The Religious Life Institute (RLI) at MBI is led by Dr. Gemma Simmonds CJ, a distinguished academic and religious figure renowned for her extensive work in Ignatian spirituality and pastoral theology. With a background in missionary work, chaplaincy, and spiritual direction, Dr. Simmonds has authored numerous articles and books on religious life and spirituality. Additionally, she is an active speaker and broadcaster, contributing to various media outlets on religious matters. Her latest research collaboration, the book “God’s Call is Everywhere: A Global Analysis of Contemporary Religious Vocations for Women,” 2023 has received first place in the Reference/Academic Studies category at the 2024 CMA Book Awards by the Catholic Media Association, USA. 
Two of our current projects are:

Religious Life Institute Vocations Project

The project ‘Religious Life Institute – Meta-Analysis of Vocation Data’ is funded by a trust which prefers to remain anonymous. The project analyses research projects on recent entrants to religious life, including one undertaken by the RLI. This project is international, comprising material from the UK and Ireland, the USA and Canada, Australia and France. The research scholars are from the UK, USA and France and include the current director of the Religious Life Institute.

Religious Life Institute Cities Project

The Passionists of St. Joseph’s Province and the Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace (CSJPs) jointly fund this project. The aim of the project is to gather material telling the history of women and men religious working and living alongside inner city communities in the second half of 20th Century Britain with the aim of producing a book manuscript for publication, with a particular focus on the Passionist Inner City Mission. The material gathered will take the form of archive research, interviews and transcripts from a variety of individuals who have been involved in urban insertion missionary activity.