|
 Who
we are We are the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate
Conception of the Holy Mother of God, founded in Veghel,
The Netherlands on June 24, 1844. The Congregation was co-founded
by Pastor Bernardinus Joannes van Miert and his niece, Sister
Teresia van Miert. From the start their unique aim was the
care of the needy in whom they recognized the suffering
Jesus.
Sister Teresia van Miert was deeply moved
by the needs of the times in which she lived. Steeped in
the Gospel and in the life of St. Francis, she discovered
ways to alleviate the sufferings of the people in her surroundings.
According to the tradition of the Congregation,
the Sisters will give special attention to the underprivileged
sectors of society.
Where we are
From the Netherlands, the Congregation expanded
its mission boundaries in 1906 to Indonesia and in 1929
to the Philippines.
In 1987, the Thailand Mission was established
to promote dialogue of life with our Buddhist sisters and
brothers. To respond to the needs of migrant workers, the
mission in Japan was founded in 1989.
The African Mission was established in Kenya
in 1994 as a shared response to global concerns.
You can find us in the cities and towns, in
the barrios and villages, in the slums and in the hinterlands.
What we do
 We
are in Pastoral Work which include Catechesis, Value Formation,
Worship (Liturgy and Music), Formation of Lay Leaders, Organization
of Basic Ecclesial Communities, and Corporal Works of Mercy.
We work with groups of farmers, migrant workers,
fisherfolk, women, youth, children, indigenous people, urban
and rural poor, and refugees: helping to organize them and
facilitating welfare and development programs with them.
We are engaged in education work, both formal
and non-formal. We manage hospitals, clinics and health
centres as well as facilitate community-based health programs.
We have special programs for lepers, the handicapped, tubercular
patients, HIV/AIDS patients, and for the elderly.
We are involved in the promotion of justice,
peace and integrity of creation, in the defense and advocacy
of human rights, and in fostering solidarity and collaboration
among peoples.
We engage in dialogue of life with all: Christians,
Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindis - in the spirit of ecumenism,
inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue.
The Eucharist, prayer and contemplation are
integral to our daily life.
|
