Amid the social and political upheavals of the nineteenth century, the need for recognition of human dignity, peace and happiness grew rapidly. In response to the needs of the time, Mother Alphonse Marie, Élisabeth Eppinger, founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Redeemer in Niederbronn, France, on 28 August 1849.
The new religious community cared for the sick in their homes, looked after poor and neglected children, and helped and supported people in difficult circumstances, regardless of their social status or religious affiliation.
The Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Redeemer is an apostolic religious institute of pontifical right. Its overall purpose is to glorify God through perfect Christian charity, following Jesus Christ and practising the evangelical counsels. The sisters’ community life is filled with shared and personal prayer and work. Their spirit is to be the Spirit of Jesus Christ, in the words of St Paul: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal 2:20).
The Congregation’s principal apostolic task is to reveal the merciful and redeeming love of Jesus Christ through pastoral, educational, charitable and social work. The charism of the Sisters of the Divine Redeemer is rooted in that of their foundress, the Servant of God Mother Alphonse Marie: to contemplate the Mystery of Redemption, draw life from it and help others find their way to this Mystery. They help people open themselves to God’s boundless love and mercy, experience the Lord’s fatherly love and recognise his desire for the true happiness and salvation of every person.
The Congregation’s patrons are St Joseph, St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, St Teresa of Ávila, St Elizabeth of Hungary and St John Baptist de La Salle.
The sisters’ work in Ukraine. Sisters from the Congregation’s Slovak Province serve in Uman, in the Diocese of Kyiv-Zhytomyr. They bear witness to the merciful love of Christ the Redeemer by helping those who are lonely, sick and suffering, especially those approaching death. They work in a school and parish and provide catechesis for children, young people and adults. They offer social assistance to poor families regardless of religious affiliation. They organise spiritual weekends for young people and students studying in Uman. A community of lay women, the Spiritual Family, also operates in Uman, helping spread the Congregation’s charism and working closely with the sisters in their ministry.
Address: 5 Tykhyi Lane, Uman 203000, Cherkasy Region
Email: sdruman@ukr.net