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Dominican Sisters
Daughters of Holy Rosary of Pompeii is the Congregation
founded and established at Pompeii in Italy on August
25th, 1897 by the Apostle of the Rosary Blessed Bartolo
Longo. Bartolo Longo was born at Latiano in Brindisi,
Italy on February 10th 1841.
As he was from an
aristocratic, rich family, he was given the best of
education. At the age of sixteen, having completed his
studies in the collage, he was recognized as prepared,
qualified as an elementary school teacher and read to
enroll in the University of Naples. But it seemed that
the teaching profession was not for him; school would
have mortified him. Restless in character, he would not
have managed to remain behind a teacher’s desk confined
to a chair for an entire morning. So it was that Bartolo,
in order to obtain a degree in jurisprudence, had to
transfer to Naples in January of 1863 and enroll in the
University.
He became a lawyer and
after a tempestuous period in his early youth, returned
to the Church. By the grace of god, Fr. Alberto Redente
a Dominican priest was instrumental in helping Bartolo
to return to Catholic life with greater enthusiasm. Bartolo
became attracted by the life style of this Dominican
priest and he was also very fond of the teachings and
theological approaches of St. Thomas Aquinas. So on 7th
October, 1871, with the auspicious name of Brother
Rosario, he took the profession as a Dominican Tertiary.
Then his profession as
advocate took him to the valley of Pompeii. His going
had a purely economic purpose: he had taken in his care
the patrimony of the young widow, countess De Fusco, who
had quite a few farms in this valley. He came to
administer the state of the half-abandoned though very
fertile lands and to collect if possible the back rent
or at least come to an agreement with the talents.
When Bartolo Longo
arrived the entire valley was desolate. He found that
people were uncultured and ignorant. And one day,
overtaken by restlessness and sorrow, he went out for a
walk in the fields; and there he had the illumination
that this had to be the area of his apostolate. The Lord
wanted him to be there in the midst of this poor
ignorant folk, in order to carry out a wondrous plan.
Bartolo Longo said: “I shall not leave this place until
I have propagated the rosary of Mary.” It was from this
vow of an ardent soul that the entire marvelous story of
the New Pompeii came forth; the New Pompeii which
includes not only the Sanctuary with its crowds of
pilgrims but also the works of charity, nourished and
rendered prosperous by the piety and the charity of the
pilgrims.
He became a Catechist of
adults and children; he began to teach boys and girls.
He began to gather youth orphan girls and placed them
under the care of Our Lady. On May 8th he
built some rooms for five orphan girls and they were
named five mysteries of the Holy Rosary. Bartolo
constantly thought about the future of the children
especially the girls when the number had increased. He
asked himself, “Who can be a mother and teacher of these
orphans?” this led him to think about starting a
Congregation. Therefore the Master General of the
Dominican Order sent three sisters from a Dominican
Contemplative Community. In 1987, Bartolo got permission
to start the new congregation. The three sisters started
the first novitiate. Thus started the Congregation of
the Dominican Sisters, Daughters of the Holy Rosary of
Pompeii. Alongside the sanctuary of faith and Rosarian
prayer, Bartolo Longo was also influential in building
in Pompeii a sanctuary of charity, with its multiple
works and institutions (Orphanages, Sons of Prisoners,
Daughters of Prisoners, Daughters of the Holy Rosary of
Pompeii, and Dominican Tertiaries).
Most notable of all is
the "supplication to the Queen of Victories" that, begun
at Pompeii on October 1883. It is recited all over the
world on May 8th, and on the first Sunday in October
(7th) Bartolo received the long awaited heavenly reward
on October 5th and
on October 26m 1980
Bartolo Longo was beatified by John Paul II and was
hailed as the "man of the Madonna", and the "Apostle of
the Rosary”.
Within a few years of the
founding of the congregation, Sisters began spreading
beyond the boundaries of Europe and moved towards the
Asian continent and started new communities in
Philippines, Africa, India and Indonesia.
OUR PRESENCE IN INDIA
The presence of our
Congregation in India started on 13th November 1993 with
Mo. Angelic Bruno( our present Mo. General), Sr. Ma.
Yolanda, Sr. Ma. Anselma. They started their mission in
a rental house, in the Diocese of Kottapuram in a place
named Perumpadanna. After three years they bought a bit
of land in Kottuvally, in the parish of St. Sebastian's
Church. The building of the convent was completed in
1998.
In the meantime, the
first batch of candidates including 4 girls completed
their novitiate. On Saturday, 17th January 1998 the new
convent of Dominican Sisters of Pompei, in Kottuvally
was blessed by the Bishop of Kottapuram diocese Rt. Rev.
Dr. Francis Kallarakkal. He called upon the sisters to
dedicate themselves more fervently to the propagation of
Rosary and preaching of truth and caring for the
spiritual and temporal needs of the people.
The Dominican Provincial,
Rev. Fr. Paul Kuruvila, Rev. Fr. Sebastian,Rev, Fr.
Prakash, a good number of priests from kottapuram
Diocese and other neighbouring diocese, and almost the
families of Dominican Sisters attended the celebration
to bless our new community. And also from Italy Mother
General, Mother Colomba Russo, Mother Rosa were also
present.
Sr. Ermelinda,
Sr..Concetta, Sr.. Remigia, Sr. Teodora, Sr. Rachel
participated. The very first Superior was Sr. Angelica
Bruno with Sr. Anselma as her assistant.
The new community started
with 15 candidates including the first four novices (Sr.
Rosaria, Sr. Teresa, Sr. Catherina and Sr. Francesca)
who was going to get professed on following day, 18th
January 1998.
THE PRESENT CHARISM
The propagation and
devotion to the Holy Rosary., education, family
apostolate, catechism, youth ministry, helping the poor
to find shelter and study etc.
THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS
Superior: Sr. Mary
Catherine, Sr. Teresa, Sr. Regina, Sr. Rosalia, Sr.
Clare, Sr.Alphonsina. Sr.Jancy, Sr. Diya, Sr. Siby
Nine Novices, two
postulants and five aspirants.
Name of our convent:
Dominican Sisters Daughters of
the Holy Rosary of Pompei, Kottuvally
Founder:
Blessed Bartolo Longo
Present Superior General:
Mother. Angelica Bruno
Established :
August 25th 1897
In Kottuvally :
January 17th 1998 (We have only one
house in India)
Mother
house: Pompeii (NA)
Members of
Congregation: 350
Indian
sisters: 22 (5 Perpetual Vows)
Philippine
sisters: 70
Africans: 05
Others are Italian
sisters
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