Episcopal Church". www.episcopalchurch.org. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
- ↑ "The Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit » Who We Are". workersisters.org. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
- ↑ "The Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit » Our Founder". workersisters.org. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
- 1 2 "A Worker Sister - The Young Clergy Women Project". The Young Clergy Women Project. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
- ↑ "The Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit". workersisters.org. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
- ↑ "The Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit » Community Life". workersisters.org. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
- ↑ "The Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit » Membership". workersisters.org. Retrieved 2015-12-09.