Sistsers from Korea founded this new mission in their neighbouring country.
In 2017 the Korean Province began a process of discernment regarding the possibility of establishing a mission in Myanmar. Sr Cecilia Lee and Sr Martha Park were assigned to the mission in Myanmar in March 2019, after having done exploratory travels and meeting people of different areas to learn about their felt needs in 2018.
The Provincial Superior of the Korean Province, met Cardinal Charles Bo, in charge of the diocese of Yangon (the largest city in Myanmar) in November 2019, and official approval was granted for the mission in the diocese.
Two sisters moved into a rented house in June 2020, after having spent a year and a half learning the language of the people and becoming acquainted with their culture. They started a small community with three young Myanmar women who needed accommodation in the city and financial support for their vocational training. This Yangon community was officially established as a filiation on 1 October 2020.
Plans have already been made to begin the ministry of the education of children, which is very much needed in this area.
We are an international multicultural congregation of around 1,800 sisters present in more than 40 countries around the globe. Founded in 1609 by the Venerable Mary Ward, we are a group of unenclosed apostolic religious women, rooted in the Ignatian Spirituality.
We are working in different areas and projects – not out of ourselves, but because we allow ourselves to be sent by God. We form our sisters to be mobile and available, willing to go wherever they are sent. We expect them to strive, like Mary Ward, to have that inner freedom to respond to the call to leave all and follow Christ with passion and compassion.
“Vocation” – a word that tastes of MORE, of what Saint Ignatius of Loyola called “THE MAGIS”: Longing, meaning, fullness of life, a task and the experience of being needed. It sounds like someone who is calling me personally and with whom I can give my life a unique shape.
People all over the world are inspired and enthusiastic about Mary Ward and her way of following Jesus. There are different ways to join our network and become part of the wider Mary Ward Family.
Mary Ward once said: “I listened to God’s deep dream for me and felt a longing to respond.”
In this spirit, we invite you to pray with us. We offer a variety of prayers and material for reflection.
