Canossian Life
Our Institute was founded during the difficult period when the Church was not fully in favour of women’s congregations with simple vows and no cloistered life. However, saints, in their wisdom, always respond with an appropriate answer to the social needs of their times. In the 1800’s Magdalen introduced a new image of the woman in society and in the Church with her sensitivity and growing attention to the social needs of a world born between Revolution, Restoration and Spiritual Rebirth.
Magdalen says that “Religious life is but the gospel put into practice.” We are called then to be “contemplative apostles” which, simply put, means maintaining a balance between prayer and service with a focus also on building community and taking some time for leisure.
Prayer is an essential part of our daily life. Our day begins and ends with prayer both as a community and with some personal time. We consider prayer as a privileged way of drawing closer to Jesus who nourishes us and sends us to meet Him in the brothers and sisters we minister to in our apostolic services. Daily Eucharist forms an integral part of our prayer life as well as a weekly sharing on the gospel. Fidelity to these commitments opens us to the newness of God each day and to the needs of the world.
Our variety of ministries engages us within the framework of five broad needs:
- Education
- Evangelisation
- Care of the sick
- Spiritual Exercises and
- the Promotion of the Laity
We carry out these services within our own structures and in collaboration with others both at civil and Church level. We believe that, whatever work we are in involved in, we are called to be a sign and presence of the Love of Jesus that knows no distinction and pays particular attention to those who are marginalized or oppressed.
We keep in focus the words of Magdalen who reminds us that
“no human misery or poverty should be foreign to us.”
The work itself may be no different from that which others can, and do. As women consecrated to God, however, we believe we make a difference through our presence in the world, a reminder that God lives and that God loves today. Concretely we pool our resources and our energies to create opportunities of justice and equality with a particular focus on children, young adults and women.
The profession of the three vows calls us to the more: poverty opens our eyes to the needs of the world in which 2/3 rds live below the poverty line; Obedience calls us to listen to God together towards the creation of a better world; Chastity invites us to learn to love as God loves.
Community living gives us the opportunity to share the joys and struggles of daily life as we strive to give witness to the love of Christ who is at the centre of our being together.
