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Sisters of Life is a female Roman Catholic religious institute, following the Augustinian rule.

Origins
The Sisters of Life were an order first conceived of by Cardinal John J. O'Connor of New York. He made a visit to the remains of a Nazi concentration camp at Dachau, where he placed his hands inside the crematoria oven and “felt the intermingled ashes of Jew and Christian, rabbi, priest and minister.” He is recorded as proclaiming, “Good God, how could human beings do this to other human beings?” Several years later, he decided to begin a new religious community in the Church, dedicated to the promotion of pro-life causes, specifically working for an end to abortion and euthanasia. He proclaimed his intentions in an article entitled “Help Wanted: Sisters of Life” written for the newspaper “Catholic New York.” Many women responded to the article, and on Foundation Day, June 1, 1991, eight women joined the order. For thirteen years they remained a public association of the lay faithful -- a non-religious Catholic community -- until March 25th 2004, when they were formally established as a religious institute of diocesan right by Edward Michael Egan, Cardinal and Archbishop Emeritus of New York. The first Superior General of the order was Mother Agnes Mary Donovan.

Habits
Novices wear a white veil, while professed Sisters wear a white veil with the blue band around the head. All professed Sisters wear the medal of the Madonna of the Streets, while perpetually professed sisters wear a ring.

Vows and Activities
Like all Catholic religious communities, the Sisters of Life take the three traditional vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. However, they take an additional fourth vow to “protect and enhance the sacredness of human life.” Their daily work includes their aid and support to pregnant women at the Holy Respite convent, located in Manhattan, as well as counseling -- in person, over phone and email -- by way of their Visitation Mission. They run retreats entitled “Enter Canaan” to aid women who regret having abortions in finding emotional and spiritual peace. At the request of Cardinal Edward Michael Egan, the Sisters of Life direct the New York Archdiocesan Family Life / Respect Life Office. They house the Dr. Joseph Stanton Human Life Issues Library, an archive of legal, medical and catechetical pro-life literature, in their Our Lady of New York convent.

Villa Maria Guadalupe
The Sisters of Life run a retreat house in Stamford, Conneticut, called Villa Maria Guadalupe. Formerly operated by the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, the Catholic fraternal organization Knights of Columbus purchased the retreat house for the Sisters of Life, with the hope that the Sisters’ ministry would “help people from around the world to deepen their spiritual life and commitment to live the challenge of being a people for life.”