COME WITH ME INTO THE FIELDS

February 29, 2008

Dear Friends,

“The hand of God is always opening out.”  That old Spanish proverb speaks volumes about our gracious God.   Is the “opening out” an invitation to come forward, to join hands and enter into a warm relationship with our God?   Or maybe the “opening out” is God’s way of reaching out to us and gifting us with hands that will “open out” to others.  One thing we know for sure is that a response is required.

In 2009 the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary will celebrate its 400th anniversary.  Our founder, Mary Ward, established the first foundation of a very young and growing religious community of active women religious in 1609.  She herself was only 24 years old.  Her Institute was viewed as revolutionary in those days.  The Sisters were to be free to minister to the needs of the times and to care for the faith without being bound by cloister, religious habits or external control.  Her faith and determination to respond to God’s will provide the foundation for our existence today.

In Mary Ward’s 17th century world, the Institute focused on the education of youth, the spiritual development of both men and women and “any needs that were congruous to the times.”  Today our ministry continues to address these major concerns of both our Church and society.  We need your help to fund our ministries so that we may be able to continue meeting the needs of our times.

Among the many songs composed by the St. Louis Jesuits is one entitled “Come with Me into the Fields.”  The chorus begins, “The harvest is plenty, laborers are few.  Come with Me into the fields.”  That sums up what we, the Sisters of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, are experiencing.  We have ministries directed toward the education of youth:  Loretto High School in Sacramento, SS Simon and Jude Elementary School in Phoenix, Loretto Early Childhood Center and Loretto Extension Service in Wheaton.  Several of our IBVM Sisters minister in Catholic high schools, literacy centers, community colleges and universities. 

We continue Mary Ward’s desire to “Care for the Faith.”  Our Sisters minister as directors of religious education, as pastoral associates and in areas of adult faith formation.  We have IBVM Sisters working in women’s shelters, among the poor and with those struggling to make transitions in their lives that will lead them to more productive, independent living.

Our concern at this point in time is maintaining ministries when “the laborers are few.”  In the Loretto Extension Service, we offer correspondence courses to students in need of credits to complete high school.  Our instructors are retired IBVM Sisters.  In early February, Aloyse Hackett, IBVM, well known to many of you as an experienced and well-loved educator, died as the result of a massive stroke.  For years Sister Aloyse has corresponded with students enrolled in English courses.   Whether it was literature, creative writing or grammar, Aloyse worked with the students to help them find success in their studies.  Her desk in the Extension office has been draped in purple to show our respect and appreciation for this dedicated IBVM Sister.  Where will we find the hands, the love of young people and the compassionate heart to carry on for her?

Another big loss occurred in the IBVM Office of Development.  Irene Gavin, IBVM, fell in late January, broke her hip and moved from Wheaton to Resurrection Life Center.  There she will continue physical therapy and join our IBVM Sisters in residence.   Sister Irene assisted us by responding to your requests for memorial, recovery and special occasion cards.  Each envelope was handwritten and sealed with a prayer.  Where will we find the hands, the love for her former students and the grateful heart to carry on Sister Irene’s work?

One of our “retired” sisters, Mary Lou Wcislo, IBVM, ministers to our Sisters at Resurrection Life Center.  Her little community of six has grown to eight in less than a week with the arrival of IBVM Sisters Rita Rzeppa and Irene Gavin.  Both Sisters have medical needs that require nursing care.  Sister Mary Lou responds to medical emergencies, takes the Sisters to their appointments and fulfills any needs that the Sisters have.  Mary Lou will soon need an extra pair of hands to assist her in her ministry to the retired and infirm Sisters.

Last year at this time we asked you to partner with us in support of our ministry at Mary Ward Center in South Chicago.  Your response enabled us to compensate a young Hispanic woman as a full-time member of the staff as a teacher and co-coordinator.  The number of adults seeking instruction in our literacy center continues to increase.  The “harvest is plenty” compels us to see “laborers” to assist in this vital ministry.

Can you help us?  Each IBVM Sister has answered the call to “Come with Me into the fields.”  Now we invite you to come with us.  In the very near future, we will need to fund qualified workers to join with us in our ministries.  Your donation, your offer to volunteer and your prayers will enable us to continue in our many ministries and to provide care for our retired and infirm Sisters.  We hope to join our hands with yours as we reach out to those in need.

Sincerely,

Kay Foley, IBVM

Director of Development

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