By Paschal Norbert

LOYOLA, NOVEMBER 7 , 2025 (CISA) – The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM), commonly known as the Loreto Sisters, and the Congregatio Jesu (CJ) have formally merged into one congregation, bringing to conclusion a centuries-long historical separation and fulfilling the founding vision of Venerable Mary Ward. The unification, announced and celebrated at the Basilica of Loyola in Spain on November 4, marks a defining moment in the life of the Mary Ward family, consolidating 1,800 Catholic religious women serving in over 40 countries into a single body under the name Congregatio Jesu.

The ceremony took place in Loyola, birthplace of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, whose spirituality and apostolic identity inspired Mary Ward’s mission. Officials present described the moment as a sacred restoration of unity, one that required decades of discernment, shared mission experience, legal canonical engagement, and mutual commitment to the legacy of their foundress. The Vatican approved the merger in accordance with Canon 582, which governs the union of institutes of consecrated life. In a solemn liturgical gathering attended by sisters, clergy, and lay collaborators from across the world, both congregations publicly affirmed the decree that now identifies them as one institute, renewing their vows as a united religious body.

Speaking at the ceremony, Sr. Veronica Fuhrmann CJ, immediate former Superior General of the Congregatio Jesu and now leader of the unified congregation, described the moment as the culmination of a journey marked by perseverance, prayer, and fidelity to a shared spiritual heritage.

“The moment we have been waiting for so long has finally arrived. With the proclamation of the merger decree, merger has become a reality – we are one united congregation,” she said.

She reflected on the deep emotional and spiritual significance of the occasion, noting that the sisters had spent years nurturing relationships and building what she referred to as “union of minds and hearts.”

Sr. Fuhrmann emphasized that this unity is not merely administrative but foundational to the identity and future mission of the congregation.

“Union of minds and hearts is the seal of our identity, the DNA of our being and doing,” she said, adding “It is precisely this union that has enabled us to take the step of merging and to be here today as a united Mary Ward Institute.”

She described the day as one filled with profound joy: “Today is a day of such joy – today we feel compelled to express this joy and embrace our shared future, saying a very generous yes to our shared journey,” calling on the congregation worldwide to remain open, courageous, and faithful to the Ignatian charism inherited from Mary Ward.

Sr. Carmel Swords IBVM, immediate former Superior General of the IBVM, echoed these sentiments, underscoring the historic and spiritual significance of the unification.

“On this day we are more integrated than we have ever been before. Mission, which is at the heart of who we are, has motivated us and brought us to this moment,” she noted.

Sr. Swords acknowledged that the process, which engaged sisters at every level of the two congregations across continents, demanded deep trust, transparency, and commitment.

“For each individual and for the leaderships of both congregations, it has been an engaging journey which has demanded hope, courage, and risk,” she stated. She emphasized that the guiding principle throughout the process had been the Ignatian value of magis, the call to ask “What more can we do for Christ and for others?”

The ceremony in Loyola served not only as a point of formal canonical unity but as a symbolic return to the spiritual ground that shaped the founding mission of Mary Ward. Born in 1585 in England, Mary Ward faced significant opposition in her lifetime for advocating the right of women to participate fully in apostolic religious life, modeled after the Jesuits. At a time when women religious were restricted to cloistered monastic life, she envisioned active missionary engagement, mobility, educational ministry, and direct involvement in societal transformation. Her pioneering vision led to intense persecution and suppression, yet it endured, eventually giving rise to the two branches that have now reunited.

Reflecting on Ward’s legacy, Sr. Swords said, “Mary realized that God’s intentions for her were obscure and He was absolute in his demands. This distillation of the glory vision gave birth to unenclosed, self-governing religious life for women… contemplatives in action with a profound sense of universal mission.”

She recalled that Ward’s dedication, grounded in prayer and unwavering conviction, sustained her amid hardship.

“Mary Ward’s pursuit of this calling meant great personal suffering and yet she wouldn’t relent. All she desired was fidelity to God,” she added.

Throughout the ceremony, speakers emphasized both gratitude for the past and anticipation of renewed mission in the future. The leaders acknowledged that coming together would strengthen their global apostolic capacities in education, pastoral ministry, social justice work, and spiritual formation. The sisters currently serve in schools, parishes, retreat centers, refugee outreach programs, anti-trafficking initiatives, leadership development institutions, and community empowerment projects across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. They work in collaboration with dioceses, Jesuit institutions, Catholic movements, and local communities in their shared efforts toward evangelization and human development. The unification is expected to streamline mission coordination, enhance formation structures, and create new opportunities for inter-regional apostolic engagement.

In the aftermath of the ceremony, the congregation released a joint statement affirming its mission orientation, noting that it enters this new chapter with profound hope. The statement expressed gratitude to the Vatican Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life for guidance throughout the canonical process, to Church partners and spiritual companions who supported the journey, and to all sisters who participated in prayer, consultation, and discernment leading to the merger. It reiterated that the congregation remains committed to serving where the needs of the Church and world are greatest, especially among the vulnerable, the marginalized, and young people seeking meaning and opportunity.

The sisters expressed confidence that the unification would open new pathways for ministry and formation, particularly in regions where the Church faces rapid social change and institutional challenges. They also signaled a renewed commitment to Mary Ward’s mission of empowering women, strengthening faith formation, promoting justice, and fostering spiritual maturity among those they serve.