History

History A Humble Start The Congregation of the sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (SABS) was founded on 8th December 1908 at Champakulam in Kerala. It had its origin in the personal experience of the Eucharistic presence of the Servant of God Thomas Kurialacherry (1873-1925) the first bishop of Changanacherry.

He was fortunate indeed to have his priestly studies in Propaganda college Rome and to know of a Perpetual Adoration convent chapel near Propaganda College where after he became a constant visitor to spend time with the Eucharistic Lord in adoration.

The long hours spent before the Blessed Sacrament instilled in him a deep personal relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist and an ardent desire that the Holy Eucharist be known, loved and adored by all, always and everywhere. A strong desire gave him the impetus to found a Congregation for women to adore the Blessed Sacrament constantly (day and night). Following his ordination on 27 May 1899 he returned to Kerala as an enthusiastic young priest with the desire to begin the congregation.

During a Sermon on “Devotion to the Sacred Heart" in his own parish of Kalloorkad church in Champakulam, a young widow, Philomina Vallayil experienced an unusual kind of joy and peace within her and expressed her desire to accept religious life. He in his turn hoped that she would be the right person to work with him to establish the new congregation that he had visualized. He enthusiastically blessed her saying “You have come to me today like a Chantal going to Francis de Sales and a Clare going to Francis of Assisi and your aims and intentions could be materialized only by Almighty God and His blessed Mother".

Father Thomas, well aware of the risks and challenges involved in the founding of a new religious congregation, with a unique charism, placed himself totally into the arms of God with absolute trust. When he was appointed as the Vicar of Edathua, a neighbouring parish, he accommodated Philomina along with five other girls in a cow shed of Puthenparambil Thommachan. It was their first abode, so that they may grow in a spirit of poverty, and humility from the very beginning. Indeed the congregation is fortunate enough to have its origin in surroundings similar to that in Bethlehem, that they felt privileged to imitate Jesus, the poor of Yahweh so closely. They were shifted to a boat house near the Edathua church after a few days.

On 8th December 1908, the first six members were given the veil as a sign of aspirants and formally accepted in to religious life, thus marking the birth of the congregation. On 10th December 1908 the aspirants were shifted to the first convent at Champakulam.Amidst the priliminary hardships, in 1911 by divine providence Father Thomas was appointed as the new bishop of Changanacherry and thus was able to conduct the vestition of the first five aspirants of the congregation on 10th December 1911 as his first official function. Hence the new congregation was recognized and accepted by the founder himself.On 18th March 1916, the members made the religious profession at the Parel Church, Changanacherry.

The mustard seed that was planted in 1908, sprouted and flourished and the members grew in spirit and strength under the guidance and patronage of Bishop Thomas. Though Bp. Thomas enriched the congregation with an intense spiritual leadership, he was called to his eternal reward on 2nd June,1925 at the time of his visit to Rome.


Period of Transition After having the paternal care of the Founder in its period of infancy, the congregation found itself in a period of transition soon after the demise of its beloved Founder. Having been called to his eternal reward on 2nd June 1925 at the time of his visit to Rome in the holy year, on 25th July 1935 his mortal remains were brought and buried in the Cathedral of Changanacherry. At the time of his death, the congregation had nine houses, seventy-three professed sisters, sixty-one novices and thirty-five aspirants. Later the congregation was nurtured and faithfully guided by Dr. James Kalacherry, the next bishop of Changanacherry. The first perpetual Adoration chapel was blessed on 2nd October 1935 at Vazhappally in Changanacherry, which was visualized by Bishop Thomas Kurialacherry.

At the request of Mar Augustine Kandathil, a devotee of the Eucharist, a group of sisters were sent and a house was opened at Koratty on 7th May 1930. For the convenience of the administration the Holy See decided to divide Changanacherry into two dioceses, Changanacherry and Pala. On 25th July 1950 Rev. Fr. Mathew Kavukattu and Rev. Fr. Sebastian Vayalil Kalapura were appointed Bishops of Changanacherry and Pala respectively. As a result of this bifurcation SABS congregation in Changanacherry was divided into two free units of Changanacherry and Pala under the two dioceses on 8th April 1952. When the Ernakulam diocese was bifurcated in 1961 the congregation got a new unit in Kothamangalam diocese. Thus the growth of the congregation being fast and steady, the sisters were thrilled to reach out to all parts of Kerala to make known Jesus in the Eucharist.

Roots in the Malabar Soil On 31st December 1953, the Holy See raised Thalassery a diocese and appointed Mar Sebastian Valloppally as its first bishop. The farmers who had emigrated from Kerala were suffering because they had no sufficient means for living and facilities for travelling. The bishop was convinced that to uplift his people he needed service minded and dedicated sisters. Filled with missionary zeal the sisters from Pala and elsewhere came forward to render their services and the first house was opened at Mananthavady in 1956. The next year onwards foreseeing a green pasture for religious activities some candidates were taken from Thalassery and send to Pala for religious formation. Gradually more convents were established and thus in 1965 St. Joseph’s Province Thalassery was erected.

Unification & Pontifical Status The congregation in different dioceses thrived well and made remarkable progress under the respective Mother Generals in different dioceses. The congregation functioned as independent units. To be united under one mother general became a necessity to get the constitution approved by the Holy See. Hence the unification efforts started in 1954. Rev. Fr. Eliseus OCD was appointed as the apostolic delegate for this. Later Rev. Fr. Francis Sales CMI was appointed as the Roman delegate to help the congregation in the tedious job of amalgamation. It became a reality on 15th September 1963 when Mother Espirith was elected as the first Mother General of the Unified Congregation. Thus, the long cherished desire to be united into one was fulfilled.

A Generalate was the felt need of the moment, the foundation stone of which was laid in Dec. 1964, on the occasion of the Eucharistic Congress in Bombay. It is located at Karukunnu near the Pontifical Seminary at Aluva. In memory of ‘Sehion’ that witnessed the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the coming of the Holy Spirit, the new house was named ‘ CENACLE’. This was a mile stone on the path of growth and progress of the congregation. Cenacle, the Generalate was blessed on 18th March 1969 by His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Parekattil and is rightly called the powerhouse of the congregation, the force that binds all the sisters together.

A day to be written in golden letters in the history of the congregation is 11th February 1968. Holy Mother the Church officially accepted the constitution of the congregation and raised her to the Pontifical status. His Eminence Cardinal Furstuinburg, the prefect of the sacred congregation of the eastern rites did the proclamation of it at a solemn function in Cenacle, attended by dignitaries like His Eminence Cardinal Parekattil, Rt. Rev. Joseph Caprio, the Internuncio, Msgr. Rici, Msgr. Duprex, several Bishops, numerous Priests and Sisters. Thus, SABS became a pontifical congregation and the revised constitution of the congregation was approved on an experimental basis.

Reaching Out to the Missions It was rather a turning point in the history of the congregation to move out to other parts of India to extend God’s kingdom and to make known the Eucharistic Lord. At the request of Bishop Hubert D’Rosario, the then bishop of Dibrugarh in Assam , a group of sisters from Palai Province stepped out of Kerala to the far plunged North Eastern state of Manipur on 3rd December 1965. Thus, the first house outside Kerala was established in Hundung. It was a leap into the darkness but paved the way to open more houses in the North. In the years that followed the provinces in Kerala opened more houses in the North, and started missionary activities to bring the good news to the people who have never heard of Jesus Christ.

As the numbers of houses increased in the various missions, for the sake of development, four regions were formed in 1986 under the four major provinces in Kerala, namely Changanacherry, Ernakulam, Pala and Kothamangalam. The sisters were involved in the field of education, healing ministry, social services and developmental programmes to uplift the people of interior villages. In 1998 the regions were raised to the status of vice provinces in various parts of India. The Vice Provinces are, Pavithratma Vice Province with its centre in Jagadalpur, Jyothirmai Vice Province with its centre in Ujjain , Jai Rani Vice Province with its centre in Phillaur, Punjab, Christu Jyothi Vice Province with its centre in Satna and Corpus Christi Vice Province with its centre in Dimapur. Besides these, sisters from Thalassery Province had mission stations in Rajkot Diocese in Gujarat, Vijayawada, Warangal, Elur and Nalgonda dioceses in Andhra Pradesh. Kanjirapally province had mission stations in Chanda, Gorakhpur and Nepal.

Having made rapid progress in growth and activities, the vice-provinces of Jagdalpur, Ujjain, Satna, Dimapur and Orissa were given the status of provinces in 2003. Punjab vice-province was divided into two provinces for administrative ease. Thus we have 6 mission provinces as Pavithratma Province Jagadalpur, Jyothirmayi Province Ujjain, Jai Rani Province Punjab, Christu Jyothi Province Satna, Deepthi Province Orissa and Corpus Christy Province Dimapur.

Adding momentum to further growth, now we have 4 mission regions in India. They are St. Chantal’s region, Tamil Nadu, Jeevodaya region, Andhra Pradesh, Amal Jyothi region, Gujarat and Divya Jyothi region, Balasore.

Global Mission The fruitful missionary activities in India inspired us to venture into the whole world to make known the compassionate love of the Eucharistic Lord. We are fully immersed in the healing ministry and pastoral care of Germany and Italy for the past 30 years. Recently, we have started our apostolic mission in USA too. When the Congregation celebrated its centenary in 2008, the SABS Global mission was envisaged as a strong force in the Church by having Adoration centers and satellite communities in Australia, Brazil, East Africa, Philippines and Russia.

African mission was the long cherished desire of our superiors over the ages. Though the sisters had worked in Kenya and Zambia earlier, they left the places after serving there for some 6 years. In 1994, another attempt was made to open houses in Kenya and Tanzania. Sisters from different provinces were sent there to establish the houses. They took it as a challenge to work among the Africans by offering their services to them. A multitude of our sisters are working in 8 houses in Kenya and 10 houses in Tanzania. There are possibilities to extend our services to other countries and dioceses in Africa.

In the early years of the third millennium, we started thinking about global mission. In 2003 May, sisters from the Kothamangalam province started residing in the communist nation of Ukraine and extended their helping hands to the Catholic minority there. Ukraine is a nation resurging itself from the clutches of the brutal Russian rule. Sisters are engaged in pastoral work, parish ministry, house visiting, catechism classes and pious organizations. They help people in their death bed to prepare themselves to receive the sacraments and thus come to lead true Christian life. In the centenary year of 2008, the congregation could start its second house in the Ukrainian soil.

Growth in Kerala 1. St. Thomas Province, Changanacherry
When the bifurcation of Changanacherry diocese took place in 1977, into Changanacherry and Kanjirapally dioceses St. John’s Province Kanjirapally was erected in 1978. The Mother Province of Changanacherry consisted of the convents in Changanacherry diocese, in the mission area of Jagadalpur and in the Tamil Nadu region. Mother Martin Mary was the provincial superior at that time. In 1998, Jagadalpur was raised as a vice-province and became an independent unit, and convents in the state of Tamil Nadu were formed as a region in 2008.

When the congregation celebrated its centenary in 2008, it marked the centenary of the Mother Province, Changanacherry too. Under the efficient leadership of Mother Rose Kunnathupurayidom, at present the province has 65 houses spread in Kerala, and in the countries of Germany, Italy and United States. Sisters work dedicatedly in the African mission too.

2. Sacred Heart Province, Ernakulam Once Kothamangalam province was bifurcated from Ernakulam, the Sacred Heart Province of Ernakulam shifted its provincial house to Kalamassery and the province celebrated its golden jubilee in 1980. The province became missionary oriented in 1968 by starting its first mission house at Damdima in West Bengal. The zeal and vigour that followed afterwards resulted in the erection of Christu Jyothi region of Satna in 1986. The first house in the diocese of Thrissur was started in 1986, and in the diocese of Palakad it was in 1991. Now the houses in both these dioceses have been erected as independent provinces. The province bear witness to the Eucharistic Lord in Germany from 1959 and in Italy from 1984. Apart from the field of education, reading the signs of the time, sisters extend their apostolic activities in fields like FBA, jail ministry, protection of street children, rehabilitation of prostitutes etc. At present under the efficient administration of Mother Thecla, who served the congregation as the Mother General, the province has 50 houses spread out in India, Germany, Italy and United States. Sisters work in African mission too.

3. Christu Raj Province, Pala Christu Raj Province of Pala was erected in 1952, under the paternal care of His Excellency Sebastian Vayalil. The pioneering sisters were so dedicated and filled with enthusiasm that they spared no pains for the growth of the province. In 1962, it was from this province that sisters were sent to Thalassery which later resulted as the province of Thalassery. In 1965, sisters started missionary work in the North East and took the first challenging step in the congregation which stood as the initiative for all our activities in the mission areas. In 1970, sisters from Pala started evangelization work in Ujjain. These two mission areas are now independent provinces, which the Mother Province of Pala can feel proud of. The province celebrated its golden jubilee in 2002. Sisters are engaged in various apostolates in 60 houses spread across India, Germany, Italy and Africa.

4. St. Mary’s Province, Kothamangalam St. Mary’s Province of Kothamangalam was erected in 1961, by dividing the Ernakulam province. The first convent of the province was founded at marika in 1948. In 1971, the province started its mission activities in the state of Orissa and in 1973, in the state of Punjab. In 1986, convents were started in the diocese of Irinjalakuda too. In 1998, the houses in mission areas were united as a vice-province and at present, Punjab and Orissa are two independent provinces. In 2004, in connection with the bifurcation of Kothamangalam diocese and the establishment of the diocese of Idukki, the province was again divided and Jai Matha Province, Idukki came into existence. Sisters are actively involved in various apostolic activities such as evangelization, education, healing ministry, social work and jail ministry. At present, the province guided by Mother Brigit Muthuplackal has 55 houses spread in India, Germany, Italy and the United States. Sisters from the province work in the African mission too.

5. St. Joseph’s Province, Thalassery The province of Thalassery had a steady growth as the number of vocations increased. In 1973 the Thalassery diocese was bifurcated into Thalassery and Mananthavady dioceses. Convents in the diocese of Mananthavady together formed the Mary Matha Province of Mananthavady. The convents in Thamarassery diocese was united to form the Vimala Matha Province of Thamarassery in 2004. In 2005, Andhra mission was declared as Jeevodaya region and in 2009, Amal Jyothi region of Gujarat too was declared. Besides these, the province has mission stations at Karnataka. At present under the efficient administration of Mother Rosily Ozhukayil, the province has 53 houses including those in India, Germany, Italy and United States. Sisters from the province offer their services in the African continent too.

6. St. John’s Province, Kanjirapally St. John’s Province, Kanjirapally was officially erected in 1978, when Kanjirapally diocese was formed. Mother Marie Therese was the first provincial. The province since its starting was eager to reach out to the remote areas of the Highrange to witness the Eucharistic Lord and to lighten the people with true light. The province continues its steady but slow growth under the able leadership of Mother Rachel Vellakada. Responding to the signs of the times, yet holding on firmly to the charism of the congregation, the province has taken up the mission areas of Gorakhpur and Chanda, where the sisters work dedicatedly for the cause of the poor and illiterate people. Moreover, in the Kingdom of Nepal, sisters are engaged in education, hospital ministry and extend helping hands to the HIV/AIDS affected people. At present the province has 46 houses in India and abroad. The province has houses in Germany, Switzerland and Italy too. Sisters work in the African mission too.

7. Mary Matha Province, Mananthavady Mary Matha Vice Province was erected in the diocese of Mananthavady in 1980. It was elevated to the status of a province on 20th December 1997. The province has at present 35 houses where the sisters foster the spirit of Eucharistic devotion through apostolates of adoration, parish ministry and faith formation. The sisters work in schools, orphanages, dispensaries, counselling centres, home for street children, boarding houses, press etc. At present under the guidance of the Provincial Superior Mother Alice Chundattu, the sisters extend their apostolic activities to the Indian states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, and other countries like Germany, Italy, United States and Africa.

8. Vimala Matha Province, Thamarassery At the erection of Thamarassery diocese combining the parishes in the districts of Kozhikode and Malappuram, Udaya Region of Thamarassery was formed as a dependent region of Thalassery Province on 10th June 1993. Mother Bennet who served the region from 1993 to 1999 was the first Regional Superior. Mother Philo Maria was the second Regional Superior. It was during the General Synaxis of 2003 that the Superior General, Mother Stella Maris raised this region to the status of a province. Mother Bennet was elected as the first Provincial Superior of Vimala Matha Province which had a resource of 14 houses and 107 sisters at that time. Right from its inception the province gave much importance to the holistic development of mentally retarded people of all age groups. Apart from this, the province is actively involved in education ministry, Eucharistic apostolate, pastoral animation work and family welfare programmes. Under the able guidance of Mother Charles Tresa the province continues its journey to make the Eucharistic Lord known to all.

9. Nirmal Rani Province, Thrissur It was a long cherished dream of S.H province, Ernakulam to extend their services to the diocese of Thrissur and Palakad. The first house was opened in 1986 at Palayoor in the diocese of Thrissur. As the number of houses increased, Nirmal Rani Region was erected on 15th August 1999 as a dependant region of the Ernakulam province. Sr. Cyrilla was the regional superior. This region was elevated to the status of a Vice Province on 11th January 2001 with 8 houses and Mother Cyrilla was elected to be the first provincial superior. Nirmal Rani was made a province in 2003. At present the province has 14 houses in Kerala, including Novitiate House and houses for initial formation. The new province took the courage to venture into the mission by starting a house in Sagar diocese in the state of Madhya Pradesh in 2008. Sisters from the province work in Germany, Italy, United States and Kenya. In December 2006 Mother Mercitta Kannampuzha was elected as the Provincial Superior which has added new momentum to the growth of the province.

10. Vimal Rani Province, Palakad In 1991, the first house in the diocese of Palakad was opened in Chittoor which is situated in the Attapady Tribal Belt. Gradually more houses were opened in the diocese and their services were extended to Coimbatore, Erode and Pothanoor in Tamil Nadu. So there arose the need to form this as a region. Hence on 4th March 2000 Vimal Rani Region was inaugurated as a dependent region of S.H. Province, Ernakulam. Sr. Hyginus was the regional superior. In the General Synaxis of 2003, Vimal Rani was raised to the status of a province and Mother Lambert was elected as the first provincial of the province. The province has 14 houses situated in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Sisters from the province work in Germany , United States and Italy. The sisters are actively involved in education, healing ministry and social apostolate. The province has a palliative care centre, rehabilitation centre for AIDS patients and home for street children.

11. Jai Matha Province, Idukki Jai Matha Province of Idukki, is the 17th province of the Adoration Congregation. It was in the year of 2003 that the province of Idukki was formed, bifurcating the Kothamangalam province. Mother Charles Alapaattu was the first Provincial Superior. The sisters of the province work in high range areas of Kerala spreading out the Eucharistic flame among the poor people there. Sisters are engaged in the field of education and healing in India and the foreign nations of Germany, Italy and Switzerland. They undertake pastoral work in parishes by giving counselling conducting prayer meetings and by taking the leadership of pious organizations. At present the province has 13 convents which radiate the Eucharistic spirituality in the nearby places.

North Indian Provinces 1. Pavithrathma Province, Jagadalpur The present Jagadalpur province was the mission station of our first province, Changanacherry. Accepting the invitation of the Bishop of Jhansy, in 1966, sisters from Changanacherry went to Gwalior, which became the first convent of the province. Sisters started their activities by teaching in an English Medium School, and later extended their services in healing and social activities too. In 1969, the second house was set up in Balasore diocese of Orissa, and we had our first convent in the diocese of Jagadalpur in 1972. Though the initial period was a period of hardships, sisters were very happy in extending their charism and service mindedness wherever they were needed. Education was the prime area of apostolate. By 1986, there were convents in most parts of Madhya Pradesh and also in some villages of Orissa, which resulted in the formation of the Pavithratma region. Mother Libertha was the first regional superior. In 1992, a provincial house was set up at Kadambary, and formation of candidates too started to be given here. In 1998, the region was raised to the status of a vice-province, and Mother Joyce Maria was the first Provincial. In 2003, when the Pavithrathma province was declared, Mother Concepta, became the first provincial. The province has 33 houses spread out in 13 dioceses spread out in 8 states of India and 2 dioceses abroad. The houses in the states of Jharkhand, Orissa and Bihar were united to form a new region in 2009, which saw the birth of the Balasore region.

2. Jyothirmayi Province, Ujjain SABS mission activities in the Hindu region of Ujjain started in the year of 1970. Sisters of Pala province took the initiative to take this venture. They started their activities, residing in the Bishops’ House and in 1972, the first house was founded at Nagda. The second house founded at Chandeswary was transformed to an SABS complex consisting of a convent, formation house, perpetual adoration centre, high school, hospital, old age home, boarding for handicapped etc by the year 2008. The starting of a Novitiate House at Satyopasana, Bhopal in 1990, was a milestone in the growth of the province, where after we began to recruit candidates from mission areas for formation. Mother Maria Karotemprel, the present Provincial Superior, served as mission superior for a long 12 years, seeing even to the minute details needed for the development of the mission. In 1997 December, Ujjain was raised as a vice-province and Mother Maria became the first provincial, and raised to the status of a province in 2003, where Mother Agnet became the first provincial. Mother Maria was elected as the General Mission Councillor. The province has its houses in the dioceses of Ujjain, Kalyan and Indore.

3. Christu Jyothi Province, Satna Christu Jyothi province of Satna is a result of the missionary activities of the Ernakulam Sacred Heart province. The first convent was founded in 1967 at Damdima in the North-Eastern state of West Bengal. In light of Vatican II, when the General Synaxis decided to give formation to mission candidates in mission areas, Nandini Convent of Satna province was selected as the Mission Novitiate house. In 1986, Satna region was formed by uniting the houses spread in West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and nearby states. In 1998, the region having 17 houses was raised as a vice-province with Mother Virgin as the first Provincial. In the General Synaxis of 2003, Satna too was raised as an independant province. At present the province led by Mother Rosily Manavalan has 25 houses spread in 11 dioceses in 7 states of India and in the diocese of Rottenburg in Germany.

4. Jai Rani Province, Punjab Punjab is the land of rivers, the birth place of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. The Bishop of Jalandhar invited sisters from the Kothamangalam province to begin schools with the purpose of evangelization and spreading of Gospel values. Thus the first house of the province was started in 1973 at Firospur. Sisters work selflessly to improve the living conditions of the people and also are actively engaged in education, pastoral and social ministries. Though the province faces many setbacks related to the geographical importance the place has in the political map of India, the sisters trust in the divine mercy of the Eucharistic Lord and continue their life of sacrifice and mission to spread the Good News to the poor flocks of people. In 19986, the mission was raised as a region and the late Sr. Jose Mary was elected as the regional superior. When Punjab was filled with terrorist attacks in 1988, we started perpetual adoration in the Jalandhar Cathedral which was a source of strength and consolation to the mass of people, and by which peace was restored in 1991. In a place where we were adjudged as terrorists and Pakistanis, the Eucharistic Lord Himself gave the sisters the courage to extend their services with forgiving love. In the year of 1998, when Jai Rani was raised as a vice-province, Mother Elizabeth Pattaparambil was elected as the provincial superior. In 2003, Punjab was raised to the status of a province and Mother Elizabeth, herself was the provincial superior. The province has now 17 houses spread across the icy cold Northern states of India.

5. Corpus Christy Province, Dimapur In 1958, it was in Hundung that the Adoration congregation started its mission apostolate. Sisters from the province of Pala, paying heed to the needs of the Shillong Arch Bishop, came forward willingly to extend their services in the North Eastern areas of India. The missionary work done in the problematic North-Eastern states got the status of a region in 1986, and Mother Rose Tresa was the regional superior. Apart from the states of Manipur and Nagaland where the sisters worked initially, now the province has its houses in all the North Eastern states of India. In 1998, Corpus Christy was made a vice-province and Mother Jessina was elected as the provincial, and she continued her services when the vice-province was given the status of a province in 2000. Now the province has 24 houses spreading from the state of Arunachal Pradesh in the North to Tripura in the Southern end of the North-East part of India.

6. Deepthi Province, Orissa Orissa is the state which stands first in poverty in India. In a place where developmental activities were very low, our sisters of Kothamangalam province accepted the invitation of Rev. Fr. Mathew Onattu CM and started a house at Rayagada in 1971. Knowing that development of a community is possible only through education, sisters started their mission work by teaching moral and intellectual subjects in schools. Malaria being very prominent, health care was also given importance by starting health centres, which are even now seen as refuge centres by the poor of the place. Many cures are reported both by intake of medicine and by Divine intervention as a result of prayer. In 1986, the mission areas of Punjab and Orissa together were declared as Jai Rani region, of which Sr. Jose Mary was the first regional superior. In the year of 1998, when Jai Rani was raised as a vice-province, Mother Elizabeth Pattaparambil was elected as the provincial superior. In 2003, the vice-province was divided into provinces - Jai Rani province, Punjab and Deepthi province, Orissa. Mother Eymard was elected as the first Provincial Superior. In 2005, the mission novitiate of the congregation was started in Kometelapetta convent. At present, under the able leadership of Mother Mary Jose, the province has 15 convents spread in 5 dioceses.

Mission Regions 1. St. Chantal’s region, Tamil Nadu It was in 1980 that the Mother Province of Changanacherry extended its mission activities into the state of Tamil Nadu, when Mother Espirith was the Provincial. The first convent erected at Soosaipuram, had a nursery school attached to it, which now has developed as a Higher Secondary School. Sisters discharged their services in mentally retarded schools, Naturopathy centre, Yoga centre, High Schools, free boardings etc. The silver jubilee of the mission was celebrated in 2005 and in 2008 when the congregation celebrated its centenary, it was officially declared as a region under the province of Changanacherry. Sr. Treasa Magdelene is the first regional superior.

2. Jeevodaya region, Andhra Pradesh Jeevodaya region is a sign of the missionary zeal of the Thalassery province. The first house of the province started in 1978, and the silver jubilee of the mission was celebrated in 2003. The sisters are actively involved in education, social and healing ministries. Bishops of three dioceses invited sisters for adoration and the sisters conduct Perpetual Adoration in the respective Cathedrals. To add momentum to the growth of the mission all the houses were united in 2005 and declared as a region. Sr. Anice Kallidukkil is the first regional superior.

3. Sion region, East Africa African mission, a much cherished dream of the congregation in the early 1990’s which came true in 1994 was made an independent region under the generalate in 2008. The declaration of the East African region was a centenary gift for the congregation. Starting as teachers in the Meru diocese of Kenya, presently our sisters are actively involved in teaching, health care, social services which include care for HIV/AIDS infected and affected people, family apostolate, pastoral work and community development projects. The East African region has now 8 houses in Kenya and 10 houses in Tanzania. Under the leadership of Mother Joyce Maria, the regional Superior, the mission is striving hard to bring the radiance of the Eucharistic Lord and the light of the gospel to the dark continent.

4. Amal Jyothi region, Gujarat The seeds of the Adoration congregation were sown in the Gujarat soil in 1976. Accepting the invitation of the CMI mission superior it was Thalassery province that sent sisters to Surendranagar to start the first convent in the region. Amidst lot of obstacles, the sisters in the region wholeheartedly share the divine love by working in schools, parishes, dispensaries, AIDS care centres etc. They are actively engaged in Pastoral ministry and social apostolate too. The mission was declared a region in 2009. Sr. Grace Earathukottayil is the regional superior.

5. Divya Jyothi region, Balasore Pavithratma province of Jagadalpur considering its vastness of area and diversity in culture was bifurcated in 2009 to mark the birth of a new region – Divya Jyothi. The new region consists of the convents in the states of Orissa, Jharkhand and Bihar. Sr. Elsa Kizhakkayil is the regional superior and Sr. Tessina Pathil and Sr. Alice Naduvileparambil serve as the councillors of the new region. The sisters are actively involved in the area by working in schools, dispensaries and health centres.

Superior Generals Mother Espirith (1963 - 1973) Mother Espirith was the first Superior General of the unified Adoration Congregation. The congregation which was founded in 1908 was scattered in various dioceses as independent units under different Mother Generals. It was in 1963 that the congregation was unified under one Mother General and her team. Rev. Fr. Francis Sales CMI, Provincial of the CMI Sacred Heart Province of Ernakulam, was entrusted with the responsibility of unifying our congregation. The Major Superiors of the four units in the four dioceses of Changanacherry, Pala, Ernakulam and Kothamangalam were appointed as consulters to the new Superior General. They were Mother Mary (Changanacherry), Mother Sienna (Ernakulam), Mother Evudoxia (Pala) and Mother Simon (Kothamangalam). A constitution for the unified congregation was drafted and send to the Oriental See in 1965. In the second General Assembly that was convened after the unification Mother Espirith was re-elected as the Superior General. Sr. Alphonse Maria (Pala), Sr. Don Bosco (Ernakulam), Sr. Gemma (Kothamnagalam) and Sr. Annie Makreena (Thalassery) were the new Councillors.

A permanent residence for the Superior General and a Generalate was a felt need of the time and a suitable place was found at Karukunnu, near Aluva, close to the MCBS Seminary and Aluva Pontifical Seminary. The house constructed there was blessed on 17th July, 1965. On 1968 February 11th, the congregation was raised to Pontifical status and our constitution too got approval from the Holy See. Manifold courses and seminars were organized for renewing and strengthening the spirit of the sisters. Workshops were arranged for sisters based on age, occupation, ministry, interests etc. The second Novitiate programme for junior sisters was started during this period. Mother Espirith inspired by Divine Providence started ‘Cloister’ which serves as a means for sisters to life a cloistered life for 3 months or more. ‘Cloister’ continues to be the power house of the congregation even now. The voice of our congregation presently named as ‘Sehion Shabdam’ started publication during those early (1967) days with the name of ‘SABS Bulletin’. Our Co-Foundress Mother Chanthal was called for eternal reward in 1973.

Mother Espirith who was in her early years of 36 when elected as the Superior General, wholeheartedly devoted herself for the unification and growth of the congregation by coordinating and harmonizing the activities of the various provinces spread across all over Kerala. With her ‘Midas Touch’ the congregation was able to grow as a mustard tree providing refuge to the suffering and struggling world. On completing her term, she continued her services to the congregation as the Principal of Amalagiri BK College and as the Provincial Superior of Changanacherry province. Later on, she took the initiative to publish several books about our congregation, its Founder, Co-Foundress etc. which proved to be very valuable services to the whole congregation. At present she is at Vazhapally, one of our first convents, finding peace in the Eucharistic presence, and paying reparation for the sins of the world. May the Almighty bless her abundantly.

Mother Alphonsus Maria (1973 - 1979) In the third General Chapter of the congregation conducted in 1973, Mother Alphonsus Maria of Pala Province was elected as the new Superior General. Mother Alphonsus was a very careful observant whose administrative term of office was made easy by her experience as the Assistant Mother General of Mother Espirith. She wanted the personal life and activities of sisters to be transparent and pure so that they may bear witness to the Eucharistic love. She believed that sanctity of the congregation was the sanctity of each individual sister. This made her bold enough to guide each sister by correcting and convincing them of their shortcomings. 10 years after the unification the congregation had 144 houses with 2332 members and we were self-sufficient with essential material amenities. So the immediate concern of the newly elected Superior General was the spiritual renewal of the sisters. Mother Alphonsus Maria gave ample care for this concern by organizing seminars, courses, prayer meetings, Bible classes, prayer days, study sheets etc.

The mother province of Changanacherry province was bifurcated into two in 1977. The houses under the newly formed Kanjirapally diocese were united as a unit which formed the St. John’s province of Kanjirapally. Thus by 1978 we had 6 provinces. In the light of Vatican II, a renewal team was set up in the generalate level to revitalize communities which proved to be a vital source of spiritual empowerment for the sisters. It was during Mother Alphonsus’ term that in 1975 we got permission to conduct Eucharistic Adoration with the monstrance exposed by keeping the tabernacle open. Till today this adoration is the source of power for all our life and all our activities, without which we have no meaning for our existence.

The SABS congregation took many renovative measures during the administrative period of Mother Alphonsus Maria. Formation and recruitment programmes were made more efficient. A biodata format was setup for each sister, whose one copy after filling was to be kept in the respective province and the other with herself. A directory containing details of the generalate, various provinces, institutions and mission areas was prepared for the first time. Mother Alphonsus took the courageous step to start two hospitals of our own management at Koothattukulam and Pothy, which was a pressing need of the time. Apart from education related activities, our sisters started working in social work centres and extended help in natural disaster relief camps. Communication and press media was taken up as an apostolate during this period. As directed by the General Chapter of 1974, Mother Espirith and Sr. Benjamin Mary wrote the history of our congregation, which was published in 1978 as our first book, ‘From Manger to Cenacle’.

In the Holy Year of the Mother Church, 1975, we were able to start a convent in the Holy City of Rome. The 50th year of our Founder’s demise was celebrated in a rich manner with prayer sessions and adorations in 1975. The term of Mother Alphonse saw the congregation become stable in both spiritual and financial matters. Mother was able to find means for financial stability in one of her trips to Rome by having a providential encounter with Holy Cross Sisters. Thus she was not only able to attain material stability but also to maintain the manifold programmes that were initiated in Mother Espirith’s term of administration. The Councillors which helped her in all her endeavours for these six years were Sr. Jerose, Sr. Symbrose, Mother Lambert and Sr. Rosebella, who were efficient administrators in their own provinces.

Mother Lambert (1979 - 1985) The General Chapter conducted at Cenacle in 1979, elected Mother Lambert as the third Superior General. Though very young at 40 years of age, Mother was well-experienced as the mission councillor of the previous general team and was very diligent in observing, studying and evaluating matters in a constructive manner. Her experience in all the previous general chapters was an added advantage in her period of service. She was a true religious who observed the religious rules very faithfully and lived in real religious spirit. She laid the foundation of her rich religious life in reading and living according to the Word of God.

By the time Mother Lambert took the reins of the congregation in her hands, SABS had grown significantly with six provinces and a vice-province. So the new general team made their focus lie on the spiritual betterment of sisters. Lead a Eucharistic Life in a simple way was the aim Mother had for the congregation. It was during this period that the need to search for the roots of the congregation was felt and as a result charism studies were started. Mother Alphonse Maria, the previous general had sought the help of Rev. Fr. Rex Ockerz SJ in this manner and had briefed it in the general chapter. As a result, the chapter had decided to study the charism of the congregation extensively and the services of Sr. Virgin, who was an expert in this field was utilised. In April 1980, Fr. Rex started to give classes for us which continued for a long 25 years till he was unable to discharge his duties due to old age. In the first class 38 sisters participated and Father disclosed that it is through meditation that charism study should flourish and that there are 4 levels for this meditation as Faith retreat, Discipleship retreat, Identification retreat and Contemplation retreat. These retreats, made us aware about the shortcomings we had in the area of recruitments and the programmes arranged thereafter helped in getting more vocations. From 1980 to 1986, Fr. Rex enriched us with classes that sisters from various provinces attended and gave to sisters in their respective provinces. The growth and the benefits the congregation gained during this period was tremendous.

Mission Novitiate was started in 1983, the platinum jubilee year of the congregation, which made us accept more and more vocations from the mission regions. This also helped in the development of the mission areas by dividing them into regions under various provinces. Expeditions to spread the Eucharistic culture in Kenya, Cicily and Australia also took place during this period. The term of Mother Lambert saw the sisters taking more interest in Theological studies gaining diplomas, degrees and licentiates from local and foreign universities. The platinum jubilee of the congregation was celebrated at Cenacle, the generalate with manifold programmes that invoked Eucharistic devotion in all who participated. The legal process for the canonization of our Founder was initiated during the term of Mother Lambert, and also the Mass at the tomb of the Founder in the Cathedral of Changanacherry arch-diocese, on the occasion of the day of his demise began to be taken up by different provinces. This period also saw the publication of many books about the Founder, the Co-Foundress and about the congregation.

Even after her term of service in 1985, she exhibited her commitment and love towards the congregation, by extending her helping hand in the valuable work of revising the constitution. Later she was elected as the Provincial of Ernakulam province and it was she who started convents in the tribal area of Palakad and when Palakad Province was founded in 2004, she became the first provincial of the new Vimal Rani province, which she served for two consecutive terms. Trusting in divine providence Mother Lambert was always ready to take up new challenges with strong determination. No outward force could ever stop her. Deep was her faith which helped her to succeed in all the endeavours she took up. May the Almighty bless you, dear Mother for all the pains you took for the growth of the congregation and for the love that you had for it.

Mother Delphine (1985 - 1991) In 1985, the General Chapter was renamed as General Synaxis, and Mother Delphine of Pala province was elected as the fourth Superior General of the Adoration Congregation. After completing her studies in the United States, Mother had worked for nine long years in the mission area of Hundung, where we started our missionary activities, and in 1976 she was elected as the provincial of Pala. In 1979, she was elected as the mission councillor in the general team of Mother Lambert and had also served as the Common Juniorate Mistress and the Mistress of the first Mission Novitiate batch. These manifold experiences helped her much in her service as the Superior General. Mother Delphine was always calm and composed, even in the midst of lot of responsibilities and problematic situations. Her loving nature and humble dealings made her dear to all.

The term of Mother Delphine also gave importance to the spiritual renewal of sisters. A renewal team was set up and they went in groups of two to all the houses in various provinces, lived with them for two weeks empowering the members with classes, discussions and above all by their model and life witness. The sisters by this time had attained a love for the congregation that enabled them to see each other as their own sister and consider each house as their own without regard to the difference in the provinces to which they belonged. We continued to avail services from Rev. Fr. Rex Ockerz SJ, who further helped us to formulate the forty days retreat, which even today helps sisters to manage their spiritual life. He also gave Eucharistic retreats to our sisters which made them more faithful to their vocation. Formation programmes too were made more efficient by including the thirty days retreat in the Novitiate so that sisters could gain more spiritual strength once they made their profession.

Mother Delphine’s tenure saw the renewal of the administrative setup too, since we started short range and long range planning for the programmes to be conducted ahead. Fr. Rex helped us a lot in this regard. It was the time when our constitution too was to be renewed. It took four years for the draft of the new constitution to be submitted before the Holy See. In 1990, the Oriental Congregation approved the new constitution and was given to the members for careful study and observance. Thereafter renewal teams were setup, who were capable of giving constitution retreats to the sisters. The Directory of the congregation also was made ready by this time, which was wholeheartedly loved and accepted by the sisters. The provision for cloistered life at the Generalate was extended for four months during this period. The beatification process of the Founder which was going on during these years functioned as a means to increase the unity among the sisters. The transformation of the SABS Bulletin as ‘Sehion Shabdam’ which happened during this period also was an added reason for the harmony among sisters.

In 1990, the Novitiate House for mission formation was set up at Bhopal, which was a milestone in the history of our missionary activities. The various provinces in Kerala too made remarkable growth both spiritually and materially during this period. Charism studies and constitution studies which played a great role in the growth of the congregation, made us think more about monastic life, and we started an ashram in Nallathanny of Changanacherry province. Sisters who wish deep monastic and contemplative life can opt to live here. The CRI and UISG meetings that the superiors attended helped us to know more about other congregations and to foster a lively relationship with them.

The term of Mother Delphine was thus remarkable with many events and the sisters of the congregation as a whole felt a kind of unity among themselves and also relationships with other congregations too were improved a lot. Mother even now continues her services in the province of Pala and finds fulfilment in the Eucharistic presence. May the Lord bless her abundantly.

Mother Felicita (1991 - 1997) In 1991, Mother Felicita of the Kothamangalam province was elected as the fifth Superior General of the congregation. Her experience as the former Assistant Superior General for the past six years was a great enrichment to her term of service. Her team comprised of Mother Thecla, Sr. Vimala, Sr. Tresa Martin and Sr. Rachel Vellakada. Mother Felicita was a great social reformer who always strived hard for the renovation of the poor and downtrodden and the restoration of the living conditions of many who came in her sight. It was she who took the initiative to start a school, nursery, a tailoring centre and even a homeo dispensary in the neighbourhood of Cenacle, which even today shines as a means to radiate the Eucharistic presence to the nearby non-christian community. She started awareness classes and such other programmes that helped common man get rid of social evils such as smoking, drinking etc. Mother introduced many creative means to encourage people to start a new living by engaging them and by making them earn a living. It was not only the Generalate which benefitted from her social outlook, but all the provinces too made many leaps in their social work ministry during these six years.

It was Mother Felicita’s dream to start at least a school in each of the mission regions for the poor children. It was not only that wish that was granted, but Divine Providence made her an instrument to adopt a village each in the mission regions and in Kerala too. She was able to get the support and aid of government and such other agencies in this initiative. This village development programme which functions in a well-organized manner even today, serves as means to make the people efficient in money management, group work, health care, cleanliness, craft work etc. To cultivate moral standards in jails, with the help of Smt. Kiran Bedi, the then Superintendant of Tihar Jail, Delhi, Mother started a convent in the jail premises where the sisters even now continue to visit the jail providing mental support and creating a moral culture.

Mother Felicita can be termed as the forerunner for our global mission initiatives. At a time when global mission still remained as a distant dream, she together with Mother Thecla, her assistant, visited Africa in 1994 and found a soil very rich for cultivation of the Word of God. These efforts had their worthwhile fulfilment when years later African mission was raised as a region, which came as an exact centenary gift from the Almighty to our congregation. In India too, mission areas saw a vast growth under the leadership of the very dynamic and efficient personality of Mother Felicita. We started to receive vocations from mission areas during this period. Moreover sisters were sent to foreign nations such as Germany, Italy, Switzerland etc. Today we have our presence made felt in all the continents except Australia.

As an efficient administrator, Mother Felicita was able to make a lot of reforms within the community. She gave took sufficient care in the formation, discipline and renewal of the members, and initiated lot of measures for the spiritual betterment of the sisters. It was during her term that the common juniorate house adjoining the Generalate was built. A prayer house under the direct administration of the Generalate too was started at Kattapana in this period. During her tenure adequate concern was given to vocation promotion where the services of Fr. Rex Ockerz SJ are to be specially mentioned. She succeeded in cultivating an interest for vocation promotion in the sisters which aided in getting rich vocations from all over India.

Mother Felicita was a multi-faceted personality who was simple in life-style, fervent in Eucharistic devotion, second to none in merciful love, enthusiastic in observing rules, good model in hard work, expert in teaching, committed to responsibilities and a loving mother to all who approached her. She was very loyal to her vocation and to the congregation which was manifested in the eagerness she showed in the growth of each of its members. She was taking care of the handicapped children in her province after her term of service. May the Almighty bless her with all His choicest blessings and make all her endeavours fruitful.

Mother Thecla (1997 - 2003) Mother Thecla was the one who was destined to lead the congregation into the new millennium. She, who was elected as the sixth Superior General of the Adoration Congregation in 1997 was already popular among the sisters owing to her contributions in the administrative and education fields. Having completed an MSW degree, which was not so common at those times, she had imprinted her footsteps in various fields. Her team consisted of Mother Stella Maris, Sr. Benjamin Mary, Sr. Rose Treasa and Sr. Carmel Treasa all who were prominent figures in their respective provinces. Starting her tenure with the motto ‘Unite to grow and grow to unite’ Mother Thecla, initiated a lot of programmes to strengthen the unity among the different provinces and also to nurture the relationship various provinces had with the Generalate. It was she who started to conduct the get-together of local aspirants in Kerala, gathering of Mission postulants, and the annual formators meeting all at Cenacle, the Generalate.

Mother Thecla was a visionary who arranged various leadership programmes for the general and provincial teams which helped in fostering the spirit of sacrifice and self-giving in those at the helm of the congregation. The time in which Mother took the administrative office was the preparatory period for the centenary of the congregation. Her visions and dreams about the congregation were instrumental in making the centenary celebrations remarkable, fruitful and meaningful in the lives of the sisters. The classes, seminars and discussions which were conducted in local houses and then in provinces paved the way to prepare for the centenary in an enlightened manner. Mother was very keen in the personal spiritual growth of the sisters, which was reflected in the erection of the Eucharistic Spirituality Centre at Champakulam and the resource team that was prepared for this purpose. Moreover she encouraged sisters to make use of the various prayer houses and retreat centres by participating in 40 days, 30 days or 20 days retreat. Sisters who wish for a deeper prayer life can spend 4 months in the cloister provided at generalate. Sisters from other congregations too attend and get enriched by the retreat programmes that started during this period.

The start of the new millennium rightly adjudged as the ‘Eucharistic Millenium’ by John Paul II was the right time to enliven Eucharistic devotion in the hearts and minds of people. Several Bishops had requested us to start perpetual adoration in their dioceses and parishes, which were whole heartedly taken up by Mother Thecla. She encouraged sisters to engage in perpetual adoration as a ministry of the times and thus to pay reparation for the sins of the world. The activities of Eucharistic centres were strengthened. Yearly Eucharistic conventions conducted in any of the provinces, started during this period. Resource teams were set up for giving Eucharistic retreat to school and college children.

Mission areas and missionary activities were given due importance in Mother Thecla’s period. Special formation was given to those who opted for global mission. Mission regions were erected as vice-provinces. The appointment of a co-ordinator to see to the spiritual, material and personal growth of the sisters in European countries showed that apart from the North-Indian mission areas global mission too was given prime importance. African mission too was flourishing during this period. The various houses which lay scattered in the countries of Kenya and Tanzania were joined together under the able co-ordination of Mother Joyce Maria in 1998.

Mother Thecla was an efficient administrator filled with motherly love and care, equipped with a simple lifestyle and friendly nature. All her efforts were for the growth of the congregation which she loved so much and many of her dreams were fulfilled when the congregation as a whole walked together to the Eucharistic amazement at the verge of its centenary. She spent 3 years in the African soil, which grew strong by her nourishment and returned back to Kerala, where she was elected as the Ernakulam Provincial. May the Almighty shower upon her all His blessings in all her endeavours.

Mother Stella Maris (2003 - 2009) Mother Stella Maris was indeed the morning star of the Adoration Congregation. The star that paved the way for the congregation to walk through the blessed centenary days. The leading light the SABS possessed to march into the active realms of the third millennium. Blessed with calmness and deep faith in God she is always and at all times available to all. Her simplicity, asceticism, prayerfulness, discipline and her trust in Divine Providence are special gifts with which the Almighty has adorned her.

The stars that adorned the team of Mother Stella Maris were Mother Rose Kate, Sr. Bertha, Sr. Gregoria, Sr. Maria Karotemprel and Sr. Rosily Jose Ozhukayil. It was the duty of this team to lead the congregation through its centenary days. It was a time when the congregation was carrying on a fruitful journey in many dimensions. At that time we had houses in all the states of India, in Nepal, in Ukraine, in most European countries and in the dark continent of Africa. We were stable both in terms of resource and economy. We had 4525 sisters and 500 candidates with 567 houses spread all over the world. To improve quality of the apostolic activities of the sisters and the quality of their life was the prime concern of this team. Gathering of local and mission provincials once in a year was mandatory. Local Superiors too were made a part of the renewal process. Orientation programmes, retreats and other spiritual empowerment programmes were conducted for various departments. Constitution retreats too were arranged to make the sisters more aware about the newly approved which really made every sister love the congregation and its constitution more.
Mother Stella Maris initiated community building programmes which even today serve as a means to foster relationships within the community and to fill everyone with real Eucharistic spirit which helps them to radiate it in their apostolate. Exposure programmes which help the candidates to have a hands-on knowledge of the various apostolates were started. The social awareness programmes given for Novices were made more effective and efficient and arrangements were made to study about the Founder and Co-Foundress by staying at Mar Thomas Kurialacherry Vikas, Changanacherry.

Showing deep interest in the spiritual growth of individual sisters, Mother Stella Maris provided individual means for each sister to assess her spiritual growth. During this period we were able to formulate our ‘SABS Ratio’, which directs us to live our spirituality according to our charism. This period of administration of Mother Stella Maris was remarkable in many senses that we were able to start a Counselling Centre of our own at Chethimattom, Pala, and a Theological Institute at the Generalate. Christu Jyothi Counselling Centre is a refuge not only for sisters, but for lay people too. Sion Vidya Bhavan, our Theological Institute is affiliated to the Pontifical Institute of Aluva. The Central Renewal Team under the leadership of Sr. Sibileena which reinforced its activities during this period gives spiritual support for sisters outside our congregation too. This tenure of Mother Stella Maris was a golden time for retreats and such other spiritual programmes. We started taking up perpetual adoration in various diocesan centres in and outside India during this period, which raised the number of our perpetual adoration chapels to 89. This period also saw an increase in Eucharistic devotion owing to the deployment of media to spread this devotion in the form of CDs, DVDs, cassettes, publications etc.

Our sisters carry out their call for evangelization by living out their vocation in the 17 provinces, 4 regions and in stations like Chanda, Karnataka etc in India and in European countries, America and the African continent. Our prayer life and service mindedness reflect in the education, social, healing and pastoral apostolates that we involve in. Pastoral ministry is a new area where our services are utilized in European countries. We even have sisters qualified in Pastoral ministry. It was during the six year term of Mother Stella Maris that 4 mission regions were formed. Of these Sion Region of East Africa requires special mention. This region which was a real centenary gift to our congregation includes 14 houses situated in the countries of Kenya and Tanzania. As part of the global mission exhorted by our Lord we extended our services to the communist nation of Ukraine during this period.

Other the significant developments during the term of Mother Stella Maris were the formation of the Thrissur, Idukki and Palakad provinces in the state of Kerala. Mother Mary Francesca de Chantal who cooperated and toiled with the Founder in starting the Adoration congregation was recognized as the co-foundress in 2007 January. And Divine Providence made it possible for us to buy the nearby land to Mar Thomas Kurialassery Vikas where an extensive museum of our Founder is getting ready. Moreover we were able to purchase the home and property of our Founder at Champakulam which we can rightly say as our own property. Cenacle, the Generalate was adorned elegantly for the centenary celebrations of the congregation by having its chapel renovated, a grotto of the Blessed Mother constructed and a ‘Piathe’ constructed within the Cloister walls. Initiating measures for the spiritual and material betterment of the sisters, Mother Stella Maris took lot of pains to lead the sisters and the whole world to the Eucharistic amazement. It was natural for her to trust in the Divine Providence in all her moments of trials and tribulations. May the Almighty God shower His abundant mercy on Mother Stella Maris who is now spending her precious time and energy for the growth of the African mission.

Mother Rosekate (2009 - ) Mother Rosekate was elected as the eighth Superior General of the Adoration Congregation in the year of 2009. Mother, with a rich experience in the education field, previously has served as the Provincial Superior of the Changanacherry Province and as the Vicar General in the general team of Mother Stella Maris. The experiences she had, in the previous term, especially during the centenary days has made her well-aware of the pressing needs of the time and of the responses the congregation should make accordingly. Being a good mother, true to her position, she is very attentive to the minute details of each sister and is second to none in compassion. She is available and approachable to all at any time. As provincial and Vicar Provincial she was very actively engaged in promoting various activities among the marginalised and poor. It was she who took the initiative to start work amidst the sex workers in the town area of Ernakulam, in 2008, which now goes on in a very fruitful manner.

The ‘Positio’ of the Founder submitted for the approval of the Sacred Congregation in 1996 was studied by a team consisting of 8 Theologians and a Promoter of Faith and unanimously voted in 2010 March 26 that our Founder exercised heroic virtues. This was a major step which occurred in the Beatification process of the Founder during the tenure of Mother Rosekate. May the intercession of the Founder and the Co-Foundress Mother Chantal help Mother Rosekate to lead the congregation in such a way as to spread the Eucharistic culture throughout the world.