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. Margie

Tanzania

Dodoma

Hello, I am Sister Margie. I serve at the Sisters of Mary World Villages for Children Boystown in Dodoma, Tanzania, where we recently enrolled our first class of 160 boys. We are building a Boystown that will serve and educate approximately 325 children by 2025.

I was born in Milyang-si, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea, and found my vocation at an early age. It has been my dream to be a religious since I was five years old. Father Al gave me the date of my entrance to the Sisters of Mary, which was December 8, 1983. I am still very grateful for receiving this very beautiful day, The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, for my entrance to the Sisters of Mary.

For me to serve as a Sister of Mary is to live. To live joyfully and to live fully. Before entering the Sisters of Mary, I did not know I had something to give. By serving and by learning to serve, I feel that I am truly fulfilled. We serve in the name of Jesus Christ. We are His living instruments to show His Mercy to those who have less and need help. If I had a chance to choose one more life, I would again choose the Life of Service. Jesus lives in the poor.

We want to give the poor youth many opportunities to grow, especially to let them know that God loves them. I hope our benefactors pray for us and are united with us. Our achievement is their achievement. We, Sisters and generous benefactors, together make the world better; as one family, we can do something beautiful for God.

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.