History

Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

Origin and History

The congregation of the Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament had its origin in the personal experience of the Eucharistic presence of Venerable Mar Thomas Kurialacherry (1873 – 1925), an ardent devotee of the Holy Eucharist. The inner call received by him was that the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament must be known, loved and adored by all, always and everywhere. He pursued this inspiration with courage perseverence and absolute trust and founded the Adoration Congregation in 1908. Mother Mary Francisca de Chantal [Philomina Vallayil Champakulam (1880-1972)] was the co-foundress and first member of the congregation.

The S.A.B.S. had its humble beginnings with five members in a cowshed on 29 January, 1908 at Edathua. After a few days they shifted to a boathouse near St. George Church, Edathua. When they completed one year of probation, they were given the veil by the founder on 8 December, 1908. The first convent building was constructed at Champakulam and on 17 October, 1910 the aspirants moved to the new building which eventually became the Mother house of the congregation.

It was providential that Fr. Thomas Kurialacherry became the Vicar Apostolic of Changanacherry in 1911. After his consecration as bishop on 10 December, 1911 the five aspirants were vested with the religious habit. The first members made their religious profession on 18 March, 1916 at St. Mary’s Church, Parel, Changanacherry.

Charism and Apostolate

The charism of the S.A.B.S. is Eucharistic devotion. It was the desire of the founder to instil this devotion in every member of the congregation as well as in others, so that all would become adorers of God in spirit and truth. We are to pour out the divine mercy that we experience before the Blessed Sacrament to all we meet in the various fields of apostolate.

Prime importance is given to Eucharistic apostolate. Each day every SABS spends at least one hour before the Blessed Sacrament praying for the salvation of souls, and in reparation for the sins of the world. The whole congregation as a single unit conducts continuous adoration, day and night, covering the whole year. The congregation has perpetual adoration chapels in various centres in Kerala and in different parts of India and abroad. This enables us to share the Eucharistic love with our brethren and thus draw all to the table of the Eucharistic Lord.

Besides Eucharistic Apostolate, the SABS extend their services in the fields of Education, Healing, Social welfare and Missionary activities according to the needs of the time and place.

Development

True to the special charism of the founder, the congregation extended its field of apostolate to all the then existing Syro-Malabar dioceses in Kerala as independent units of the congregation under the Bishops concerned. They were unified under one Superior General on 15 September, 1963. The congregation was raised to the Pontifical status by His Holiness Pope Paul VI on 11 February, 1968.

Enthused by the spirit of the congregation to make the Eucharistic Lord known, loved and adored by all, the sisters extended their services to the states outside Kerala. It was in 1965 that they took up this challenge. The steady progress of the congregationmade it possible to establish 4 Regions in 1986 in various parts of the country under the Provinces in Kerala. In 1998, five Vice Provinces were inaugurated in different parts of India.

Now the SABS render their services in almost all the states in India through their various apostolates. At present, the congregation has nearly 4560 sisters in 22 Provinces and 1 Regions.

The SABS is now growing into international dimensions taking up the mission to bear witness to the Eucharistic Lord in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Kenya, Tanzania, Nepal, the U.S.A., Canada, U.K, Ireland, Brazil and Equador.

Our founder Mar Thomas Kurialacherry was raised to the status of ‘the Venerable’ on 2nd April 2011.

The general curia of the congregation operates from Cenacle, Aluva. A house of prayer is attached to this house, providing facilities to those members who wish to lead a life of prayer in solitude for a limited period. The scholastics from all provinces gather in Cenacle for ‘Pranidhan’ in preparation for the final profession.

The Adoration congregation is striving forward with its vision and dreams to meet the challenges of the present century. We hope that our sisters, with renewed commitment and enthusiasm will be able to reach new pastures to fulfil the missionary mandate of the congregation “that the Eucharistic Lord be known, loved and adored by all, always and everywhere.”

Previous Superior Generals

1963-1973 : Mother Espirith
1973-1979 : Mother Alphonsus Maria
1979-1985 : Mother Lambert
1985-1991 : Mother Delphina
1991-1997 : Mother Felicitta
1997-2003 : Mother Thecla
2003-2009 : Mother Stella Maris
2009-2015 : Mother Rosekate

Christu Raj Province, Palai

At the time of the erection of the Diocese of Palai in 1950 there were 8 convents of our congregation within its geographical boundaries. These convents were formed into an independent unit on 8 April, 1952 for administrative facility and more effective promotion of apostolic activities. Under the paternal care and unsparing encouragement of His Excellency Mar Sebastian Vayalil, the firstBishop of Palai, the congregation flourished and many convents were opened in different parishes. The pioneering sisters were so dedicated and enthusiastic that they spared no pains for the growth of the congregation. We recall with love and gratitude the able guidance and selfless services rendered by Rev. Fr. Sebastian Cherussery during the period.

The foundation of the province was laid on unwavering trust in the love of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus. As a result, the years that followed witnessed the enviable growth of the congregation.

In 1962 a few sisters from our province were sent to Thalassery. When the diocese of Thalassery was erected, the convents under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Thalassery was formed as a new Province.

In 1965 sisters from Palai started missionary work in the north east, frontier states taking the first challenging step in the congregation to move out of Kerala. In 1970 our sisters started evangelisation work in Ujjain. Both the missions flourished spreading Eucharistic love among the people of these regions. In 1998 Corpus Christi region, Dimapur and Jyothirmai region, Ujjain were elevated to the status of Province.

The Province celebrated the Golden Jubilee of its erection in 2002. In 1977 the provincial house at Nelliyani was shifted to Christ Hall, Palai.

The charismatic leaders who guided the province and brought it to the present status are:

Mother Mary Regina 1952 – 1955 Mother General

Mother Mary Celestina 1955 – 1961 Mother General

Mother Mary Eudoxia 1961 – 1964 Mother General

Mother Mary Alice 1964 – 1967 Mother Commissary

Mother Mary Ann 1967 – 1973 Provincial Superior

Mother Maria Therese 1973 – 1976 Provincial Superior

Mother Delphine 1976 – 1979 Provincial Superior

Mother Tresa Martin 1979 – 1982 Provincial Superior

Mother Alphonsus Maria 1982 – 1985 Provincial Superior

Mother Stella Maris 1985 – 1991 Provincial Superior