Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (CN)
Mangalore, Oct 27: The Institute of the Sisters of Charity of Saints Capitanio and Gerosa (SCCG) was founded on November 21, 1832 at Lovere, Italy, by Bartolomea Capitanio who had as her first companion Caterina Gerosa. Bartolomea died eight months after the foundation of the Institute and Caterina (Sr Vincenza Gerosa) who accepted her inheritance, continued the charisma of charity, handing it over to several other sisters. Both were canonized by Pope Pius XII on May 1, 1950.
The Institute was erected as a religious congregation by the Papal Brief of Pope Gregory XVI on June 5, 1840. The institute is celebrating the platinum jubilee of its Povincialate and Novitiate at Belvedere, Angelore.
Its work of charity targets the youth, the poor, the sick and aged, orphans, those in prison, the education sector and medical care.
The Institute which forms one single family, is divided into provinces and communities. In its 179th year of existence it has 4,367 sisters serving in four continents – Asia, Europe, America and Africa; spread over 20 countries in the world, in 429 communities. They are working in 17 provinces, two general delegations (Japan and Zambia-Zimbabwe), and 11 communities directly dependent on the superior general Mother Anna Maria Vigano.
They have 10 provinces in Asia—Bangladesh, Calcutta, Calicut, Dharwad, Mangalore, Myanmar, New Delhi, North-East India, Secunderabad, and South-East India with 2,084 Sisters.
The Mangalore Province comprises of 39 communities, 3 offshoots with 405 sisters, besides 12 formees of whom 241 sisters in 21 communities render their service in the Diocese of Mangalore.
Their apostolic mission in the dioceses of Mangalore, Shimoga, Chikmagalur, Mysore, Karwar and Archdiocese of Bangalore comprises of schools, colleges, hostels, embroidery classes, and ‘Grahini’ schools. Pastoral work in these regions includes teaching Catechism in schools and parishes as well as involvement in all parish activities and visiting homes. They also run homes for orphans and the destitute, the disabled and mentally challenged, social welfare centres, re-habilitation centres, children’s homes, creches, care of unwed mothers, and a prison ministry. Hospitals, health centres, child care centres, and service at hospitals and colleges of nursing are their other services.