Jump to content

Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit (WSHS) is an international covenant community in the Episcopal Church[1] which offers women, regardless of marital status, a path for spiritual growth.[2] It is a registered charity.[3]

History

[edit]

The community was founded in December 1972 in the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri[4] by Sr. Angela,[5][6] 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.[6] The name Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit was chosen due to the community drawing inspiration from the worker priests of France.[7]

Charism

[edit]

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.[8] The fruit of the Holy Spirit is identified as love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, meekness, and self-control.

Membership

[edit]

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.[9][10]

  • 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

[edit]
  1. ^ "Religious Orders and Faith Communities | Episcopal Church". www.episcopalchurch.org. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  2. ^ "Lay Order Grows". The Living Church. 175: 13. 30 October 1977. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  3. ^ "The Worker Sisters Of The Holy Spirit". CHIMP. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  4. ^ "The Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit » Who We Are". workersisters.org. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  5. ^ "The Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit » Our Founder". workersisters.org. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  6. ^ a b "A Worker Sister - The Young Clergy Women Project". The Young Clergy Women Project. Retrieved 2015-12-10.
  7. ^ "The Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit". workersisters.org. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  8. ^ "The Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit » Community Life". workersisters.org. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  9. ^ "The Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit » Membership". workersisters.org. Retrieved 2015-12-09.
  10. ^ Armentrout, edited by Don S.; Slocum, Robert Boak (2000). "Worker Sisters of the Holy Spirit". An Episcopal dictionary of the church : a user-friendly reference for Episcopalians. New York: Church Pub. p. 564. ISBN 978-0898692112. {{cite book}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
[edit]