“As consecrated women, we Adorers are called not only to serve the poor, but also to struggle against poverty for the building of a more equal and just world.  Working as an NGO, with its rights and responsibilities, the ASC Congregation can enter into relationships to further …initiatives for justice and peace, defending the rights of adults and children victims of trafficking and other forms of violence, support those with HIV/AIDS and promote the insertion of women in positions of responsibility in the world.” (2005 General Assembly Acts)

 “We reaffirm our willingness to offer and accept the collaboration of other congregations and organizations in the Church, of associations, of groups and persons of good will within and outside our areas…” (2005 General Assembly Acts)

In fidelity to these calls of the 2005 General Assembly,  the Adorers of the Blood of Christ were accepted as an Associate member of VIVAT International in July 2007.

What is VIVAT?

VIVAT International is an organized network of the Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit and the confreres of the Society of the Divine Word and six other congregations (Associate members) whose work, expertise, or experience has a direct bearing on issues related to social justice, development, the eradication of poverty, women and children, peace, ecology, and of those directly associated with these congregations in their apostolate and activities related to these issues.

The significance of the name VIVAT is derived from the Latin verb ‘VIVERE ’  meaning ‘LIVE’ and  expresses the deep wish for all that exists: “may he/she live, may all persons live and may all creation live”. The name VIVAT International is a unifying symbol of the two Congregations that founded the NGO and the other Associate member congregations.

The significance of the LOGO is that it depicts three persons embracing, welcoming and supporting one another while at the same time looking beyond their own circle to the larger outer world that is longing for unity and communion. The three olive shoots springing from the second letter of VIVAT stand for the hope and the transformation that VIVAT International envisages for the world.

THE VISION of VIVAT is  a vision of the world and of every human being as created in goodness and dignity. Believing in the equality in the rights and the dignity of all individuals, peoples and cultures, we commit ourselves to promote justice, harmony, and reconciliation in the world.

To make this vision real, members of VIVAT aim to: 

1. Reach out to persons and peoples living in poverty of any kind, and share in their efforts for a restoration of well-being, dignity, and freedom.
2. Promote human rights, sustainable development, understanding and harmony between peoples, cultures, classes, and religions, and the creation of a world society and of local societies that permit the participation of all.
3. Work for ecological sustainability, the protection of biodiversity, and the preservation of the richness of the planet for future generations.

THE GOALS OF VIVAT are

1. To promote networking among its members, and most particularly to promote collaboration with the United Nations in achieving common goals such as the goals of peace, respect for human rights, equitable and harmonious relations between peoples and nations, socio-economic and ecological well-being;

2. To distribute information aimed at awareness raising among its members;

3. To glean the grassroots experience and insights from its members and bring these to the attention of others, particularly the United Nations;

4. To carry out liaison for networking and collaboration with other agencies and NGOs. 

ASC member on VIVAT Board of Directors - Sister Mariamma Kunnackal, ASC General Superior.

ASC liaison to VIVAT Board of Directors – Sister Zita Resch, ASC General Councillor.        

The Adorers have established a network of contacts, one ASC in each Region or Foundation, who is responsible for sharing information about VIVAT and from VIVAT with the ASCs in her Region or Foundation and in gathering issues and stories for the VIVAT Executive Committee to use in their advocacy efforts at the United Nations.