History
OriginThe Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross was founded in Switzerland in the year 1844. The founder of the congregation, Rev. Fr. Theodosius Florentini OFM Cap. saw in the then existing circumstances of secularism and materialism, a great need to preserve and promote the Catholic faith. He envisaged a religious congregation of teachers who would educate children, especially girls, who as future mothers would preserve the faith in their families. Thus, he founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1844 with three young ladies, Maria Anna Heimgartner, (later Mother Bernarda), Cornelia Mader, and Feliciana Cramer. Before long, more young women joined them, and the sisters took up education in many church-run as well as Govt. Schools in Switzerland. Mother Bernarda is honored as the Co-foundress of the Congregation.
From 1883 onwards, the congregation sent out missionaries to other countries of Europe and to other continents of Africa, Asia and South America. The congregation, in its readiness to be of service to the society, took up also medical care, care of orphans, care of the old etc. in the new places. Today the congregation has 14 provinces extended over Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.
In India
In 1906, at a time when Nursing was considered a menial occupation in India, and the Hospitals were without trained nurses, the pioneer Holy Cross sisters came from Switzerland to India, on the invitation of the then Maharaja of erstwhile Tranvancore, Sree Moolam Tirunal, to work in the Govt. Hospitals of Travancore. Rt. Rev. Aloysious Benziger, a Swiss national, the then Bishop of Kollam-Trivandrum was instrumental in getting the help from Switzerland. The sisters right away started their service in the Govt. Hospitals in Kollam and Trivandrum. More sisters arrived later to fill in the demand for Nurses in the Govt. Hospitals of Alleppey, Noornad, Kottayam, Ulloor etc. The sisters were invited by the Church run private Hospitals also.
In 1906, at a time when Nursing was considered a menial occupation in India, and the Hospitals were without trained nurses, the pioneer Holy Cross sisters came from Switzerland to India, on the invitation of the then Maharaja of erstwhile Tranvancore, Sree Moolam Tirunal, to work in the Govt. Hospitals of Travancore. Rt. Rev. Aloysious Benziger, a Swiss national, the then Bishop of Kollam-Trivandrum was instrumental in getting the help from Switzerland. The sisters right away started their service in the Govt. Hospitals in Kollam and Trivandrum. More sisters arrived later to fill in the demand for Nurses in the Govt. Hospitals of Alleppey, Noornad, Kottayam, Ulloor etc. The sisters were invited by the Church run private Hospitals also.
Local vocations came in to the congregation from 1920, and the membership increased. Gradually, the Indian Province spread to other states of India, engaging themselves in the much needed health care activities.
North Indian ProvinceThe North India saw the first Holy Cross Sisters in 1979 in the villages of Piplera in the dist. of Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. In a short time, the sisters' service spread to other parts of U.P. and other states. The North Indian Province of the Sisters of the Holy Cross Sisters came into existence in October 1990, with Lucknow as its headquarters, by branching out from the Indian Province. Thus, the communities of the Holy Cross Sisters in the states of Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Meghalaya came under the North Indian Province. The Province extended its service to Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Kerala, Assam and to the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Today, we have 206 sisters serving in North and North East India. North Indian Province has got 34 religious communities in 10 States in 12 Dioceses.
Vision of the North Indian Province
We believe that we, the Holy Cross Sisters of the North Indian Province, are 'called and chosen' by Christ to be leaven among our brothers and sisters, and to enliven the religious and cultural heritage of the place, with the Gospel.
The Paschal mystery of death and resurrection of Jesus is central to our spirituality.
Inspired by our founders, Father Theodosius and Mother Bernarda, and empowered by the Spirituality of the Cross, we empower our people, especially the women, children and families through our ministries of Health care, Education, Community development, Pastoral care, and Alternative ministries.
We believe that we, the Holy Cross Sisters of the North Indian Province, are 'called and chosen' by Christ to be leaven among our brothers and sisters, and to enliven the religious and cultural heritage of the place, with the Gospel.
The Paschal mystery of death and resurrection of Jesus is central to our spirituality.
Inspired by our founders, Father Theodosius and Mother Bernarda, and empowered by the Spirituality of the Cross, we empower our people, especially the women, children and families through our ministries of Health care, Education, Community development, Pastoral care, and Alternative ministries.
Our Finance Accountability
The Northern Society of Sisters of the Holy Cross (36/2, Cantt. Road, Lucknow) is a Christian (Catholic) Registered Charitable Society, under the Societies' Registration Act, 1860 of Govt. of India, with its registration number 939/1987-88 dated 25 August, 1987. The Society is committed to Rural Health care, Education, Community Development, and Care and Education of the poor and the disabled in different districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The society maintains highest standard of accountability with regard to Management of its finances through supervision by dedicated professionals, and through internal and external audit. The society utilizes the foreign donations solely for the purpose for which it has been received from the donors. It is committed to maintain total transparency in transactions with the Government as per the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010
Finance statement 2013
Finance statement 2014
The Northern Society of Sisters of the Holy Cross (36/2, Cantt. Road, Lucknow) is a Christian (Catholic) Registered Charitable Society, under the Societies' Registration Act, 1860 of Govt. of India, with its registration number 939/1987-88 dated 25 August, 1987. The Society is committed to Rural Health care, Education, Community Development, and Care and Education of the poor and the disabled in different districts of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The society maintains highest standard of accountability with regard to Management of its finances through supervision by dedicated professionals, and through internal and external audit. The society utilizes the foreign donations solely for the purpose for which it has been received from the donors. It is committed to maintain total transparency in transactions with the Government as per the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010
Finance statement 2013
Finance statement 2014