Our Spiritual and Apostolic Charism
The Little Way of Spiritual Childhood
The Spirit and the mission of our institute are influenced by the Little Way of Spiritual Childhood of St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, and the Preventive s Stem of St John Bosco, as handed down to us by our Father Founder (DR. 2, 2005). Our Father Founder inspired by the Holy Spirit has chosen for us the principles of the Spiritual Childhood of St Therese of the Child Jesus with his own interpretation and it is approved by the Church as our means for perfection, our way of life. Our Constitutions Art. 10 (2005) stipulates, “Our intimacy with God is governed by the principles of the Spiritual Childhood of St Therese of the Child Jesus. We relate to God, our most loving and tender Father, in our life and through our activities, in a simple and childlike manner, based on the words of Jesus: ‘Unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven’ (Mt 18:3)”.
The Preventive System
The Preventive System as practiced in our Institute according to the directions of our Father Bishop, is stated: “In their way of life as well as in their activities, the Sisters will follow the “Preventive System” according to the directions of St John Bosco, based on reason, religion, and love” (DR. 251, 1954). He explains: “Applied to our way of life, the Preventive System consists in having everything arranged in such a manner as to foresee inconveniences that may happen, in order to prevent them” (DR 252, 1954).
Preventive System employed for the SMI is a pedagogy, especially with the young of foreseeing things ahead of time in dealing with those under our care. This System, strictly speaking according to the direction of St John Bosco, based on reason, religion and love, refers as to how to educate the young. It is an educative presence which through persuasion and love wins the hearts of all those whom we serve.
Evangelization and Catechesis
Evangelization is the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize. It is proclaiming Christ to those who do not know him, of preaching, of catechesis, of conferring Baptism and the other Sacraments. The specific purpose of our Institute is evangelization and catechesis through home visitation and village apostolate. Following our way of life we live our religious consecration and fulfill this mission also through our other apostolic activities.
Our main concern is to live a life of intimacy with Christ and implant it in others. Our Father Founder has spoken sufficiently as to how our approach to families should be and what our priorities are regarding families, where people can be motivated to do the simple things of daily life with great love for God and one another as the Little Way teaches.
