Verein Bethlehem Mission Immensee (BMI)

About the association BMI

The Verein Bethlehem Mission Immensee (BMI) is a Catholic organisation for personnel development cooperation (PEZA) and development policy awareness-raising, based in Immensee (Canton of Schwyz, Switzerland). It has existed as an association under Art. 60 ff. of the Swiss Civil Code since 17 November 2000 and understands itself as continuing the tradition of the Mission Society of Bethlehem (SMB), the SMB Association and the Partner Association Bethlehem. The association places specialists for sustainable development in countries of the Global South and carries out animation and educational work in Switzerland and southern Germany. It is also active in publishing, among other things with the magazine «Bethlehem» (from 1972 «Wendekreis») as well as the New Journal for Mission Sciences or the yearbook «Forum Mission». Its historical roots lie in the «Ecole apostolique de Bethléem», founded by Pierre-Marie Barral in Meggen in 1895 and relocated to Immensee in 1896, from which the Mission Society of Bethlehem (SMB) emerged in 1921. The centre of the work is Immensee with its archive, ethnological collection and cemetery; further locations are the Romero-Haus Lucerne (training and further education) as well as regional offices in Fribourg and Locarno.

Site

Immensee

Processes

Personnel development cooperation (PEZA), Development policy awareness-raising, Animation and educational work (Switzerland and southern Germany), Publishing activities (magazine «Bethlehem»/«Wendekreis», NZM/Forum Mission), Placement of specialists for sustainable development in countries of the Global South

Founded

2000

Industries

Development cooperation, Mission work/church organisations, Educational work

Locations

History

1. 1895

   Founding of the «Ecole apostolique de Bethléem» by Pierre-Marie Barral in Meggen (LU); first edition of the magazine «Bethlehem»

2. 1896

   Relocation to Immensee (Canton of Schwyz); from this the Gymnasium Bethlehem emerges

3. 1907

   Reorganisation as the Mission House Bethlehem by Pietro Bondolfi

4. 1921

   Papal decree establishing the «Swiss Seminar for Foreign Missions» (30 May); Pietro Bondolfi first Superior General

5. 1924

   Dispatch of the first three missionaries to China

6. 1934

   Name «Society for Foreign Missions of Bethlehem in Switzerland» (SMB)

7. 1986

   Romero-Haus in Lucerne used for training and further education

8. 1994

   Promotional name «Bethlehem Mission Immensee» comes into use

9. 1995

   Transfer of the Gymnasium into a private foundation (Gymnasium Immensee)

10. 2000

    Transfer of the SMB Association into the «Partner Association Bethlehem» (PaV); founding of the association «Bethlehem Mission Immensee» (BMI) on 17 November