Confraternities and archconfraternities
Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers
Confraternity of Christian Mothers · CCM · Christian Mothers
Capuchin Friars, St Augustine Parish, 220 37th Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh archconfraternity affiliates chapters elsewhere.Over 3,400 affiliated confraternities have been established under the direction of the Capuchin Friars in Pittsburgh. No current count of individual members is published.
Worth some persistence
In person, with a priest. Annual dues are required but the amount is set locally and is not published nationally.
How to be enrolledBecause this is a canonical association, a woman has to be received by the Director of an ecclesiastically erected chapter, so you must find a local chapter, restart a dormant one, or contact the National Office to become an Independent Member attached directly to the Pittsburgh archconfraternity. There is no online form that enrolls you, but the national office does publish a Google form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyP0wITrJ0VeR1sT-mTJSaqKLiG71PjgRTUSy3SHiYDmktww/viewform whose Position menu includes Isolated Member and Interested in starting the Confraternity at my parish, so a woman with no chapter near her can open that channel from home in a couple of minutes instead of hunting for a phone number.
A society for Catholic women, married or not, with children or not, built around the work of raising children in the faith and supporting other women doing the same. The daily practice is a short prayer for the children, said for your own children and grandchildren and for those of every other member. Once a month you give your personal Mass intention to the other members. The rest is local: meetings, Masses, holy hours, funerals, and the friendships that come with them. Women join for the company as much as the prayers, and for the patronage of Our Lady under her title Mother Most Sorrowful.
Where it comes from
Begun at Lille, France in 1850 and brought to the United States by the Capuchins. Canonically erected at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on 16 January 1881 and later raised to the rank of archconfraternity.
What you promise
Bound in charity but not under pain of sin: take seriously your vocation to raise and educate your children in the Catholic faith and support other women in theirs; pray the Daily Prayer for the Children each day for your own children and those of other members; once each month offer your personal Mass intention for Confraternity members; take part in meetings, Masses, holy hours and events as often as you can without neglecting other responsibilities; use the Mother Love prayer book for your own formation; pray for other members, including the dead, and for your Director, officers and the National Executive Director; and pay the annual dues.
What the Church attaches
A share in all the Masses offered regularly for members worldwide, with special prayers and Masses for deceased members, and in the daily prayers and merits of other members. Plenary indulgences, under the usual conditions plus renewal of the Confraternity promises, on the day of reception and on the feasts of the Holy Family, the Annunciation, the Queenship of Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, St Gerard Majella, St Elizabeth and Christ the King. Partial indulgences four times a year on days set locally, and each time a member attends a Confraternity conference or lecture. Spiritual conferences and guidance from the local Director.
Enrollment checked 2026-10-22. Details change without notice and parish practice varies. Confirm before relying on this sheet.