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The Loretto Sisters | IBVM are women called by God to a life of prayer and service, committed to enriching the lives of God’s people, especially women, and to the promotion of justice, peace and integrity of creation. We have faith in our founder Mary Ward’s declaration “that women in time to come will do much”. We support Choose to Challenge And so, on this day we choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. We raise our hands high to show we support Choose to Challenge – where we choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world. For more info Sr Evanne Hunter Young Women in Leadership Award In fact, in honour of International Women’s Day, each year the Toronto Catholic District School Board gives out the Sr Evanne Hunter Young Women in Leadership Award to 2 exceptional female students in recognition of their leadership qualities and involvement in social justice efforts in their school and community. Find out more about the award

Prayers and intentions for March/April 2021

Across Canada, provincial and regional authorities are in the process of finalizing the next stages of their vaccination roll-out plans. These plans must include specific measures to guarantee migrant access to vaccination without fear. At a minimum, vaccine provision must be free; not require a health card, be accessible, and not be mandatory. No information about migrants must be collected or shared with immigration enforcement. Migrants & the undocumented are at the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis but many are afraid to access the COVID-19 vaccine. None of us are protected until all of us are. Everyone regardless of immigration status must be guaranteed the COVID-19 vaccine. Loretto Sisters Canada join the Migrants Rights Network + 270 groups to call on the provinces & feds to ensure safe and dignified access to the vaccine without fear. Add your name to the statement

Today is Canada's first National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Human trafficking is a tragic violation of human rights that devastates its victims, strips away their dignity and security and tears at the fabric of our community. In September 2014 at GC14, the IBVM committed to the following: As members of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an international and multicultural congregation of women religious, we pledge to work for the eradication of all forms of human trafficking and its causes, particularly among women and children, wherever we live and minister. What are we doing to end human trafficking? The IBVM Sisters and Associates in the Canadian Region have been actively involved in the education of its members and assisting in taking action whenever possible through protests, letter writing and even changing laws. The Mary Ward Centre has facilitated workshops for both young people and adults in this area of social justice. Read more Prayer to End Human Trafficking O God of every family on earth, Loving and compassionate God, We come before you in prayer Unable to fully comprehend the horror of women and men and children Transported to unknown places To be exploited and abused Because of greed and profit. We are people of many creeds, united in our sadness and our anger. We cry out together against the degrading practice of human trafficking. Our hearts are saddened and our spirits angry that their dignity and rights Are being transgressed through threats, deception, and force. Give us the wisdom and courage to stand up against the evil that makes it possible For people to buy and sell and trade others. Give us the wisdom and courage to stand in solidarity with the victims, That together we will find a way To the freedom that is your gift to all of us. We pray for it to end. AMEN Taken from School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND), Canadian Province, Trafficking Reflection Booklet, p. 10 Learn more

On February 8th we mark St. Josephine Bakhita Day, who is the patron saint of human trafficking survivors. At her canonization mass in 2000, Pope John Paul II said that in St. Josephine Bakhita, “We find a shining advocate of genuine emancipation. The history of her life inspires not passive acceptance but the firm resolve to work effectively to free girls and women from oppression and violence, and to return them to their dignity in the full exercise of their rights.” Ways to mark the day: Pope Francis' prayer intention for the month of February sends a powerful message against the various kinds of violence against women, which he describes as the “degradation of all humanity” Read the full statement here. The IBVM UN NGO has applied to join Alliance 8.7, an organization working on Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 to end child exploitation and modern slavery. Learn more about the organization and watch a video about their work. Check out this 7-hour prayer marathon hosted by the organization Tabitha Kim to end exploitation. Click on the link on the website’s home page to watch the broadcast of the prayer marathon.

On February 02, we celebrate World Day for Consecrated Life. This celebration is attached to the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord; also known as Candlemas Day - the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Christ who is the light of the world. So too, those in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Jesus Christ to all peoples. Go to Pope Francis' message for the 25th World Day for Consecrated Life.

We invite you to join us, in spirit, in a virtual celebration via the Daily TV Mass from Loretto Abbey Chapel, Toronto. The Mass will air on TV across Canada on Saturday, January 23 and from that day on is accessible on YouTube. Msgr Sam Bianco is the presider and you will find in his homily his very refreshing reaction to his recent discovery of Mary Ward. During the Mass we can storm heaven with a united chorus of prayer for the Beatification of Mary Ward.

We rejoice with our East African sisters on this historic occasion. Please keep them in your prayers as they remember, celebrate, and give thanks for God's faithfulness to them and to the Institute. Mary Ward's charism has flourished over these many years and we pray it may continue 'ad multos annos'. Mary, Evanne, Jane IBVM Canadian Leadership team

The On Pilgrimage with Mary Ward App guides you on a journey following Mary Ward's footsteps. In our present time of instant communication and ease of travel, the story of Mary Ward and her life-long desire to seek and know God’s will, can seem like a struggle way beyond human resilience. That an English woman, in Post-Reformation England, could believe the Catholic Church would approve a plan for religious women to be free from the jurisdiction of the Diocesan Bishop but governed by one of their own, free from the obligations of the cloister, focused on the mission of educating girls in a similar way to boys, and flexible enough to respond to the needs identified around them, seems outrageous, shocking and misguided. This is what Mary Ward came to understand as God’s will for her. With the young women inspired to join her, she crossed the English Channel many times, traversed the Alps of Europe on foot three times to seek approval for her congregation and all along the way, she established houses and schools where she was welcomed and supported. And while she died under the shadow of the Inquisition ... her congregation can be found today in over 40 countries, with more than 200 Mary Ward schools, colleges and informal education facilities and thousands of women and men proudly associated with her charism and spirituality. She truly believed that there is no such difference between men and women that women may not do great things, as we have seen by the example of many saints who have done great things. On Pilgrimage with Mary Ward will spark memories if you have visited these places, tempt you to make a pilgrimage, or add some ideas for the next time you are near York and Yorkshire, London and Saint-Omer, Liège, Munich or Rome. The App, currently available in English, will soon be translated into Spanish and German. To download the free App please visit the Apple store for iPhone or the Google Play store for Android devices. Enjoy the journey ...

Prayers and intentions for January/February 2021

At Christmas Christ is born again in the power of hope and the candle of compassion, filling the world with love. May the angel of birthing bless us calling forth wonder, awe and gratitude. May the angel of Bethlehem bless us tickling our souls with laughter and joy heralding hope and good tidings. (Adapted from Joyce Rupp) With all good wishes from the Loretto Sisters | IBVM From a nativity pageant performed by children of the Sunday morning play catechetics group (Amiguitos Mary Ward … Little Friends of Mary Ward) in Lamud, Peru in the north Andes, a ministry of the Loretto Sisters for almost 30 years.

Prayers and intentions for November/December 2020