Our
Foundational Call:
"Our Lord Jesus Christ,
suffering in the persons of a multitude
of sick and infirm of every kind,
seeks relief at your hands."
—Bishop Claude Dubuis, 1866
We, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate
Word, are women religious serving within the Church as
signs of God's presence in our world.
Entrusted as we are with the mission of
embodying the love of the Incarnate Word, we bear in
mind that, whatever the form of our ministry, it is by
means of our own lives that we witness most convincingly
to the presence of Jesus Christ.We share our gifts in
ministries of prayer, healing and education.
Based in Houston, Texas, we directly serve
those in need in El Salvador, Guatemala, Ireland, Kenya
and the United States.
The Congregational Leader is assisted by four Council Members. Their responsibility is to help the Congregation live out its mission.
Sr.
Lillian Anne Healy
Congregational Leader
Sr. Deenan Hubbard
Assistant Congregational Leader and General Councilor
Sr. Celeste Trahan
General Councilor
Sr. Francesca Kearns
General Councilor
Sr. Kathleen Howard
General Councilor
Sr. Rose Scanlan
General Secretary
Sr. Elizabeth Ann Hayes
General Treasurer
Villa de Matel
Villa de Matel is the Congregation’s
Motherhouse. Located in Houston, Texas, it serves as
our home, place of worship and retreat, and a central gathering
place.
Formation in our Congregation is a lifetime
process. It is guided by the belief that when God calls
a woman to dedicate herself to apostolic consecrated
life, she is being inspired to develop an intimate relationship
with Jesus, the Incarnate Word.
Initial Formation:
Affiliate - This is the first step.
It is a time for more dialogue and discernment; a time
for becoming familiar with our story and mission.
Pre-novice - During this time you
enter into a more formal relationship with the Congregation.
You will live and participate in community for at least
one year.
Novice - (2 years) This is a time
in which you begin to live as a Sister of Charity of
the Incarnate Word. It is a time to focus on solitude,
quiet, prayer and the vows; learning more about the history
of Consecrated Life; becoming familiar with the lives
of the Founders; and studying the spirit, charism and
mission of the Congregation. During a portion of this
time, you will participate in ministry.
Annual Profession - (5 years) Upon
completion of the Novitiate, you profess vows of chastity,
poverty and obedience. These vows are renewed on an annual
basis for at least 5 years. During this stage of initial
formation you continue to integrate prayer, congregational
life and ministry as a CCVI.
Perpetual Profession - This is the
time you proclaim your commitment and vow chastity,
poverty and obedience to live as a Sister of Charity
of the Incarnate Word for the rest of your life.
CCVI: The
acronym for the Latin phrase, "Congregatio Caritatis
Verbi Incarnati," which means "Congregation
of Charity of the Incarnate Word." It refers to
the Sisters who comprise the Congregation of the Sisters
of Charity of the Incarnate Word.
Affiliate: The
first stage of the process of becoming a Sister.
Annual Vows: The
last stage of initial formation during which a Sister
professes the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience
on an annual basis.
Apostolate: The
ministry or work of a Sister.
Associates: Catholic
lay women and men who, attracted by the charism and mission
of the Congregation, meet regularly to share faith, friendship
and commitment to their baptismal call to holiness.
Assembly: A
gathering of the Sisters to share and reflect around
congregational issues.
Chapter: The
Chapter members elect the General Leadership and set
the direction of the Congregation for the next four years.
Charism: It
is the spirit of presence, a gift that is sensed in a
group in ministry in the church.
Cloistered: Religious
women who engage in ministry of prayer and solitude.
They do not perform a public, apostolic ministry.
Congregational
Leader : The Congregation's leader, formally known as General Superior.
Convent: The
official residences of the Sisters.
General Council: Comprised
of four Sisters elected to 4-year terms as advisors to
the Congregational Leader.
Incarnate
Word: God becoming human in Jesus Christ.
Initial Formation: The
stages of the process of becoming a Sister.
IUSG (International
Union of Superiors General): An international
organization comprised of General Superiors of congregations
of women religious throughout the world.
LCWR (Leadership
Conference of Women Religious): A national organization
of General Superiors and Council members of congregations
of women religious in the United States.
Ministry: The
works or service a Congregation performs in the Church.
Through these works the Congregation carries out the
mission.
Mission: It
is making Jesus known and loved in the world.
Novice: Formal
stage of entering and preparing to live as a Sister.
Nuns: Religious
women who take solemn vows and are usually cloistered.
Pre-novice: The
second stage of the process of becoming a Sister.
Sisters: Religious
women who take simple vows and work in apostolic ministries.
All of CCVI's are Sisters.
