The Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary celebrated the centenary of the birth of the Province of the Child Jesus in the Holy Land. For the occasion, a Mass was presided over by the Custos of the Holy Land, Br. Francesco Patton, in the presence of the Franciscan Sisters of the Friars Minor and of numerous faithful and local pilgrims. The Congregation was founded in Cairo in 1859 by Mother Catherine Troiani. After a few years, this mission was considered a religious institute and Mother Catherine became its Superior General. Known for her availability to the needy in the parish, she worked to build houses to house orphans, open schools for children and clinics to treat the sick as well as build convents, thus laying the solid foundations of the religious institute. Speeches during the celebration highlighted the important role of the Province of the Child Jesus in the Holy Land and the valuable service to the parishes of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Sister ELENA FARAH Superior General "Today we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the province of the Holy Land. After Blessed Catherine Troiani came to the Holy Land, she saw that it was appropriate to create a province that would have some independence, since our congregation has many provinces around the world. Now we are present in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Tiberias, Nazareth, Haifa and Cana of Galilee. Our missionary work includes service in clinics, hospitals, orphanages and the education of girls and young people.” Br FRANCESCO PATTON, ofm Custos of the Holy Land "This is a very beautiful occasion because it is 100 years since the birth of the province of the holy land of the Franciscan missionary sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Their foundress had come on pilgrimage 50 years earlier and had felt this deep desire that this Franciscan missionary institute could be present in Jerusalem and in the Holy Land; and she said this beautiful phrase "the place of a Franciscan is near the Calvary". Br NERWAN AL BANNA, ofm Latin Parish Priest of Jerusalem "These sisters are very close to the Custody and have a great role in serving the parish. The least we can do on this day is to thank them.” At the end of the mass, the faithful, the Franciscan friars and the sisters carried the relics of Blessed Caterina Troiani in procession in the courtyards of the convent. Read More