Charism

A theological term signifying a special gift or vision given to an individual for service to the church. The individual may found a religious community to help fulfill the gift or vision.

Discernment

The Greek word for the gift of discernment is diakrisis. The word describes being able to distinguish, access, judge, or appraise a person, statement, situation, or environment. In the New Testament, discernment describes the ability to distinguish in the midst of things truth and goodness. Discernment assumes attentiveness to the Spirit dwelling within one’s being or core. 

Federation

“The Federation is a structure of communion among monasteries of the same Institute erected by the Holy See . . . ” (Cor Orans #86).

Federations serve to strengthen the bond of love among the monasteries by providing mutual aid and ensuring fidelilty to the charism of the Visitation. There are approximately 17 federations of Visitation nuns in the world with two in the United States. Five monastic communities belong to the First Federation in the United States: Mobile, AL; Rockville, VA; Snellville, GA; Toledo, OH; and Tyringham, MA. Three monastic communities belong to the Second Federation: Georgetown, DC; St. Louis, MO; Minneapolis, MN.

Independent Schools

Independent schools are non-profit private schools that are independent in philosophy: each is driven by a unique mission. They are also independent in the way they are managed and financed: each is governed by an independent board of trustees and each is primarily supported through tuition payments and charitable contributions. They are accountable to their communities and are accredited by state-approved accrediting bodies.

Live Jesus

The motto of the Visitation Order

Network of Schools

Each Visitation School is part of a national network of schools that are grounded in a shared mission. The original schools were founded by Sisters of the Visitation. Today, each Visitation School has a unique model of sponsorship, either by a Monastery, by an Association of Christian Faithful, or co-sponsorship by the two.

VHM

The Visitation of Holy Mary is the Order of religious women who founded our Visitation schools and have gifted them their charism to Live Jesus! 

VSN

VSN is the acronym for the Visitation Salesian Network. The VSN is a national network created by the Second Federation of the Visitation Order to oversee the presence and practices of Catholic and Salesian teachings, to encourage Salesian studies and to enrich the daily practice of Salesian living within our Visitation schools. The primary purpose of the VSN is to provide ways to aid and empower lay colleagues to grow in their understanding of Salesian spirituality and to support their efforts to keep this spirit alive in our schools.