CONGRATULATIONSCONGRATULATIONS

Jubilations! 325 Years!Jubilations! 325 Years!

Merci Beacoup Mon Merci Beacoup Mon Dieu!!! Dieu!!!

Jubilee of the Foundation

of the

Congregation of the

Sisters

of St. Charles Borromeo

BELGIUM IN THE 17BELGIUM IN THE 17THTH CENTURY CENTURY

BELGIAN WOMEN AT THE TIME BELGIAN WOMEN AT THE TIME OF THE FOUNDATIONOF THE FOUNDATION

“Reading, writing and arithmetic” is a famous phrase used to describe the popular education of ancient times,

and that was precisely followed in the schools of Christian Doctrine. This

explains St. Charles’ great zeal for the spreading of the Christian Doctrine

schools.

EDUCATION OF CHILDREN EDUCATION OF CHILDREN ORPHANED AS A RESULT OF WARORPHANED AS A RESULT OF WAR

EDUCATION OF WOMEN OF HIGH EDUCATION OF WOMEN OF HIGH STATUSSTATUS

Importance was given for the education of the elite, the families of nobles and

higher rungs of society

The poor were left to languish in their ignorance and poverty both material, intellectual and spiritual

THE ORIGIN OF THE CONGREGATION

OF THE SISTERS OF ST. CHARLES BORROMEO

Fr. Adrien Bresy assembled five young ladies in his presbytery on September 27, 1684:

Marie Catherine Warquain

Elizabeth Lepe

Marie Ann Lepez

Marguerite Delrue

Marie Barbe Delrue

Founder - Rev. Fr. Adrien

Bresy

Foundation in 1684

At Wez-Velvain, Belgium

First sisters vested and

professed by Fr.

Adrien Bresy on November

25, 1685

Extract from the Vestition Register signed by Fr.

Adrien Bresy and Mother Marie Catherine Warquain

VESTITION - PROFESSIONVESTITION - PROFESSION

Past Present

The Founder and the First Sisters placed themselves under the protection of St. Charles Borromeo

PATRON OF THE CONGREGATION

The Church was celebrating with

great pomp the centenary of the death of St. Charles Borromeo in 1684.

He was : An Ardent Apostle

A Reformer

An Educator

A Saint

Charles was born in the castle of Arona in Lago Maggiore in the very North of Italy, on October 2, 1538. He was born to Count Gilbert Borromeo and Margaret de Medici, whose younger brother Angelo later became Pope Pius IV.

He took his doctorate in law in the University of Pavia when he was twenty-two, and was soon afterwards appointed Cardinal,Deacon and Administrator of the See of Milan. At twenty-four, he assisted ably in the Council of Trent and the publishing of the Tridentine Catechism. He was ordained a priest in September 1563 and three months later, when he was only twenty-five years old, consecrated Archbishop of Milan.

He died on November 4, 1584. He was canonized in 1610 and is the Patron Saint of Lombardy and Catechists.

OUR PATRONOUR PATRONST. CHARLES BORROMEOST. CHARLES BORROMEO

A Saint for all Times and Seasons

PAINTING OF THE GLORY OF PAINTING OF THE GLORY OF ST. CHARLES IN HEAVENST. CHARLES IN HEAVEN

SISTERS OF ST. CHARLES BORROMEO CALLED SISTERS OF ST. CHARLES BORROMEO CALLED TO INCARNATE THE COMPASSIONATE TO INCARNATE THE COMPASSIONATE

LOVE OF GODLOVE OF GOD

17TH CENTURY CASTLE IN BELGIUM

There are more castles per square mile in Belgium than anywhere else in the world. Beautiful castles to experience, formal gardens to get lost in, peaceful

abbeys and historic battlefields.

Across the river, off busy Rue de Pont, is Rue Barre St. Brice. On this narrow street stand two romanesque houses from the 12th century. The two, numbers 12 and 14, are possibly the oldest private houses in Europe.

TOURNAI

Tournai is considered to be one of the most important cultural sites in Belgium. The mixed Romanesque- and Gothic-style cathedral of Notre Dame de Tournai and the belfry, the oldest in Belgium, have been jointly designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Inside the cathedral, the Châsse de Notre-Dame flamande, a beautifully ornate 12th-century reliquary, gives witness to Tournai's wealth in the Middle Ages. Other places of interest are the 13th-century Scheldt bridge (Pont-des-Trous) and the main square (Grand'Place), as well as several old city gates, historic warehouses, and a variety of museums.

CHURCH OF ST. BRICE

• On rue Barre-St-Brice are two of the oldest private houses in Europe, dating from between 1175 and 1200 and built in the Romanesque style, while the rue des Jésuites includes a Gothic house from the 13th century.

• As is the case with many cities in Belgium there are a number of beautiful and friendly cafés and pubs in the Grand'Place. In the middle of the Grand'Place there are a series of water fountains that are fun to observe and even play in for people of all ages. Another great interactive experience available is climbing the circular staircase to the top of the belfry.

Fr. Adrien Bresy, the Founder, shifted his residence to this castle. The seminarians were lodged in this castle while the seminary of Tournai was being constructed.

RUINS OF THE CASTLE OF WEZRUINS OF THE CASTLE OF WEZ

The Portrait of a Just ManThe Portrait of a Just Man• BEAUTIFUL FACE: That radiated the glow of the Father’s love

that attracted all to a life of Faith.• BEAUTIFUL HANDS: That weaved bright threads of joy in lives

that grieved in his parish.• BEAUTIFUL FEET: That walked on errands of service to educate

the poor children in his parish.• BEAUTIFUL LIPS: That spoke words of comfort to the mourner

and soothed the wearied of his time.• BEAUTIFUL EYES: That beamed with the radiance of the glory,

and sending mercy and peace of the Master.• BEAUTIFUL HEART: That saw, touched and shared

the compassionate love of the Jesus.• BEAUTIFUL SOUL: That trusted always in Divine Providence,

seeking God’s will in matters big and small.• BEAUTIFUL LIFE: That bore for others their burden of cares,

Hidden yet visible. Yes indeed, He was,A FLAME IN THE DARKNESS!!!

A QUIET AND HOLY PRESENCEWe know very little of Fr. Adrien Bresy, our Founder, he is one of those who has made a deep and lasting impression in the early days of the foundation at Wez, Belgium.

We have a just and holy man who did not even give his name to the Congregation he founded. He did not leave a written charter of principles, a rule of life for the Sisters to follow, but laying aside the desire for glory and honour in the spirit of St. John the Baptist who said “ He must increase, I must decrease.”

The greatest fact of his life was a life offered totally to God and His people. We who are hungry for details about the lives of holy persons are again reminded that their holiness was after all, a total response to Christ, expressed in action. Compassion for poor, the lowly, the abandoned, the children and widows.

The name of Fr. Adrien

Bresy is inscribed

on it

THE TOMBSTONE OF FR. ADRIEN BRESY IS LAID IN THE REAR WALL OF THIS CHURCH

TOMBSTONE OF FR. ADRIEN BRESYLAID IN THE PARISH CHURCH OF WEZ.

YOUNG SISTERS OF ST. CHARLES FROM POLAND PAYING HOMAGE TO FR. ADRIEN BRESY

A VIEW OF THE MONASTERY/CONVENT OF A VIEW OF THE MONASTERY/CONVENT OF ST. CHARLES BORROMEO, WEZST. CHARLES BORROMEO, WEZ

A VIEW OF THE CONVENT FROM A VIEW OF THE CONVENT FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES.DIFFERENT ANGLES.

St. Charles Convent Chapel at the Mother House

View of the steeple

A PEEP INTO THE PASTA PEEP INTO THE PASTA VIEW OF THE PRESENT A VIEW OF THE PRESENT

St. Charles Convent Chapel, Wez

THE MONASTERY AS IT WAS KNOWN AND THE MONASTERY AS IT WAS KNOWN AND THE STEEPLE IN THE REARTHE STEEPLE IN THE REAR

TRANSITION – MONASTERY CHAPEL TO TRANSITION – MONASTERY CHAPEL TO SIMPLE CHAPELSIMPLE CHAPEL

MAIN ENTRANCE OF ST. CHARLES CONVENT WEZ.

ST.CHARLES PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE

“Feuille de Tournai dated November 12, 1856 (Translated):

“Besides the care given by these good Sisters to the psychiatric patients and to the women temporarily brought for reasons of age or health, they also have a free school for the poor children and a boarding school for children of well-to-do families …these servants of the Lord shine through the practice of noble virtues. To a fervent piety they add a zeal full of self abnegation for the comfort of the unfortunate ones. They work with dedication to the holy duty for which these Christian ladies had bade goodbye to the world. They find their joy in accomplishing their compassionate task, be it in the care they give to the women afflicted by illness, be it in the formation of the mind and spirit of the young students entrusted to their care… They have renounced the attraction of the world in order to give themselves with an undivided heart to the task that they have chosen and for which the Creator has given them strength. In their holy place of seclusion, their life divided between prayer and duty, they enjoy consolation unknown to the world. Without that deep faith which animates them, they would not be able to accomplish the noble mission they have accepted.

BELGIUM WAS LIBERATED AS A SEPARATE STATE IN 1830, UNDER THE RED, YELLOW

AND BLACK TRICOLOUR

ST.CHARLES BOARDING SCHOOL, WEZ

Mother Alphonse Decoster is awarded the CROSS OF HONOUR BY the Government for her long and devoted

services as directress of the Psychaiatric Institute.

June 2, 1893

GOLDEN JUBILEE OF MOTHER ALPHONSE GOLDEN JUBILEE OF MOTHER ALPHONSE DECOSTERDECOSTER

GET-TOGETHER OF FRIENDS OF ST. CHARLES

ST. CHARLES CONVENT PERUWELZ 1861

PERUWELZ MUSIC CLASS AND SISTERS

A GLIMPSE OF ST. CHARLES FOYER, WEZ

OLD & RECENT PHOTO

NOTRE DAME DES PRODIGESOUR LADY OF WONDERS

A very ancient statue was erected on

a stone pedestal in the quandrangle

of the community between the two

windows of the bishop’s room. On

Saturday, October 19, 1918 a bomb

from an over flying warplane, broke

the stone pedestal. The protecting

dome above the head of the statue

was thrown off, the zinc plaque

beneath was pulled off.

The explosion caused a terrible shock that shattered the

window panes of the surrounding rooms, and to think that

the statue was not even touched and no casualties of human

life! THAT IS INDEED NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE! There

she was standing intact, victorious, and triumphant on the

broken pedestal. The Sisters gathered the pieces of

bombshell and carried them carefully to the feet of the statue.

As soon as circumstances permitted it the Sisters

constructed a pedestal in honour of Our Lady of Wonders and

there she stands to this day a vivid proof of her maternal

presence and protection. The bits of the murderous bomb are

embedded in the wall at the side of the statue.

THE MIRACLE

Our CrestIt was in 1924, 240 years after the foundation that, for the first time, the Sisters of St. Charles paid special honour to the armorial bearing of the Congregation.

As seen on the front cover, on the lower part is a golden bee-hive flanked by two busy bees of the same hue.

On the upper part surmounted by the Cross are initials of St. Charles Borromeo through which runs a golden cord.

Around the eschutcheon runs a garland of spotless lilies And humble violets upon which we find the motto of the Congregation.

Dear cost-of-arms, with joy supremeI gaze upon each radiant beamThat darting forth, recalls to meOur high ideal: True Sanctity.

In sixteen eighty four, blest year,Our Mother House was founded, dear;St. Charles Borromeo, acclaimedBy all the Church, was Patron named.

As trusting children, let us turnTo our loved Saint, and gladly learnTo imitate his piety, His fervour great, and charity.

Upon the crest, the cord entwinedAround his initials, remind,That senses mortified, will leadTo future holiness indeed,

The Shield has symbols fair to see:Sweet violets full of modesty

And lilies, in the summer light,Of purity, and emblem bright.

The hive depicted, in its cellsHas busy bees, whose labour tellsThat as their plunder, honey yields,Our love and zeal should reach far fields.

Our souls should generous be foundTo help and brighten lives around,Forgetting self, with sweet accord,As virgin-wax burns for the Lord.

O blest and holy Cross inspireIn us a pure and firm desireTo work for Christ, and fight all sin.A glorious crown in Heaven to win.

And may we keep this motto trueIn mind, whatever we say and do;Faith, Toil and Progress, here below,Then endless bliss above, we know.

Faith, Toil, ProgressFaith, Toil, Progress

Mother Josephine Allard Foundress of the Mission in India

Pioneers of Indian Mission

FIRST FIVE INDIAN SISTERS AT THE MOTHER HOUSE

THE JOY OF COMMUNITY LIFE

SISTERS PLAYING WITH SNOWBALLS – INDIAN SISTERS PERFORMING A PRAYER DANCE.

MEMORIAL OF THE TRI-CENTENARY ST. CHARLES CONVENT ANTOING

1986

The old Arcades of WezIndian Independence Day

Celebration

CORRIDOR TO THE RESIDENCE OF THE SISTERS

POLISH SISTERS’ VISIT TO THE MOTHER HOUSE, IN FRONT OF THE STATUE OF OUR LADY OF WONDERS

AND IN THE CHAPEL CONSTRUCTED IN 1850

SOEUR ELIANE WITH THE SISTERS DURING THEIR VISIT

SUPERIOR GENERAL AT WEZ REV. MOTHER BENEDICTA - APRIL 2007

COMMUNITY REFECTORY

PRAYER SERVICE – HANDING OF THE REVISED CONSTITUTION 2007

Landmarks• From 1684 to 1835 the number of Sisters admitted was limited to twenty.

The Congregation consisted of only one House at Wez. The

constructions, extensions and transformations was confined only at Wez.

• In 1835 Mother Catherine Henno, Superior in agreement with the

ecclesiastical authority admitted more than twenty religious. In 1849, the

number of Sisters rose to thirty-two and in 1858 there were forty Sisters.

• Soon the Community of Wez accepted to part with some of its members

to found a new community at Peruwelz in 1861, nearly two Centuries after

the Foundation of the Congregation.

• On October 1, 1919 the first co-adjutrix postulants were admitted, they

made their profession on April 27, 1922.

• The celebration of the two hundred and fifty years of the Foundation of

the Congregation opened a New Era, a new thrust in the Congregation.

The Missions in India in 1929. The Sisters in Belgium lived and worked in

union with their Sisters in India, supporting them with their prayers,

sustaining their missionary efforts by their works and sufferings. Mother

Josephine Allard, the Mother of the Missions spared no pain to keep up

the missionary spirit of the Congregation.

• In 1980, Mother Ann Marie Carlier, Superior General, delegated her

Councillor, Sr. Marie Henriette and Sr. Benedicta, the Provincial Superior

of India to apply to Rome for Pontifical Status. The Congregation

received the Decree of Pontifical Right in September 1982.

• The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo at the

threshold of its Third Centenary, responded to the call of the Bishop

of Anatuya, Mgr.Jorge Gottau C.Ss.R. to pioneer the foundation in

Argentina in 1984.

• Launching into the Distant Overseas Missions: Poland in 1994, Italy

in 1996 and Tanzania, Africa in 1997.

• The most recent gift to the Jubilee 325 Years is the presence of the

Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo in Mexico.

• Looking forward to the inauguration of the Senior Citizen’s Home at

Kalyan and the residence of the General Administration.

SISTERS OF ST. CHARLES BORROMEO

BELGIUMWez

PeruwelzAntoing

ARGENTINAEl ColoradoTacanitas

Campo GalloRio Cuarto

San FranciscoBuenos Aires

POLANDAndrzejow

CzestochowaChojny

DabrowaWarszawa

Niepolomice

AFRICAIringa

Dar es SalamKibaoMbeyaKhonda

ITALYMeina

CrusinalloBorgo Ticino

MEXICOTicul

SISTERS OF ST. CHARLES BORROMEO, INDIASISTERS OF ST. CHARLES BORROMEO, INDIAKarnataka• Shimoga – 1933• Bangalore, Hennur Road – 1938• Bhadravati, Old Town – 1943• South Kanara, Omzoor – 1970• Bhadravati, New Town – 1973• Bangalore, Villa Borromeo – 1976• North Kanara, Sunkeri – 1978• Belgaum, Nirmal Nagar – 1979• North Kanara, Shirwad – 1986• South Kanara, Niddodi – 1986• Bangalore, Byrathi – 1987• Bangalore, Kammanahalli – 1994• Bangalore, Geddalahalli – 1994• Mysore, Nanjangud – 2000• Bidar, Muchalamba – 2002 • Bidar, Hulsur - 2009

Maharashtra• Mumbai, Vakola – 1965• Mumbai, Marouli – 1994• Beed, Georai – 1999• Kolhapur, Patne – 1999• Thane, Vasai – 2001• Thane, Majiwada – 2006• Kalyan

Kerala• Kollam, Kadakal – 1991• Cochin, Thuthiyoor – 1993• Kollam, Perumon – 1995• Waynad – 2007•Kizakkabalam -2007

Tamil Nadu• Vellore, Ranipet – 1929• Salem, Yercaud – 1964• Vellore, Jolarpet – 1965• Vellore, Yelagiri – 1969• Madurai, Thiruvalluvar Nagar – 1969• Chennai, Madhavarm – 1971• Vellore, Thirupattur – 1973• Chennai, Perambur – 1984• Tuticorin, Vilathikulam – 1997• Chennai, Kolathur – 1998• Vellore, Ammoor – 1999• Tuticorin, Puliampatti – 1999• Coimbatore, Kollapallur – 2003• Tanjore, Mugandanur - 2005• Chennai, Gummidipoondi - 2005• Dindigual – 2009• Sivagangai, Periyakottai - 2009• Vellore, Nilavur - 2005• Kanyakumari, Muttam - 2010

Andhra Pradesh• Guntur, Chilakaluripet – 1967• Guntur, Kanaparru – 1989• Cherukkupalli - 2007

Jharkhand• Kuru – 1983• Kereng – 1993• Hatia – 1996• Gumla – 2000• Dhumka – 2004

Madhya Pradesh• Hoshangabad – 1983• Shivpuri - 1991

Uttar Pradesh• Jhansi – 2008

Delhi• Najafgarh – 1998• Samaspur - 2005

Mizoram• Hnathial – 2005• New Serchhip – 2006 • Aizwal – 2007

Chattisgarh• Bhatgaon - 1998

Tending the fire of God’s loveWhat began as a dream…LIVES ON…

Come set the world on fire with God’s love.

“That is why I am reminding you now to fan into flame the gift of God that you possess through the laying on of my hands. God did not give us a Spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power and love and self-control.” 2 Tim:1:

6-7

FAN INTO A FLAME

Thank You

INPUTS

Source – Ever Ancient Yet Ever New by Sr. Benedicta Lobo

Script by Sr. Sheila Corda

Directed by Fr. Joaquim Fernandes sdb, Director, Tej-Prasarini

Designed by Tej-Prasarini, Don Bosco Communications, Matunga, Mumbai.

Sr. Sheila and Sr. Sheeja

Supported by General Administration

Encouraged by Provincial Superiors of India

Initiated by COSAF - India

Jubilee 325 Years!Jubilee 325 Years!