The Service of the Nuns

Who we are

The Service of the Nuns of France (SDM) brings together contemplative female abbeys and monasteries who freely choose to join. Present in the fifteen ecclesiastical provinces of the Catholic Church in France, it supports communities with respect for the diversity of their spirituality. The SDM also makes visible a discreet and silent life, dedicated to prayer, communion, and service to the Church and the world.

Missions

Promote female monastic life in the Church today.
Support the initial and ongoing training of communities.
Disseminate information and resources in monastic spirituality
Strengthen links between communities.
Represent nuns before ecclesial and civil bodies.

Sr. Chantal, Carmelite of Bayonne | Secretary

Sr. Claire-Geneviève, Trappistine Cistercian of Blauvac | Treasurer

Sr. Marie-Roselyne of Luzon | For Carmelites

Sr Maggy, Clarisse de Ronchamp | President

Sr. Marie de la Croix | Annonciade de Grentheville

Bishop Emmanuel Tois, Auxiliary Bishop of Paris | Episcopal Delegate for Consecrated Life in France

Sr. Marie-Christine du Rivet | For Cistercians

Sr. Marie-Madeleine, Benedictine of Vanves | Vice-President

Sr. Marie-Paul de Tarascon | For visitandines

Fr. Philippe Toxé, Dominican of Lyon | religious advisor

Organised by

Every three years, the General Assembly of the Nuns' Service brings together representatives of each order. They elect the bureau, which then chooses the president.
This highlight makes it possible to discern together the directions to come. Regional assemblies continue this dynamic by promoting exchanges, cooperation and communion between the monastic communities of France.

Background

1964 - Superiors join the Union of Major Superiors.
1966 - Birth of the Commission of Cloistered Contemplative Sisters.
1972 - It becomes the Service of the nuns, association law 1901.
1995 - Rome establishes the Service of the nuns of France, and validates its statutes

The Nuns' Link

The Nuns' Link, published since 1964, is a spirituality magazine entirely written by nuns since 2025. Three times a year, it offers an unprecedented dossier on prayer, monastic life and the major spiritual issues of today.
Testimonials, reflections and initiatives feed a quest for meaning open to the world. Each issue of sixty pages invites you to discover a contemplative Christian life turned towards the future.

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