What it take to become
a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence.

Do you have the CALLING?
Most often the Sisters are seen out having a good time, looking fabulous and enjoying ourselves. However, what is not often seen is the great deal of work that each Sister does. Similarly, we are often associated with fundraising. Although we do a lot of fundraising, that is not our mission and our work spans a lot of other areas. By presenting ourselves in a comedic and flamboyant display, we demonstrate the principals of "life without guilt" to all we touch.

Although each Sister is an individual with their own beliefs, reasonings, sexuality, gender, race and creed, and unique style, one thing remains the same, we are called to give of our time and energy to serve our community while wearing fabulous clothes, makeup, and accessories! There is room for much fun and laughter within the Sisters, and yet we take our calling very seriously. The majority of Sisters consider it a lifelong commitment.

To be a Sister you need to have dedication to helping those in need, to speak out for the community and of course be PRETTY! The Sisters work hard for the charities we support and are always being asked to participate in events throughout Humboldt County.

In addition to fundraising, the work of a Sister also includes ministry, education and entertainment. We organize, plan and throw events, some of which are very large and complex. We also have some very intense one-on-one sessions with the people we meet while out. Ours is a "ministry of presence". The Sisters frequently act as educators, lecturing to classrooms of students and informing the cute boy at the bar about the risks of unsafe sex. And if you've ever been to one of our bingo games or any other event that is hosted by the Sisters, you have seen us in our role as MC and hostess. Being a Sister requires a lot of different skills and an investment in time, energy and money.

In evaluating a potential new member, we look at a number of things. We look for drive, passion and commitment; a desire to perform community service; the ability to handle many tasks with grace; honesty and a genuine character; good people skills and the ability to interact with others in a meaningful way. We all work towards our common goals and often can make miracles happen. A new member must be able to mesh with the Abbey and should add to the group dynamic, not detract from it.

Being a Sister can be one of the most challenging and demanding things you can ever do but it also offers some rich and enlightening rewards.

Steps to Becoming a Sister...

Come to Events:
If you are interested in joining the Abbey, we recommend that you attend our events, observe Sisters in action and engage them in conversation. Reading about being a Sister on a website pales in comparison to watching a Sister at work or hearing their individual stories. Getting a better idea of who we are and what we do will help you to decide if this is the path for you. And getting to know the Sisters can serve you well as you move through the process. 

Become a Volunteer:
If you still believe that being a Sister is the path for you, contact our Mistress of Volunteers. Becoming a volunteer is the best way to start to get to know our family and will help you become familiar with the work we do.

Come to our Meetings:
Your path towards Sisterhood starts with a conversation with the Mistress of Novices. During this conversation, the Novice Mistress will assess your motivations for approaching the Abbey and try to determine if you will be a good fit. If she believes that you have potential, you will be asked to submit a letter of interest. At that time you can declare your Aspirancy. If she feels that you are not a good fit for the Abbey, do not be discouraged; the desire to do community service is an admirable one and the Abbey offers a lot of opportunities to do so.