What is F.M.W ?

Humanity is always in search of meaning of life. We all need a philosophy of life- a reason to live for, a cause to rally around, and a vision to spur us on. Friends of Mary Ward is a movement which is initiated for the well-wishers, friends, staff and students of Congregation of Jesus in Nepal with an intention of leading everyone to harmonious relationship with one’s own self, with God, with each other and with the whole creation. The movement puts before its members a way of life that invites them to optimum development of their human potential. It further invites them to become a blessing to their family and the society. It invites them to dedicate their lives to the love and service of God and others.

Vision
The inspiration of the movement is the Vision of the Just Soul of Mary Ward. The F.M.W. honours the spirit and charism of the C.J. foundress, Mary Ward. It desires to collaborate actively with and be a part of the C.J. family. While F.M.W. will function autonomously, it will be united to the C.J.family in Nepal, under the guidance of Nepal C.J. Regional Superior and the Principals of the schools of C.J.
Vision Statement
“Forming people for tomorrow, who join hands with God and likeminded people to heal our broken world.”
Motto
“Call to Justice, Freedom and Sincerity.”
Objectives
1. To grow, to search, to discover and to give meaning to one’s life.
2. To get to know people better and deepen the relationships with each other.
3. To develop one’s gifts in order to be of service to others.
4. To discover who God is.
5. To look at today’s society and learn new ways of how one can analyze and better it.
6. To experience a personal transformation and commit to change life negating values, attitudes and behaviours.
7. To find the “heart, wisdom, vision and will” to inspire one’s peers and become agents of social change.
Specific Mission
To foster Mary Wardian values in one’s everyday life and the lives of the students, teachers, office staff, co-workers and friends and to bring about a change in the Society.
Values
The members embrace genuine values of freedom, justice, sincerity, verity and felicity. With these values, the members foster a mutual respect and deep understanding of the self, and compassion for the broader community.
1. Freedom: Freedom must be understood in the Mary Wardian sense of arising out of one’s personal relationship with God. Her belief was that each one of us, in our ordinary experience of life, has access to God’s loving care. This is the truth that sets us free. It is an inner freedom which comes out of accepting of self, openness to others and trusting life.
2. Justice: Justice, as Mary Ward describes it, involves personal integrity based on a harmonious relationship with oneself, with God, with others and with the whole of creation. It is expressed through “works of justice” that aspire to bring about such harmony.
3. Sincerity: Sincerity is to live with the Mary Wardian ideal of, “we should be such as we appear and appear such as we are”.
4. Verity: Closely linked to sincerity is Mary Ward’s concept of verity. For Mary, this meant having integrity and truth, particularly the truth of who we are and what gives meaning to our lives - a truth that centers fundamentally on the mystery of God.
5. Felicity: Felicity is an attitude of mind; it is a disposition of the heart which manifests itself in cheerfulness, good humour, joy, happiness, hope, optimism, friendliness, courtesy, positive thinking, inner peace, self-acceptance and courage.

The Formula of Solemn Promise

Standing in the presence of my Creator and loving God, I ……(one by one they pronounce their name and continue) mindful that the real meaning of life is to love and serve God, mindful also that all are God’s children and my brothers and sisters, solemnly dedicate myself for one year to the service of God and my country.

I realize that it is an important and challenging undertaking and that if I rely only on my strength, I will not be able to carry it out. However, I place my confidence not in myself but in my God, who invites me to join hands with Him in healing this broken world. I know that he will give me the necessary help to persevere in my Promise. I resolve therefore as a member of the F.M.W., ………..(name of the unit) always everywhere to persevere in prayer, to follow my conscience in word and action, and to work generously for the material and spiritual welfare of myself and the others.

O loving God , give me strength to live up to this promise till the end of this year.

Name………. Signature………

Place………….. Name……………

Just Soul

“God showed Mary a just soul in
Inexpressible beauty.
All the virtues seems to form in it,
As it were, a chain whereby it was not only cut
Off from everything earthly
But saw perfectly detached from self And united with God.
It also received true liberty of spirit,
Equanimity, heavenly wisdom
and ability to accomplish whatever
the perfection of the Institute Required.”
- Mary Ward

“…Young women and men are critical agents of change and will find in the new goals a platform to channel their infinite capacities for activism into the creation of a better world.”