COMMUNITY LIFE & SPIRIT

"Under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we cultivate her virtues, as we endeavor to communicate the love of Christ through communal charity and joyful evangelization."

Charism of the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church

The spirit of the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church can be summed up as follows:

• Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary: To more perfectly live our Baptismal vocation as children of God from which springs our call to religious life, we consecrate ourselves completely to Mary Immaculate, God's Mother and ours.   We take her as our model and our "way" to Jesus.  Since the Incarnate Word chose to come into the world through Mary, we know of no better way to approach Him than to follow His example of loving dependence upon Her.   St. Louis Marie de Montfort writes in his beautiful treatise: True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary:  "If Mary, who is the tree of life, is well cultivated in our soul by fidelity to the practices of this devotion, she will bear her fruit in her own time, and her fruit is none other than Jesus Christ."   Mary always leads us to her Divine Son.
• Cultivation of Mary's virtues:  In all we do and say we endeavor to be Mary's image in the world--her loving heart, her face, her hands and voice—to all our brothers and sisters in Christ.   This striving to live always in "the spirit of Mary" is beautifully expressed in a prayer composed by Pope John Paul II:

"Mary, my Mother,
Live in me, act in me,
Speak in and through me,
Think your thoughts in my mind,
 Love through my heart,
 Give me your dispositions and feelings. 
Teach, lead and guide me to Jesus.
 Correct, enlighten and expand my thoughts and behavior. 
Possess my soul. 
Take over my entire personality and life,
Replace it with yourself,
Incline me to constant adoration and thanksgiving.
Pray in me and through me,
Let me live in you, and keep me in this union always."

• To communicate the love of Christ through communal charity and joyful evangelization:  Jesus Christ is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life " the "Light of the world" and our "only way to the Father."  How desperately our world today needs the hope of the Gospel to be proclaimed anew! Our Lord's injunction, "Go ye into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature…" (Mark 16:15) is more urgent than ever. Through a life of intimate union with Christ in prayer, we draw strength and light to share Him with all we meet, both through example and through works.   The Sacred Heart of Jesus, so aflame with love for every person and so athirst for our love in return, is the source of every good.  We realize that Christ's love dwelling through sanctifying grace in our hearts must radiate out to all--first to those in our own religious family, and then to the world.   Only then can we be channels of His love, His peace and joy to others
• Future Possibilities for Evangelization:
  Catholic education, both elementary and high school
  Parish catechesis—religious education programs, sacramental prep, RCIA
  College campus ministry
  Nursing home ministry and childcare ministries

"The proclamation of and witness to the Gospel are the first service that Christians can render to every person and the entire human race, called as they are to communicate to all God's love, which was fully manifested in Jesus Christ, the one Redeemer of the world."
-- Pope Benedict XVI