OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE (NORTH AMERICAN) REGION OUR STORY: OUR MISSION IN NORTH AMERICA The North American mission of the Sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ began with the 1996 encounter of Mrs. Michelle (Shelly) Abrameit of Houston and Sr. Mary Thomas Anyanwu, IHM who was then on Sabbatical leave with her family in Houston, Texas. Her zeal and dedication to the parish ministry and witness of life inspired Shelly to recommend our Institute to US Bishops. Hence in 1998 Bishop Thomas Doran of Rockford diocese, Illinois, invited our Institute to United States of America. The official opening of our first mission in United States of America was in the Diocese of Rockford, Illinois on November 24, 1998. Shelly and her family were happily present at that gracious celebration officiated by Bishop Thomas Doran. A year later, a second convent was opened in Freeport on December 23, 1999. The sisters were actively involved in various pastoral mission of the diocese. Most Rev Thomas Doran (currently Bishop emeritus) of Rockford diocese did not only welcome our sisters in his diocese but graciously bequeathed to the Institute a huge facility, former St. Francis School building and the current Freeport convent. This facility has been an asset to the institute. It is also worth noting that this facility is in the process of a major renovation that will transform it into a Renewal Center that will serve Church and Community. Planned services in this centre would include among others: Counseling services- individual, couples and families, Support Group for bereaved families and recovering addicts, After school programs and Summer programs. our Institute is a member of the council of major superiors of women religious of America. GROWTH & EXPANSION From Rockford diocese, we spread to other dioceses in the United States, Canada and West Indies. Former Bishop Raymond Lahey of the diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador, Canada invited our sisters to minister in his diocese in 2000. Currently our sisters serve and study in ten dioceses in United States and Canada. 1. Illinois: Diocese of Rockford- Freeport December 23, 1999 2. Canada: Corner Brook, Newfoundland 2000, then moved to Brantford in 2011 3. New York: Diocese of Syracuse- East Syracuse August 4, 2001 4. Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis: Minneapolis- June 28, 2002 5. New Mexico: Diocese of Gallup-Flora Vista February 8, 2003 6. Archdiocese of Milwaukee: Kenosha- October 6, 2006 7. Archdiocese of Anchorage: Anchorage -October 28, 2008 8. Arizona: Diocese of Phoenix- Glendale, July 16, 2010 9. Arizona: Diocese of Phoenix –Chandler, June 12, 2012 10. Arizona: Diocese of Gallup -Page, July 13, 2012 11. Illinois: Diocese of Belleville- Pinckneyville, August 26, 2012 12. Iowa: Diocese of Des Moines- Adair, August 2012 13. Florida: Diocese of Petersburg- Tampa January 4, 2013 2011 Nourished by prayer and daily Mass and braced by common life and filial devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we promote Gospel values through evangelization, pastoral, teaching, medical, and social services to the people especially the poor and marginalized. Wherever we serve and in whatever we do our sisters serve with cheerfulness and humility that comes from the heart, hence we are affectionately called “The Smiling Nuns” or “The Blue Nuns,” In North America, we strive daily to be God’s compassionate presence among his people in a spirit of humility. The US/Canada mission became North American region in November 2002 and was committed to the Patronage of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 2011.
Posted on: Mon, 13 Jan 2014 19:39:40 +0000
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