This year on December 12, 2020, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we once again celebrate the Anniversary of our pioneer IHM Sisters’ arrival in Peru on December 12, 1922. With deep gratitude and loving remembrance, we keep the memory of those first sisters, as well as all of our sisters who served and continue to serve in South America.
Pictured is a copy of the original letter from Mother Mary James Sweeney, our Mother General from 1913 to 1923. In this letter she is sharing information regarding the voyage arrangements for the first sisters.
From the Anniversary Booklet, “Forty Years in Peru”, we read: “Mother M. Bernice, the Assistant Mother Superior of the Community, accompanied the sisters chosen to establish our first mission in South America,
Sister M. St. Chrysostom, Sister Joseph Marie and Sister M. Seraphine.
They arrived in Callao on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12, 1922. Archbishop Lisson met them at the port and conducted them to their temporary home at the convent of San Pedro in Lima. The Madames of the Sacred Heart greeted them with the beautiful words: ‘The Sacred Heart of Jesus Sisters welcome the Sisters, of the Immaculate Heart of Mary’.”
Below is a photo, not of the first sisters, but of a Bon Voyage for IHM Sisters leaving for Peru in 1934.
Praise, Love, Thanksgiving, Our God to Thee!
¡Alabado sea, amor, acción de gracias, nuestro Dios para ti!