On 30 December 2006, Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary around the world celebrated with other Marists and friends the 75th anniversary of the pontifical approbation of the congregation.
On 30 December 1931, the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide issued a Decree approving the Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary as a Congregation of Pontifical Right. The Constitutions were approved ad experimentum for a seven year trial period.
The Sacred Congregation reserved the right to name the first superior general and her council. Its Decree of 30 January 1932 named M M Rose Dekker as superior general, M Marie Pia and M Marie de la Merci as assistants, and M Marie de Gonzague as econome general. Their mandate was for seven years.
By these two decrees, the Church publicly recognized our congregation and confirmed its mandate for universal mission. The congregation was given true autonomy, no longer under the authority of the bishops, but with authority vested in the superior general.
This would assure greater unity among the sisters in all the vicariates, and a greater availability for universal mission. Equality was assured in the Constitutions for all members. The juridical bonds with the Society of Mary were severed but, in accordance with the desires of the sisters to remain a branch of the Society, the spiritual bonds were retained. |
