Is there a specific place to look if you know a family member was in clergy? Priest, Nun, Mother...

Ann Marie348

My grandfathers older sister I believe was a Nun and then became a Mother under a different name in another state. Is there a way to search through churchs or convents?

Áine Ní Donnghaile

Good morning @Ann Marie348

Many of my paternal cousins entered religious orders, and I have had some success researching them. Sisters/Nuns/Mother Superiors can be difficult to trace through the census in earlier years because they were often listed with just their religious names (Sister Mary Catherine or Mother Philippina Louise) with no surname. More recent US censuses generally include the birth surname.

If you know what order your aunt entered, try contacting the order. Most orders have archivists, and I have found they are usually delighted when I've contacted them asking for help. I've received great documentation, including when the sisters took first vows, final vows, every location they served.

Check local newspapers. I've also found news of veiling ceremonies, with information about the sister's family, and her religious name.

Priests are generally easier to trace, as the census includes their surnames. Again, try contacting the order, if you know it. Priests can be found using the SSDI (Social Security), while nuns often cannot be.

Larger orders often have their own cemeteries while others may have a dedicated section in a Catholic cemetery. Documentation is usually good there, too. A Mother Superior would have served a long time, and an obituary would likely contain good documentation, including surviving family members, to help connect the dots to your grandfather and other family.

Best of luck with the search.

SantaNinfa

Hi @Ann Marie348

It may help you during your research if you avoid using the term 'commune' which is secular in nature, not religious. Religious words that may show up in your search would more commonly be: convent, cloister, rectory, abbey, priory, friary, etc… Including secular words like commune could lead you down unnecessary stray paths.

Also, as @Áine Ní Donnghaile indicated, knowing the Religious Order, can be a big help. Keep an eye out for the abbreviations and/or words in your searches.

For example, here are some common Religious Orders for nuns:
Benedictine Sisters
Carmelites (O.C.D., O.Carm.)
Dominican Sisters (O.P.)
Franciscan Sisters (O.S.F.)
Poor Clares (O.S.C.)
Sisters of Mercy (R.S.M.)
Sisters of St. Joseph (C.S.J.)
Daughters of Charity (D.C.)
Sisters of Charity (S.C.)
Ursuline Sisters (O.S.U.)
Missionaries of Charity (M.C.)

And here are some of the more common Orders for priests:
Benedictines (O.S.B.)
Carmelites (O.C.D., O.Carm.)
Dominicans (O.P.)
Franciscans (O.F.M., Capuchins, Conventuals)
Jesuits (S.J.)
Augustinians (O.S.A.)
Vincentians (C.M.)
Redemptorists (C.Ss.R.)
Salesians (S.D.B.)
Missionaries of the Holy Spirit (M.Sp.S.)

Ann Marie348

Thank you so much for taking time out of your schedule and giving me such detailed and informative information. I have reached out to one commune that my Aunt said sounded familiar, so I am waiting to hear back from them. All I know is she was nun however in my grandfathers Obituary it said she was in Chicago and was a Mother but a different name. fingers crossed I can find her. I am going to reach out to other communes in the chicago area as well. Thank you again for your kindness.

I will keep you updated if I find anything out.

Regards,

Ann Marie

Áine Ní Donnghaile

Good luck! If you want to share some details, we might be able to help more.

Here's a sample of part of one report I received from the Order my cousin served. She was a teacher, and the record lists everywhere she taught.

Ann Marie348

Thank you so much for sharing. In my previous post I meant to say convent and not commune.