Congregation
an assembly, generally a religious assembly; ly; in its most ordinary use, an assembly of Christians met in one place for worship. In the Roman Catholic Church it often designates a sort of board of cardinals, prelates, and divines, to which is intrusted the management of some important branch of the affairs of the Church.
Thus the Congregation of the Index examines books and decides on their fitness for general perusal. The word is also used in the Church of Rome to de- CONGREGATIONALISM scribe communities of ecclesiastics who live together under rule, but without being bound by vow, or at least by solemn vow. Such are the Congregation of the Oratory, the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, usually called Redemptorists, etc.