IHM Celebrates 100 Years in Peru
Parish Mission Assigned to: Sacred Heart Manassas
Mission Contact Name: Sister Patricia Helene Earl, I.M.H.
Mission Address:
Villa Maria House of Studies
1 Our Lady Circle
Malvern, PA 19355
Mission Email: patricia.earl@marymount.edu
Mission Website: http://ihmimmaculata.org/mission-ministry/ministries
Mission:
The Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Immaculata, Pennsylvania, is a Roman Catholic congregation of women founded in 1845, committed to serving Christ and the Church, providing education and faith formation, for the people in North and South America. For almost 100 years, the IHMs have served the Church in Latin America. In 1922, they were the first North American women's congregation to go to South America. Throughout the years the Congregation has dedicated its resources to the people of Latin America who need education --spiritual, moral, intellectual and social-- regardless of economic status. Our schools with means have helped to make a similar education possible in our other schools. Through the work of the Sisters and their lay colleagues, the poor are provided with the tools needed, spiritually and academically, to free themselves from the bonds of poverty. In the poor schools, the Sisters and lay teachers first meet their needs for food, clothing, and hygiene. Once their bodily needs are met, then they can begin to teach and provide a basic education, while also preparing them to receive the Sacraments and come to know the Lord. Many of the lower class workers come to the convent in the evening for Escuela Vespertina, where they learn to read and write and learn about the faith after working all day. Many students in the upper grades learn to become bilingual secretaries and gradually learn that with an education they can begin to make a living and help their families to get out of poverty. Sisters also visit the elderly and the sick to bring them Communion. Pictures above tell so much of the story.
Please watch the video of our 100th anniversary. The first 15 minutes is our history, followed by the Mass that was celebrated.
Thank you again for all your support.
