History

 HOLY CROSS SISTERS IN INDIA



The first group of Holy Cross Sisters arrived in India 1894. The Tyrolian Capuchins had invited them to take up at first an Orphanage in Bettiah, North Bihar. Less than two years later three of the sisters succumbed to Cholera during an epidemic, while the fourth one’s health was broken. Despite the dreary prospects another group of volunteers arrived within a few months time and the work continued. There were repeated calamities such as epidemics and famines that increased the number of orphans in North India. In 1897 for instance the sisters had to provide for 594 orphans.

4. WIDEN THE SPACE OF YOUR TENT

The Indian Novitiate and the Expansion of the Mission

The Holy Cross Sisters established their own novitiate in India at Hazaribagh in 1952. This decisive step would soon lead to a “bursting out to the right and to the left.”

Up to this time the apostolic presence of the Holy Cross Sisters had been confined to North Bihar, with just two houses in South Bihar. In the period from 1952 to 1970 three more houses were added in Bihar, and mission work was taken up among the Santals. The sisters also moved out into Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and southwards to Maharashtra and south Kanara. As the number of vocations increased, new works became possible. On the other hand, the Sisters’ presence in new places made the congregation known among more young women who felt called to religious life.

5. DECLARATION OF THE INDIAN PROVINCE

In 1970 the Holy Cross Mission in India was given the status of a Province. 1985 is another year of great historical importance for the Holy Cross Sisters in India. It marks the FIRST INDIAN PROVINCIAL’S acceptance of responsibility of Holy Cross province in India, spreading from Sikkim in the North to Kerala in the South, from West Bengal to Maharashtra. This event was like a signal for further expansion and development. A number of new stations were opened in rather quick succession in various parts of India. Moreover the development in ecclesial and secular life brought new insights, a growing consciousness of the needs of the people, and also a different approach to socio-economic problems. Educational institutions ranging from pre-primary to Teachers’ Training schools spread over a number of states. The sick were cared for in the government hospitals and dispensaries and later in the congregation’s own hospitals.
In 1991 the Indian Province was bifurcated into three Provinces as Central, North East and South Provinces.

6. PRESENT STATUS

At present around 3500 Holy Cross Sisters are carrying out their various apostolic activities in 450 establishments in five continents. We are engaged in healthcare, pastoral care, education, social work. In short, in the words of our Foundress, “We hurry to anywhere, where human needs call us to be”.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Life of Bl. Mother Maria Theresa Scherer

Image
  Blessed Mother Maria Theresa Scherer (1825-1888) Foundress of Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross A woman lived her present - which has passed to form a future which is now, and tomorrow… Catherine Scherer was born at Meggen, Canton Luzern, Switzerland on 31 st  October 1825. Her parents were simple farmers. From early childhood Divine Providence prepared her for her future mission through joyful and painful events. Urged by Christ’s love to serve the young, the sick and the poor, she joined the Congregation of the Holy Cross at the age of 19 years. The young community had just been founded by Fr. Theodosius Florentini OFM Cap. and she was one of the first 5 members. In June 1845 she received the novices’ dress from the hands of the Founder himself and on 27 th  October of the same year, she took her first vows as Sr. M. Theresa. Then she began her activity as a teacher. In 1852 the Founder called her to Chur where he entrusted her with the administration of his first hospital and wit
Read more

Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross

Image
  Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross History The congregation of the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross was founded by Fr. Theodosius Florentini OFM Cap. and Blessed Mother Maria Theresia Scherer in Switzerland in the year 1856. It is affiliated to the Third order Regular of St.Francis of Assisi and is of pontifical Right. The foundation took place in Switzerland at a time of upheaval and change. A vast number of people in the industrial nations of Europe had been plunged into poverty and misery with the onset of the industrial revolution in Europe. Orphaned and neglected children roamed the roads or were forced to work in factories in inhuman conditions. The sick had no proper care; industrial workers were exploited; the educational system was badly in need of reform; proper schooling was available only to a privileged section of society.  In this situation, God called and sent a young Capuchin, Fr. Theodosius, who was gifted with an extraordinary social awareness. It is said of him t
Read more

Life of the Founder

Image
  Fr. Theodosius Florentini, OFM Cap. Fr. Theodosius Florentini, OFM Cap. (Anton Crispin) was born on May 23rd, 1808 in Munster valley of Canton Graubünden in Switzerland. It was a time of transition from the pre-industrial to the industrial era. There was the religious, socio-political upheaval and decadence with a widening rift between the have’s and have not's. A sense of frustration grew into hopelessness and despair that began to take over much of the human spirit. A feeling of a vanishing future created a kind of dementia of despair. The time needed persons with great stamina and of high intellectual caliber. Fr. Theodosius was determined to face this turbulent time in Switzerland. He began his active life at this time and so committed his best potentialities to this task. He was aware of what was happening. With this awareness, there grew within him freedom and courage to question. We observe in him this questioning mind already while he was in school. At the age of 21, he c
Read more