What is the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word?
What is the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word?
The Institute of the Incarnate Word is a Religious Institute founded by Rev. Carlos Buela in Argentina. It was started on March 25th, 1984, with a small number of priests and seminarians. The goal of the Institute is following Jesus Christ, and him crucified, through the profession of the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, taking the Blessed Virgin Mary for our protectress and guide. We consecrate ourselves to her according to the method laid down by Saint Louis de Montfort. The formation of the Institute was approved by Bishop Leon Kruk, the Bishop of San Rafael (Argentina), who was the Bishop at the time. He also entrusted the initiation and care of the diocesan seminary of San Rafael for several years.
Recognizing the Institute`s rapid expansion throughout the world and its providential growth, the Holy See, in a letter to the Superior General dated July 8th, 1995 declared that `the Institute of the Incarnate Word is a Public Association of the Faithful.` Two years later, on May 3rd, 1997, the text of the `Constitutions of the Institute of the Incarnate Word` was given approval.
Our specific goal, following the call of His Holiness John Paul II, is the evangelization of culture. We seek to inculturate the Gospel in all cultures so that they may be redeemed. In this way we seek `to sum up all things in Christ` (Eph 1:10). Since the Institute was born within the Church, it is nurtured by its bimillenary wisdom and therefore it uses the various methods utilized by the Church`s best: the saints. Its pastoral work is principally in the form of the preaching of missions according to Saint Alphonsus Liguori, as well as the Spiritual Exercises according to Saint Ignatius of Loyola. The Institute assists local Bishops in staffing seminary faculties for the formation of clergy, and for the undertaking of parishes and schools.
Currently, the Institute over 300 priests (among them, about 100 have received their Licentiate degree and 10 have received their Doctoral degree, and many more are studying to obtain either their Licentiate or Doctoral degrees), 240 seminarians, 100 minor seminarians, and more than 75 novices. The Institute has seminaries in Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Italy, and the United States. The Institute also provides priests for the formation of seminarians at seminaries in Peru, Brazil, Israel, Pakistan, Russia, the Ukraine, Egypt, Ecuador and Papua New Guinea. The Institute has been blessed with many vocations who enter our novitiates in Chile, Peru, Brazil, Italy, Tajikistan, Egypt and the United States. Some of the members of our Institute live contemplative life. There are contemplative monasteries of the I.V.E. in Argentina, Spain, Italy, Peru and Israel.
The Feminine Branch of the Institute of the Incarnate Word.
On March 19, 1988, Fr. Buela founded the `Institute of the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara,` as the feminine branch of the Institute of the Incarnate Word. The clergy and religious sisters live the same founding charism and evangelical mission. The sisters work throughout the world in just about everywhere that the Institute of the Incarnate Word carries out its work.
The feminine branch has about 700 members (more than 300 have taken private perpetual vows) and more than 75 novices who have come from various countries. The sisters also have a contemplative branch with monasteries in Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Italy, and in the United States. The sisters work in hospitals, houses for the elderly, as well as houses for orphaned and disabled children. Many sisters carry out the important task of teaching in schools and in catechetical instruction.
The Third Order.
The support for the work of the Institute is carried out by many lay people who share in the religious family in one form or another. Many of them have requested to belong to the Third Order of the I.V.E., living various lifestyles and apostolic commitments.