Congregations of men or women religious, or religious orders

Congregations of men or women religious, or religious orders: organizations within the Catholic Church that consist of either men or women who profess vows and live under the obedience of a superior within a community structure in accordance with a specific rule of life. Men and women religious are also known by terms such as Father, Brother, Sister, Mother, monk, friar, or nun. The abbreviations of their community names are often given after their surnames to indicate their affiliation to the order.