OUR MISSION

The IMS

A MUTUAL ASSISTANCE MISSION

The International Missionary Benefit Society is an ecumenical association whose purpose is to help Superiors and Bishops take care of men and women religious, priests, seminarians, pastors and members of associations of the faithful and their sick spouses and children, when they do not have a healthcare system in their country.

 

Operation

Serving religious communities and institutes and their members, the IMS intervenes in the field of funding healthcare, in accordance with the obligations laid down by Canon law.

Thanks to the IMS, the conditions of the mission for ecclesial and pastoral workers are enhanced, economic and social assistance is provided, better protection of people and solutions for help with healthcare are sought and complementary solutions (repatriation and mutual assistance funds) are offered.

The IMS is built and operates on a mutual and solidarity system. It redistributes the funds that it receives through the contributions in the form of assistance and has an international reach. It offers assistance solutions to cover healthcare costs in parts of the world where financial means are limited and the available healthcare is insufficiently developed. Unconditional membership is offered (age, health). The assistance is identical for all beneficiaries regardless of age.

The Association, founded for Missionaries, now serves Churches in the emerging countries. Since its origin, it is equally open to the pastoral agents of other Christian churches.

 

IN SUMMARY, THE IMS IS:

  • 5 options of participation and assistance in line with the needs of each group
  • Local or international options
  • Sections in Europe, Africa and Latin America
  • Christian values of solidarity
  • Contributions and assistance adapted according to needs and place
  • No age limit
  • Collective membership
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Solidarity is at the heart if not the heart of our assistance system

We work with the aim of “taking care” and contributing to social peacefulness by providing healthcare cover regardless of the place and the living conditions of the beneficiaries.

We hope that this sharing will be extended further to those missionaries who do not have access to proper healthcare cover; indeed, that “well managed sharing will be multiplied”.

We still have the task of setting up a high-quality care network that is also accessible in very disadvantaged health areas.

The annual meeting of the Steering Committee and of the Sections is an occasion to come together to listen and discuss people’s concerns so that decision-making is adjusted to the reality of the communities and the dioceses in their countries.

 

The association, which was founded in 1965 by and for a few missionaries, must now adapt to the new forms of religious life and the needs of the mission. The IMS is gradually enriched with the discovery of our differences, our needs and the contributions of all its members. Meeting, dialogue, solidarity, fraternity and very concrete support are our horizons.

Sister Elisabeth Auliac, President of the International Missionary Society