Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary facts for kids
| Established | 1848 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Fr. Joaquim Masmitjà i de Puig |
| Founded at | Olot, Catalonia, Spain, Colwich, Kansas |
| Type | Centralized Religious Institute of Consecrated Life of Pontifical Right (for Women) |
| Purpose | Educational work |
| Headquarters | General motherhouse Colwich, Kansas |
|
Mother General
|
Mother Mary Magdalen IHM |
|
Post nominal initials
|
IHM |
| Affiliations | Roman Catholic |
| Website | https://www.sistersihmofwichita.org |
|
Formerly called
|
Daughters of the Most Holy and Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary |
The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) are a group of Catholic religious women. They were first called the Daughters of the Most Holy and Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This group was started in 1848 in Olot, Spain, by Father Joaquim Masmitjà i de Puig. His goal was to help society by educating young women.
Later, in 1871, a branch of the Sisters was started in Los Angeles, California, United States. This American group officially became its own separate organization in 1924.
Contents
How the Sisters Began
Joaquim Masmitjà was born in Olot, Spain, on December 29, 1808. He was the fourth child in his family. He studied to become a priest and was ordained on February 22, 1834.
Father Masmitjà was very dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was concerned that young girls in his hometown were not getting a good education. He believed that by educating them in prayer and Christian teachings, society could become better. So, on July 1, 1848, he founded the Institute of the Daughters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
During a difficult time in Spain, three sisters, Carme, Rosa, and Magdalena Fradera, showed great courage. They were recognized for their strong faith. They are among many people honored by the Catholic Church for their dedication.
The Sisters in the United States
California Beginnings
In 1869, a friend of Father Masmitjà, Bishop Thaddeus Amat y Brusi from California, visited Spain. He asked if some Sisters could come to California. Two years later, in 1871, Mother Raimunda led nine other Sisters to start a new mission there.
The Sisters opened their first houses in Gilroy and San Juan. Soon, they were teaching in many schools across California. Young women were inspired by their way of life and joined the community. The Sisters opened more houses in San Luis Obispo (1876), San Bernardino (1880), and Los Angeles (1886).
On January 11, 1886, the IHM Sisters began teaching at the Cathedral School in Los Angeles. It started as an elementary school. Later, under Sister Gabriel, a high school for girls was added. The IHMs taught at this school until June 1969. They also ran orphanages, caring for children who needed homes.
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Mother Raimunda led the California Sisters until she passed away in 1900. By 1906, the Sisters built their own main convent, called the Motherhouse. In 1916, Immaculate Heart College was established in Los Angeles.
Mother Genevieve Parker played a key role in making the California IHMs separate from the Spanish community. With help from Bishop John Joseph Cantwell, this separation was completed in 1924. Mother Genevieve was then chosen as the first mother-general of the new American group.
Arizona Expansion
In 1911, five Sisters from Spain and two from California went to start a school in Mazatlán, Mexico. Six years later, in 1917, they had to leave Mexico because of the Mexican Revolution.
On their way back to California, they stopped in Tucson, Arizona. Bishop Henry Granjon invited them to stay, and they accepted. From there, they began building schools and welcoming new members. The Sisters taught in schools and also helped spread their faith in small mining towns around Tucson.
As the group grew, the Sisters in Arizona became their own Province of Saint Joseph in 1946. Today, the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Tucson also support the Korean Catholic community. They allow them to use space at St. Ann's Convent for church services and faith learning. The IHM Sisters are still active in Arizona and Florida. In 2010, the Sisters from Miami started a new mission in La Concordia, Nicaragua.
Immaculate Heart Community Changes
By the 1960s, there were about 600 Sisters working in many schools and hospitals. In the late 1960s, the Sisters began to update their rules. This was part of a larger movement in the Catholic Church after Vatican II. They wanted to have a more democratic way of governing themselves. They also started wearing regular clothes instead of their traditional religious habits.
These changes led to disagreements with the Archbishop of Los Angeles. He wanted the Sisters to continue wearing habits and follow older rules if they taught in archdiocese schools. The Sisters, led by their superior Anita Caspary, felt they should decide these matters themselves.
Because of these differences, in 1970, about 300 IHM Sisters, including Anita Caspary, decided to form a new group. This group is called the Immaculate Heart Community. It welcomes both men and women. The 68 Sisters who chose to stay kept the name Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. As of 2015, there are five Sisters remaining in this original group.
The Immaculate Heart Community now has its main office in Los Angeles. They also run a Center for Spiritual Renewal in Montecito, California. As of 2011, the Immaculate Heart Community had 160 members.
Wichita Sisters
Some Sisters who wanted to focus on their original way of life moved to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wichita in Kansas. These IHM Sisters of Wichita mainly work in education, youth ministry, and teaching about faith.
Property Discussions
The Convent of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was located in the Los Feliz district of Los Angeles. This beautiful building was designed in 1927.
In 2015, there was a lot of media attention when singer Katy Perry tried to buy the property. There was a disagreement about who owned the property: two of the remaining Sisters or the Archdiocese.
On April 13, 2016, a judge decided that the property belonged to the Los Angeles Archdiocese. The Sisters' plan to sell it to someone else was not allowed. In November 2017, a jury decided that Katy Perry and the archdiocese should be paid for their legal costs.
Schools and Colleges
The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have been involved in many educational institutions.
California Schools
- Immaculate Heart High School−Los Angeles, started in 1906.
- Immaculate Heart College, from 1916 to 1981.
- Immaculate Heart Middle School, started in 1975.
- St Bernardines School High School, in San Bernardino, California, started in 1938.
- Alverno High School, started in 1960.
Arizona Schools
- Immaculate Heart High School−Arizona, started in 1930.
Pennsylvania Schools
Notable Sisters
- Sister Corita Kent – a famous artist and activist for change.
- Sister Ruth Pfau – She moved from Germany to Pakistan and spent over 50 years helping people with leprosy. She was honored as a national hero in Pakistan.
See also
In Spanish: Misioneras del Corazón de María para niños
- Spirit of Vatican II
- Post Vatican II history of the Catholic Church
- Congregations of the Heart of Mary
