Main Stream: Blessed Sacrament

The charism of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament is to “extend the mystery of the Incarnation of the Word” by making Christ present in the world through prayer, education, evangelization, and compassionate service. This vocation flows from a deep devotion to Christ as the Incarnate Word and to the mystery of the Eucharist, integrating contemplation and active apostolate. Sisters seek to live the Gospel of love and mercy while fostering the spiritual and moral growth of those they serve, especially through schooling, catechesis, spiritual formation, and outreach in local communities.

The congregation traces its origins to 1625 in Roanne (near Lyon), France, where Venerable Jeanne Chézard de Matel founded the Order with a vision of living the mystery of the Incarnation in daily life and ministry. During the French Revolution, the sisters’ communities were dispersed, but after the turmoil they reconsolidated and eventually expanded. In the 19th century, the Order spread to Texas (USA), where sisters established schools and ministries, and from there to other parts of the Americas, Europe, and eventually to mission work in Africa — including Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania. In 2023, the various independent branches of the Incarnate Word sisters were officially reunited under the single canonical identity of the Order of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament (OVISS), reaffirming their shared heritage and mission.

✉️ iwbsvoc@yahoo.com (vocational inquiries for the community in Victoria, Texas USA, which historically hosts outreach and vocation accompaniment)