Mongolia: ICM Sisters Mark 31 Years, Highlight Mission to Children with Disabilities

Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (ICM) marked 129 years since the congregation's founding and 31 years of missionary presence in Mongolia on November 7, renewing their commitment to children and young people with intellectual disabilities through education, therapy and social inclusion.

The celebration brought together ICM Sisters, collaborators and students of the Rainbow Center, the congregation's mission initiative in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, serving children and young people with intellectual disabilities.

The Foundation Day program began with prayer and thanksgiving, followed by a presentation on the congregation's history and missionary charism. A quiz on ICM's heritage and recreational activities involving staff and students formed part of the celebration.

The anniversary also highlighted more than three decades of the congregation's service in Mongolia, where its missionary work combines pastoral accompaniment with specialized care and support for people with disabilities.

Among those continuing this mission is Sr. Nirmala Rani ICM, who has served in Mongolia for more than two decades. She recalled arriving in the country when the Catholic community was still small, facing challenges in catechesis and accompanying people as they encountered Christianity.

Her most significant missionary experience, she said, has been working with children with intellectual disabilities at the Rainbow Center, where she had spent 15 years accompanying them at the time of her testimony.

Reflecting on this ministry, she described encountering “a God who suffers in silence.” She connected the experience with Christ's words on the cross, “I thirst,” which she said became a daily call to respond to the unspoken needs of the children.

The Rainbow Center's programs include speech therapy, physiotherapy, life-skills training, vocational preparation and assistance in integrating children into mainstream schools.

The center also works with parents, educators and community organizations to promote awareness of disability, strengthen understanding of children's needs and advocate for their rights and inclusion.

Through vocational preparation and practical-skills development, the sisters seek to help young people gain greater independence and, where possible, access employment. The initiative aims to enable them to contribute to their families and participate more fully in society.

For the ICM Sisters, the anniversary was an opportunity to recognize a mission measured not only by the number of years but also by the lives accompanied and opportunities created for children and young people who often face social marginalization.

As they marked the congregation's 129th Foundation Day, the sisters renewed their commitment to compassionate and inclusive service, drawing inspiration from their foundress to continue bringing hope, dignity and God's love to those entrusted to their care.