France

FONDATION : April 11, 1799

Origins

In the revolutionary torment   

1799:  a woman, inhabited by the Spirit and all alone: Jeanne-Antide Thouret, is sent by the Church, follows Christ and St. Vincent de Paul, at the service of the poorest.

In Besançon, rue des Martelots, she opens a school on the 11th April 1799 and then a copper for the soup for the sick. Since the beginning, other young women join her, struck by the same call; on the 15th October 1800, they profess their consecration to the Lord in the presence of Mgr de Chaffoy, Episcopal vicar of the diocese of Besançon.

Their positive action of material and moral aid, of human and christian education for the children of the gratuitous schools but even for the sick poor will  bring forth numerous establishments :

  • Home service of the sick
  • Public and military hospitals
  • Hospice – prison of  Bellevaux
  • Soups for the people

In 10 years, 67 establishments emerge.

Yes, to look after and to teach the poor, but Jeanne-Antide organises also the life and the formation of the sisters called « Sisters of the soup and of the small schools », true daughters of St. Vincent de Paul who must go everywhere near the poorest of the poor.

In 1809, M.Mauris mayor of  Thonon and the  abbot Neyre, parish priest of the city ask Janne-Antide to send sisters to :

Organise  the  service of the sick and the poor of the city hospital

To set us a pharmacy

To teach the poor girls received through charity.

Sister Basile Prince with a group of 4 sisters is at the origins of the foundation of Thonon where they arrive on the 9th May 1810.

On the 29th October 1821, Sr. Victoire Bartholémot is transferred from  Bourg en Bresse to Saint Paul en Chablais where she will open the novitiate before becoming the official representative of Jeanne-Antide, in 1825. It’s the birth of the Province of Savoie.

Today

The main services in which the sisters are engaged :

  • With the sick : nurses, health assistants in public hospitals
  • Chaplaincy in hospitals, in nursing homes for the elderly, in the schools, in the prisons.
  • Catechesis in the parishes, participation in the pastoral teams, catechumenate
  • Various diocesan services : youth pastoral ministry, vocations, catechesis…
  • Centres for women in difficulty
  • Presence in the district associations, literacy, immigrants, Catholic and popular Aid
  • Hostels : Sancey, la Roche, Besançon
  • Communities in the cities’ districts
  • Communities of sisters in the nursing homes

We are present at the

  • Diocese of BESANCON

    Besançon

    • Provincial House
    • Community of service
    • Noviciat
    • Community “Escale”
    • Community of pastoral service « les Clairs Soleils »
    • Community St Jacques
    • Community Ste Jeanne Antide
    • Nursing home – St Ferjeux

    Sancey  (Holiday house)
    Montagney (Nursing home – « Notre-Dame des Cèdres »)

     

  • Diocese of ANGOULEME

    • Saint Front – Nursing home, elders and elderly nuns
  • Diocese of ANNECY

    • La Roche sur Foron (« le couvent »  Care Home)
    • St Paul en Chablais
    • Thonon les Bains – Concise (Nursing House- EHPAD « Les Balcons du Lac »)
  • Archdiocese of BORDEAUX

    • BORDEAUX – Community rue Bigot, Nursing House EHPAD du « Grand BON Pasteur »
    • LESPARRE MEDOC (Community of pastoral service)
  • Diocese of DIGNE 

    • Digne les bains – Nursing home – EHPAD « Notre Dame du Bourg »
    • Digne les bains – « La Meyronnette » : hospitality for women in need
  • Diocese of NANTERRE

    • Community of Bois Colombes – pastoral service
  • Diocese of NICE

    • Nizza (Community “Régina Coeli” – Communities in relation to the education environment and the service of the economic bakery)
  • Diocese of PERIGUEUX

    • Bergerac  (Nursing home EHPAD « Maison de la Madeleine »)
    • Trélissac (Multipurpose community)
  • Diocese of VALENCE

    • Maison St Yves (Communitie in relation to the educational environment )

Postal Address:
Maison Provinciale
131 grande-rue
BP 389
25018 Besançon Cedex

E-mail: province.besancon.savoie@gmail.com

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