by carolyne | Jul 23, 2025 | Education
Canossian Style of Education
BETHLEHEMU – UG
1. Christ-Centered and Gospel-Inspired
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The foundation is Jesus Christ, especially His Crucified Love.
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Learners are helped to develop a personal relationship with Christ and live according to Gospel values.
2. Formation of the Whole Person
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Focus on the head (knowledge), heart (values), and hands (service).
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Develops not just academic excellence, but also emotional maturity, moral integrity, and spiritual depth.
3. Education of the Heart
“Form the heart before forming the mind” – St. Magdalene
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Emphasis on character formation, emotional intelligence, and inner freedom.
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Learners are helped to become compassionate, humble, and responsible individuals.
4. Preferential Love for the Poor
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Special attention is given to the marginalized, the weak, and the voiceless.
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Education is seen as a mission of charity to uplift the poor and promote justice.
5. Accompaniment and Presence
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Teachers are not just instructors but loving guides and companions.
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Following Magdalene’s example, educators practice “loving presence”, being close to the learners in their joys and struggles.
6. Simplicity, Gentleness, and Firmness
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A Canossian educator teaches with simplicity of heart, gentle manners, and firm values.
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Discipline is practiced with understanding and respect, not fear.
7. Women and Girls’ Empowerment
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Faithful to Magdalene’s legacy, girls’ education and dignity are given special importance.
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Learners are encouraged to discover their identity and become leaders who serve with love.
8. Community and Family Spirit
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Education happens within a supportive, caring community.
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Strong partnership with parents, teachers, and society is promoted.
9. Love in Action: Service-Oriented Learning
Learners are encouraged to put love into action through:
- Outreach programs
- Community service
- Acts of kindness in daily life
10. Mary, Our Model
The Virgin Mary, Mother of Charity is the model of a Canossian learner and educator.
Her humility, obedience, and love are to be imitated.
The Goal:
To form women and men of character, rooted in Christ, passionate about truth and justice, and committed to building a more loving and just world.
Canossa Girls- TZ
by carolyne | Jul 2, 2025 | Vocation Animation
Postulants, Novices, Sisters &Priests
Magdalene defines the vocation to her Institute of Charity as «a great gift of God». Through the action of the same Spirit, and at a distance of nearly two centuries, Vatican Council II would officially recognize every call to the life of religious consecration as «a divine gift» to be jealously safeguarded and promoted according to the specific spirit of the founders/foundresses
who make up the secular heritage of the Church of Christ. If every gift comes from above, it is more than ever true to say the same for the vocation to consecrated life.
The vocation of man/woman has its roots in the heart of God and precedes its very manifestation and perception by man/woman just as it precedes the very creation of the world itself. The God who calls is the same God who creates. He creates to call, and calls according to a mysterious plan of providence after having given the qualities and means necessary for the person to respond. «In the plan of God every man/woman is called to a certain development because every life is a
vocation» and this is written in the innermost depth of each person. It is for man /woman to respond to the invitation of the Creator and Lord, in the depth of his/her own conscience for an integral and harmonious development of all his/her potentials and for the realization of the goal for which he/she has been created. All men are called through diverse ways to realize themselves fully and to participate in the happiness of God Himself. With the aim of leading them to attain this eternal happiness, God sent His Son into the world who in time fulfilled the salvific plan hidden for centuries. Through His Incarnation, Christ is present in the history of man to enrich him from within, to transform him with the breath of the Spirit and to lead him back reconciled with the Father.
by carolyne | Jul 2, 2025 | Evangelisation
OUR MOTHER FOUNDRESS
The imitation of Jesus Christ is the dominant motive for Magdalene‟s spirituality. It is not the kind of imitation that looks to a model for an external expression but rather an entering into the deep motives which animate the life of Christ from within. Magdalene‟s foremost intention is to relive the burning love
that prompted the Word to become flesh and live among men as one of them, and die on the cross for their salvation. The inner thrust towards this type of imitation is in fact preceded by an “intense spiritual union with God”, which Christ reveals to her and is accompanied by ardent feelings of love. This is the fire of love which Magdalene would like to spread throughout the whole world and into
all hearts.
ST. MAGDALENE OF CANOSSA
by misiatipeter | Jul 24, 2024 | Blog
The Beginnings
In 1956, at the request of Cardinal Rugambwa, the house of Mugana in Tanzania was opened. The Pioneer sisters were: M. Angelina Rivetta, Giuseppina Grillo, Vittoria Piccolo and Carolina Gandini. They were engaged in the health care and promotion of women and children. From 1966 to 1969 Mugana was part of the Delegation “St. Joseph” Vimercate.
From 1969 to 1981, Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi and Zaire formed a delegation of Mother Bakhita. Then from 1982 to 1984, Tanzania, Malawi and Zaire became three distinct delegations. Then, from 1985 to 1987, Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi became Vice Province “Josephine Bakhita”. In 1988 it was given a new name “Queen of Apostles. In 1991, the Vice Province “Queen of Apostles” became a Province, with M. Bocardo Mary as the Provincial Superior.
Our beginnings: Our mothers with cardinal Rugambwa and Mwalimu Julius Nyerere
At Present
As at 31st December 2023, Queen of Apostles Province -North East Africa is spread in four countries: Sudan, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.
We have 82 Sisters, the average age being 49.5. The specific demographics are as follows:
- 10 Asians
- 1 European
- 71 Africans
The Africans are distributes as follows:
- 40 Tanzanians
- 16 Ugandans
- 10 Kenyans
- 1 Sudanese
- 4 Malawians
In terms of discernment,
- 65 Sisters are Perpetually professed
- 17 Temporary professed,
- 9 Novices,
- 4 Postulants, and
- 6 Aspirants.
Our main apostolic ministries are Education (formal and non-formal), Evangelization and Catechesis, Pastoral Health Care (Dispensaries, Hospitals, Home Based Care Clinics and visiting the sick), Formation of the Laity and Lay Canossians, Spiritual Exercises in different forms, and care of “the vulnerable” wherever we are. Our mode of operating is preventive, promotional and collaborative with other partners. The extent of this collaboration and influencing factors vary from place to place.
We carry out the mission of making Jesus known and loved in the local Church, in collaboration with the Lay Canossians, the Secular Missionaries of St. Magdalene and all “people of good will”. In our ministries, we work with Christians of other denominations and of other religions with respect and collaboration. Ecumenism and interreligious dialogue take place at concrete level of day to day life.
Our Strategic Profile
Spurred on to become joyful and prophetic witnesses, we the Canossian Daughters of Charity of the North-Eastern Africa Province are committed to making Christ known and loved in every sphere of the society in which we serve:
We will achieve this through faithful pursuance of the following strategic thrusts:
- Being Faith-filled (F) Canossian Sisters who consciously work to live a life of conversion and integration, and becoming architects of communion;
- Dedicating (D) ourselves to willingly serve the poor, needy and marginalized;
- Cultivating (C) joyful and sustainable partnerships and collaborations among Sisters and with the laity, where possible, across all our ministries, programs and services; and,
- Creating (C) platforms and programs to evangelize and promote our vocation.
By God’s Grace and through our authentic witnessing, we will draw young women to our way of life and further build the Kingdom of God.
by misiatipeter | Jul 24, 2024 | Blog
Canossian Daughters of Charity is an Institute of Consecrated women founded on 8th May 1808 in Verona – Italy by St Magdalene of Canossa (S. Maddalena Gabrielle di Canossa). Here is an overview of our Institute.
Charism:
Through a life of consecration, communion and humble service, “the contemplation of Jesus Christ who breathes nothing but charity leads the Sisters to have a heart of a mother and the ardor of an apostle and witness God’s saving love for humanity” to prevent sin.
Vision:
Women of the Word, loving without measure, reconfiguration to a life of holiness in and for the mission of today
Mission:
Above all, “To make Jesus known and loved” in every sphere of the society in which we serve specially the poorest
Objectives:
Attentive to the love that shines on the Cross, we model our way of loving on that of the Lord, in humility and radical detachment animated by a Spirit of charity, gentleness, meekness, of zeal and fortitude, of most amiable, most generous and most patient spirit.
- To be prophetic witnesses of our time in the societies we live
- To dedicate ourselves to serve the poor, needy and the marginalized
- To cultivate joyful and sustainable partnerships and collaborations among Sisters and laity across all ministries, programs and services
- To create spaces and programs for evangelization and promotion of our vocation
- To love Mary, Mother of Charity at the foot of the Cross
Propelled by the Love that shines on the crucified Jesus, we respond to the call of Charity without boundaries, to a service with a generous heart through
- Education – the “behavior of the person in life depends on the education received.” Hence, we foster holistic growth of children, adolescents and young people to “prevent and impede sin” through the “formation of the heart” forming them to be agents of change in the society they live according to Gospel values. We give special attention to women, making them aware of their dignity, giving opportunities to build their capacity so that they may carry out their mission in the family, society and Church.
- Evangelization – “There is no act of charity as perfect as that of helping our neighbor to love God.” We expend ourselves with untiring generosity in the holy exercises of the Church so that Christ may be the heart of the world.
- Pastoral Healthcare – Faithful to the teachings of the Church to promote the culture of life in all its stages and expressions, we regard the sick as the living images of Christ Himself and we are “ready, if necessary, to expose our lives in the exercise of Holy Charity.”
- Formation of the Laity – To promote the “spread of the Glory of God”, we form lay people called to dedicate themselves to apostolate specially in the field of education, catechesis and charitable works so that they may become guides and co-workers in the ecclesial community and in society.
- Spiritual Exercises and retreats – We offer the opportunity for times of special encounter with the Lord through spiritual Exercises, retreats, direction and accompaniment.