The Sisters Of Mary

The Sisters of Mary are devoted to helping the poorest of the poor in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. The religious order was founded by Aloysius Schwartz, the priest of the poor. The Sisters have been operating charitable programs for more than fifty years serving children with the greatest need who have the greatest potential. In 6 countries there are 400 Sisters of Mary caring for over 21,000 children with the mission of helping them break free from a life of poverty. This is one day in the life of a Sister.

Your Support Provides

  • Hope.
  • Clean water.
  • Medical care.
  • Dental care.
  • Three nutritious meals a day.
  • A safe place to live and study.
  • Clothing and school materials.
  • Help to break the cycle of poverty.
  • Spiritual, physical, and emotional care.
  • Vocational training tailored to local industries.
  • Protection from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
  • Opportunities to participate in sports, music, and art.
  • Spiritual, social, and academic formation and guidance.
  • Education for students that leads to careers or college.

You Will Receive

  • A welcome package with information on your selected Mother Sister.
  • Information about the situation of the country in which she is serving.
  • Biographies from a few of the children cared for by the Sisters.
  • The peace of knowing you are being remembered daily in prayer.
  • Opportunity to share your prayer intentions with the Sisters and children. 
  • Continuing engagement in serving the poor and changing lives.
  • Mission and pilgrimage visits can be arranged to select locations.
  • Opportunities to send notes of encouragement to the Sisters and children. 
  • Periodic updates from the Sisters of Mary.

 *Please note: 

  • The Sisters love receiving notes, but as you can understand, it is often difficult for them to write back directly because of their commitment to caring for so many children.
  • In accordance with our child protection policy, all communications go through the WVC office in the U.S. (personal contact information will be redacted).

Sponsor Sr. Graciela

Mexico

Chalco

I’m Sister Graciela. I’m a Mother Sister serving at the daycare and at Girlstown, Chalco, Mexico at Villa de las Niñas.

I’m originally from Tlacotepec, Morelos, Mexico. I am a proud graduate of the Sisters of Mary Girlstown. As a Sister of Mary, I have had the opportunity to serve in many roles. Because of this, I fully understand that we are all children of God, regardless of borders.

Before coming to our daycare, these little children were often left alone at home or with neighbors, sometimes even with strangers, while their parents, who are mostly single mothers, struggled to find work to make ends meet. In the daycare, the children are safe, fed, and educated while receiving unconditional motherly love. I find great joy in watching the children while they play. I enjoy seeing them happy and having fun. I am also moved by their fervent prayers and their songs at Mass. Something I admire about the children I care for is that they’re very optimistic; they joke and encourage each other while encouraging me too.

The best thing about being a Sister of Mary is that many life problems, which seem to grant young people no future or hope, are overcome in every respect. When seeing the young people’s total change and such positive results, there is such great satisfaction that I say to myself, “my late nights and work are worth it, and thank God that He heard my prayers”.

When we help a child, we help an entire family, and that family, in turn, influences their community. A child who is given the opportunity to study is boundless; they’re liberated from the pressures of poverty that hold them back. Not only that, but they become a link in the chain of doing incremental good. Thank you for your support. You are in my prayers.

Learn more about the children

The children at our schools come from the poorest of the poor. Each child has their own stories of what their life was before coming to our schools and how their lives are being transformed by the Sisters of Mary programs.  Read the moving stories of our children in their own words. 

Meet Our Graduates

There are 160,000+  graduates from the Sisters of Mary Schools. Many of our graduates went on to live prosperous lives, helping their families and local communities. Read the inspiring stories of our graduates in their own words. 

Life At Our Villages

Learn more about how we help children break free from a life of poverty.