Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Institute Leadership
Loreto Sisters | Mary Ward Sisters
The story of the IBVM (“Loreto”) began in 1609, when an Englishwoman Mary Ward, established a new religious order for women based on the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). She envisioned a new radical way of religious life for women, mobile and flexible in their ability to respond to the needs of the time. Continue reading “The Beginning is Everything; 200 years of IBVM (Loreto Branch)”
Chris Burke IBVM draws our attention to Pope Francis’ most recent encyclical “Fratelli tutti” and writes. Mary Ward’s ever extending ‘circle of friends’ knows that our global systems are not working well. Everything we hoped for at the turn of the millennium is increasingly fragile: peace, care for the poor, employment, health, the very earth on which we depend.
Pope Francis’ newest encyclical, which he wrote encouraged by Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb, gathers together threads of the social justice message he has been announcing throughout his time as Pope. He challenges us to recognize the injustice of systems which support selfishness, greed, and exploitation of those who are “other”, a global homogenizing of cultures for the purpose of profit. A world-wide rethink of political, social and economic priorities is a tall order. The solution does not lie only with the powerful, but has to rise from a grass roots commitment to care, to reach out, to choose to be open to other faiths, other cultures, other nationalities, especially when, exhausted, they arrive on our nation’s doorstep, begging for a new life after their experience of devastation and terror. We are one family: will we turn them away?
Do we dare respond? Are we the Levite or the person from Samaria?
A new style of leadership? An openness to ways and cultures which are different? These resonate
with the steps IBVM/CJ are making towards union, as well as our desire to reach out across boundaries. One first step is to encourage each other to read this admittedly long encyclical, and grapple with his ideas, to pray over them, allowing them to transform us so we can build a new culture. His view of our current situation is relentlessly honest, but also manages to instill hope that such a radical turn-around is possible. Many will have to take a flying leap over the first two words to reach the core of his message, but if change is to happen it will only happen when we integrate the heart of what Pope Francis is calling for and share it strongly with our own families, colleagues and friends. We can carry this prophetic word into our small worlds. Let us encourage each other, as ‘sorelle’ and ‘fratelli’, to read it – to go beyond the title, which, for many, fails to carry the message of inclusion so strongly argued in the body of the text.
June 15th 2020
STATEMENT ON RACIAL INJUSTICE
The Mary Ward family, the Congregation of Jesus (CJ) and the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM) join in prayer with the families and friends of victims of cruel and senseless killings.
We stand in solidarity with all those who have raised their voices against the injustice perpetrated on many in racially-motivated attacks. The deaths of George Floyd, 46 (Minneapolis, Minnesota); Ahmaud Arbery, 25 (Brunswick, Georgia) and Breonna Taylor, 26 (Louisville, Kentucky) are painful reminders in the recent past of senseless and irresponsible behaviour and attitudes in persons who should be trusted to keep the peace.
St. Irenaeus says: “The Glory of God is a human person fully alive” and we, the Mary Ward Family, work for the Glory of God and believe that all lives are sacred, irrespective of colour, race, creed, political affiliation, gender, or social status.
We commit to pray constantly:
The Mary Ward JPIC Office has produced a booklet to help us pray in Laudato Si Week from 16th May – 24th May. It is the fifth anniversary of ‘Laudato Si’. Continue reading “Laudato Si Week Reflections”
At this time of difficulty we pray “May we who are merely inconvenienced, remember those whose lives are at stake. May we who have no risk factors remember those most vulnerable.” Continue reading “House of Prayer May – June 2020”
Welcome to UN Update No 42 where you will read about significant events held in January and February, initiatives during preparation for UN Commissions and Forums in New York and in Africa. Continue reading “UN Update No 42”
You have had to wait until the end of the month to see the works of our featured artist for February. We are certain that you will agree that the wait was worth it.
This month we are highlighting the photography of Clotilde de Maroussem. Continue reading “Featured Artist – Clotilde de Maroussem”
The December 2019 edition of the IBVM Archives Newsletter, has been carefully curated by the IBVM archivists across the globe. Continue reading “December 2019 IBVM Archives Newsletter”
Together we thank the Lord for the vocation we have received to be part of this great history. Continue reading “Mary Ward Summer School 2019”
We have a video that the artists of the Institute produced in response of call 2, entitled “Calls 2b”. Continue reading “Calls 2b”