What are religious sisters for in today’s world? This is a central question in my research at the Margaret Beaufort Institute. Together with my sisters from the Czech Republic and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe, we are searching for a deeper understanding of our mission in modern society.

Historically, religious orders have always responded to the needs of their time. Whether by founding hospitals for those who couldn’t afford care, establishing free educational institutions, supporting rural communities in agriculture, or caring for orphans after wars and pandemics, female religious orders played a crucial role in society. They filled the gaps where help was most needed.

But today, the world changes at a rapid pace. Recognising the “signs of the times” has become more complex, and adapting to new challenges is not always easy. Many religious congregations, including my own, are still committed to long-standing projects. For example, my congregation runs a secondary school preparing students for A-levels, and we also care for our elderly and ailing sisters. We strive to remain active in the apostolic life of our parishes, but our numbers are dwindling.

This forces us to ask difficult but necessary questions: Where should we focus our energy? What should be our priority—not just for the Church and the world, but also for our congregation and each of us as individuals? Should we continue in the work we have done for decades, or is God calling us in a new direction? Do we give up our professional skills and qualifications to take on simpler roles to fill out gaps in our communities? Should we still be running schools when well-equipped institutions are already managed by laypeople? Or is our mission shifting to something more personal and specific to our religious calling?

These are not easy questions, and we are discerning together. There is often an assumption that religious sisters are born into their vocation, but that’s not the case. Just as parents or spouses grow into their roles, so too do we. When we enter religious life, we bring our humanity—our joys, pains, talents, and flaws. We learn and grow within a community of equally human, imperfect, yet gifted individuals.

Expectations from the outside world can be overwhelming. Many people have strong opinions about what religious sisters should be. But the truth is, we ourselves are still discovering what our vocation means today. It is a process of prayer, discernment, and using the gifts God has given us—both before and after entering religious life—for the greater good.

Ultimately, religious life is not about artificial suffering; it is about finding true joy in our calling. We seek happiness, just as all Christians do in living out their baptism. If you can, pray for us. And if you feel called to support us in other ways, I would love to hear from you.

Pavlína Marie Kašparová
Research Fellow, Margaret Beaufort Institute