Popular Catholic podcaster and religious sister announces discernment of new community

Sister Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, announced on September 21 that she is publicly discerning the establishment of a new religious community named Friends of the Bridegroom. This process follows several years of private discernment and has received the blessing of her religious community, the Sisters of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, and Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

Heidland, a Catholic speaker, author, and podcast host, stated that her work in healing ministry alongside priests, bishops, and other religious sisters revealed a need for the renewal of clergy and religious life. She has served as the executive director of the Friends of the Bridegroom apostolate with Father John Burns of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. The apostolate seeks to renew the Church by focusing on the healing and expansion of the priesthood and consecrated life.

The proposed community would consist of priests, religious sisters, and laity working toward this renewal. Heidland noted that the desire to found this new community grew from her time working within the existing apostolate.