A religious is a man or woman who has made a commitment to give their life to God, usually by living with others in community. After a time of preparation, religious make vows or promises, committing themselves to live according to the Gospel and the particular call of their community. Religious communities were founded at different times from the fourth century onwards. Monastic communities have a daily rhythm of prayer together as their central focus and do manual work and study. Other communities were founded to respond to a particular need of the time, like health care or education. Prayer is central to their life too but the pattern may be different for each community

Each person has his or her own reasons. Many feel called to do something with their life to do with others what they can't do alone. To fulfil this people choose to give their lives to God and to live this choice with others. People may be drawn to a life of prayer, and want to be with people who share this desire. The life and work of a particular group may attract people. Many people would say they experienced a call to this way of life.

Each community has its own requirements. Most religious communities would expect some one to have completed secondary education to at least GCSE level, and some communities would encourage someone to get a degree or professional qualification before joining. They would also suggest some work experience so that the person has experience of responsibility, accountability and working with other people. These experiences prepare people for religious life, where being able to live and work with others is an important requirement.

Some people who apply to join religious life have been married or in long term relationships in the past. Generally speaking these experiences are not a barrier or hindrance to entry into religious life. However if you want to join a community, you do need to be free of ties and not to have people dependent on you emotionally or financially. You will need to talk over your decision with those who may be affected by it.

Yes, though in smaller numbers than say thirty years ago. People joining today tend to be older, to have more life experience and to have given a lot of thought to the choice they are making.

For many people, the call comes as a growing sense or awareness that they want to dedicate their life to serve others and becoming a religious might be the best thing for them to do with their life, that it is the best way they can use their gifts for the service of God and others. For some people, the call may be a sudden and overwhelming experience. For most, it is a gradual process. It is important that this call be discerned, that is, reflected on with someone with experience that can help you to find out if religious life is for you. You could talk to a priest, sister or chaplain. The National Religious Vocations Centre can help here.

Yes, religious make a vow of celibacy which means they give up the genital expression of sexuality but not their capacity to relate to others. Relationships, with God and other people, are at the heart of a religious vocation.

Religious do many different kinds of work, and all skills from accountancy to zoology can be useful. In a monastery, the work might be, for example, gardening, farming, artwork, and printing, making articles for church use as well as looking after the house and the needs of the members. In other communities, work includes pastoral work in parishes and schools, university and school chaplaincies, teaching at all levels, social work, work for development, justice and peace, medical, nursing and care work, administration, working for charities and community organisations - in fact, a very wide range of activities at home and abroad. Many communities, whatever their work, now choose to live in disadvantaged areas so as to be with those who are on the edge of society.

Prayer is central to the life of religious, but we don't pray all day. Communities and individuals give a significant time to prayer. Monasteries and some other communities have fixed times for individual prayer and prayer together. Other communities encourage commitment to prayer in a regular but flexible way - it may not be possible to pray at length every day, but people may take more time at weekends, for example. Prayer is not seen as a separate activity, but as something that influences all we do. Religious normally make a retreat every year. This means taking a time of longer prayer and reflection, often in silence, though there are many forms of retreat today. People may use art, music, clay, dance and many other means to draw closer to God.

This depends on the community. Most monastic communities wear a special kind of dress or habit, particularly for prayer. Some communities choose to wear a distinctive form of habit so that they can be clearly recognised. Most communities today in England and Wales wear street clothes with a cross or badge identifying them as members of a community. In some professions where religious are working, it would not be appropriate to wear a habit, and some people find it easier to talk to religious wearing ordinary cloths. Other people like to talk to someone wearing a habit. Each community has to decide what kind of dress is most useful, given their kind of life and work. Often members are left free to choose. have their money common. This has always happened in religious communities. This means that whatever someone earns or is given is pooled for the benefit of the whole community. This works in different ways in different groups. Some small groups manage their own finances and share anything left over with other groups or people in need. Others pool all their resources centrally and get back what they need for the living costs of members and the running of the house. However it works, the desire is the same - to live simply so that resources can be shared with others in need. When religious have investments, they try to ensure that these are ethically managed and used.

There are different kinds of religious because there are different calls, gifts and personalities. Each community has its particular identity and spirituality, or way of living and praying. Some communities have a very specific work - like caring for the elderly. Others have a wide range of activities, as needs change in the country where they live. People wanting to join a community need to find one where they can feel 'at home' personally and spiritually.