Glory to God whose power working

in us

can do infinitely more

than we can Ask or

Imagine.”

Eph 3:20

How It All StartedIn Singapore

Singapore : 5 Feb 1854

4 Sisters Began Mission with:

• 1 Bed• 2 Mats• 2 Chairs• 2 Stools• 1 Saucepan – to make tea,

coffee or curry• No Hinges on Doors

Mother Mathilde Sr Apollinaire

Sr Gregory Sr Gaetan

Who were they?

Mother St Mathilde Raclot

1814 - 1911

The four IJ sisters travelled from France to

Penang, Malaysia in 1852.

They set up schools and an orphanage.

Mother Mathilde left Le Havre, France for Malaysia

IJ Convent in Penang, Malaysia

Two years later, in 1854,they travelled to

Singapore.

Then they travelled to Japan in 1872.

Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, Singapore

In the 1800’s, Singapore presented immense challenges,

such as

* lack of funds* lack of space

* lack of personnel

How did they feel?

Despite all these:-

* Schools began.* Boarding for girls

began.* An orphanage began.

They survived in great poverty.

The languages both English and Malay were

strange.

The Odds

Their presence in Singapore

gave many girls the chance

to be educated. In those days,

preference was given mainly to

boys.

The Community Room at Caldwell House

What motivated them to overcome

immense oddsto carry on?

The Sisters were:-

women of great faith,daring and courageous.

women who trusted

in God’s Providence.

women convinced of the

value of educating girls especially the

poor and disadvantaged.

women who opened their doors

to welcome abandoned children.

They forged ahead, convinced of the intrinsic worth of

each child.

They welcomed any child regardless of race, language or

religion.

Thus, since 1662, ‘to instruct and to

educate’ the child

remains the motivating

backbone of missions by the

Infant Jesus Sisters.

OUR MOTTO

Simple in Virtue, Steadfast in Duty

OUR AIM That all may come to know God’s love

and live life to the fullness.

The Infant Jesus Mission Yesteryears till Today

France : 1662

Malaysia : 1852Singapore : 1854Japan : 1872Thailand : 1885-1907; 1957

England : 1892Italy : 1906Ireland : 1909Belgium : 1910 to 1983China : 1936 to 1946

California : 1950 – 1989Peru : 1967Cameroon : 1968Australia : 1969 – 1989Nigeria : 1983

The Philippines : 1984Bolivia : 1992Romania : 1993Czech Rep : 1998Myanmar : 2001

Blessed Nicolas Barré1621 - 1686

The Founder of Infant Jesus Sisters

The headquarters of CHIJ in Paris in 1800’s

ParisParis

Headquarters of CHIJ in Paris Today

The Spirit Blows Where it Wills.

It Continues to Touch the Hearts of All!

HOLD ON TO OUR DREAM