In February, as the Church commemorates the Day of Consecrated Life, Women Church World delves into the emergence of new religious communities for women and the motivations behind a woman's decision to establish a congregation, monastery, or church family in contemporary times. This state of life, often colloquially referred to as “nuns” or “sisters,” signifies a remarkable manifestation of female autonomy, encompassing diverse expressions such as active engagement, secular institutes, contemplative lifestyles, hermitages, and consecrated virgins living in the world. These individuals commit to professing the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, whether in the public sphere or within the confines of a private calling.