“I was sick and you visited me.”–Mathew 25:36.
With this gospel message, begins the life of the Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick.
The Sisters, Servants of Mary, Ministers to the Sick, are a religious congregation founded in Madrid, Spain, in 1851 by Maria Soledad Torres Acosta–who was declared a saint by Pope Paul VI in 1970. From the Holy Spirit, Mother Soledad received the charism of compassionate care for the sick, poor, and dying. Her main apostolate was meeting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of these suffering children of God by going to their homes and being by their bedsides.
As Women Religious and nurses, they worked in Spain during cholera epidemics and wars, and later in Mexico during revolutions.
Today, they have 128 convents in 20 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia as well as North, Central, and South America. They minister in six U.S. cities: Kansas City (New Orleans, New York City, Los Angeles, Oxnard and Newbury Park).
Although the majority of their work continues to be in patients’ homes, they also work in hospices, orphanages, hospitals, out-patient clinics, visiting nursing programs, dispensaries, skilled nursing facilities, and homes for chronic and convalescent patients. They make no distinction between social status, race, religion, or illness. They also serve as missionaries in Africa, South America and the Philippines.
More than 2,000 Sisters, who are contemplative in action, minister throughout the world. They have dedicated their lives to bringing love, compassion, and peace to others. They aren’t only witnesses of Christ to societies, but also see Christ in the people they serve. The Sisters’ Ministries is independent and receives no financial support from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The Sisters do not receive monetary compensation for their services.
Could Jesus be calling me to be a Servant of Mary, Minister to the Sick?
Come and See. Please contact the Servants of Mary in Oxnard:
140 North G St.
Oxnard, Ca 93030
805-486-5502
E-mail: [email protected]
“With their special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, they draw strength, courage, and fortitude from her to continue at the foot of the cross caring for the sick and dying.”