History of the Immaculata IHM Sisters in South America
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For over eight decades the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary have served the Church in Latin America. In 1922, the IHMs became the first North American women's congregation to go to South America. Four sisters arrived in Lima, Peru, in response to an urgent request by the Archbishop of Lima to start a Catholic English-speaking school in Peru to counteract the growing influence of non-Catholic educational institutions that were teaching English. This long history of service in South America began with the foundation of Colegio Villa Maria Miraflores the following year with more than 100 boys and girls from well-to-do families.

Five years later, in 1928, in response to a similar need request from a pastor in the port city of Callao, the IHMs opened Colegio San Antonio, a bilingual school for the economically deprived in his parish. An important part of the curriculum in these IHM schools was the participation of the students in catechesis to others and in activities that would bring them into contact with people of lesser means and of different socio-economic levels thus creating Catholic social consciousness.

The success of the educational apostolate in Peru along with the same concern for preserving the Faith prompted the Archbishop of Santiago, Chile, to invite the Congregation in 1940 to open the first English speaking Catholic school, Colegio Villa Maria, in Santiago.

Throughout the years the Congregation has dedicated its resources to the people of Latin America who need education --spiritual, moral, intellectual and social-- regardless of economic status. Our schools with means have helped to make a similar education possible in our other schools. Through the work of the Sisters and their lay colleagues, the poor are provided with the tools needed, spiritually and academically, to free themselves from the bonds of poverty. Our legacy to all our students is a "firm faith, academic excellence, and a solid resolve to discipleship."

IHM Sisters presently staff the following missions in Peru and Chile

1923
Colegio Villa Maria, Miraflores, Lima, Peru – a private academy with a curriculum that emphasizes Catholic Formation in a bilingual (English) setting; today it serves approximately 700 girls from Kindergarten to Fourth Grade www.vmm.edu.pe

1928
Colegio San Antonio de Mujeres, Callao, Peru – established as a parochial school for poor children; today it is an IHM school for nearly 740 girls from Kindergarten through High School

1940
Colegio Villa Maria, Santiago, Chile – a private academy for girls – Kindergarten through Secondary with approximately 1600 students www.villamaria.cl . See www.ihm.cl for Chilean vocation web site.

1944
Escuela Inmaculado Corazon , Miraflores, Lima, Peru – a private academy for nearly 750 boys from Kindergarten to Fourth Grade; a preparatory school for the Marianist Brothers' Colegio Santa Maria www.eic.edu.pe

1963
Escuela Vespertina Villa Maria, Miraflores, Lima, Peru – adult basic education for about 50 working women on the same site as Colegio Villa Maria, Miraflores

1965
Colegio Villa Maria, La Planicie, Lima, Peru – a continuation of the intermediate and secondary divisions of Colegio Villa Maria with approximately 1000 students www.vmaria.edu.pe

1973
Escuela Gratuita Mixta Villa Maria, La Planicie, Lima, Peru – basic education (K to 6) for about 200 poor children from nearby districts on the same site as Colegio Villa Maria La Planicie

1988
Fe y Alegria #35, Barranca, Huacho, Peru – school which is part of a Jesuit sponsored educational movement to serve the very poor in developing areas; presently with nearly 1300 students from Kindergarten through High School

1988
Fe y Alegria #37, Montenegro, Lima, Peru – another school in this educational project; presently with Kindergarten through High School and a division of special education; approximately 1600 students

1991
Casa de Formacion, La Planicie, Lima, Peru – program to form young women from South America as IHMs.

1993
Escuela Nuestra Senora del Carmen, Curacavi, Chile –school (K to 8) for the poor in a rural area; approximately 300 students.

1999
Instituto De Educacion Superior, San Antonio, Callao, Peru - post-secondary Executive Secretary Program on the same site as Colegio San Antonio. It serves only young women graduates on schloarship from our two Fe y Alegria schools -- approximately 90 students.

Additional ministries of IHM Sisters:

• CSC Programs in each of our schools
• Catechetical programs
• Escuela de Padres
• Summer missons and catechetical programs in more distant areas
• Outreach projects

Other missions where IHM Sisters have served

1956-1999
Nuestra Senora del Carmen, San Antonio, Lima, Peru – parish elementary school for Grades K to 6. Preparatory school for the Carmelite Fathers' Secondary School

1961-1985
Escuela San Francisco de Las Condes, Santiago, Chile – Kindergarten to Grade 8 school for the very poor sponsored by the Holy Cross Fathers

1962-1970
Noviciado Inmaculado Corazon de Maria, Las Condes, Santiago, Chile – Novitiate to prepare young women from South America for religious life in the IHM Congregation

1965-1970
Instituto Superior de Estudios Generales, Villa Maria, Lima, Peru – Junior College for women at the same site as Villa Maria La Planicie

1968-1971
Colegio Santa Cruz – San Martin de Porres, Callao, Peru –- grade school for poor boys in collaboration with the Marianist Brothers

1968-1974
Colegio San Mateo, Osorno, Chile – Pre K to 6th Grade of the Jesuit school for boys in the south of Chile

1973-1988
Parroquia San Ildefonso, Barranca, Huacho, Peru – evangelization and education of the very poor through the faculties of the public schools, through catechesis and pastoral ministry in the area

1985-1999
Instituto Superior Technologico San Antonio, Callao, Peru - post-secondary Execuive Secretary Program on the same site as Colegio San Antonio.

1986-2002
Capilla Nuestra Senora del Rosario, Valle Hermoso, La Ligua, Chile – Catechesis for adults and children, Religion in public schools, Evangelization in the area

Read about the Fe y Alegria schools in Peru: www.geocities.com/athens/delphi/1833

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