DMI and Its Organization’s Milestone

The Daughters of Mary Immaculate (DMI) International, as the name implies, is apostolically involved in service endeavors that are dear to the heart of their patroness: Mary Immaculate. Following her example, the members of the Order are concerned about the needs of their less fortunate neighbors and are committed to serving them.

For this reason, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) assigned to them four missions, namely, PRO LIFE; MORALITY IN MEDIA, UPLIFTMENT OF WOMEN WORKERS; and ASSISTANCE TO PRISONERS’ – FAMILIES & THEIR VICTIMS.

In compliance with the CBCP mandate, the Daughters of Mary Immaculate International generously made available all manpower and material resources toward the implementation of the tasks involved.

The Daughters of Mary Immaculate International actually traces its beginnings to the religious organization known as Daughters of Isabella, which had its head office in New Haven, Connecticut. The First Philippine Circle (Unit), the Holy Rosary Circle No. 856, Manila, was formally organized on May 24, 1951. More Philippine Circles were subsequently organized. The Philippine Daughters of Isabella existed for about three decades.

At a general meeting convoked by His Eminence Jaime L. Cardinal Sin on April 29-30, 1987, the Philippine Daughters of Isabella which has been declared an independent association, together with the KC ladies Auxiliary Association, was restructured and its name changed to Daughters of Mary Immaculate. In his message during the meeting, Cardinal Sin said, “The Daughters of Mary Immaculate is indeed a monument to the apostolic zeal and relentless dedication of some generous women who banded themselves together into another organization imbued with the same deals and spirit.”

A few years later, DMI Circles were organized in New Jersey and Los Angeles in the United States, and in Sydney, Australia. Thus the DMI acquired an international identity. That was how the word “International” was appended to the original name of the Order, thus making it known, as it is known today, as Daughters of Mary Immaculate International.

The DMI, as an association of Catholic women, has its pledge to the Service of God and country. It hopes that through the humble testimony of service to God, church, fellowmen and country, it could keep a stronger faith and attain greater action in accordance with the exemplary life of Our Blessed Mother among its members.

In the Diocese of Kalibo, the DMI is now 30 years old. A total of twenty (20) Circles have been organized under the four (4) Vicariates to work on the missions. As it moves on for the future, it will live up to the true meaning of its chosen theme for the Pearl Anniversary Celebration, “Sustaining DMI Mission of Love and Mercy Through Mary Immaculate.”

In celebration of its Pearl Anniversary in the Diocese of Kalibo, the Diocesan officers, Vicarial/Circle Regents held the following activities: a. press conference in the afternoon of Thursday, June 19 at the Sangguniang Panla-lawigan Session Hall, Kalibo, Aklan; b. Mass Installation of the Squirettes of Mary at Charismatic Center, St. Jude Parish, Kalibo on June 20; and c. the activities on Saturday, June 21 were aborted due to typhoon Frank such as the Eucharistic Celebration at St. John the Baptist Cathedral Kalibo, motorcade around Poblacion, Kalibo and opening Program at Acevedo Farms, New Buswang, Kalibo were aborted.

Since 1978, the Sto. Niño Kalibo Circle has been under the regency of the following Sisters in chronological order: Lorna M. Quimpo, 1978; Leticia C. Venus – 1981; Nilda B. Tambong – 1982; Manolita Q. Acevedo – 1983 – 84; Librada M. Palmani – 1985 – 1996; Sefalina D. Peralta – 1987 – 88; Carmen “Bing” Ang – 1990 – 92; Amy M. Rago – 1993 – 94; Elvira R. Salazar – 1994 – 95; Ofelia E. Laurente – 1995 – 96; Carmen “Menchie” L. Ang – 1996 – 97; Leonora E. Lao – 1997 – 99; Manolita Q. Acevedo – 1999 – 2000; Lorna M. Quimpo – 2000 – 02; Soledad M. Laserna – 2002 – 03; Lucita D. Yu – 2004 – 05; Ana A. Taningco – 2006 – 07; and Thelma D. Villanueva – 2008 – present. /MP