Sisters of Loreto /

The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, more commonly known as the Loreto Sisters, is a women's Catholic religious order founded by an Englishwoman, Mary Ward, in 1609. In North America, the original spelling of "Loretto" is used. Mary Ward was declared "venerable" (the first of three steps towards being declared a saint) by the authority of Pope Benedict XVI on 19 December 2009. After being suppressed for a short period in 1639, the Institute was slowly revived, receiving complete canonical approval in 1877. Today it is engaged in a wide variety of ministries: Catholic schools, literacy programmes, spiritual direction, counselling, managing shelters for homeless women as well as several aspects of the movement for greater justice and peace in the world. They are active in every continent. Today, the Loreto sisters have set up 150 schools worldwide, educating over 70,000 pupils. Mary Ward was inspired by the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola (now often referred to as "Ignatian spirituality"). She had a vision for a different, new and modern mode of religious life for women. She envisioned women living a life in companionship and discernment, inspired by the Gospel