For me, a Loreto alumna and former Loreto Ministries employee, and for many who have supported Mary Ward International over the years, the word Loreto carries a resonance that extends well beyond a name. It speaks to a tradition shaped by courage, conviction, and an enduring commitment to education and service – a legacy that can be traced back more than four centuries to Mary Ward, a woman far ahead of her time.
Her vision was simple yet radical: women should be educated, and faith should find expression not in isolation, but in action – action in the world, alongside those most in need.
Over the years, I often found myself reflecting on a quiet question, one that I am sure others also pondered or perhaps even asked out loud. If both the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM) and the Congregation of Jesus (CJ) shared the same origins, the same charism, and the same unwavering commitment to Mary Ward’s vision, why did they exist as two separate congregations?
The idea of “becoming one” was beginning to take shape at that time, not as a sudden shift, but as a gradual and thoughtful discernment. It felt less like a change being imposed and more like something being restored – a coming together that felt like a natural course... one in which a shared mission could be carried forward more powerfully as one.
Now, one is here. In 2025, the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Congregation of Jesus formally united as one congregation – the Congregation of Jesus. Though their paths had diverged over time, both had always drawn from the same well – the vision of Mary Ward and her enduring commitment to education, justice, and the empowerment of women and girls across the world.
While now unified under the one name, the Loreto name and tradition remain central. What is being witnessed today is not the creation of something new, but the weaving together of threads that have always belonged to the
same tapestry.
Becoming one congregation is a strengthening of the foundation upon which Mary Ward International’s mission stands. The work remains the same – supporting women and children through education and the opportunities it makes possible – but the breadth and cohesion of the global community behind that work has evolved.
It brings together communities of Sisters, partners, and projects across continents with a renewed sense of unity. It cultivates deeper relationships between regions, encourages the sharing of knowledge and resources, and enables a more collaborative and coordinated approach to addressing the challenges faced by the communities Mary Ward International serves. In essence, the network is less a collection of individual efforts, and more a single, integrated whole.
Across this global network, initiatives continue to support education, livelihoods, and advocacy. At the same time, new connections are being formed and existing ones strengthened, including newer connections in places such as Romania, Mauritius and Bangladesh.
From Ukraine and Hungary to Mongolia and Myanmar, from Argentina and Brazil to Zimbabwe and Zambia, and from the United States and Canada to Germany and Gibraltar, the reach of the Mary Ward tradition continues to extend, not as isolated points on a map, but as part of an interconnected movement. The map featured in this edition of Sustain visually expresses this reality.
This sense of interconnectedness has always been intrinsic to the Loreto tradition. What has changed is not its presence, but its visibility. Becoming one congregation allows that unity to be more clearly seen and more intentionally lived. It strengthens the collective voice of the Loreto family, enabling local experiences and insights to inform global conversations around education, justice, and human dignity.
The spirit of Mary Ward sits at the core of this union. Her belief in the transformative power of education, her commitment to justice, and her conviction that communities flourish when people work together continue to guide every aspect of this mission. In many respects, this moment can be understood as the fulfilment of her original vision – a global community, united not by geography but by a shared commitment to service.
For those who have supported Mary Ward International over the years, your place within this story remains unchanged. Your generosity continues to open doors to education and create pathways of opportunity for women and girls across the world. If anything, your impact is now part of something even more expansive, a mission that is deeply rooted and increasingly global. The name of the congregation may now be unified, but the essence of the Loreto tradition remains exactly as it has always been. Now, this global family moves forward together, sustained by a shared belief in the power of education to transform lives.
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