The Religious of Jesus and Mary in the United States have always valued collaboration in ministry wherever we have been sent. We have been partners with parish priests, staffs, colleagues, other religious congregations, organizations, family and friends in trying to “…incarnate the grace of pardon and of reconciliation, and to share with the poor and the marginalized the ‘new wine of the feast of the kingdom.'”
This partnership is evident in the RJM Haiti Mission. Since 1997, the RJM have ministered in Haiti and are able to do so because of the incredible generosity of donors and benefactors. The many financial contributions from family, friends, former RJMs, colleagues, volunteers, schools, parishes, organizations, et al, help us serve the poor in three areas of Haiti: Port-au-Prince, Gros Morne and Jean Rabel. Our commitment to the poorest country in the western hemisphere remains strong, despite Haiti’s many obstacles, and it is possible because of our generous benefactors and partners in mission, including the presence of volunteers from the USA and from RJM Provinces.
The Washington School for Girls is an example of a partnership that developed from a deep concern for young girls in an underserved urban area and who were at risk of leaving school early. Three organizations: the National Council of Negro Women, the Society of the Holy Child of Jesus, and the Religious of Jesus and Mary established WMSG in 1998. Today the school’s mission is deeply rooted in the heritage of three courageous women and educators: Mary McLeod Bethune, Cornelia Connelly, and Claudine Thevenet.
The RJM continue to be inspired by a citation from one of our founding documents, the Rule of the Pious Association of which Claudine Thevenet was president: “When we go alone on a long and difficult journey, we soon grow tired and have only ordinary and commonplace means for our encouragement; but, when on the contrary, several are together, they go along with assurance and courage and fresh support.” [Preamble, Rule – 1816]