Our Congregation
Bon Secours Congregation, one of the first indigenous congregation in India, has a fascinating prehistory that starts 126 years before its official foundation. It has its origin in Pondicherry Under an extra-Ordinary situation. In 1732, an energetic French Jesuit missionary fr. Gaston Laurence Coeur don S.J., set sail to India to work in the Carnatic mission.
Fr. Michael Ansaldo S.J., continued the former’s plans. As a first step he established a refuge home to give protection to abandoned girls who had nowhere else to go and called it Bon Secours Refuge Home.
Fr. Julian Charles Leh Odey M.E.P., {1808-1867} of the Paris foreign mission took charge o0f the refuge home. It was he who gave a shape to the congregation. He gathered seven young girls from the refuge home, tried and helped them to pronounce their vows on 17 September, 1858 on the day of the stigmata od St. Francis of Assisi, Thus Fr. Julian Charles Leh Odey M.E.P., Becomes the founder of Bon Secours Congregation.
Our own Congregation was recognised as a pontifical congregation by Holy Father Pope John Paul II
On 19 June, 1981. As directed by the Holy see, keeping in view the documents of the second Vatican Council. The new code of Canon law and the needs and signs of the times, the congregation was engaged in a laborious work of revising and restructuring the constitutions of the congregation.
In 2016 may the 21st General chapter of Congregation was held. This gave a new impetus to the charism of the congregation. In one of the deliberations of the General Chapter scholarship for higher education came on. Hence from 2016 onwards every year 300 students are given rupees twenty thousand as Adai Kala scholarship for Higer Education.
In 2019 September the Quasquicentennial celebration of Bon secours replanted in the Archdioceses of Madras Mylapore was held. In the preparatory Meeting of the celebration two proposals were put forth by the enlarged council towards realising our charism. Adai kaka medical Energy fund’ of rupees twenty-five thousand for 125 critically ill patients and 125 houses for the homeless by name ‘Adai kala homes. As a first phase 25 houses are built for the homeless Irula tribe people of Tiruvannamalai District. This will be executed in phase by phase.
Challenging they pandemic and other hurdles the congregation is heading towards the 22nd General chapter of the congregation.
Being inspired by the words of saint Pope John Pul II
“Let us go forward in hope, Before the church lays a vast ocean upon which we shall venture, relying on the help of Christ. the son of God who became incarnate 2000 years ago out of love for humanity is at work even today: we need discerning eyes to see this and above all a generous heart to become instruments office work”.
“Our Founders were moved by the spirit and weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty as they ministered in Jesus’ name to real people living real lives. They didn’t stop in the face of obstacles or when others misunderstood them because they preserved in their hearts the awe of having encounter Christ.”
“We, too, are called today to make prophetic and courage’s choices, “the Pope said. In that way, “others will be attracted to the light and can encounter the Father’s Mercy.”
We March forward as a congregation in our prophetic Mission.
Apostolate
The Congregation grew in strength day by day and now functions with 800 dedicated Nuns, working in the field of education, orphan care, medical care, social work and work and women empowerment. But today our main focus is on the education of woman in cities towns and the remotest villages. we have been imparting education to all people irrespective of caste, religion creed. The numerous primaries, Middle, secondary, training education institutions and number of orphanages testify to our commitment to this noble Couse.