Australian Delegation
The Friar Servants of Mary first came to Australia in 1951. The foundation was made by Fr. James M. Keane, O.S.M., the famous founder of the Novena of the Sorrowful Mother and at that time assistant to the Prior General in Rome. Within a few short years it came under the jurisdiction of the American Servites and has remained so ever since. It has included friars coming originally from America, Scotland, Ireland and more importantly local Australian vocations. (click to visit the webpage of the Australian Delegation.)
African Delegation
The Friar Servants of Mary, United States of America Province has supported missionary activity in Africa since 1948.
The present Prefecture of Ingwavuma consists of the three large magisterial districts in the northeast corner of the Republic of South Africa; they are: Ingwavuma, Ubombo, and Hlabisa. After the Second World War, Bishop Barneschi of Swaziland asked for and got three American Servites to help him; they were: Fr. Edwin Kinch, Fr. Michael Delahanty and Brother Tim Culhane.
In June of 1947, these three arrived in Swaziland and the following year moved to Ingwavuma to found a mission station there. Two more American Servites were sent to Swaziland in 1948, and they too moved to 
Ingwavuma during 1949. In 1950 a new mission station was started at Maputa, about 65 miles east of Ingwavuma, on the Indian Ocean Coast. During the following year, the Hlabisa District was given by the Bishop of Eshowe to the care of the American Servites and a mission was started there.
The missions could always use your help. If you are interested in assisting the Servite missions, please contact the Servite Mission Procurator at:
Servite Provincial Center
3121 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60612-2729
Confraternity
The image of Mary at the foot of the cross has long been an inspiration to people who want to be closer to Jesus. In order to increase devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, the Servite Order has established societies known as confraternities. The Servite confraternity’s roots reach back to the first century of the Order’s existence when groups of the faithful were living near the first communities of Friar Servants of Mary. Wanting to share the Order’s spirit, they formed various types of Marian associations. Pope Innocent X officially designated the Confraternity of Our Lady of Sorrows in 1645.
Many people wish to belong to the Servite confraternity, but they do not live in an area where it has been officially established, or they are unable to attend the monthly prayer hours. The Confraternity of Our Lady of Sorrows, established for over a hundred years at the Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows in Chicago, has been reorganized so that it might meet the needs of such people.
The purpose of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Sorrows is to foster devotion to the passion of Christ and the sorrows of Mary, Mother of the Lord. The members of the Confraternity strive to develop the virtue of compassion so that they might be with their suffering brothers and sisters through prayer and works of mercy. To obtain further information about joining the Confraternity of Our Lady of Sorrows please contact:
Confraternity Director
Our Lady of Sorrows Priory
Servite Provincial Center
3121 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60612-2729
773-533-0361
The Servite Secular Order
The Secular Order of the Servants of Mary (Servite Secular Order) is a Catholic organization of lay men and women plus diocesan priests living their Christian faith in the context of the world. The Secular Servite vocation is a special calling within the Church. The vocation finds its root in baptismal consecration and with its acceptance, the Secular Servites commit themselves to bring to fulfillment the evangelical commandment to love. They strive toward holiness according to the spirituality of the Servite Order, following the directives of their Rule of Life.
Secular Servites are asked to do the following each day:
- live the Christian virtues of faith, hope and love
- pray and try to read Sacred Scripture each day, and/or the Liturgy of the Hours
- practice acts of reverence for the Mother of God daily, especially by praying the Servite prayer “The Vigil of Our Lady” and/or the Servite Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Mary.
For more information on the Secular Order of the Servants of Mary, please contact:
Email: osmsecular@gmail.com
Phone: 872-216-OSSM (6776)
The Servite Family
Curia Generalis – OSM Homepage
Marianum – Pontifical Theological Faculty – in Italian and English
National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother – The Grotto
Assumption Parish, Chicago
The Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Chicago
Servite High School – Anaheim CA
Servite College – Australia
St. Juliana Falconieri Church, Fullerton, CA
St. Philip Benizi Parish, Fullerton, CA
Sister Servants of Mary – London/Cuves Institute
Sister Servants of Mary – Ladysmith Institute
Mantellate Sisters – Plainfield/Tinley Park, IL
Servites – Benburb, Ireland
Servite Friars – Province of the Isles
Secular Servites – USA
Servite Secular Institute
