Order of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament

The Order of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament is a Catholic religious order founded in the early part of the seventeenth century by the Venerable Jeanne Chezard de Matel.

The order was founded by Jeanne Chezard de Matel. Its principal object was the education of youth. The first house was founded at Lyons, France, foundations being subsequently established at Avignon, Paris, and various other places in France. The rule and constitutions of the order were approved in 1633 by Pope Urban VIII, and confirmed in 1644 by Innocent X. At the time of the French Revolution the religious were driven out of their monasteries, but after the restoration of peace, the order was re-established. It thence again spread it branches over many parts of France.

The sisters serve primarily through ministries of prayer, Christian education, and health care.

In 1852, French-born Bishop Jean-Marie Odin of Galveston, Texas visited France to obtain religious for his far-off mission. A group headed by Mother St. Claire Valentine, left Lyons for the United States, and arrived in New Orleans in May, 1852. There they stayed temporarily with a Carmelite community there, before sailing to Galveston, Texas, where they received seven months of instruction in English and Spanish. From there they traveled on the troop ship Lone Star, to Point Isabel and on to Brownsville, arriving February 26, 1853. In time, eighteen more Sisters arrived from France, England, Mexico and Germany. In 1857 they were able to open a school for the poor. The Brownsville community operates the Villa Maria Language Institute.

In 1866 a second group, again led by Mother St. Claire, left Brownsville to establish a foundation in Victoria, Texas. After a few years, the house in Victoria sent out members to begin foundations at Corpus Christi, Houston, and Hallettsville. The Victoria community runs a retreat center at Amor Meus Spirituality Center.

In January, 1932, the communities of Brownsville and Corpus Christi were united, with the Motherhouse being in Corpus Christi.

The Houston Congregation of the Incarnate Word was founded in 1873, and Incarnate Word Academy was opened as a boarding school in January 1874. Although no longer taking boarders, IWA remains the oldest permanent Catholic School in the city of Houston.

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