Religious sisters, brothers and monks have given their entire lives to God, and their prayer and work strengthen the whole Church, what Catholics call the Mystical Body of Christ. These are the communities around Los Angeles. Visit, pray with them, volunteer, or come and see whether this life is for you.
Sisters who join Carmelite prayer with work in schools, retreats and care for the elderly across Southern California. They hold discernment retreats in Alhambra for single Catholic women aged 20 to 30. Volunteers help at the retreat house, at Marycrest Manor in Culver City and at Santa Teresita in Duarte.
Next discernment retreat: October 15 to 18, 2026, in Alhambra
Franciscan sisters, founded in Brazil in 2001, whose life is centered on Jesus Christ, prayer, community, evangelization and love for the poor. They serve people facing homelessness, addiction, poverty and prison through street ministry, retreats, works of mercy and walking alongside people one by one.
Come and See visits for women 18 to 35 can be arranged at their Los Angeles house
Sisters whose mission is to bring the Gospel through media: books, music, film and the arts. Their Los Angeles home on Sepulveda Boulevard in Culver City is a book center with a chapel where Jesus is present in the Blessed Sacrament, open for prayer during store hours, and the base of Pauline Media Studies. They hold retreats, talks and book signings there through the year.
Next Come and See Day Retreat in Los Angeles: October 10, 2026, for single Catholic women 18 to 30
Sisters, associates and partners working in healthcare, education, immigration, prison and housing ministries, with a strong focus on justice for migrants and care for the earth. Women who want to explore joining begin with an inquiry period of prayer days, retreats and community gatherings.
The sisters are moving this fall from Carondelet Center in Brentwood to Villa Carondelet near downtown.
Know a community that should be here? Tell us.