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IHM Novice to Profess Vows

Congratulations to Sister Giovana Fuentes Bendivez who will be making her first profession of vows in the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary! The rite of profession will take place during the Eucharistic celebration on Founders' Day, November 10, 2020, in the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel at the IHM Center.

Because of the pandemic and the need for distanced seating in the chapel, the number of people able to be physically present at the Eucharistic celebration during Giovana’s profession will be limited. Those who will be present physically in the chapel will receive an invitation and will be requested to confirm their attendance. The profession will also be live streamed, and a link will be sent to all IHM sisters and associates as well as Giovana’s family and friends. It is our hope that whether you are present physically or virtually, you will celebrate this momentous occasion with Giovana and pray with and for her.

Giovana began her initial formation in Peru where she lived and ministered with our IHM sisters in Sicuani. During her first ten months of candidacy, she worked at Casa Nazaret, a home for children with special needs, counseled young girls residing in the IHM House of Studies, and volunteered with the prelature’s Office of Social Justice and with Allin Kawsay, an organization that provides conflict resolution programs for students and families.

Giovana arrived in the United States in September 2017 to continue her initial formation. During the remainder of her candidacy she lived with the sisters of Holy Trinity Community at the IHM Center. She studied in Marywood University’s Intensive English Program and participated in inter-community formation classes and IHM congregational activities.

Giovana was received into the novitiate on September 20, 2018. During her canonical novitiate, Giovana resided in the IHM Formation House (also known as McCarty Hall) on the campus of Marywood University. She spent six months of her apostolic novitiate with our sisters at Cathedral Convent. As a novice, Giovana studied Alphonsian spirituality and the history of the IHM Congregation. Through volunteer service at St. Joseph’s Center (Trinity Daycare) and Friends of the Poor (Jackson Terrace), she embraced more fully and grew in her understanding of the IHM charism, core values and
mission.

Whether you are present physically or virtually, please celebrate this momentous occasion with Giovana and pray with and for her.

We rejoice with Giovana as she takes this next step and commits herself to God and all of God’s creation. Giovana, we stand with you; we pray for you, and we look forward to welcoming you as a member of our IHM Congregation!