Starting a Confraternity?
Start here! You will find all the resources you need to start, or re-establish, a Confraternity at your local parish!
First Steps
Establish New
This memo is for ladies who would like to help bring the Confraternity to their parish. It summarizes the steps that should be taken to establish a new chapter.
Re-start a Confraternity
This memo is for ladies who would like to help restart the Confraternity at a parish where it was established previously but no longer actively functions. It summarizes the steps that should be taken to give the chapter new life.
FAQs
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Any Catholic woman who is in good standing, married or unmarried, with or without children, can be admitted, provided she seriously intends to promote the aims of the Confraternity, especially that of the Christian education of children, and to comply with its statutes. She must be received by the Director of a Confraternity ecclesiastically erected, or by his lawful representative.
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Yes. A Confraternity must operate with the approval and support of the pastor, who serves as the spiritual authority in the parish.
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Meetings are usually held monthly and focus on prayer, spiritual growth, and mutual support. A typical meeting may include:
Members strengthening one another through mutual prayer, which should be the central element of every Meeting
Mass and Holy Communion (when possible)
Eucharistic Adoration
A spiritual talk or reflection
Fellowship and brief business items
Special gatherings may be held on feast days, often with Mass, a reception of new members, or other spiritual activities.
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Continue to explore on this page! Down below are the first few documents to get you started as a Confraternity. If you have any questions feel free to contact the International Office at admin@christianmothers.org or call (412) 683 - 2400.
At the International Office (based in Pittsburgh, PA), one of our primary functions is to help you bring the Confraternity to mothers in your parish. We can provide you with the information, materials and support to start (or restart) a chapter at your parish, including:
• Information to share with your pastor when seeking approval.
• Forms your pastor (and bishop) need to sign, and documents for getting started.
• Resources and materials for promoting the Confraternity to the women in your parish.
• Ritual of Solemn Reception and guidance on how to enroll women once your chapter is established.
• Support in operating a Confraternity chapter.
Visit our Members Page to explore what it means to be a part of the Confraternity.
Learn about leadership roles, responsibilities, and service by visiting our Officers Page.
Ready to begin or renew your own Confraternity? Scroll down to access key documents and resources to help you get started.
Related Documents
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Members Manual
Every Member receives this manual upon their enrollment into the Confraternity. It holds within it the prayers for every Christian Mother Meeting, what it means to be in the Confraternity of Christian Mothers, and the enrollment ceremony (Ritual of Solemn Reception). Please, read the manual to get a better sense of what it means to be a member of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers.
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Application for Affiliation
For the Father Director to send to the Local Ordinary (usually the Bishop) to request that he establish the Confraternity at a parish.
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Letter to the Pastor
A letter to introduce the mission of the Confraternity to your parish Pastor.
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Principal and Indulgenced Feast Days
Officers of a local chapter may use this document to learn more about establishing particular feast days within a local chapter, and to record their chapter’s feast days. Officers may download and edit as appropriate. Keep the completed document with the other records of your Confraternity such as your Diploma of Affiliation and your membership ledger.
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Tri-Fold Christian Mothers Brochure
This document is for use as a recruitment brochure at your parish to introduce potential members to the mission of the Confraternity. Print double-sided.
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Editable Tri-Fold Pamphlet
An editable version for you to create your own outreach resources specific to your confraternity. Only available in Word Doc.