Mission of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Castres

Congregation of French origin, founded in Castres, south of France the December 8, 1836 by Emilie of Villeneuve.

Emilie, was born in Toulouse, France on march 9, 1811 and died in Castres on October 2, 1854, victim of the epidemic cholera.

From an early age she lived in the castle of Hauterive, near Castres. As a young woman she felt an irresistible attraction to put her life in the service of the poorest desiring to be the sister of Charity.

However, her spiritual directors, sensing a person with a special charisma, guided to found the Congregation. With two more sisters undertakes a small welcoming educational work, with a motherly heart, youth in the French working class.

The Congregation, with joys and challenges sees the growing number of her sisters and their expansion extends outside of France. In 1848 Emilie sends first missionaries in Senegal, Gambia and Gabon

Many years later, in 1903, the sisters are forced to relocate from France to Spain and head. Then go to Latin America in 1904 and more recently (1998) are present in Asia

John Paul II recognized the heroic virtues of the Founding Emilie de Villeneuve in 1991. And in 1995, a miracle the healing of a young woman named Binta, Sierra Leone, attributed to the intercession of the Servant of God enabled his beatification in Castres on July 5, 2009.

Congregation of Pontifical Right, has as its main axis of the Centrality Spirituality in God and the poor. Mary Immaculate is also a reference inspiring woman who lived a full discipleship of Jesus.

Common life, Spirituality and Mission are three important aspects that characterize the sisters Blues, as well known.

The sisters, plus the votes of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, take a fourth vow is to devote himself fully to the cause of the people, especially the most needy. The appeal of Emilie de Villeneuve who calls us to "go there without hesitation where the voice of the poor they call us" is a must for every Sister Blue.

In 2004, a new male branch of the Congregation begins in the neighborhood of Redoubt, on the outskirts of Asunción, with three young men of different nationalities: Chazarreta Andrés (Argentina) Ramón Gómez (Paraguay), Frederick Basaldua (Mexican). The mission of the Blues Brothers, shared with the laity, consists in acting pastoral catechesis, missionary childhood, youth, celebrations and leadership training. And also a performance of social care for life with health and alternative income generation projects with women in the neighborhood.

The congregation currently has 585 members distributed in 120 communities located in 15 countries. This year of 2011 was held over two foundations: one in Haiti, one in Burkina Faso

Mission
Currently, Sisters and lay people (as) working in different area of Mission: Social, Evangelization, Education and Health

Based on the methodology that all our actions are educators, sisters seeking to capitalize on the potential of people, recognizing in each actor and as subjects of their own development. His presence is respectful approach, care and enhance the lives of people, and that society excludes them, not allowing to have a dignified and happy life.

In the social area Congregation works with children, adolescents and youth in the prevention of human trafficking, violence and sexual abuse and prostitution. Welcome these children in shelter homes and daycare and work in the slums and poor neighborhoods.

The professionalization of the young so that you can place in their vocation, find a feeling of life and gain financial independence is a priority. Also working with young people in rural areas through income generating projects providing financial assistance to the family budget.

They are present with people with disabilities and HIV (AIDS), minority groups suffering exclusion through their sexuality.

Women as mothers, educators and social workers multipliers are accompanied by Sisters Blues through meetings rescue their self-esteem, rights and responsibilities, health care, domestic violence prevention, family educational projects, etc.. Microcredit projects help in the generation of income, reconciling work and family care acquired a political conscience rights.

More than ten thousand students (as) are enrolled in formal education in our various colleges. Comprehensive education that inspires Charisma Sisters Blues have the student as the focus of their actions motivating him to develop their full potential to place itself at the service of society. The families of these students also are monitored through constant meetings and the formation of ethical and religious values​​.

In health the Sisters have a wide range. Work on prevention through alternative health, Bio-Energy. These treatments cheap and easy to access, contribute to the overall health of people, due to the personal attention, dialogue and listening. These are aspects that we consider important to the person valuing and recognizing their needs in the most deprived of basic health conditions.
They are also in clinics, hospitals, enabling a call to the basic health needs.

Pastoral communities in Ecclesial the sisters accompany children in catechesis for forming the human and Christian values​​, preparing them for the sacraments. Participate in leadership training groups or with couples, liturgy, marriage preparation, etc..

But the mission is mainly to youths from providing leisure time, meetings for reflection and sharing of life, listening to their problems and concerns, vocational guidance and personalized support.

We highlight the great work of Sisters in various Pastoral. In Brazil, Sr. Vera Lucia Altoé is coordinating National Pastoral. Sr Rosangela Maria Altoé also coordinates internationally the same Ministry. Sr. Therese Kunem that through a project implemented intercongregational the Pastoral in East Timor, the Philippines is now deploying. This ministry has been recognized by the Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, as infant mortality and poverty are very large in this country. More than 100 volunteer actors (those) are already working in different parishes of the Philippines.

Throughout the mission of the Sisters Blues, shaft Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation Spirituality permeates our actions and the desire to care for and protect our planet for everyone to have more life.

The Blues Sisters do not work alone, but always with others (as) who wish to build bridges of solidarity, justice and rights of all people, as well as our document says the last general chapter of 2008, "challenged / by the challenges of this TIME, we want to make our commitment to the mission a priority in the service of life, based on the paradigm of the relationship, which becomes humanizing encounter with the fragile little ambiguous, from our being the "apprentices" in which the Master puts in tune with the charismatic heritage that comes from Emilie, recreating icons educators (res), Samaritans and pilgrims (the) "

Data of the Congregation:

Name: Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Castres.
Nickname: Blues Sisters
Founding Date: December 8, 1836 in Castres, France
General Headquarters: Via Vincenzo Viara Ricci, 24
00168 - Rome - Italy
Phone: 06.30.518.63
Site: www.cic-castres.org
Superior General: Nuria Bayo Blasco (nuriabayo@cic-castres.org)