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Dear Sisters,  It is with joy and gratitude that we share the attached wonderful news that IBVM members have voted in favour of merger with the Congregatio Jesu. Our foundress, and the great cloud of witnesses are smiling down on all IBVM and CJ sisters today. This is truly a historic and grace-filled moment as our Mary Ward family, spread across the world, will soon become one. We stand on the threshold of seeing this dream take on a fuller expression of unity and communion.  For over 400 years, the vision and charism of Mary Ward, have inspired our service and sustained our life as apostolic religious women. Though separate, we have been united in spirit, sharing the same founding inspiration and missionary zeal. The desire to be one is a response to the Holy Spirit’s gentle call to deeper oneness, so that we may serve more fully and witness more joyfully in the Church and the world. Together, we will seek to fulfil God’s will for His greater glory.  The merger celebration will be an important step toward full union as one body. We invite all of you to join us in thanksgiving and prayer as we enter this significant new chapter. We believe that our unity will be a sign of hope, joy, and courage to all we encounter.  Mary Ward, pray for us and give us your spirit.

Carol Ivens at Loretto Maryholme. As winter turned into spring, the centre has become busier with silent 3-day retreats as well as a number of private retreats. A few highlights were: hosting the Loretto Associates for a weekend; sharing two-days with the full staff of the Loretto Ministries; and a fully booked new writing retreat: Journaling as Spiritual Practice. An Earth Day event was a great start to re-engaging the local community in the Centre. The April Ice storm created challenges with some significant tree damage which was effectively dealt with by our talented and dedicated grounds team. Volunteers joined us for a spring blessing of the Labyrinth and to joyfully help get it ready for the season. There is no limit to the opportunities for volunteers to assist the grounds staff. Please reach out to the centre if you might be interested in joining us! By Carol Ivens #SpiritualRetreat #FaithAndReflection #LorettoLife #VolunteerWithPurpose #JournalingAsPrayer #EarthDayAction #LabyrinthBlessing #CatholicCommunityCanada

Sr Sarah Rudolph, Audrey Ferrer, and Coco. In addition to working on a renewal of their Strategic Plan, The Mary Ward Centre has been busy. The broadcast, Storytime with Sr. Sarah: Fun with Birds, was a big hit during Earth Week, with over 1200 registered viewers. To launch the 10th Anniversary of Laudato Si' Week, they hosted the retreat, Indigenous Wisdom on Care for Creation and the Wisdom Carriers exhibit featuring paintings of Métis Algonquin artist, Diane Montreuil. Métis Algonquin artist, Diane Montreuil MWC coop students are finalizing their projects: animating the story of the Irish Loretto Sisters arrival to Toronto; a digital escape room to learn about the Jubilee year; a Faith4SDGs quilt; social media outreach; illustrations for a youth education booklet against human trafficking; as well as a "Green Saints" children’s book. MWC hosted 'Sisters in Fiction' an event featuring author Jodi Michalachki, who shared excerpts of her novel-in-progress about missionary sisters in Burundi. The May First Spiritual Exercises Ignatian retreat wrapped up on May 26. There were 8 participants. During the Week of Victims and Survivors of Crime,  Mary Ward Centre  collaborated with FCJ Refugee Center , and ARISE Ministry  | Hope Lives   Here  to host a 2-day awareness event. Pieces of the Puzzle - Understanding Exploitation on a Spectrum : a workshop focused on understanding labour exploitation of temporary foreign workers (TFW) in Canada. The Migrant Workers Exercise, a role-play activity, opened the session. Participants had the opportunity to experience the situations TFW experienced from the recruiting stage to their job stage in many Canadian farms. The afternoon activity was a lived-experience panel listening to migrant workers talk about their own experiences and the deception encountered in different industries.  Pathways to safety - Sex trafficking and the toxic drugs crisis : This workshop focused on analyzing the pathways of sex trafficking and the toxic drug crisis with people working on prevention of human trafficking and drug abuse. Testimonials from survivors and workers supporting victims and survivors served as the basis for the group’s work and analysis. - By Audrey Ferrer

Learn about the role and benefits of becoming an Associate of the Loretto Sisters. IBVM Associate Relationship Who are the IBVM Associates? They are people young and old, from all walks of life, who desire to share the charism and mission of the IBVM and have been invited by a sister or an associate. What is their purpose? Associates aim to embrace and embody Mary Ward’s vision and values in the world through a mutually empowering relationship with sisters and fellow associates. What is expected from an associate? Sisters and associates share a mutual responsibility to live the values of Jesus and Mary Ward in their everyday lives through: Promoting the leadership of women Practicing inclusivity, mutuality, flexibility and right relationship with all of creation Fostering grateful awareness of their personal gifts, and using them courageously in service to the vulnerable and marginalised in our society What benefits can associates expect from the relationship? By ongoing communication and celebration, and by participating in the Mary Ward Circles, associates can count on: The support of a praying community The joy of friendship with sisters and other associates A deepened appreciation of the IBVM vision and values Support in living out their personal vocations Spiritual connectedness through ritual and faith sharing Solidarity in social action Who co-ordinates the IBVM Associate Relationship? Jeanne Cover IBVM Coordinator of IBVM Associate Relationship Loretto College 70 St. Mary Street Toronto, ON M5S 1J3 CANADA 416-925-2883 Ext: 7507 jeanne.cover@alumni.utoronto.ca IBVM Associate Anchor

Explains what spiritual direction is and how a spiritual director supports people as they try to follow the lead of God in their lives. Spiritual Direction Spiritual Direction involves walking with someone on their spiritual journey, and supporting them as they try to follow the lead of God in their lives. The Spiritual Director or Companion is someone who: listens with sensitivity and compassion fosters a contemplative atmosphere of trust and safety is nonjudgmental in approach respects confidentiality respects the freedom of others to make choices for themselves stays with and supports the person through struggles and difficulties. In the process of sharing with another in spiritual direction, we become more aware of the presence of God in our daily lives and inner experience. We are encouraged to respond to God’s personal invitation with openness and trust. Am I ready for spiritual direction? Spiritual Direction requires: openness and honesty as well as a desire to grow in self awareness faith that the Spirit of God is at work in our lives a desire to discover how one is being led by that Spirit Spiritual Direction is a ministry within the Church. Those exercising this ministry are persons who have received specific training and formation and have been affirmed as having the necessary gifts for this calling.

Celebrating the 175th Anniversary of the Loretto Sisters' Arrival to Canada September 16th, 2022 marked 175 years of the Loretto Sisters' presence in Canada and their continuing mission to educate and inspire young women. View 175th Mass AFL Celebrates IBVM Day TCDSB Loretto Day Proclamation Our History The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary was founded by an Englishwoman, Mary Ward, in 1609. She pioneered a new way of religious life for women – ‘contemplatives in action’ within a self-governing congregation, free of enclosure, and responsive to the urgent needs of the time. Mary Ward’s Institute was brought from England to Ireland in 1821 by Frances Teresa Ball where they became known as Loret(t)o Sisters. In response to requests Teresa sent sisters to India, Mauritius, Gibraltar, and then to Canada when Bishop Michael Power asked for teachers for the growing population of Irish immigrant children in Toronto. On August 5, 1847 Teresa Dease, Gertrude Fleming, Ignatia Hutchinson, Valentina Hutchinson, and Bonaventure Phelan left Ireland, landed on September 16 at Cooper’s Wharf in Toronto, and began the first Catholic school on September 29. Despite hardships, deaths, and limited resources this small foundation grew to start new missions in Canada and the United States. Today IBVM Loretto Sisters serve in Albania, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, East Timor, Ghana, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mauritius, Morocco, Nepal, Peru, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States, Vietnam, and Zambia. Founder Teresa Dease 1820 - 1889 Our Celebrations On September 17, 2022 a special anniversary Mass was celebrated at St. Michael’s Cathedral, Toronto, in honour of the founding of this mission. View our gallery of photos taken at the ceremony. The Angel Foundation for Learning Celebrates the Sisters On January 23, 2023, The Angel Foundation for Learning and the TCDSB will celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM) in Canada. Read more about their celebration of the work of the Loretto Sisters on the Angel Foundation Website. Click on the image below to read more on the AFL Website. The First Five: Loretto Sisters in Historic Irish Toronto Walking Tour The walk explored the early history & sites related to the Loretto Sisters and Toronto's early Irish community. Read more Our Celebrations AFL Celebrates IBVM 175th Closing Celebration: September 16, 2023