Sisters of Charity Mark Italian Missionaries' 150th Year in India
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (RD/SB)
Mangalore, Mar 23: Sisters of Charity of Saints Bartholomew Capitanio and Vincenza Gerosa commemorated the 150th anniversary of arrival of first Italian missionary sisters in India (1860–2010) here, recently.
The Institute of the Sisters of Charity a charitable enterprise for a great need was founded on 21st November 1832 at Lovere on Bartholomew’s initiative and with the co-operation of the Vincenza Gerosa and helped by Fr Angelo Bosio.
Sisters render long dedicated services at Prashanth Nivas, Jeppu, here for the mentally challenged girls, orphan children and the neglected old people of the society. In Nirmala Social Welfare Centre, Ullal, here and through Father Muller Charitable Institutions the service is rendered giving hope for the young girls. The people of Mangalore have benefited a lot from their long selfless service in the education, social work and health care.
From its inception the institute enjoyed the protection and patronage of the Infant Mary. By an extraordinary miraculous happening connected with the little wax statue of the Infant Mary, bound the Institute to her devotion, hence, the Sisters of Charity also known as the Sisters of Maria Bambina.
Four Italian Missionary sisters chosen by the then Superior General Mother Teresa Bosio being invited by the Italian Missionary Fathers in Bengal for the education of girls to sow the seed of the Word of God. They treasured the charisma of charity in their hearts and set out on February 7 1860 beyond the confines of their secure land Italy, placing no limits to their generosity except the bounds defined by religious obedience. They arrived in Calcutta on March 11 1860. After three days journey along the Ganges on March 17 they arrived in Krishnanagar and lived in a poor hut.
In 1898 the Sisters stepped on the shores of Mangalore. Within a short time they took charge of the catechumenate at Jeppu, here, which admitted the destitute, aged, the disabled and the foundlings of Mangalore and its suburbs.
The Mangalore Province saw the light of day in the year 1932. Today we have 8 provinces in India namely, Mangalore, Calcutta, Calicut, Dharwad, New Delhi, Secunderabad, North East and South East.
Both Saints were canonized on May 18 1950.
Mother Piercarla Mauri is the present Superior General. Under her guidance 4,538 sisters, spread in 21 countries and working in 438 communities give expression to the charisma of charity through education, caring for the sick, socio-pastoral work, empowerment of women and reach out to the marginalized of all kinds.
Presently in the province of Mangalore we are 400 sisters in 40 communities. Under the able leadership of Sr Irene Jane provincial superior sisters render dedicated service in Mangalore, Udupi, Bhatkal, Kasargod, Hassan, Chikmagalur, Mysore, Bangalore, Shimoga, and Bijapur districts. The main apostolate is Education, Health care, Home for the destitute, Prison ministry, Care of leprosy and HIV/AIDS afflicted. Sisters also work as missionary in Italy (Milan, Rome, Bergamo), California, Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, Zambia and Zimbabwe (Africa), Bangladesh, Nepal and Nazareth.
Today, the congregation reaps the harvest of what had been sown with faith and toiled with patience of Italian Missionary Sisters. Loyal to the precious heritage they have left behind, to recapture their close involvement with the poorest and the neediest of today, their love for poverty, dedication and hard work.