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International Congregation
Founded on April 11, 1799
by Jeanne Antide Thouret in Besançon - France
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St. Jeanne Antide |
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Woman of God to the service of the poor |
Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret, foundress of the “Sisters of Charity” was born in Sancey- le –long, France, on November 27, 1765.
At a very young age, Jeanne Antide demonstrated a keen sensitivity and special love for those who suffered. Through acts of dedicated service, her awareness of seeing Jesus in the poor became the guiding force for her whole life. At age of 22, she left the family and her village to enter the Daughters of Charity, in Paris, where she absorbed the spirituality of Saint Vincent De Paul.
After a few years however, because of the French revolution , she was forced to go into exile in several European countries, always searching for God’s Will, until 1797,which under of a Bishop and ministers from her diocese, she came back to France to “Educate the youth , assist the sick who were poor and to collaborate to restore faith”.
In Besançon, the day of April 11, 1799, gave birth to the institute of Sisters of Charity a small free school was opened for young girls. A soup kitchen to feed the poor was organized, the sick were visited and cared for in their poor homes, the Gospel was announced in parishes, and young women eager to follow her in the adventure of love were welcomed and trained. Soon the small seed planted in the French land, became a tree, which extended its branches over the world; nothing could stop her love and preference for the poor in whom she saw and served the suffering Jesus.
She died on August 24, 1826 in Naples.
The church, acknowledging a woman belonging completely to the Lord, totally dedicated to the poor whom she loved and served the same as Christ, proclaimed her a Saint on January 14, 1934 and celebrates her liturgical feast on May 23rd.Follwing the founders completely in the same congregation Saints like Agostina, Blessed Nemesia and the servant of God Sr. Enrichetta were evolved.
| Charism of St Jeanne Antide |
Gift received from God for our brothers and sisters
At the school of St Vincent de Paul, St Jeanne Antide learned to contemplate and love Jesus in the poor, serving with the attitudes of Charity, humility and simplicity and with the same mercy and tenderness of God the Father, who embraces all people, in all times and in every place.
With the same passion
Inspired by the faith, courage and audacity of St. Jeanne Antide, we seek to make her first intuition a reality, freeing ourselves for having an open heart to serve the poor and bring them the Gospel.
“Our neighbor is everywhere; God is everywhere; that is good enough for us”. “We have heard the voice of our vocation; we have heard the voice of our neighbor throughout the world; we heard the voice of the poor who are members of Jesus Christ and our brothers and sisters. Wherever they may be, they are equally dear to us.” (S.J.A.Cir.1821)
Today the Sisters of Charity of St Jeanne Antide Thouret spread throughout the world on America, Europa, Africa and Asia (27 country and 2900 sisters), are totally devoted to live the witness only the love of Christ.
| Sisters of Charity in India |
At the service of life
For us, the celebrations of the Bicentenary were first and foremost a lovely occasion to recognize the gift that God has given to us and to give Him thanks. In other ways, it has given us a new dynamism; in recalling the foundation the fire of love which inflamed St Jeanne Antide, we are relaunched on the paths of life. Today as in the past, we want to respond generously. Holding fast to our service, we wish to remain at the heart of the world as witness to the loving kindness of God for all the poor. The new venture in INDIA on 1999, in the state of Tamil Nadu, at Nadaikkavu in the Syro-Malankara diocese of Marthandam, underlines our desire to be at the service of life with a creative faithfulness to the founding charism of St Jeanne Antide, which has a sense of universality and a prompt and courageous response to the call of the Church. And from there to the nearly parishes: Koikkathope, Kidarakuzhy, Chekuttuvilai, and Palavilai (for a medical social service to the very poor especially the sick and old people). Also from Nadaikkavu we were going for the pastoral work in the arch diocese of Trivandrum in the parishes of Nalloor Vattom and Kullathoor for the pastoral work and from 27 July 2008 a new community is established. |
The mission in India |
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| To be at the service of the life with a creative faithfulness to the founding charism of St. Jeanne Antide the sisters are doing: |
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Pastoral work such as house visiting, gospel vigils, prayer group for youths and mothers, prayer and caring groups for the poor. Apart from these, teaching catechesis in the parishes, preparation for the sacraments, Christian initiation for both children and adults…Visits to the sick deprived of all help and in emergency cases, find the means to send them to hospital |
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To improve the social and cultural level of young men and women, young mothers to find work, to help them to face the overwhelming economic situation Formation’s Centers have been created: |
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The computer center “Christu-Raja” at Nadaikkavu and St. Jeanne Antide Computer center at Kulathoor
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Srothas (training and production center) at Nadaikkavu and
St. Jeanne Antide Multipurpose training center at Kulathoor |
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Another important service is rending by the sisters a Catholic Action Movement named as “Children for Unity and Integral Progress” with the aim of forming Christian groups to be witness to the Incarnate Word becoming flesh. “Jesus grew both in body and in wisdom, gaining favor with God and men” (LK2/52) and “May they all be one”(Jn17/21)
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With the help of around 100 male and female animators the unity groups are formed in 37 parishes all over of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Diocese of Marthandam and formation is given to about 750 children and adults. Formation is based on the word of God specially selected in each month in both languages Tamil and Malayalam. The movement is divided in different sections:
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*Children of primary and middle classes |
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*Adolescents |
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*Missionaries (above 17 years) |
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*The parents and animators |
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The “Unity house” and the centre of formation of the “Children for Unity”:
Rhythmically once in a month, the female and male monitors come together to the unity house to exchange and share the experiences on “the Word of Life”. It is also at that unity house formation camps, recollection days for parents, children and leaders are conducted.
The Unity house welcomes about twenty young student girls who desire to experience fraternal life through going deep into the word of God, and according to the need of each one the duration of their stay varies from one to three years. Free tuition and meals are provided for them during their stay at the unity house. |
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Evening study: For the poor children from our different parishes who are living difficult situation and who are feeble to study are gathering together for education and they are provided with some alimentation
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We sisters of Charity are experiencing the providence of God and the guiding hand of St Jeanne Antide in all our ministries. As she was keeping unwavering confidence in God that was encouraging her to go ahead, we also are following the same encouragement: “Take heart, my daughter, and keep on going”. With a strong belief in the providence of God we want to keep our heart and mind open to understand His Will, to make ourselves ready to go and accomplish it in the Today of the Church as good daughters of St Jeanne Antide.
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TAMIL NADU |
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Sisters of charity of St. Jeanne Antide,
Nadaikkavu, Nittravilai
Nithravilai P.O. 629154
K.K.Dist
Ph : 04651- 242867 , 9443210013 |
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KERALA |
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Sisters of charity of St. Jeanne Antide,
Maradi, Kanthalloor,
Plamootukada, P.O, pin 695128
Tvm (Dist.)
Ph: 0471- 2218008, 9446102922.
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