• Introduction
• New Membership

As an Australian province, we are "a circle of friends", 123 women united as one province, yet spread across this land and beyond. Drawn by a sense of God's call in our lives, and attracted by the ground-breaking insights of our founder, Mary Ward, we vow lives of service within the Catholic Church. Our spirituality is based on a sense of God at work in our daily lives, and beyond the Catholic church, this sustains us in our own journeys, and animates our ministries. We are linked through local communities, with common priorities, which unite us across a variety of particular jobs, and a leadership structure that facilitates "a union of hearts and minds".

In the past we were mainly known for our schools. In more recent years, while continuing our commitment to school education, our women have found their particular gifts call them into a variety of ministries, some in countries overseas. In this period of change, the vision of Mary Ward, especially her commitment to the education and spirituality of women, has guided our decisions.

We are an integral part of IBVM world-wide. At our last International Congregation, three priorities were established:

• Inspired by Mary Ward's Vision we will claim more passionately and live more radically our Ignatian Spirituality and share it more widely with those among whom we live and work.

• We commit our energies and resources to promoting the dignity and liberation of all, particularly of women and children; to challenging unjust systems and structures; to standing with those on the edges of society; to showing reverent care for the earth and all creation.

• We commit ourselves to living as a multi-cultural international Institute, and challenge ourselves to act as one Body; with one Mission and one Purse. These priorities can be worked for every ministry and social context, respecting the diversity of places such as India, Kenya, Australia, Mauritius, Peru, North America, Spain, England and Ireland.