The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary General and Provincial Leaders join the global initiative to remind world leaders gathered at the G20 and G8 meetings in Toronto, Canada to keep their promise to make poverty history. We renew our commitment to the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.

Press Statement

The Loretto Sisters (Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary) rejoice in the news of this step in the Cause for the Canonization of Mary Ward, founder of the Institute.

THE VENERABLE MARY WARD

Lenore Sullivan IBVM

Thirty two-pilgrims from Canada joined nearly a thousand others from 33 different countries for a week of celebrating the founding vision of Mary Ward in 1609 and her “way” of identification with Jesus in responding to the needs of the time with integrity, justice, freedom and joy.

Mario Iusi, President of Ameresco Canada, Evanne Hunter IBVM, Jane McDonell IBVM, Mary Mallany IBVM and the Honorable John Garretsen, in front of newly installed solar panels at Loretto College.On September 17, 2009 the IBVM Canadian Province hosted a special event on the Rooftop Patio of Loretto College unveiling Loretto’s first energy sustainable building in Canada. Recently completed eco - friendly retrofits at Loretto College will achieve a carbon footprint reduction of seventeen tones of carbon dioxide.

A new publication by Ursula Dirmeier, CJ
Translated by Julie Clinton, IBVM
Published by Loreto Sisters, Gibraltar 2009

Loretto Sisters Celebrate 400 Years of Service Video

Credits: Neil Kinnear and Lesley Chung Photography

The Student Participants in the 2009 India Study and Leadership Program witness, serve and learn in order to become advocates for justice and a voice for the voiceless in developing countries.”

The India Study and Leadership Program was jointly planned by the Loretto Sisters, Adventure Learning Experiences and the Toronto Catholic District School Board for the year 2009 to mark and celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, (the Loretto

May 3rd, 2009

“Divine love is like a fire.”
We are called by God to a vocation of love.”
-- Mary Ward, c. 1619

The Institute Story in the Universe Story

IBVM Sisters and Associates gathered at Loretto Abbey on January 3rd, 2009 to inaugurate the Canadian Province’s celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the founding of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The theme of the day, “the Institute Story in the Universe Story” was chosen to highlight the new responses that were evoked in the 17th century by the new Copernican cosmology, and the 21st century ecological challenges.

On July 1, 2008 Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, announced the appointment of Christine Leyser IBVM to the Order of Canada. The award is Canada’s highest honour for lifetime achievement.