THE NAME “ LITTLE SISTERS”

Mgr. Savelberg gave his sisters the name “ LITTLE SISTERS” so as to give them a special assignment for their life, thus in simplicity and frugality to choose to serve the “ little ones”.
This name also shows that the little, simplicity and service were highly appreciated by Savelberg.

By the name, the Founder wanted to express this particular character of his sisters as he explains in the constitution “ The sincerity and simplicity of the heart as a way of life, so highly recommended to all the followers of St. Francis, are appropriate to sisters of this congregation since they are called Little”.

The original name of the congregation was ‘Little Pius Sisters’ this choice had to do with Savelberg’s great admiration for the contemporary Pope Pius IX. Several times the name changed due to the many devotions of the Founder. However the term ‘Little’ always remained there. Since 1962 the official name has been “ CONGREGATION OF THE LITTLE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH”.

 

THE RULE AND CONSTITUTION

Mgr. Savelberg gave his congregation as directives the Rule of the Regular Third Order of St. Francis. That means the Rule of the Franciscan Third Order, adapted to the religious life. This Rule was further worked out in the Constitutions of the congregation hence the Rule and the Constitutions are more or less the same in meaning since the Rule needs constitutions for elaboration.

 

SPIRITUALITY OF THE CONGREGATION.

Together with the first Sisters, Savelberg developed his charitable work which are focused on the very poor ones, education , care of the destitute and the aged people.
So from the very start the activities of his congregation was characterized by simplicity and modesty. Mgr. Saveberg wished his Sisters to work in small villages in the parishes, where the greater part of the population were simple and poor people, mostly in places which was not attracting great attention and where other people never liked and dared to work since his Motto was “ TO HELP WHERE NOBODY HELPED”.
The Sisters were to dedicate themselves quietly and without worry to the mentally retarded, those who suffered from epileptics, the old and handicapped Children, the unmarried mothers etc. The Activities which the sisters carried out has expanded in the course of the years but as a congregation we have always proved to be faithful followers of our Founder Mgr. Savelberg by committing ourselves in many fields related to:-

• Nursing
• Education
• Care for the mentally retarded
• Child welfare
• Care for the aged
• Social ministires
• Agricultural activities

 

THE EXPANSION OF THE CONGREGATION.

The first house of the Congregation was the small convent of the Franciscan Sisters of the Heythuysen in the Gasthuisstraat. It served as the common mother house of the brothers and the sisters. It had a double chapel for the Brothers and Sisters.
Later the Sisters moved their mother house to the Sanatoruim , where they formed a community and the sisters were able to fulfill their tasks. This place remained the centre of the Congregation from that time.
The communities which were opened during the time of the Founder were:-
Schaesberg 1873,

• Heel St. Ann 1879
• lanaken 1887
• Buggenum 1889
• Rulduc 1897
• Rothem 1898
• Two colleges in Roermond in 1890 and 1898
• St. Michiels Gestel 1900
• Gellik 1901,stokkem 1902
• weert in 1902
• St. Joseph Hospital 1904
• St. Ann Foundation in Hague 1907

After the death of Mgr. Savelberg in 1907 Mgr. Driessen was appointed as the Director of the Congregation.

He worked with the same spirit of Mgr. Savelberg. During his time he ensured the congregation expanded even more. It was a flourishing time because so many young women joined the congregation hence the expansion of the charitable work to different places too. Mgr. Driessen died in 1930 and was succeeded by Mother Oda and from then onward the leadership took full responsibility of the Congregation.

 

THE DEVELOPMENT IN STRUCTURE OF THE CONGREGATION.

After the congregation spread its wing to other continents those Foundations grew in numbers and the Congregation was forced to change its structures. So during the General Chapter of 1991 the Structure of the congregation changed and the new structure composed of 3 Provinces began each with its own Provincial Council and bound together by the General council. The General Chapter of 1991 still worked on the constitutions since it was a requirement needed to accommodate the new change in Structure and the newly revised version of the constitutions was approved in 1992 by Bishop of Roermond Mgr. Dr. J.M Gijsen.