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The
Dominican Sisters of Charity of the Presentation of the Blessed
Virgin |
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 Blessed
Marie Poussepin was
born in
Dourdan, France on October 14th 1653
into a hard-working Christian Family that specified in
making silk stockings, she soon developed a passion for
active Charity by accompanying her mother to visit poor
sick people with the Confraternity of Charity.
In 1685, open to what the future might hold, Marie
transformed the family business into a craft shop for
the manufacture of woolen stockings. She took on some
15-25 year old apprentices and exercised an educational
and social role over them that was ahead of its time:
abolition of apprentice-tax, bonus for productivity,
promotion for good work. This “industrial revolution”
assured the rapid economic expansion of the town.
1696 marked the point at which she turned her life
completely over to God and to others. Inspired by
providence, she left Dourdan, a small prosperous town
where she was born, to go and live in the humble village
of Sainville which was ravaged by war, famine, epidemics
and ignorance. In Sainville she “found a community of
the Third Order of St. Dominic to be of use to the
Parish, to instruct young girls and be of service to
those in the country regions who are poor and sick” She
placed her Sisters under the protection of Mary in the
Mystery of her Presentation in the Temple.
She taught that the service of charity must stand in
direct relation to intensity of contemplation and
proclamation of the Word. She asked her community to
“spread everywhere knowledge of Jesus Christ and his
mysteries”. She died in peace on
January 24th 1744
at the age of 90, leaving the Church with its first
Dominican Sister of Charity.
Her remarkable work- a life time of loving service – has
been an inspiration for thousands of Dominican Sisters
of the Presentation throughout the World in 36 countries
during last 310 years. |
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Charisma of the Congregation:
“A
Community of the Third Order of St. Dominic
for the service of the Parish, to educate the youth
and care for the sick poor” The raison “d’etre” of
her community is the service of Charity. |
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Year of Founding
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1696 |
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No. of countries where we are present:
36 |
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In 1971, the seed of the Charisma
of Blessed Marie Poussepin was sown in the Indian soil.
It took root and branched out to different states
through various ministries.
A life time of
Radiating
God’s love,
Enkindling
Faith,
Inspiring
Hope
We
reach out to:
1. The
Children of streets, slums,
seashore, construction workers, villagers, schools.
2. The
Women who are oppressed,
marginalized, abused, exploited, illiterate, lonely,
sick at home.
3. The
Youth who are unemployed,
disoriented, confused, drug addict, alcoholics, lonely,
uneducated, through the ministry of parish,
schools, colleges and hospitals.
4. The
Sick and Suffering through
hospitals, primary health centers, mobile clinic, care
for the terminally ill, mentally challenged, and family
apostolate.
5. The
Senior Citizens through
pastoral care, counseling and family visits.
6. The
Laity through Faith
Formation classes, Liturgical Animation, Choir, Basic
Christian Communities and Pious associations in the
Parish.
7. Poor
and Down Trodden
through social work, joining hands with social justice
forum, human rights associations etc. |
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Who are we?
Dominican Sisters of the
Presentation, an international community is responding
creatively to human needs today and there are about 3000
sisters serving the people in 36 countries in 4
continents of the world each according to her own gifts
and talents. Through Charity, the binding force of our
lives, we are united in our service to the love of God
and humanity. |
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Dominican Spirituality
Listening to God, as He
has revealed himself in the past AND listening to the
“signs of the times present” through which the very same
God in his loyalty to Himself and to us, appeals to us,
is essential for Dominican Spirituality “To be present
to God” AND to be “present to the world” are the two
qualities which characterize the essence itself of
Dominican Spirituality throughout the history of the
Order.
The Dominican is dedicated to TRUTH: “ To ponder
his law day ad night”: to contemplate and share with
others the fruit of contemplation, to lead others into
Christ who is truth – this is the essence of Dominican
Study
The Dominican study aims to give the
preacher the attitude of St. Paul: “Woe
to me if I do not preach”
Dominicans are to be given over to the Liturgical
Life of the Church, to be genuinely taken up in the
mystery of Christ which they proclaim. They are to
offer the prayer of the Church for the good of the
Church, to join in Christ’s own prayer I the heavenly
sanctuary not made b hands.
They are to live the Vowed Life – to be conformed
to the example of Christ who was obedient, poor and
chaste.
The Dominican lives under the discipline of Monastic
Observance.
The Dominican is called to
Apostolic Mobility. |
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Community life:
Called by the Lord, we are gathered in
His name to know and announce Jesus Christ according to
the project of the Congregation. We realize it
primarily in local communities, each with its own
characteristics and distinctive mission. Christ is our
unity: we live of His love among our sisters and
brothers, strengthened by the sharing of the Word and of
the Bread. Each community thus fulfills in itself the
mystery of the Church and participates in building the
Kingdom. |
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Simplicity, Work & Poverty: This
radical response to the Gospel places us in the
Simplicity of those who seek God: nothing and no one
can divide our hearts or stop our generosity. Filled
with honesty, truth, sincerity, and purity of intention
simplicity enables us to accept our possibilities and
limitations.
It is expressed in
fidelity to the inner call and the capacity to be
oneself. It gives priority to the common good over
personal conditions and interests.
Simplicity is shown also
at the level of humble, truthful, merciful and
spontaneous community relationships.
It excludes rash
judgments, justifications.
It expresses itself in our
houses, dress and diet.
As in the laborious life of Christ, Work gives us
the ability to put at the service of others the gift
received from God. It is a means of evangelization and
participation in the mission of the Church; it gives
dignity and autonomy to the human person.
Our work expresses our
belonging to the congregation.
For us, all work is
mission and it requires the organization of our time.
Work done with competence
and responsibility gives an apostolic witness.
esus takes upon himself
the poverty of our human nature, because from there He
can reveal God.
To follow Jesus Poor, leads to detachment & austerity.
Poverty is the total gift of what we are and
have, it is surrender in the hands of the Lord. It is
gratuitousness, rejection of all kinds of idols in our
life. It makes us credible in the proclamation of the
Gospel to the degree that we:
Resist the temptation
presented to us by our consumer society, easy life, and
comfort,
Remain free from the
manipulations f ideologies, persons and situations which
lead us to a lack of authenticity
Become poor with the poor,
at the service of the poor. Only the one who has
experienced their suffering can in truth, announce the
Gospel.
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For more information
Kindly write to:
Dominican Sisters of the Presentation
80 Feet Road, Indiranagar P.O.
Bangalore – 560038, Karnataka INDIA
Telephone: 91 80 25293971 Fax:
91 80 25281554
E-mail:
domblr@vsnl.net Or
E-mail:
daisy_rose19@yahoo.co.in
Or
www.presentation-op.org |
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