Anawim Arts grew out of the work of the Loretto Sisters in Wheaton, IL, members of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a worldwide religious community of Catholic women dedicated to serving God by responding to the needs of God’s people.
In 2025, the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (IBVM) formally united as one with The Congregation of Jesus (CJ). We now share one name, one vision, and one spirit—continuing Mary Ward’s legacy together as a single, international congregation.
This moment comes after years of prayer, collaboration, and shared ministry between the IBVM and CJ communities. Together, as The Congregation of Jesus, we’ll keep working in education, social justice, pastoral ministry, and advocacy for women and those on the margins—living out Mary Ward’s belief that “women in time to come will do much.”
While our name has changed, our spirit hasn’t. The heart and history of the IBVM/Loretto Sisters live on in everything we do. We remain who we’ve always been—women inspired by the Gospel and dedicated to serving God’s people.The IBVM page on the Anawim Arts website is provided to feature creative expressions that are focused particularly on dialog and inspiration within the IBVM community.
Spiritual Exercises, 2025
Clotilde de Maroussen, CJ, offers this reflection from an eight day retreat focusing the Spiritual Exercises of Ignacio de Loyola.