Sister or Nun

Sister or Nun: a woman who has taken public vows in a religious order or congregation. Although the terms “nun” and “sister” are often used interchangeably, within the Catholic Church, there is a difference between the two. A nun is a woman who professes solemn vows and lives a contemplative life in a monastery which is usually cloistered (or enclosed), and her ministry is centered within and around the monastery, whereas a sister is a woman who professes simple vows, and lives and ministers within the world through service in education, health care, social justice, or various other ministries associated with the charism (spiritual focus) of her order. Sisters may or may not live in community. Nuns wear habits, while sisters may or may not. Both nuns and sisters can also be called “women religious,” and both are addressed with the title “Sister.”