The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose members are commonly known as the Loreto Sisters, is a Roman Catholic religious congregation of women. Who are drawn to companionship in the service of the gospel. Inspired by the Mary Ward’s Charism and the Ignatian Spirituality.
We strive to support the growth in faith and freedom of each person through Spiritual Ministries, Education, Social Ministries, Capacity Development and other works of mercy which meet the needs of our times. We are an active community of women seeking to spread the Gospel as ‘Contemplatives in Action’. Mary Ward (1585 – 1645) founder, an English woman who held a strong conviction “that women in time to come will do much,” continues to inspire and challenge women today. Their presence is felt all over the world as shown at the map below.
After time of prayerful preparation and discernment, the delegates to the IBVM General Congregation 2022 have elected the incoming Institute Leadership Team, comprised of Carmel Swords (Institute Leader), Natalie Houlihan, Mary Kamotho, Geraldine Moktan, and Kate Myers. Please keep the incoming team in your prayers.
We thank God that we had a ground breaking for our project at Kilifi where the land will be used for education purposes now. We thank all those who were able to represent us and pray that may the work that has began be brought to completion.
We had our Bicentenary for Teresa Ball celebrations at Loreto Mary Ward Centre on the 10th of September 2022. We thank God that she was able to send the first sisters who came to Kenya in 1921 and started the work of Mary Ward here at the Eastern Africa Province.
The General Congregation of the Congregatio Jesu has elected a new General Superior. After days of prayer, discernment and consultations, the members of the General Congregation have voted for Sr Veronica Fuhrmann CJ from Germany who is a member of the Middle-European Province. Sr Veronica will lead the congregation for the next nine years. The…
The Institute Leader of the IBVM Sr. Carmel Swords will visit the Eastern Africa Province in October. The exact dates will be communicated later. We wish our General Leader all the best with all the preparations that she has to visit the Eastern Africa Province.
The Eastern Africa Province Assembly for this year will take place from the 28th to 1st of January 2024. We pray that God may keep all of us safe until the day we shall have the meeting. All sisters have been reminded to save this date since this meeting is not optional.
Our three sisters will have their final profession on the 4th of November. We continue praying for them that as they continue with their preparations, they may be guided by the Holy Spirit in all that they do.
