congregación

Congregación is a Spanish noun with several related meanings centered on gathering or organized groups. It derives from the Latin congregatio, formed from con- “together” and greg- “flock” or “group.” In its broad sense, a congregación is a group of people gathered for a common purpose, such as worship, charity, education, or social work, or the act of gathering people themselves. The term can also refer to the place or community that results from such a gathering, for example a church congregation or a neighborhood association.

In ecclesiastical usage, congregación commonly denotes a religious institute within the Catholic Church. A congregación is a type of religious institute whose members live together and dedicate themselves to a particular charism or apostolate, often under solemn or simple vows. This usage is distinct from the general idea of a church “order,” though both terms describe communities of consecrated life. Religious congregations may have pontifical or diocesan rights and include male and female institutes dedicated to education, healthcare, mission work, or social service, among other aims.

The term also appears in the formal names of Vatican offices, which in Spanish are titled Congregación (for example, the Congregación para la Doctrina de la Fe or the Congregación para la Evangelización de los Pueblos). In these cases, congregación refers to a dicastery or administrative department of the Roman Curia, not a religious institute.

In everyday Spanish, congregación can also mean a parish or local religious community, an association of people with a shared cause, or simply the act of gathering.