Institute of the Incarnate Word

The Institute of the Incarnate Word (known by its Spanish acronym IVE, Instituto del Verbo Encarnado) is a Catholic clerical religious institute composed of priests, seminarians, and religious brothers. Founded in Argentina on March 25, 1984, by Reverend Father Carlos Miguel Buela, the Institute was canonically erected as a religious community of diocesan right in 2004. Today, its missionaries serve across five continents in dozens of countries worldwide.

Our Charism and Mission

The specific objective of the Institute is the evangelization of the culture. Following Christ more closely under the action of the Holy Spirit, members seek to bring the power of the Gospel to the core of human thought, culture, and social structures.

The Mystery of the Incarnation: The pivotal focus of the IVE spirituality is the Incarnation of the Son of God, seeking to “prolong” Christ in all things.
Eucharistic Life: The Holy Eucharist stands as the center and root of our consecration as religious.
Missionary and Marian Identity: We are essentially missionary, ready to go wherever the church needs us most, and deeply Marian, taking a fourth vow of consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Together with the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará (SSVM)—the sister branch of religious women—and the Secular Third Order, they comprise the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word.

Parochial Ministry in the Diocese of Peterborough

Since 2009, the IVE fathers have faithfully served within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peterborough. In collaboration with the local ordinary and the broader diocesan community, their priests provide vital pastoral care, parish administration, sacramental prep, and spiritual retreats.

Currently, the Institute fulfills its missionary charism by shepherding three specific parish communities in the diocese:

Parish	Location	Pastoral Focus
Sacred Heart Catholic Church	Peterborough, ON	Offering regular parish life, youth sacramental preparation, and the Traditional Latin Mass.
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church	Peterborough, ON	Fostering an active, community-centered parish environment in the south end of the city.
St. Mary’s (Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary)	Lindsay, ON	Entrusted to the IVE since 2021, focusing on faith formation, community outreach, and sacramental life.

Through these assignments, the IVE fathers carry out their missionary zeal close to home, continuously striving to make the Gospel of Jesus Christ the foundational root of the local community.