PIONEERS
Briefly, scanning through the history of the congregation, it is amazing to see that the founding sisters along with our founder, Fr. Adrian Bresy formed the seed bed (nucleus) of our congregation. The DNA of that seed was to be “Sowers of Prophetic Hope.” Ours truly is a congregation, “destined to defy resolutions, wars, upheavals and destruction of all sorts,” manifesting explicitly the valiant heroism and the prophetic hope of the founding sisters and possibly the generations after them. The following are the reasons to state this fact:
- The congregation was born on November 25, 1685, during the period between 1621-1714, called a century of misfortune. Belgium was considered to be the “battle field of Europe as Spain, Holland, France and Austria fought among themselves for occupation. It attained independence only in 1830. One can only imagine the fear, confusion, uncertainty, displacements, loss of lives and property this would bring. Our congregation was born right in the middle of this misfortune. Yet it sprouted and grew.
- Though Fr. Adrian was the founder, he did not want to be known as the founder as he placed the “teaching ladies of Wez” under the patronage of St. Charles Borromeo, the Reformer of the Tridentine Church. In his hiddenness was the grace which allowed the Spirit of St Charles Borromeo to permeate the life and mission of the Congregation.
In 1699, just 14 years after the foundation, Fr. Adrian, the founder, passed on to eternal life. Ultimately, every religious congregation is the work of the Spirit as he is the initiator of charisms. The loss of the founder did not deter the life and mission of the Congregation.
Though began in a monastic form initially with Ora et Labora, the Spirit allows the congregation to break out of that mold and takes on the Apostolic form a pioneering and daring step of that time as religious life for women was bound to be cloistered and contemplative till that time.
Ministries they began (Free Day-School for girls, Pay Boarding for girls, pay Day-school for boys, Juvenile Home for Senior boys and Psychiatric Home for the mentally ill, Residence for Lay boarders) were all radically new and unconventional steps, taken to respond heroically to the pressing needs of that time. They were true the expressions of prophetic hope.
From 1685, for almost 177 years, there was only one house at Wez; a second house began in 1861 and remained so for another 68 years (1861-1929). Further expansion began only after almost 250 years after the foundation. It is remarkable to see the amazing sustainability and endurance even as a small community in spite of all the adverse circumstances. To sustain and endure even as one community in spite of the revolutions and wars for such a long time is certainly a credible expression of prophetic hope. The congregation has been tested in fire and it came out victoriously.
Even when French Revolution lashed out in violent reaction against clergy and the religious and suppressed all religious orders, the sisters of St. Charles were one among the five congregations given exemption in Belgium because of the quality of its witnessing. The reasons were: the free education given to the children, including care for the mentally ill, the state of utter simplicity of the life-style of the sisters and the prudent precautionary measures taken by the community. The anti-ecclesial forces can be confronted only by the sheer quality of the witnessing; to be the light in the midst of darkness. The sisters could wear their habit, follow their rule and carry on their apostolate at a time when a least sign of association with a religion was a crime, punishable under law.
The Gospel message of love of our enemies, universality and inclusive love was lived by the sisters quite literally as they had to take care of the foreign soldiers who came to attack and occupy their own nations. This they did even when the soldiers occupied their own convent buildings and took away things that belonged to the convent and boarding houses. This is an expression of liminality or prophetic abnormality. They loved, cared and served their enemy soldiers enduring all kinds of sacrifices and struggles.
In the aftermath of the Decree of Cloud of June 22, 1804, ordering the dissolution of all religious congregations, the Sisters of St. Charles open the doors of their convent to several religious driven away from their own communities and seeking refuge. They were accommodated in the quarters for the lady boarders and were able to live following their own rules until peace returned. A best of offering hope to those who are deprived of it.
The average life span of a religious congregation is around 300 years and is normally expected to have a charismatic death. At the Transition Phase in the life line of a congregation, three options are possible: The survival with revitalization is dependent on the following factors:
- a transforming response to the signs of the time
- a re-appropriation of the founding charism
a profound renewal of the life of prayer, faith, and centeredness in Christ - deep personal transformation coupled with insight and vision
Among three, it is amazing to see that our congregation has survived with a revitalization. It is highly significant that our Congregation became Pontifical only in 1982 and we celebrated the tri centenary in 1985.