A new page on our website explores the missionary dimension of our spirituality — one of the most distinctive features of who we are as a congregation. Written by Sr Hilmtrud Wendorff CJ, the article traces the roots of our missionary calling back to our foundress, Mary Ward, who in 17th-century England courageously envisioned a form of religious life that was active, flexible, and fully engaged with the world.
"For more than three centuries, the Congregatio Jesu, under various names, was primarily known as a school order, in accordance with its actual activity. And education, especially the education of girls, remains one of the most important tasks to which we as a congregation are committed.
However, a look at our history reveals the struggle for our missionary identity. Because the special nature of this search is so crucial and ultimately the only ‘fixed’ element, the first search – that of Mary Ward, the foundress – remains the guiding principle."
Sr Hilmtrud Wendorff CJ
Middle-European Province
From Mary Ward’s earliest spiritual struggles to the global presence of today’s CJ — with around 1,800 sisters in more than 40 countries — the text invites readers to reflect on what missionary life looks like across the centuries and what it means for us today.
