Serving with Cheerfulness AND Humility that comes from the Heart

A Women Religious Institute engaged in educational, medical, pastoral, and social Activities.

Committed to Extending God’s Love Through Charity

The Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ was founded in 1937 by Archbishop Charles Heerey C.S.Sp. in Nigeria. Through our religious consecration and profession, we conduct diverse apostolic activities to:

Uplift the Status of Women

Promote Christian Education in Schools

Provide Healthcare for the Sick

Engage in Social and Pastoral Activities

Show Compassion Through Charity Works

Our Mission

We seek to promote Gospel values through our apostolates or advocacies that are nourished by prayer and daily mass and braced by common life and filial devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Our History, Our Story

The North American Mission of the Sisters of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ, began with the 1996 encounter of Mrs. Michelle (Shelly) Abrameit of Houston and Sr. Mary Thomas Anyanwu, IHM, who was then on Sabbatical leave with her family in Houston, Texas.

The zeal, dedication to the parish ministry, and witness of the life of Sr. Mary Thomas inspired Shelly to recommend our Institute to US Bishops. Hence in 1998, Bishop Thomas Doran of the Catholic Diocese of Rockford, Illinois, invited our Institute to the United States of America.

The official opening of our first mission in the United States of America was in the Diocese of Rockford, Illinois on November 24, 1998. Shelly and her family were happily present at that celebration officiated by Bishop Thomas Doran. A year later, a second convent was opened in Freeport on December 24, 1999. The sisters were actively involved in the various pastoral mission of the diocese.

Serving From the Heart

IHM Sisters in North America (USA and Canada) serve with cheerfulness and humility wherever we go and in whatever we do. This is why we are affectionately called “The Smiling Nuns” or “The Blue Nuns.”

Our Apostolates

Our main apostolate or advocacy is prayer. We pray the Liturgy of Hours – Lauds, Vespers, and Compline as well as the Eucharistic Adoration, Daily Family Rosary, and other common prayers. Our institute also participates in the celebration of the Sacraments by the Church. In addition from this. We promote other advocacies, including:

Community Health Development

Education Scholarship

Environmental Sustainability

Vocation and Formation

Care for Vulnerable Populations/the Poor and other Social Services

Pastoral Care

Infrastructure and Equipment Upgrade

Other Areas of Mission

Illinois

Canada

Nigeria

Sierra Leone

Tanzania

Ghana

Kenya

New York

Minneapolis

England

Scotland

Ireland

Italy

Germany

Milwaukee

Arizona

Iowa

Chad

Benin

Cameroon

Compassion in Action

Through the financial and spiritual support of our donors and sponsors, we are able to show compassion to the poor, homeless, sick, or in need of education. Their assistance also enables us to provide quality care to our retired sisters who have dedicated their lives to fulfill their God-given purpose.

Areas of Mission

Illinois - Freeport (Regional Headquaters)

Canada

Nigeria

Sierra Leone

Tanzania

Ghana

Kenya

New York- Syracuse

Minnesota-Minneapolis

England

Scotland

Ireland

Italy

Germany

Winsconsin- Kenosha

Iowa- Adair

Illinois- Chicago

Illinois- Rockford

Chad

Benin Republic

Cameroon

Compassion in Action

Get Involved Today

Join our cause by sending donations or by learning more about what our institute does. Our website is filled with informative resources that can help you further understand our advocacy.

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