Our History

Our Foundress, Mary Ward

The foundress of the Loreto Sisters was Mary Ward, a Yorkshire woman, born in 1585, at a time when Catholics were suffering persecution under the English Penal Laws of the time.

Mary Ward was a woman of great courage, a quality she would need throughout her life. She was certain that God was calling her to religious life but this call also involved a new vision which would see religious sisters living without enclosure and free to work wherever the need was greatest. Her sisters were to wear the dress of their time and not a religious habit.

Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mary Ward's foundation came to be called the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She chose the Constitutions of St Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits, as the way of life which she and her sisters would follow. Their aim would be to give glory to God through their work of service in the church through education and other ministries.

Soon Mary Ward had many companions. Her Institute flourished in Europe, but her prophetic vision proved to be too radical for church authorities. The Institute was suppressed in 1631 and Mary was imprisoned by the church as a heretic. She was later acquitted of heresy although official approval of her Institute was not granted until 1877. By this time her Institute had grown significantly.

Irish Institute

In 1821, Teresa Ball, a young Dublin woman, founded the Institute in Ireland, setting up her first of many convents worldwide in Rathfarnham and calling it 'Loreto', from which the Irish Branch of the Institute took its name. Loreto has spread to all five continents and Loreto Sisters live their lives out of Mary Ward's vision of justice, freedom and sincerity and referring all things to God.

First foundation in England

In 1851, Loreto made its first foundation in England. Margaret Ellis, Sr.Alphonsa and her companions began their work of educating Catholic children in Manchester. Loreto Sisters are currently working in many parts of England as well as in Scotland and Wales. They are involved in varied ministries, educational and pastoral, in school, parish, retreat centre, hospital and prison, living out the same vision of finding God IN THE ORDINARY EVERYDAY MOMENTS OF LIFE.

Click here for details of our work in education or here for details of our other work.

Or if you would like to help us in our work, please click here.

Kate Myers

Only a few weeks ago Kate Myers pronounced her vows of chastity, poverty and obedience for her whole life, using a formula similar to that used by Mary Ward, nearly 400 years ago.

And so the story of Loreto and Mary Ward's Institute goes on.

Click here for more of the history of our founder.

If you would like to know more about Mary Ward and her vision of Justice, Sincerity and Freedom for today, please email Ewa Bem ibvm at ewabemibvm@hotmail.com.

Click here to contact us.

Click here for more Mary Ward links.