Seventy-five years ago, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth began their first foreign mission. To celebrate our presence in India, we will follow the journey of our Pioneer Sisters. Over the next year, you will read the story of how six SCNs traveled from Nazareth, Kentucky, to set up a hospital and serve those in need in one of the poorest regions of a newly independent India.
Our story begins more than a year before the departure of our Sisters for India, with a letter written by Mother Ann Sebastian, dated May 7, 1946:
“And now for the atomic bomb! We are entering foreign missions. The Patna District of India! The Jesuit Bishop of Patna, Most Reverend B. J. Sullivan has asked us to build and operate a hospital in Mokama Mission, Patna, for which purpose he has secured thirty-seven acres of land adjoining the Jesuit Mission.
In 1947, we expect to send at least six sisters to open a dispensary and to do catechetical work. Bishop Sullivan believes that we will later see our way to open a central grade and high school in Mokama. He even offers us a leper home in time, provided we are interested. The leper work, he says, is vast and most inviting.”
In our next installment, we will meet the six Sisters chosen to take on this great new adventure.
Thank you for sharing the beginning of our India mission.
It touches my heart when I read or hear about our first pioneer Sisters going to India .
Looking back at these 75 years who could ever imagine the number of Sisters
present there now in different ministries.
This series is most awaited for!! How many times I have heard of it, everytime there is a new message. Thank you.
Yes, and the atom bomb has exploded. The journey which began 75 years ago continues through every SCN who responded to that explosion and through all our collaborators . Yet, we have miles to go before we sleep.
Thanks for this series… No matter the number of times we hear this, it sounds new & exciting..
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Wow….. Great journey through history and historic sites.