21st Anniversary of Immaculate Conception Province

On December 7, 2010, the members of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) and the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará (SSVM) honored Our Lady under the title of the Immaculate Conception by each receiving 10 new members into their religious families as novices.  The investiture of habits took places during the celebration of a solemn Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.

His Eminence Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, was the principal celebrant and homilist.  The principal concelebrants were Rev. Gustavo Nieto, I.V.E., Provincial Superior of the Province of the Immaculate Conception and Rev. Gustavo Domenech, I.V.E., Rector of the Fulton Sheen House of Formation along with many other priests from the Institute of the Incarnate Word.

His Eminence centered his homily around one phrase from the Gospel: when the angel Gabriel told Mary, “Do not be afraid.” He then related how this phrase exemplifies the attitude the religious ought to have with regard to their vocation. Those in the consecrated life should always strive to be like Mary and fearlessly respond, “Be it done to me according to your word” to whatever Gods asks of them.

After the homily, two SSVM sisters made their first profession of temporary vows and four sisters made a renewal of their temporary vows.  This was immediately followed by the reception of the habit and new religious name by the ten SSVM novices.

Then, the Novices received a black cassock, the religious habit of the members of the Institute. The black cassock symbolizes death to the world in order to belong totally to God. The names of the new IVE novices are Jorge Flores, Cupertino García, David Hauwert, Cecilio Hernández, Miguel Alexander Mañan, Víctor Martínez, Thomas Megargle, Roger Mungala, Jesús Trinidad and Leandro Velázquez.

The Crypt Church at the shrine was filled with many friends and members of the Institute who assisted at the celebration.  Afterwards, over 200 friends and family members joined the community for a meal and entertainment in the parish hall at St. John Baptist de la Salle Church in Chillum, MD.