Servants of the Blessed Sacrament

The Servants of the Blessed Sacrament is a Roman Catholic contemplative, but not cloistered, congregation of sisters with a focus on Eucharistic adoration.

History

The Congregation was founded in France in 1859 by Saint Peter Julian Eymard, who was also known as the "Apostle of the Eucharist". Sister Marguerite Guillot collaborated with Eymard and became the first Superior General for the congregation, which was approved by Pope Pius IX in 1871.[1]

The Servants' religious congregation is the women's branch of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, also founded Peter Eymard over one hundred forty years ago.[2]

The first house in the United States was established in Waterville, Maine in April 1947, by six sisters from the Canadian foundation. In June 1956 a second American foundation was established in Pueblo, Colorado.[2] In 2009, due to lack of vocations, the American sisters asked the help of the sisters in the Philippines so the Congregation will continue its Eucharistic presence and mission in Pueblo. Four sisters came.[3]

From France, the Congregation spread throughout the world. Their houses are located in France, Canada, Brazil, Holland, the United States, Australia, Italy, the Philippines, Vietnam and Congo. The congregation's generalate is in Sherbrooke,Qc.[1]

In January 1996, a tragedy occurred at the Sisters' convent, located in Waterville, Maine. A mentally ill man broke into the convent in the middle of a winter storm, and attacked four of the nine Sisters who lived there. Two, including the Mother Superior were killed, while another was so severely injured that she had to be placed in a nursing home.[4] The nuns who survived the attack have since died. The individual was committed to what was then Augusta Mental Health Institute, now Riverview Psychiatric Hospital, but in June 2013 was granted unsupervised time in the community, despite objections from prosecutors.[5]

Apostolate

The congregation is centered on the person of Christ in the Eucharistic Mystery and dedicated to his love and glory. The celebration of the Eucharist, the Liturgy of the Hours and Eucharistic adoration give form to their mission of prayer. Eucharistic Adoration has the priority of their time and attention.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, Waterville, Maine
  2. 1 2 Connors SSS, Virginia. "Servants of the Blessed Sacrament Celebrate 50 Years in United States", Vocation News. Spring 1997
  3. 1 2 Parcero SSS, Gorgonia. "Meet the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament", Today's Catholic, November 2011, Diocese of Pueblo, Colorado
  4. ↑ Baker, Sally. ""A Community Heals"
  5. ↑ WMTW, News 8, "Man who killed Waterville nuns allowed unsupervised time" June 5, 2013
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