Belgium

The rich history of our congregation

Origin: Foundation in Belgium

Our founder, Can. Pieter Jacobus Dufort, (Ledegem 1720 – Tournai 1782) was appointed parish priest of Ingelmunster at the age of 29. He was strongly inspired by the French priest Vincent de Paul, (1581-1660) who gave a new impetus to religious life and care for the poorest of the poor.

Sisters of Mary Ingelmunster celebrated their 250th anniversary on Sunday, July 7, 2019

On July 2, 1769, feast of Mary’s visit, Can. Dufort, founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary with the twofold purpose of helping the poor children to study and work, as well as assisting the needy and the sick of the parish. It was at a time of plague epidemics and of great poverty.

Two women, Francisca Goethals and Isabella Catulle, were the first to move into a house purchased by the parish priest. They founded a school for the poor. As such, they taught girls to read and write and instructed them in sewing and dressmaking, so that they could provide for their families.

Empress Maria Theresa recognized the congregation and its aims as a foundation. In 1774, the first two sisters were able to make their profession and the “group” was recognized as a congregation under diocesan law. The foundation grew and developed rapidly. It survived the French occupation and Dutch rule.

By 1910, the congregation already numbered more than 30 sisters.

In 1927, the Sisters of St. Vincent of Dadizele joined the congregation.

In the years that followed, houses were opened in other parishes, so the apostolic field expanded.

In 1954-1955, three more sister communities joined: the Sisters of Saint Vincent of Merkem, the Sisters of Saint Vincent of St. Eloois-Winkel, and the Sisters of Charity of Izegem.

In 2003, the Sisters of Saint Vincent of Kortrijk Sacred Heart joined the congregation.

The apostolate works, grown from our congregation but now continuing as separate Non-Profit Associations (NPO’s) with their own governing body, are primary and secondary schools, the ‘Engelbewaarder’ day care centre, the Saint-Jozefs clinic in Izegem, the residential and care centres Maria Rustoord in Ingelmunster, Saint-Jozef in Sint-Michiels Brugge, Ten Anker in Nieuwpoort, De Groene Verte in Merkem, H. Hart in Kortrijk and Assisted Living SaMENSpel in Izegem.

Several communities closed due to the reduction of the sisters:

- in 2015 Sjaloom community in Izegem,
- in 2018 community Saint-Jozef in Sint-Michiels Brugge,
- in 2020 ‘Ten Anker’ community in Nieuwpoort and community in Dadizele,
- in 2024 community Clinic Izegem and community at Merkem.

Naming of the sisters of the congregation.

During those early years, however, different names were used for the sisters from time-specific accents and fortuitous circumstances.

Because of their apostolate in the “care of the poor”, people usually called them the “Sisters of the Poor School.

Because of their brown garb and their explicit devotion to Mary, they were also given names such as “Maricolian Sisters” or “Marullen.

In line with the wider spiritual renewal of religious life in the Church, they were called “Sisters of Charity” or “Sisters of Vincent.

The congregation’s final devotion to Mary found its trigger in a miraculous event.

Due to a fire during World War I, which stopped just before the great statute of Our Lady of the Seven Woes in the entrance hall of the convent the sisters were renamed by Bishop monsignor Waffelaert. They are called “Sisters of Mary,” as still today.