Different types of religious orders
Apostolic orders
Apostolic orders work within the community, outside of the conventA house or residential building where a religious order of nuns live. or monasteryA house or residential building where a religious order of monks live.. These people may have jobs as teachers, nurses, doctors, counsellors etc. The aim is to get a balance between community life and their . Any wages that they earn will be placed into a common pot so that it helps to support the religious community.
Contemplative orders
Contemplative orders focus completely on prayer for themselves, the community and the world. These people will have communication with the outside world so that the order survives. However, any work that they do will be minimal, as their focus will be on prayer.
Cloistered orders
Cloistered orders go one step further than contemplative orders, as they will not leave their convents or monasteries. If there is ever a need for an individual to leave, eg for a medical reason or family issue, then they have to get permission to do so. In the case of a medical emergency permission to leave would be automatically granted.
Mendicant orders
Mendicant orders tend to live within the community and follow a lifestyle similar to that of the apostolic orders. They adopt a lifestyle of povertyA state in which someone is poor, either relatively or absolutely. and their main aim is evangelicalGroup, or church, placing particular emphasis on the gospel and the scriptures as the sole authority in all matters of faith and conduct. and service to the poor. They will tend not to live in a monastary or convent, but will live among the people that they are working with.
Monastic orders
Monastic orders will follow the contemplative lifestyle. These orders are the traditional religious orders that many will associate with monks and nuns. Life is spent in prayer and contemplationDeep thought., and although they will have some contact with the outside world it will be limited.