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From the letter of Mgr. Riberi:
DEAR REV. MOTHER,
This is the first letter I write you in your capacity of Foundressand Superioress of the new Congregation of Mary's Medical Missionaries. Let me, therefore, begin by expressing my warmest congratulations for having so quickly secured from the Holy See such an enthusiastic approval of the new Missionary Congregation. No doubt, this wonderful way of giving you an approval that comes so promptly and wholeheartedly from the Holy See has its meaning. It means, besides the ordinary approval of something which is good in itself, the supreme importance which is attached to your undertaking — nay, the pressing urgency of your intended work.
It has already been my pleasant duty, after consultation with the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda, to urge on the Superiors General of various Missionary Congregations working in this Delegation the necessity of having Sisters who are fully qualified Doctors. During my tours in Africa, I have been privileged to see how much they can do in the Mission
In caritate radacti
2021-11-30/234
A Brief Account of
the
Society of the
Medical Missionaries
of
Mary
field. So let me hope that you will be able to prepare many Sister Doctors.
But, meanwhile, the Irish Missionaries, although working everywhere with wonderful enthusiasm, and in some places with a great measure of success, in many parts they are severely handicapped by two principal factors: having come late to the field and being deprived of Medical Missionaries.
You intend, dear Rev. Mother, with generous heart, to make up for this latter deficiency. Let me, therefore, wish you every success in your very timely undertaking.
I will not conclude this letter, however, without addressing an earnest appeal to those Irish girls, full of zeal and faith, who, were they to know the wonderful possibilities awaiting them in Mary's Medical Missionaries, would gladly join them.
Hoping that this appeal will have a favourable response, I remain, dear Mother Mary, with renewed congratulations,
Yours sincerely in Christ,
ANT. RIBERI, Archbishop of Dara,
Apostolic Delegate.

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The Society of Medical Missionaries of Mary was, in April, 1937 erected into a Religious Congregation, by the Most Rev. Mgr. Moynagh, Prefect Apostolic of Calabar, S. Nigeria, with the approval of His Excellency Mgr. A. Riberi, Delegate Apostolic to Africa for the Missions under the Congregation of Propaganda Fide, and the approval of His Eminence the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation of Propaganda Fide.
The Society is dedicated to "Mary Mother of God, Mediatrix of Grace," and gets its name and inspiration from the Mystery of the Visitation — where Our Lady came in haste to tend her cousin in her need — carrying with her, her Divine Son.
The purpose of the Congregation is to aid our Holy Mother the Church in the spreading of God's Kingdom in souls by the work of its members for the care of the sick, without distinction of class or creed; specially by the care of mothers and infants; by the formation of Christian women and future religious in pagan countries.
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The Society is a religious institute, its members being true religious, with public vows and all the rights and helps and obligations of religious. The members will aim at combining the highest religious fervour with the fullest professional proficiency; and it is the aim of the Constitutions, rules and training to secure and maintain these essential qualifications. For the purpose of their work the members will be freed from some of the practices of religious life; but the absence of these formative influences will be made up by the cultivation of an intense interior life "founded and rooted in charity, nourished on the spirit of prayer, mortification and humility, and manifesting itself in the purest zeal for souls that have been ransomed by Christ's Precious Blood."
The requirements for admission are as laid down by Canon Law and the Constitutions. Candidates are admitted as Medical or non-Medical Members.
Medical Members include Doctors, Nurses, Midwives, Chemists and Dentists who are graduates of a recognised school. Non-qualified Members help their Sister Doctors and Nurses in their medical work.
They will devote themselves to giving religious instruction, to domestic training, to the formation of Christian mothers and future religious, to organising centres of Catholic Action, to the care of churches and household work.
The scope of the medical work extends to the care of the sick in the homes of the people; dispensaries; general and maternity hospitals; plague and leper settlements; infant welfare centres; medical schools and training schools for nurses.
The Congregation adopts a modest religious habit which is professional in character and adaptable to suit the different climates.
Misereor super turbam.
(St. Mark, c. VIII, v. 2)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION APPLY TO:
MOTHER MARY MARTIN,
Superior, Medical Missionaries of Mary,
ROSEMOUNT
BOOTERSTOWN,
Co. DUBLIN,
IRELAND.