Sisters of Loreto

The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary are more commonly known as the Loreto Sisters.

Foundation

The Loreto Sisters belong to one branch of the Institute of the Congregatio Jesu, earlier called the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM), a religious order founded by an Englishwoman from a recusant background, Mary Ward, in 1609. Mary Ward was inspired by the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius (now often referred to as "Ignatian spirituality". She had a vision for a different, new and modern mode of religious life for women. She envisioned women living a life in companionship and discernment, inspired by the gospel and engaging with the world without the constraints of the traditional cloister, nor an established 'Rule' placing them under the governance of men. She also believed that women were equal to men in intellect and should be educated accordingly. The circumstances of the time and the suspicion of Jesuits did not allow her to succeed with the foundation of an order according to her vision.

Today, the order she inspired is worldwide. It has historically been divided into three main groups known as the Roman Branch, the Irish Branch and the North American Branch. This situation changed in September 2003, when the sisters of the North American Branch voted to unite with the Irish Branch. From this, confirmed by Papal Decree, a new entity has been forged, now referred as The Loreto Branch. In 2004 the Roman Branch received permission from the Vatican to change its name, to reflect more closely Mary Ward's vision of a Jesuit order for women. The Roman Branch is now The Congregation of Jesus.

In Ireland, the Sisters run a number of day-schools for girls', and until recently ran a girls' boarding school at Rathfarnham, Dublin (see Loreto Abbey).

Schools all over the world work in association with the sisters, such as the Loreto Schools in Australia. The Loreto Sisters, along with Mary Ward, helped establish Lorreto schools around the world.

Activities

At the invitation of Bishop Michael Power of Toronto, the Loretto Sisters arrived in the city in 1847 and founded their first school. By the 1920s their motherhouse was at Loretto Abbey (Armour Heights) and still houses a girls' secondary school. The Sisters also founded Loretto College School on Brunswick Avenue in 1915 and started a college and residence for women at St. Michael's College in the University of Toronto. The sisters also had many other schools across Canada, both at the elementary and secondary levels.

The Loreto Sisters arrived in Australia in 1878 in response to a request by the Bishop of Ballarat, Bishop O'Connell. The group from Ireland, led by Mother Gonzaga Barry, set up a convent in Ballarat, Victoria and their first school, Loreto College, Ballarat, was originally known as "Mary's Mount".

In 1892 a day school was established in Randwick, New South Wales and in 1897 Loreto Normanhurst, also in New South Wales, began as a boarding school. The Randwick day school move to Milson's Point in 1901 to begin what is now known as Loreto Kirribilli. The IBVM in Australia have schools in Brisbane (Loreto College, Coorparoo), Adelaide (Loreto College, Marryatville), Melbourne (Loreto Mandeville Hall) and Perth (Loreto Nedlands Primary School).

Loreto Provinces around the world

* [http://www.loretosisters.org.au Australia]
* [http://www.ibvmloreto-uk.org United Kingdom]
* [http://www.loreto.in India]
* [http://www.loreto.ie Ireland]
* [http://www.ibvm.us USA]
* [http://www.ibvm.es Spain]
* [http://www.loretosisters.org.za South Africa]

Australian Schools

* [http://www.loreto.vic.edu.au/ Loreto College Ballarat, Victoria]
* [http://www.loretonh.nsw.edu.au/ Loreto Normanhurst, New South Wales]
* [http://www.loreto.nsw.edu.au Loreto Kirribilli, New South Wales]
* [http://www.loreto.sa.edu.au/default.htm Loreto College Marryatville, South Australia]
* [http://www.loreto.qld.edu.au/ Loreto College Coorparoo, Queensland]
* [http://web.loretonedlands.wa.edu.au/ Loreto Nedlands Primary School, Western Australia]
* [http://www.loretotoorak.vic.edu.au/ Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak, Victoria]
* [http://www.johnxxiii.edu.au/ John XXIII College Perth, Western Australia]

External links

* Follow links from About Us / Loreto Around the Globe to discover [http://www.loretotoorak.vic.edu.au other Loreto Schools Around the World]
* [http://www.ibvm.org/ Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Loreto Sisters / Mary Ward Sisters]
* [http://www.coleraine.demon.co.uk/ Home Page Of Loreto College Coleraine]
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