Missionary Sisters of I C. org

SMIC Associates
 Journey into the Centennial Celebration                       Teresa -Yiwen Jong

           Teresa, currently residing in New Jersey with her husband, shares about her trip to Santarem to experience more SMIC integration.  Teresa is one of several Associates who participated in the festivities of our 100 year celebration.

While doing volunteering work in Kaohsiung, Taiwan last year for the Congregation of Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (SMIC),  I overheard that there would be a centennial celebration in Brazil on June 2010.  I felt that this was a once in a life time opportunity to explore the Amazon River area, so I decided to join the feast.      

 I left JFK airport on June 5. 30 hours and 3 transfers later, I finally arrived Santarém, Brazil where the river of Tapajos joins the famous Amazon.  Although it was winter there, the warm and humid equator air surrounded me intensely.  I was very excited and looked forward to the coming of next two weeks.
 
Why Santarém? This is the story of SMIC’s founder Mother Immaculata (1887-1938). She was born Elizabeth Tombrock in Ahlen, Germany, where she was trained as a teacher.  Sister Immaculata accompanied Bishop Dom Amando, as he was known locally, to Santarém, where they met with four Conceptionist Sisters.  Their meeting on December 5, 1910 is considered the foundation of the new order.  With these four Sisters, she set to her missionary work as her novitiate began  The Sisters established their convent, an orphanage and school, in an old mansion.  The house, like the town it was part of, was in poor condition.  The sisters lived in solidarity among the poor from the very beginning.  

Although they suffered from the climate, diet and disease, their work in Santarém was successful. In the next hundred years, the SMIC sisters launched their missions to nations in Africa, Asia, North and South America, and Europe.  Following in their founding Mother’s foot steps, the two hospitals I visited in the towns of Alenquer and Salvador provide medical care and room and board free of charge for all patients.  I was extremely moved by the lifetime care the hospitals provided for the heavily disabled. I was also very impressed with their core value of serving the poor.  I hope that we can all start to serve the less privileged a little more from now on in order to make the world we live in a better place.

It has been one month since I came back from the trip. I still have the vivid and fond memories of the Amazon cruise and the Alenquer farm that is the source of food supply for the Alenquer hospital.  I remember meeting SMIC associates from several countries, lying on hammocks, talking, drinking and eating by the river.  We didn’t know each other before, and probably will not see each other again, but somehow we all came here to witness the 100 years of history that has been established by the strong will and hard work of the members of this congregation.  By God’s grace we are all touched by the sprit of goodness.
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