Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Encyclopedia
The Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary are a Roman Catholic religious congregation. They were founded at Marijampolė
, Lithuania
, by the Most Rev. Archbishop George Matulaitis, MIC on October 15, 1918.
The sisters observe the evangelical counsels and live in their religious community. In the USA, Canada and Lithuania they serve in diversified ministries: education, youth ministry, health care with the aged, social, pastoral and parish work, communications and hospitality.
and missions in 16 other locations throughout the country. Their Founder, now Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis
, had designated its mission to be service to the poor and needy and it took on charitable, educational, health care and various other religious ministries seeking out the less fortunate. When Lithuania was occupied by the communists in 1940, the Congregation was officially disbanded as the country fell under Soviet
rule. The sisters went underground, living their religious life in secret and doing apostolic work to strengthen the faith of a people suffering constant religious persecution. In 1990 when Lithuania won its struggle for independence and the Church was again able to function freely, the Congregation was re-established and its mission renewed and expanded with the help of the Community in the USA.
The American mission, founded in 1936 with its center in Putnam
, CT
had to function independently until 1990. Its various missions in the USA and Canada served Lithuanian immigrants and local residents. Youth ministry, parish work, health care, publishing religious books and magazines and retreat work were undertaken by this relatively small community. In 1980 a new provincial house and spiritual renewal center was built in Putnam and is now functioning along with parish missions and youth ministry in Lemont
, IL and Toronto
, Canada. A large modern Nursing Home was built nearby our provincial house and named after their Founder, Blessed George Matulaitis who was gifted with special compassion for the sick and disabled. The youth ministry is continued also in their summer Camp Neringa
in Vermont. The Sisters celebrated the 70th anniversary of services in USA in 2006 and will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Camp Neringa in 2009.
Marijampole
Marijampolė is an industrial city and the capital of the Marijampolė County in the south of Lithuania, bordering Poland and Russian Kaliningrad oblast, and Lake Vištytis. The population of Marijampolė is 48,700...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, by the Most Rev. Archbishop George Matulaitis, MIC on October 15, 1918.
The sisters observe the evangelical counsels and live in their religious community. In the USA, Canada and Lithuania they serve in diversified ministries: education, youth ministry, health care with the aged, social, pastoral and parish work, communications and hospitality.
Training
Along with their initial spiritual training, the postulants pursue studies in preparation for their future work in the apostolate. The time of novitiate is two years after which they make their first profession of temporary vows. Perpetual vows are taken usually after five years of temporary profession.Habit
Originally, the sisters wore a full-length, tailored black dress, Roman collar and a simple black veil. At present plain navy blue outfits and short veil are worn.History
Between 1918 and 1940 the Congregation in Lithuania numbered 150 sisters with its motherhouse in MarijampolėMarijampole
Marijampolė is an industrial city and the capital of the Marijampolė County in the south of Lithuania, bordering Poland and Russian Kaliningrad oblast, and Lake Vištytis. The population of Marijampolė is 48,700...
and missions in 16 other locations throughout the country. Their Founder, now Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis
Jurgis Matulaitis-Matulevicius
Jurgis [George] Matulaitis was a Roman Catholic Bishop of Vilnius from 1918 to 1925 and founder of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On 28 June 1987, Pope John Paul II beatified him as the Blessed Jurgis Matulaitis-Matulewicz.-Biography:Matulaitis was the son of...
, had designated its mission to be service to the poor and needy and it took on charitable, educational, health care and various other religious ministries seeking out the less fortunate. When Lithuania was occupied by the communists in 1940, the Congregation was officially disbanded as the country fell under Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
rule. The sisters went underground, living their religious life in secret and doing apostolic work to strengthen the faith of a people suffering constant religious persecution. In 1990 when Lithuania won its struggle for independence and the Church was again able to function freely, the Congregation was re-established and its mission renewed and expanded with the help of the Community in the USA.
The American mission, founded in 1936 with its center in Putnam
Putnam, Connecticut
Putnam is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 9,002 as of the 2000 census. It is home to WINY, an AM radio station.-History:...
, CT
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
had to function independently until 1990. Its various missions in the USA and Canada served Lithuanian immigrants and local residents. Youth ministry, parish work, health care, publishing religious books and magazines and retreat work were undertaken by this relatively small community. In 1980 a new provincial house and spiritual renewal center was built in Putnam and is now functioning along with parish missions and youth ministry in Lemont
Lemont, Illinois
Lemont is a village located in Cook, DuPage, and Will Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, and is roughly southwest of Chicago. The population was 16,625 at the 2007 Special Census.-History:...
, IL and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada. A large modern Nursing Home was built nearby our provincial house and named after their Founder, Blessed George Matulaitis who was gifted with special compassion for the sick and disabled. The youth ministry is continued also in their summer Camp Neringa
Camp Neringa
Neringa is an American 501 summer camp in Vermont. It was founded by the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1969. The name is derived from Neringa, a municipality on the Baltic coast of Lithuania....
in Vermont. The Sisters celebrated the 70th anniversary of services in USA in 2006 and will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Camp Neringa in 2009.
Sponsored Ministries
- Matulaitis Nursing Home (Putnam, CT)
- Neringa Summer Camp
- http://www.immaculateconceptionsite.org/ Immaculate Conception Spiritual Renewal Center