History

Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

The S.A.B.S. Congregation: Origin & Growth

Foundational Beginnings (1908 – 1911)

The Congregation of the Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (S.A.B.S.) was born out of the profound, personal spiritual experiences of Venerable Mar Thomas Kurialacherry (1873–1925), a deeply devoted priest of the Holy Eucharist. Driven by an inner calling to ensure that the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is “known, loved, and adored by all, always and everywhere,” he courageously founded the Adoration Congregation in 1908. Mother Mary Francisca de Chantal (Philomina Vallayil Champakulam, 1880–1972) was joined as the co-foundress and became the very first member of the Congregation.

The journey began with humble roots on 29 January 1908, when five pioneering members gathered in a makeshift cowshed at Edathua. Within days, they shifted to a nearby boathouse close to St. George Church, Edathua. Upon completing their initial year of probation, the founder vested them with the religious veil on 8 December 1908. The congregation’s first permanent convent building was constructed at Champakulam, and on 17 October 1910, the aspirants moved into this new home, which ultimately became the Mother House of the Congregation.

Ecclesiastical Milestones & Institutional Growth

The hand of Providence guided the congregation forward when Fr. Thomas Kurialacherry was appointed the Vicar Apostolic of Changanacherry in 1911. Following his consecration as Bishop on 10 December 1911, the first five aspirants were formally vested with the religious habit. On 18 March 1916, these foundational members made their solemn religious profession at St. Mary’s Church, Parel, Changanacherry.

As the years progressed, the Congregation reached major structural and canonical milestones: 

·        15 September 1963: The congregation was unified under a single Superior General.

·        11 February 1968: The congregation was raised to Pontifical Status by His Holiness Pope Paul VI.

·        2 April 2011: The revered founder, Mar Thomas Kurialacherry, was officially raised to the status of 'The Venerable'.

Core Charism and Global Apostolate

The living heart of the S.A.B.S. is Eucharistic Devotion. Every sister dedicates at least one hour daily to praying before the Blessed Sacrament, seeking the salvation of souls and making reparation for the sins of the world. Through continuous, day-and-night adoration spanning the entire year, the Congregation channels divine mercy into its diverse fields of apostolate, which include, Eucharistic Apostolate, Mission and Evangelization, Education Apostolate, Healing Ministry and Social Apostolate.

What began as a localized movement in Kerala has expanded into an international mission. Driven by a desire to spread Eucharistic love outside of Kerala starting in 1965, the congregation established 4 Regions in 1986 and 5 Vice Provinces in 1998. Today, nearly 4,560 sisters serve across 22 Provinces and 1 Region globally, with a missionary presence spanning Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Nepal, the U.S.A., Canada, the U.K., Ireland, Brazil, and Ecuador. The general curia operates from the Cenacle in Aluva, which serves as a house of prayer and spiritual preparation (Pranidhan) for final profession.

Christu Raj Province, Pala

When the Diocese of Palai was erected in 1950, eight existing convents of the Adoration congregation fell within its geographical boundaries. To streamline administrative faculties and foster a more dynamic apostolic environment, these convents were consolidated into an independent unit on 8 April 1952, establishing the foundation of the Christu Raj Province, Pala.

The newborn province flourished under the paternal care, spiritual guidance, and constant encouragement of His Excellency Mar Sebastian Vayalil, the first Bishop of Palai. The pioneering sisters worked with tireless dedication to establish new convents across various parishes. The province also remembers with deep gratitude the selfless, capable leadership provided by Rev. Fr. Sebastian Cherussery during these formative years.

Diocesan and Territorial Extension

Anchored by an unwavering trust in the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, the province witnessed rapid, enviable growth, leading to territorial expansion and the birthing of new administrative units:

1962 (Thalassery): A group of sisters from the Pala Province was sent to the Malabar region. When the Diocese of Thalassery was erected, the convents under its jurisdiction were detached from Pala to form a distinct, new province.

1977 (Provincial House Shift):  To better serve its administrative needs, the provincial house was shifted from its original location at Nelliyani to Christ Hall, Pala.

2002 (Golden Jubilee): The province celebrated the historic milestone of the Golden Jubilee of its canonical erection, marking 50 years of grace, growth, and community service.

2027 (Platinum Jubilee): Continuing its legacy of faith and service the Christu Raj Province proudly celebrates its Platinum Jubilee in 2027.

 Frontiers of Mission and Evangelization

True to its missionary mandate, Christu Raj Province bravely stepped beyond the borders of Kerala to plant seeds of faith and service across India:

·        1965 (North East India):  S.A.B.S. sisters from Pala set out to the frontier states of North East India, marking the congregation's monumental first step into national missions.

·        1970 (Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh):  The province launched evangelization and social ministries in Ujjain. Both the North East and Ujjain missions flourished exceptionally.

·        1986 (Karnataka):  The province initiated the Karnataka Mission, which now coordinates vital pastoral, educational, and hostel ministries across 6 houses in Karnataka and 1 in Tamil Nadu.

·     1998 (Elevation to Provinces): The steady growth of the mission territories bore ultimate fruit when the Corpus Christi Region (Dimapur) and the Jyothirmai Region (Ujjain) were officially elevated to the status of independent Provinces.

Present-day Global Footprint

Today, the sisters of Christu Raj Province, Pala, continue to be vibrant witnesses of Eucharistic love. Beyond their extensive ministries in Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, the members of the province actively render their services in international missions across Germany, Rome, Africa, and Ecuador, continuing a legacy of sacrifice, prayer, and transformative social action.  For expanding the global horizon, the province is set to established its new mission centre in Connecticut, the United States in 2027.