A century ago, in the remote village of Mottakunnu at Chunangamveli, Aluva, where jackals once roamed and howled, Rev. Fr. Varghese Payyappilly sowed the seed of a new religious congregation with an indomitable desire to found a community dedicated to the service of the poor. That seed has since germinated, grown, and flourished into the Congregation of the Sisters of the Destitute (SD), which today bears abundant fruit in the Church through its apostolate of mercy.
With the paternal blessing of Archbishop Mar Augustine Kandathil, Metropolitan of the Ernakulam Archeparchy, Rev. Fr. Varghese Payyappilly, then Manager of St. Mary’s School, Aluva, founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Destitute on 2 February 1926. The congregation also fulfilled the fervent aspirations and spiritual quest of Sr. Josephine, Sr. Cecily, Sr. Geltrude, and Sr. Kochuthresia. The early years of the congregation were marked by hardship. The Sisters sustained themselves through hard labour, begging, and depending upon charity. Their sole objective was to serve the poor. On 19 March 1927, the congregation was officially established at Chunangamveli in the Ernakulam Archeparchy. It was subsequently given the name Congregation of the Sisters of the Destitute. As he bid farewell to this world on 5 October 1929, Fr. Payyappilly left only one final spiritual exhortation to the first members of the congregation: “Ask for nothing else; pray only that the will of God may be fulfilled.” As the congregation celebrates its centenary, the elevation of Blessed Fr. Varghese Payyappilly is yet another story of God’s mercy towards this religious family. Fifteen days after the founder’s death, Mons. George Valiyarambath assumed responsibility as Director and Spiritual Father of the congregation, guiding it faithfully for the next forty-one years.
The ministries of the congregation expanded significantly when its missionary activities began in the capital city of India in 1958. Thereafter, the Sisters extended their works of mercy to foreign missions as well, becoming active participants in the Church’s universal mission of evangelization. In 1964, through the special intervention of Cardinal Joseph Parecattil, the congregation commenced its ministry in Germany. During the 1970s, it expanded further into Italy and Switzerland. In 1985, the congregation was reorganized into three provinces: St. Mary’s Province, Ernakulam; St. Vincent Province, Kothamangalam; and St. Joseph Province, Changanacherry. In 1989, the congregation was elevated to the status of a Pontifical Religious Institute. The establishment of a mission house in Madagascar in 1993 marked the beginning of the congregation’s apostolate on the African continent.
In 2000, three additional mission provinces were established: Shanthidham – Ghaziabad, Pushpadham – Delhi, and Krupadham – Wardha. Subsequently, a region was also established with its centre in Tamil Nadu. During the same year, the congregation expanded its missionary presence to the United States, followed later by Peru, Nepal, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda. Today, the congregation has Sisters and candidates from various African countries. At present, 1,423 Sisters and 211 candidates, serving in 238 communities across thirteen countries on five continents, continue their ministry of mercy. Through social apostolate, healthcare ministry, educational apostolate, and pastoral ministry, the Sisters proclaim the Gospel by becoming mothers of compassion, loving companions, and sisters to those in need.
The congregation devoted the past ten years to a special period of preparation for its centenary. Along with intensive spiritual renewal programmes and apostolic initiatives, various projects were implemented to promote the holistic physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being of its members. Today, the congregation has developed an effective system capable of responding promptly to emergencies and humanitarian needs. Thus, during the crises at Munambam, Chooralmala, and Manipur, the Sisters reached the affected areas and rendered timely assistance to those in distress. For those who could never dream of owning a home, the congregation has launched the Dream Housing Project in two districts. Under the Cochin Dream Project, seventy houses have been built in Gandhinagar Colony. Through the Wayanad Dream Project, nearly five hundred families without homes have received full or partial assistance for the construction of their own houses. Through 170 Home Mission centres spread across Madagascar and different parts of India, the congregation has reached nearly 40,000 families. During this centenary year alone, numerous rehabilitation and development projects have been undertaken for the benefit of the poor and the destitute.
The cause of Servant of God Sr. Dr. Fidelis Thaliath, who transformed the care of the sick into a path to holiness, is now progressing towards her inclusion among the saints of the Church. This too is another beautiful story of God’s mercy as the Congregation of the Sisters of the Destitute celebrates the fulfilment of its centenary.
