Way of Life
Religious devotion
A vocation to religious life is an intimate love relationship between God and the human person.
Through the religious vows, which are sustained by life in community, we give a unique expression to our calling—one that frees us for mission.
Grasped by God’s love, we long to belong to Him with a watchful and undivided heart, so that we may fully flourish in our identity as woman, virgin, and mother.
Sobriety of life means a modest lifestyle, both individually and collectively.
“The sisters have a simple table and modest clothing.” Canon Dufort
It is our mission to fight against every form of poverty that prevents people from becoming truly human.
A life of obedience requires an attitude of faith and availability in listening to God’s Word in Scripture, in open dialogue with those in authority, with fellow sisters, and with the signs of the times.
The goal of religious life is: “So that in all things God may be glorified.” – 1 Peter 4:11
Community life
‘The sisters will live together in perfect unity of mind and heart.’ Canon Dufort
Today, we gather together and called into community today to joyfully witness Jesus’ resurrection.
The Risen Lord is and remains the centre of the congregation and of every community.
He will protect our life together from self-sufficiency that seeks to rely solely on its own strength and build on itself.
Our religious community desires to be a “sign” in today’s world of what the Church strives to be: a core of hope for this world.
Prayer life
Jesus urges us to pray together: ‘Where two or three are together in My name, there I am in their midst.’ Mt 18, 20.
In response to His Word, we gladly come together in prayer, for in doing so, we bear witness to the presence of the Living Lord in His Church.
Throughout the day, our common prayer moments include the Eucharist, adoration, the Liturgy of the Hours, the Angelus, and the daily Rosary.
In addition, we also cultivate personal prayer through meditation, Lectio Divina, spiritual reading, and sacramental confession.
Apostolate
‘The harvest is great.’ Mt. 9, 3 and it is on this word that, throughout the centuries many have gone out in Jesus’ name to share in the lives of others and as Christians proclaim the Good News.
Out of this same compassion, especially with a preference for the poor, our congregation was founded.
Even today, each of us is called and sent to share in this worldwide apostolic and missionary mission of the congregation.
Thus, each sister has the mission, after the inspiration of its founder Canon Pierre Jacques Dufort, to extend the merciful love of God to the least fortunate and bear witness to God’s love wherever they live and work.
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Vocations pastoral and formation
If you feel called by God to a life as a Sister of Mary, you can contact a sister of the congregation where you live. As an aspirant, you can begin a period of initial formation.
When you then freely and consciously decide to respond to God’s call and request admission into the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary of Ingelmunster, you take the first step on the long journey the Lord desires to walk with you.
The 2 years postulancy in Congo (in Vietnam 1 year aspirant and 1 year postulant) is a period of discernment to discern with a responsible sister the genuineness of your vocation and to discover whether this form of community life and apostolate meets your personal vocation.
The 1st year novitiate serve to grow further in the religious life of the
congregation, embracing its spirituality and charism. It also offers formation in a broader understanding of all aspects of the Christian life to follow Christ more closely.
The 2th year novitiate is an internship year in one of the communities.
Temporary profession marks a significant step: the beginning of a period where formation deepens through daily living and further religious training, preparing for profession for life.
By making profession for life, you are committed to the Congregation for life and are definitively dedicated to God. To this end, you take the vows of purity, poverty and obedience – living in public, forever and without reservation.
Finally, ongoing formation is essential to remain spiritually inspired and open in the life of the world as a religious.
Above all, it remains God’s own work in us and through us
Our aim is the full development of the whole person, supporting people toward both physical and mental well-being.
In communion with the bishops of the local churches where our communities are present, we contribute to the growth of God’s Kingdom, by building a more just and humane world.
Whatever we do, regardless of our age, responsibility, talents or health, in Jesus every sister and the whole congregation can participate in the evangelisation of the world.