MOTHER MARY MICHAEL, CO-FOUNDRESS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ADORATION SISTERS

[graciandelamadrededios]

 

http://www.sspsap.sk/nase-pribehy/z-historie/30-matka-maria-michaela

The above link shows some photos of the Sisters before Vatican that I have'nt seen before!!!!

 

 

 

[nikita92]

She was still alive when my father was born!!

[Mary Catherine]

Wonderful! I stayed with Pink Sisters for one year, and I think Mother Mary Michael is a valiant and strong woman, I admire her so much!

[Luigi]

The process for her beatification was approved 20 February, 2015.

http://mountgraceconvent.blogspot.com/

[graciandelamadrededios]

[John Paul]

I like how the current habit has not changed much since their founding.

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The Congregation of the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters had already spread in Europe, North and South America and the Philippines. In God’s good time and loving plan, it was to take root in another Asian country, India, the so-called land of contemplation. This foundation too had a long pre-history. After a newly aroused awareness of the Congregation’s call to participate in the Church’s missionary role, and be present in as many territories as possible, there was an openness to venture into a new area. Soon after the Congregation’s international meeting in 1969, Father Engelbert Zeitler, SVD renewed his invitation to come to his mission country, India. Serious consideration of his proposal was followed by Mother Mary Aurora’s brief scouting visit to Bombay in January 1970. Two years later, she and another Sister made a month-long tour of India to become acquainted with this land and confer with local bishops and various religious superiors. Finally, after a long wait for visas to be approved, two Sisters, escorted by Mother Mary Aurora, arrived in Bombay on November 11, 1977.

A third would soon join them. Until they could find a suitable place of their own, they stayed in a wing provided for them in the house of our Missionary Sisters. In overcrowded Bombay it was difficult finding a suitable location, and candidates were also slow in coming. After a long, intensive search, Divine Providence led to an opening in the city of Bangalore in South India in April 1982. On July 31, 1983 the momentous simple celebration of the dedication of the first permanent home of the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters in India took place.

One of the special endeavors of the Sisters is to inculturate while retaining the values rooted in their own heritage. A saffron sari habit was adopted. Saffron, representing the fire of self-oblation, is the Indian color of consecrated persons. The Sisters maintain a vegetarian diet and assume a sitting posture on the floor for prayer, even in the chapel. Many of their Hindu neighbors reverently visit the chapel, joining the Sisters in their adoration or at Mass. During Holy Communion, the priest distributes Prasad (little gifts) and flowers to them, since they may not receive the Eucharist. It is our hope that from this Abode of Adoration the love of Christ in the Eucharist will radiate to every corner of India.

How to contact

Aradhana Kunj
P.O. Carmelaram
Bangalore 560 035
India

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mother Mary Cecilia, SSpSAP - second from the right, is the former (Filipina) Superior General of the Congregation

 

 

 

Photos of Nuns in the Choir

The Sisters at the Motherhouse decided to wear the Pre-Vatican II headress and cross...  Arent they lovely???

 

 

 

 

 

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Mother Mary Elizabeth, Superior General of the Congregation and Sister Devota, Assistant Superior General wearing the Sari habit.

 

 

 

Mount Grace Community

 

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On one of the picturesque mountains in the Mountain Province of the Pearl of the Orient, as the Philippines is popularly called, stands the solidly built, earthquake-resistant Convent of the Blessed Sacrament, where the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters keep vigil day and night before our Eucharistic Lord and are eagerly joined by many of the laity. How did it all start in the Philippines?

As early as 1921 Bishop Alfredo Verzosa of Lipa inquired whether Mother Mary Michael could send Sisters there to introduce perpetual adoration into his diocese. Negotiations continued, which resulted in ten German Sisters being sent to Lipa in 1923. The Sisters felt at home in their mission, even though they experienced earthquakes, typhoons, and snakes! When the tropical climate began to take its toll on the westerners and they obviously needed some alleviation, plans were made to establish a convent as rest house in Baguio with its refreshing mountain air. On March 24, 1931 the chapel and convent were blessed and daily adoration began.

Since the number of Sisters was not sufficient to maintain two convents, the convent in Lipa was closed in 1936. Without doubt God led the Sisters in Baguio on a most difficult road of suffering during World War II.

Not only were they harder hit materially by the horrors of war but they even had to leave their cloister and share the lot of refugees in the mountains; and besides, seven young Sisters fell victim to bombs.
Two others, being American citizens, were interned in a Japanese concentration camp for over seven months. Military men occupied the convent. After the anguish and terror of the war experiences, the remaining Sisters were grateful to be reunited. The convent, which had suffered so much damage, was declared unsafe. And the entire situation looked very dismal: seven Sisters had lost their lives, those who were left were in a weakened condition, the house and the city as a whole were practically in ruins. Was it the end of our Congregation in the Philippines?

God knows how to bring blessing from the cross, to raise up life from the ashes. A new surge of young vocations began to enter. In 1950 a new chapel and convent were built in another section of Baguio, where the Sisters continue their life of perpetual adoration until now. Many of the thousands of vacationists who visit cool Baguio annually also visit the chapel. A zealous League of Adorers, with branches for men and for women, is very active. We must with grateful hearts say, “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love endures forever!”

How to contact

Convent of the Most Blessed Sacrament
P.O. Box 62 2600 Baguio City
Philippines

Tel. and Fax: (0063) 74-444-5688

 

 

[graciandelamadrededios]

 

 

Sister is enjoying and probably reminiscing the time when they used to wear the traditional headress.....

[Mary Catherine]

Beautiful!

[Antigonos]

I must say I quite like the sari habit -- that gentle saffron/orange color is easy on the eyes, and since Buddhist nuns wear a similar color, it would be easily understood as being a "right" color for a religious!  I find the pink a bit shocking <g>

[NadaTeTurbe]

I was wondering why a lot of Indian nuns have a saffron sari. Now I know ! 

[beatitude]

5 hours ago, Antigonos said:

I must say I quite like the sari habit -- that gentle saffron/orange color is easy on the eyes, and since Buddhist nuns wear a similar color, it would be easily understood as being a "right" color for a religious!  I find the pink a bit shocking <g>

I know what you mean. I love certain kinds of pink, but that particular shade isn't very easy on the eye, and combined with the white scapular it reminds me of a lavishly iced cake. It would be a real penance for me to be looking at that all day every day!