About Us

The Sisters of Life is a contemplative / active religious community of women founded in 1991 by John Cardinal O’Connor for the protection and enhancement of the sacredness of every human life. Like all religious communities, we take the three traditional vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. We also are consecrated under a special, fourth vow to protect and enhance the sacredness of human life.

Reverence and gratitude for the unique and unrepeatable gift of each human life made in the image and likeness of God fuels the prayer of each Sister, our first mission in building the Kingdom of God and the “Culture of Life.” It also provides the starting point for our interactions with others, especially relationships in community between our 80 Sisters (who come from across the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, Australia and Spain), and in our apostolates.

Inspired by the love of Christ our Spouse, the author of Life, we desire to pour out all our gifts of nature and grace in the apostolate, that nothing of the gift of life, and no one to whom it has been given, should be lost.

Our missions are carried out with the heart of the Church and with the hope of revealing to those we serve the inherent goodness and beauty of their own lives, so that each person may see and experience the truth that they are an unrepeatable creation of the Master.

We welcome pregnant guests to live with us in the Holy Respite of one of our convents
Assist pregnant women in need of practical assistance through our Visitation Mission
Host retreats at Villa Maria Guadalupe Retreat Center
Invite those who have suffered abortion to hope and healing through day and weekend Entering Canaan Retreats
Serve as Respect Life Coordinators for the New York Archdiocesan Family Life / Respect Life Office
Dr. Joseph Stanton Human Life Issues Library