Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
Information
Religious
Women
Active
Teaching, Other
Get in Touch!
Mother Jeanette Marie Estrada, HMSS, (216)-526-6435
Location(s)
Formation House in Cleveland, Ohio. Also located in Gainesville, FL; Baton Rouge, LA; San Antonio, TX; San Diego, CA; 13 countries around the world.
Patron Saints/Famous Saints of the Community
Our Lady of Mercy, St. Joseph, St. Peter Nolasco, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Michael the Archangel, Pope St. Pius X, Venerable Maria del Refugio.
Charism/Apostolate
To evangelize with Mary in the light of the Eucharist! By the grace of God, we have been entrusted with loving Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, with making reparation for the sins committed against such a sublime sacrament and with leading others to experience the love of Jesus for them.
History
In 1910, the Venerable Maria del Refugio Aguilar founded an Institute in Mexico City out of love for Jesus in his Eucharistic Mystery, that was centered on loving Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and making reparation for the many offenses He receives in this sacrament. At the same time, Maria del Refugio wanted to foster a quality Catholic education which would foster the blossoming not only of academic knowledge, but a blooming of virtues and the strengthening of character. In June 11, 1925, the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament were aggregated to the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy. Our Mother Foundress Maria del Refugio wanted to put our Institute under the patronage of Our Lady of Mercy and share therefore in all the graces and indulgences given to the Order. We are a Religious Institute of Pontifical Right, meaning that we are directly under the authority of the Holy See. This decree of Pontifical Right is given through the Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes. Constitutions are submitted directly to the Holy See for approval, and other matters of law such as perpetual vows or promises, and dispensations, must be submitted to the Holy See for approval.
Prayer Life
Our life revolves around the Eucharist. It is there, in silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament that we discover the actual captivities that enslave us and our brothers and sisters. It is of utmost importance that we place ourselves, like Saint John the Evangelist, on Jesus’ heart to experience the longings of his heart and make them ours. Every day, when we go to the encounter of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, we surrender to Him everything we are and do, and we ask Him to transform us into Himself. Only when we allow our Lord to draw us into communion with his heart’s deepest desires, can we go to our apostolates and encounter our brothers and sisters. In the evening, we come back to prayer, carrying with us the unredeemed world and present it to Jesus asking him to hasten the day when He will be all in all.
Traditions
Some of our traditions include: honoring Our Lady in the month of May by offering her flowers, fragrances, and other things during the rosary. As part of our Mexican heritage, we celebrate Las Posadas before Christmas. Every year, we also have all night Eucharistic Adoration before Pentecost.