• Introduction
• History
• • Mary Ward
  • Mary Teresa Ball
  • Mary Gonzaga Barry
  • Reunion of two Former Branches
  • Congregation of Jesus
• IBVM International
• Loreto Province Archive

In this era of take-over bids and amalgamations for a profit motive, it is refreshing news to hear of a true reunion based on common origins and shared purpose.

History was made in January 2003, when the sisters of the North American Branch of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary voted by an overwhelming majority to reunite with the Irish Branch (Loreto Sisters). Australian Loreto sisters, as part of the Irish Branch, joined in the great rejoicing.

Where does the story begin? In 1609, Mary Ward, a Yorkshire woman, founded the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary at St. Omer, Flanders, in modern-day Belgium, to enable women to serve actively in spreading the Gospel. Her dream of union of all the members under one General Superior has survived over the centuries despite ecclesiastical opposition, controversy and political upheavals, which caused the separation of many parts of the Institute.

Even in the year 2000, three Branches existed with separate Generalates: the "Roman" Branch, the "Irish" Branch and the North American Branch. Founded from Ireland in 1847, the latter became a separate Generalate in 1881. Australia, founded from Ireland by M. Gonzaga Barry in 1875, was able to continue as a province of the Irish Branch.

Interest in re-union, originally so strong with M. Gonzaga Barry, was revived in recent decades. Meetings between the Branches took place; Summer Schools on Mary Ward and the Constitutions were held, and shared experiences strengthened bonds. Sisters from the Irish Branch, especially Australia, visited and studied in Canada and the United States. Strong friendships were established. Very recently, there have been joint ministry initiatives in Tanzania, Bolivia, Kenya and South Africa.

In 1998, the North American Branch made a formal approach to the Irish Branch regarding the possibility of juridic re-union. A commission was set up to plan a process involving all the membership. After many intermediate steps, the historic vote for re-union was taken by the North Americans in January 2003.

The formal application to Rome by the two General Superiors, Mary Wright (Irish Branch) and Maria Bierer (North American Branch), was approved by decree and granted on 17th March, 2003, becoming juridically effective on 16th September, 2003. In the birth of the new Loreto Branch, replacing the former Irish and North American Branches, Mary Ward's dream comes closer to fulfilment.