Religious Life
Click below to explore:
Sr Mirjam Hugens FSO
Director for Religious Vocations
E: religiousvocations@staned.org.uk
T: 0131 623 8902
Address: Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB
Working for Our Lord
Offering a gift of the Lord’s nearness, a religious sister visits a grateful, elderly neighbour living alone.
Administering the Sacraments at a border, a missionary father humbly and diplomatically smooths intercultural challenges.
Another religious sister feels inspired by the women in her community who are a constant example and support for religious life.
Preaching, nursing, teaching, serving the poor, youth ministry and contemplative life are a few examples of God’s call to men and women considering a vocation to consecrated religious life.
God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission.
- St. John Henry Newman.
Called to Jesus’ Exclusive Service?
Often, first thoughts about a religious calling begin with questions: What can I do for my Father in Heaven? What is He asking me to do?
From Baptism, each person is given a special grace, a unique work, a universal call to holiness.
Some the Lord calls to belong to Him exclusively—to consecrate their lives in chastity, poverty and obedience for the good of the Church and the salvation of souls. It is an invitation to an intimate relationship with God. It is a pure gift.
Living a Religious Vocation
From apostolic beginnings to present times, religious priests, brothers and sisters have been joyful witnesses to Heaven’s presence on earth.
Men may discern to serve as priests in a religious order or as a brother taking vows and living a fraternal, communal life rooted in prayer. Some are more monastic, others apostolic.
Consecrated religious women also live within a community focused on a tradition of prayer and work based on the vision of their founder. All serve specific needs of the Church within a ministry focused on Christ.
Meet Our Communities
As a first step towards exploring religious life, we warmly invite you to virtually visit the religious communities serving the Archdiocese of Edinburgh. Click on the tab ‘Meet our Communities’ for a glimpse of their love for Christ—and neighbour—at work. Or, contact us directly for more information.
Cistercians (1946)
Sancta Maria Abbey
Nunraw, Haddington EH41 4LW
Tel: (01620) 670092
Email: abbot@nunrawabbey.com
Guest House
Tel: 01620 670096
Email: guesthouse@nunrawabbey.com
Web: www.nunrawabbey.com
Dominicans (1931)
University Chaplaincy for Catholic Students, Blackfriars,
25 George Square,
Edinburgh EH8 9LD
Tel: 0131-650 0900
Fax: 0131-650 0902
Email: dermot.morrin@english.op.org
Institute of the Incarnate Word (2015)
Our Lady and St. Bride’s
74 Stenhouse Street
Cowdenbeath KY4 9DD
Tel: (01383) 510549
Jesuits (1859)
The Sacred Heart
28 Lauriston Street
Edinburgh EH3 9DJ
Tel: 0131-229 9821 (Parish), 0131-229 9104 (Community)
Fax: 0131-228 5142
Email: sacredheart@lauriston.org.uk
Oblates of Mary Immaculate (1859)
St. Mary, Star of the Sea
106 Constitution Street
Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6AW
Tel: 0131-554 2482 or 0131-467 7449
Fax: 0131-553 1660
(1980) St. John Ogilvie
159 Sighthill Drive
Wester Hailes, Edinburgh EH11 4PY
Tel: 0131-453 5035
Pallottines (2006)
St. Andrew’s
126 Victoria Street
Livingston EH54 5BJ
St. Mary’s
4 West End
West Calder EH55 8EF
Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (2004)
6 Belford Park
Edinburgh EH4 3DP
Fax: 0131-332 3750
Email: fr.emerson@fssp.org.uk
Website: www.fssp.org.uk
St. Patrick’s Missionary Society (1965)
(2003) St. Patrick’s Missionary Society
8 Abercromby Place
King’s Park, Stirling FK8 2QP
Tel: 01786 447722
Fax: 01786 464064
Salvatorians (2009)
St. Mary’s Catholic Presbytery
Poldrate, Haddington EH41 4DA
Tel: (01620) 822138
Email: stmaryhaddington@gmail.com
Society of St. Paul (2020)
St Joseph’s
20A Broomhouse St North
Edinburgh EH11 3UE
Tel: 0131-443 3777
Sons of Mary, Mother of Mercy (2019)
St Patrick’s, (Cowgate), 5 South Gray’s
Close, 40 High Street,
Edinburgh EH1 1TQ
Tel: 0131-556 1973
Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd (1921)
(2016) Good Shepherd Sisters
5 Braidburn Court
31 Liberton Road
Edinburgh EH16 6AH
Tel: 07938 039635
Email: rosemarykean@hotmail.com
(2006) Good Shepherd Sisters
6 Roseburn Drive
Edinburgh EH12 5NS
Discalced Carmelites (1925)
(1931) Carmelite Monastery of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus Dysart, Kirkcaldy KY1 2TF
Tel: (01592) 651430
Fax: (01592) 651753
Email: prioress@dysartcarmel.plus.com
Web: www.dysartcarmel.org
Resident Chaplain: Rev. Philip Jones CSsR (1967)
Tel: (01592) 653210
Helpers of the Holy Souls (1903)
Web: www.societyofhelpersgb.org
(2000) 10/4 Mount Alvernia, Edinburgh EH16 6AW
Tel: 0131-664 7408
Email: roseofalba@gmail.com
(2014) 13 North Gyle Park, Corstorphine,
Edinburgh EH12 8LE
Tel: 07702 894179
Email: margaretannminards@yahoo.co.uk
(2012) Helpers of the Holy Souls & Society of the Sacred Heart
5 Harmony Crescent, Bonnyrigg EH19 3NZ
0131-629 2795
Email: jmcglone23@gmail.com
Missionaries of Charity (1983)
(1993) 18 Hopetoun Crescent
Edinburgh EH7 4AY
Tel: 0131-556 5444
Poor Clares (1895)
(1992) Mount Alvernia
2 Humbie Mains
Humbie EH36 5PW
Tel: (01875) 833627
Email: humbiepcs@aol.com
Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma (2016)
(2016) St. Andrew’s Convent
77 Belford Rd
Edinburgh EH4 3DS
Tel: 0131-343 3380
Email: rsm.alma.edinburgh@gmail.com
Web: www.rsmofalma.org
Secular Institute of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary (1962)
(1989) Schoenstatt Centre
Kentenich Way, Campsie Glen
Glasgow G66 7AT
Tel: (01360) 312718
Fax: 01360 312291
Email: sr.margareta@schoenstatt.co.uk
Web: www.schoenstatt.co.uk
Servants of the Lord & the Virgin Matara (2021)
(Servidoras) St. Patrick’s
54 Station Road
Lochgelly KY59QU
Servite Sisters (1970)
[Congregation of the Servants of Mary (London)] (1999)
Servite Convent
18 Orchard Crescent
Prestonpans EH32 9JL
Tel: (01875) 819871
Email: francisfarrellosm@gmail.com
Sisters of Charity of St. Paul the Apostle (1870)
Web: www.sistersofstpaulsellypark.org
(1907) St. Anne’s Convent, 8 Windsor Gardens,
Musselburgh EH21 7LP
Tel: 07951 788713 (Convent)
St. Anne’s Care Home, Windsor Gardens,
Musselburgh EH21 7LP
Tel: 0131-665 5591
Fax: 0131-665 6069
Email: colette@theconvent.org.uk
Sisters of Marie Reparatrice (1904)
(2015) Flat 19
12 Constitution Place
Edinburgh EH6 7DL
Tel: 0131-553 3092
Web: www.smr.org
Email: mcguinnessjoan@hotmail.com
Sisters of Mercy (1858)
St. Catharine’s Convent of Mercy
4 Lauriston Gardens,
Edinburgh EH3 9HH
Tel: 0131-229 2659
Email: stcatharines4@gmail.com
Sisters of Nazareth (1931)
(1936) Nazareth House
13 Hillhead
Bonnyrigg EHI9 2JF
Tel: 0131-663 7191 (Care Home: 0131-663 7156)
Fax: 0131-663 0979
Email: superior.bonnyrigg@nazarethcare.com
Web: www.sistersofnazareth.com
Society of the Sacred Heart (1918)
Web: www.societyofsacredheart.org
(1985) Society of the Sacred Heart, “Rosehill”
27 Park Road, Eskbank
Dalkeith EH22 3DH
Tel: 0131-660 6602
Email: ops.rosehill@rscjirs.org
(2017) Society of the Sacred Heart
51 Eskbank Road
Dalkeith EH22 3BU
Tel: 0131-285 5671
Email: mcvcavanagh@gmail.com; barb.farquharson@btconnect.com; poperscj@yahoo.com
(2012) Helpers of the Holy Souls & Society of the Sacred Heart
5 Harmony Crescent
Bonnyrigg EH19 3NZ
Tel: 0131-629 2795
Email: ctriay43@gmail.com
The Spiritual Family the Work (2017)
Web: www.thework-fso.org
9 Upper Gray Street
Edinburgh EH9 1SN
Tel: 0131-662 1936
Email: edin@thework-fso.org
Ursulines of Jesus (1834)
(2016) St. Anthony’s Presbytery
Maddiston Road
Rumford, Falkirk FK2 0SB
Tel: (01324) 881167
Email: kathleencurran009@gmail.com
Web: www.ursulinesjesus.org