FORMATION HOUSES
The formation of a Canossian Daughter of Charity, Servant of the Poor, is a dynamic process through which the person allows herself to be continually moulded by the Father’s love into the likeness of Christ Crucified, through the work of the Holy Spirit. This is a life-long process, entrusted to communities in the formation houses of Paco, San Juan Novitiate and Hiyas for the elderly.
PACO, MANILA COMMUNITY: Provincialate, Welcome House & Postulancy
The Canossian Convent in Paco was established in 1973 when the Canossian Sisters acquired the old Sacred Heart Maternity Clinic which was transformed as a seat of the Delegation of the Canossian Daughters of Charity. Paco Convent has become the seat of government of the Province of the Sacred Heart since 1991. Presently, it is also the Postulancy formation house.
Many special events of the Province are celebrated here like Religious Professions, Jubilee celebrations of sisters, Provincial Chapters and other Provincial seminars for sisters and lay partners. It has truly been a welcome house for guest Sisters and Lay partners coming from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and abroad. The community of sisters in Paco also serve the scholars and their families from nearby poor district of estero de Paco through human and spiritual formation, accompanies ladies entering the Postulancy program, assists the poor especially the street dwellers, welcomes Sisters, families and friends who need accommodation in Manila, facilitates recollections, serves in vocation promotion and campus ministry.
Canossian Novitiate Community – San Juan City
The Formation House of the Province for Novices was established in Lipa in 1969. Later, it was transferred to Paco in 1972 together with the Postulants. Due to an increase of vocations in 1984, there was a need for a more spacious and a more conducive place for the formation of the novices, separate from the postulants. Thus, the Canossian Novitiate was transferred to San Juan, Metro Manila on June 7, 1984.
The main purpose of the foundation of this community is the accompaniment of the formands, particularly the Novices. Each Sister is a member of the équipe in the formation of the Novices and is actively involved, in one way or another, in their formative journey as teacher and companion. For the past years, the Novices do not come only from the Philippine Province but even from other Provinces among the Asia-Oceania region.
Hiyas Community: Home for the Elderly Sisters – San Juan City
Hiyas Community was established in 2011 as a residence of our elderly Sisters who have spent their lives at the service of the Province and of the Church. It was proper for them to have a special place where their physical and spiritual needs are met through the help of the Sisters and caregivers ministering to them. The convent of the elderly Sisters is located in the same compound as the Novitiate. Some of them are teaching the Novices and share with them their experiences of religious life and charism of our Foundress, St. Magdalene of Canossa. The Sisters are also visited by the Sisters from nearby communities, the Alumni and other people especially the poor who come to ask for counselling and help. The Sisters are always in mission. Their “mission” now is to thank the Lord and pray for the needs of the world.