Our Community

Incarnate Word Associates

Associates from Mexico during a retreat Lima, Peru
Associates from Peru with Sister Rosalina Acosta

Associates are Christians who are called to live the charism and mission of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in their particular way of life.

Associate communities gather regularly for prayer and faith-sharing to strengthen, support and challenge one another to grow in living the mission each day.

Four Hallmarks

Four hallmarks of associate commitment are  fidelity to prayer, participation in community, public witness by one’s life and ministry, and living Incarnational spirituality.

 

Story from Ms. Leticia Baños de Leyva,
an Incarnate Word Associate from Mexico

Leticia Baños de Leyva, Incarnate Word Associate from MexicoMexico City, April 18, 2007
First of all, I want to thank God for this beautiful mission that has been entrusted to us: “Go to the entire world and teach all people…”

This is my history as an “Associate of the Apostles of the Incarnate Word* and the experience that I want to share with you, my friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.

About 15 years ago, a friend invited me to participate in the Bible School at the Miguel Angel Institute, where I had the opportunity to get to know the Word of God through the Incarnate Word manifested in my dear teacher, Sr. Mary Antonia Fernández. This preparation continued for several years with acts and words that day by day were formed, in order to later on lead me to a commitment as a catholic Christian serving God and my neighbor.

I was invited to be a part of the Association of the Apostles of the Incarnate Word and I thought that being in community would make it easier to live out my Christian commitment and it is here where I came to greatly appreciate my baptism and the support of this community, that made me think that the Association was going to make my life as a lay person more consistent.

As an Associate my horizons opened up and I felt the need to continue preparing myself, so I signed up for the course in Sacred Scripture at the Biblical Ministry Institute with Father Salvador I Carillo Alday.

I owe part of this formation to other people, among them I can not forget to mention Sister Alejandrina Bretón and a Sister Maria Guadalupe Moreno F.

Now, I offer my services at the Bible School at the Miguel Angel Institute and from time to time when they ask me, I give courses at the Biblical Ministry Institute.

Also, I do my apostolate in A gathering of Mexican AssociatesSanta Rita de Casia Parish, where I give workshops on the Bible.

I will finish by expressing my gratitude as a sign of the times, for the marvelous openness to the commitment of the laity and I give thanks to God that I as a woman can grow with a better quality of life for me, for my family, for my peers, and for the people of God.

Praised Be the Incarnate Word
Ms. Leticia Baños de Leyva.

Translator’s notes:
* Association of the Apostles of the Incarnate Word is the name chosen for the Associates in Mexico. The Initials in Spanish are AAVE.