 CCVI
Associates are dedicated women and men who enjoy coming
together in faith and friendship, and are inspired by
the history and spirit of the Sisters of Charity of
the Incarnate Word, Houston, Texas, to spread the healing
ministry of Jesus Christ to those in need
The Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate
Word, also known as CCVI's, are
an International Congregation of religious women whose Motherhouse is
in Houston, Texas. CCVI is 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. They were founded in 1866 by Bishop Claude Marie Dubuis, the second bishop of Galveston, Texas.
Texas in 1866 was plagued with disease
and poverty. To provide health care for his needy people,
Bishop Dubuis went to his native country of France in
search of nursing sisters. Three French women volunteered
to come to Texas. The bishop brought these women to
the Monastery of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament
in Lyons, France where for a short time they were educated
in the spirituality of the Order of the Incarnate Word
and Blessed Sacrament founded by Jeanne de Matel, a
16th century mystic.
From its beginnings the Congregation has
responded to God's call to minister to the sick, the
poor and the deprived, with a sense of church which
embraces all God's people. Like Jeanne de Matel and
the Order of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament,
the Sisters strived to be living signs of the Incarnation,
"Gospels of Love."
In the early 1980s, there was a developing
trend of collaboration and affiliation between religious
congregations and lay men and women with whom they worked
and ministered. This was inspired by a growing understanding
of the message intended by the Second Vatican Council
Document "On the Apostolate of the Laity."
The US Bishops in their 1980 document "Called and
Gifted: The American Catholic Laity," stated: "The
Second Vatican Council clearly proclaimed the universal
call to holiness. Not only are lay people included in
God's call to holiness, but theirs is a unique call
requiring a unique response, which itself is a gift
of the Holy Spirit. The response of lay people
to this call promises to contribute still more to the
spiritual heritage of the Church."
In the spirit of Jeanne de Matel and Bishop
Dubuis and in response to the call of Vatican II for
collaboration in carrying out God's work in the church,
the Congregation established the CCVI Associate Program
in 1982. Associate communities were formed in many of
the locations where the Sisters worked. There are currently
Associates in four states as well as Central America
and Ireland.
In living their Christian Vocation the
Associates exercise their Apostolate through making
an annual commitment to live out the following values:
Heritage:
We are inspired by the history and spirituality of
the CCVIs; we pray for the Congregation and participate
in ministries that are aligned with theirs.
Community:
We share faith and friendship with our fellow Associates;
we spend time together, support and encourage one
another and foster unity and caring.
Witness:
We demonstrate our baptismal call to holiness by living
exemplary Christian lives and spreading the light
of Christ to others.
Service:
We spread the healing ministry of Jesus Christ by
participating in ministries of service within our
parish, community and global environment.
Spirituality:
We commit ourselves to lives of prayer, sacraments,
reflection on scripture and openness to all of the
gifts God gives us.
An exciting new development! We now have our Connections
newsletter available online. Please choose from the
issues below:
May 2007 
September 2007  October 2007  November 2007 
December 2007 
January 2008 
February/March 2008
Participation in the Associate program
is open to Christian men and women who have an authentic desire to live out their
baptismal call to holiness as committed members of the
Body of Christ, and to learning and living Incarnational
Spirituality, as exemplified in the charism and ministries
of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word.
Individuals interested in becoming Associates
participate in a process called Initial Formation. This
is a period of discernment, spiritual development and
study, during which the individual meets on a regular
basis with a Formator. The Formator is an experienced
Associate who mentors new Associates by teaching, responding
to questions and generally facilitating the process
of orientation and preparation. This time normally takes
about a year, but may vary based on individual need.
Associates in formation are welcome to attend all meetings
and social functions of the Associate community. When
the person is ready to become an Associate he/she participates
in a commitment ceremony, along with other Associates
who renew their commitment annually.
For further information about the CCVI
Sisters and Associates:
Catherine Wolfer
Director, CCVI Associates
P.O. Box 230969
Houston, Texas 77223-0969
(713) 580-6563
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Associate Coordinator for
Huehuetenango Guatemala, Central America
Hna. Bernardina Gonzalez Florian
Associate Coordinator for Guatemala
City, Central America
Hna. Ruth Tiguila Robles
Associate Coordinator for El
Salvador
Hna. Juana Margarita Flores Perez
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