A motherhouse or Mother House is the principal house or community for a religious institute,^[1] for example the Missionaries of Charity's "Mother House" in Kolkata, which functions as the congregation's headquarters.^[2] A motherhouse would normally be where the residence and offices of the religious superior of the institute would be located.^[1] If the institute is divided geographically, it is referred to as the provincial motherhouse and would be where the regional superior would be in residence.