), an institute of religious sisters; the Alliance Mariale (A.M.), an historically all-female secular institute, composed of laypeople, who "dedicate their lives to God by taking vows while living in the world"; and the Marianist Lay Communities (M.L.C.
This text describes three different religious groups: a community of nuns, an organization of women dedicated to God's service without taking vows, and lay communities affiliated with the Marianists.