Four hundred years ago this month, Pope Paul V approved the formation of a new religious order, the Company of Mary, founded by a middle aged French widow concerned about women's education during France's religious wars of the 17th century.
Since its establishment on April 7, 1607, the Company of Mary has sent its religious sisters to more than 25 countries in its mission to develop "person-centered education" in a diverse world through a diverse array of ministries.
Emulating their foundress, St. Jeanne de Lestonnac, who was committed to helping young people and spreading the virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the 2,000 worldwide members of the Company of Mary work for systemic change among the most vulnerable in society.
In the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Sisters of the Company of Mary have served since 1936. Local Company of Mary sisters among the 45 members in the U.S. Province minister in a range of programs that seek to impart dignity to the whole person, whether that person is a preschooler, a schoolchild, a foster child, a juvenile hall detainee, a college student or an adult.
One of the more unique programs facilitated by Company of Mary Sister Claudia Romero, who is the Catholic chaplain at Barry Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar, is the Baby and Me Program for incarcerated teen parents. The Saturday program allows imprisoned girl and boy adolescents to attend parenting classes followed by scheduled visits with their babies and young children up to the age of three years.
Sister Romero, with the help of the probation staff and teachers from the community organization, "Friends of Family," was able to resume the program after a months-long hiatus. "For many, it is the first time since their children were born that they have held them in their arms," said Sister Romero.
According to Company of Mary Sister Maria Elena Minjarez, director of St. Joseph Residence for women near USC, the Congregation founded as a teaching order running huge European boarding schools for young girls has branched out to include staffing parochial schools, operating a retirement home/retreat center and providing housing for college students.
"We came from strictly [being an] education [order] to moving to other platforms where we could reach the people," said Sister Minjarez. St. Joseph Residence, originally established by Company of Mary sisters in the 1950s as a residence for working women, changed over the years to serve primarily as temporary housing for female college students.
The residence of students and boarders from Africa, China, India, Iran, Iraq, Korea, Mexico, the Philippines, Russia and the U.S. is so popular, Sister Minjarez receives several word-of-mouth referrals for every vacancy in the two buildings totaling 56 rooms.
"I've been living here 2 1/2 years. It's a really good community. We share our life together. It's safe. It's warm. It's family," said Yin Wang, a 26-year-old Chinese graduate student in USC's public administration doctoral program.
Adjacent to St. Joseph Residence, Company of Mary's Divine Providence Preschool and Kindergarten has been popular since it opened a half-century ago.
"We find parents appreciate us because they come looking for us," explained Sister Minjarez. "Many of them know they have the possibility of going to a practically free preschool in areas where they live. But, they say they prefer to bring them here because we are not just a day care. We are a school. We teach the youngsters the 3Rs. Our kindergartners leave our school reading."
"We are always getting calls to see if we have room. That's why we never have to advertise," added Company of Mary Sister Amparo Herrera, kindergarten teacher. Other local schools staffed by the sisters include a Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac Preschool and Kindergarten on Venice Boulevard in Los Angeles, and elementary schools named after the congregation's foundress in Tustin and Temecula. Company of Mary sisters also minister at Saint Anne School in Santa Ana.
The retreat center built by the congregation in Temecula 12 years ago has drawn increasing numbers of community residents who crowd the sisters' chapel for Sunday worship. Lay auxiliary members assist the sisters in their various ministries, which this year includes "Solidarity 400," a project in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Company of Mary establishing an educational platform in the impoverished neighborhood of Selembao, located in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa.
At a recent fundraiser at Divine Providence Preschool and Kindergarten for the Company of Mary African schools' project, school families donated nearly $2,000. According to Sister Minjarez, school parents enjoy participating in such projects as well as all the religious celebrations held at the school.
"We feel people are seeking for spiritual life and meaning to many things in their own personal life, so we find [our work] still very relevant," said Sister Minjarez.
For further information on the many ministries of the Company of Mary, log on to the congregation's website: www.companyofmary.us . |