CONGREGATION OF HANDMAIDS OF CHRIST

Everything that we regard as success comes first from an idea… a dream… a seed notion that arises from the heart of a human being. Our dream is shaped into reality only through our total abandonment in the hands of our creator. In the early thirties of the twentieth century, Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves, the then vicar of the Church of St. Alex, Calangute, Goa, had a vision, a beautiful dream to be Christ like to the poor, the destitute, the orphaned and the unwanted.

HISTORICAL BACHGROUND: In 1930 Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves instituted a charitable Home – an orphanage for the needy children at Gauravaddo, Calangute, Goa. At this juncture, he approached some women who wished to serve the Lord. The vicar’s burning love and ardent zeal for Christ, coupled with his compassionate desire to serve Him in the poor, and the willingness of these women to serve the Lord in the poor, found expression in the establishment of a sprit-led ‘Pious Association of the Sisters of St. Alex’ (Pia União das Irmas de Sto. Aleixo) dedicated to God, living a common life of love and labour and strengthened by prayer and the Eucharist.

THE SEED WAS SOWN: The Pious Union received the approval of the Local Ordinary in 1934. Thus a seed was sown for the “First indigenous Congregation in Portuguese India” by Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves. On the 16th January, 1935, these dedicated girls started their Novitiate and on 8th September, 1937, eight Novices made their first profession in the Boa Viagem Chapel, Calangute, Goa. Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves with his self–sacrificing and missionary spirit, became a true source of inspiration of these young women.

SPIRITUAL MOTIVATION: Very soon Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves was appointed as Vicar General of the mission areas in the Ghats at Belgaum, India. His appointment brought no hurdle to the spiritual guidance of the Congregation. Through his frequent letters and occasional visits he continued to guide his beloved Sisters. He insisted that sisters be detached from everything that could obstruct attachment to God and His kingdom. He wanted the sisters to be of one heart and one mind, and to find their strength in the passion of the Lord, the Holy Eucharist and Our Lady.

CONGREGATION OF THE SISTERS OF ST. ALEX: On 24th September 1949, the Pious Association of the Sisters of St. Alex was erected as a Diocesan Congregation under the names of the “Congregation of the Sisters of St. Alex”, by his Excellency Most Rev. Jose da Costa Nunes, the then Patriarch of the East Indies.

NAME CHANGED: In the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council, “The Sisters of the Congregation of St. Alex” felt the need to change the name of the congregation and came to be known as the “Congregation of the Handmaids of Christ” from 1968. The approval was granted by the Decree CP –Dec/10/ 2008, on the 2nd of February of the year 2008.

NATURE: Our Founder intended us to be an Apostolic Religious Institute of woman, dedicated totally to God who consecrated his chosen ones to Himself, by means of a special consecration to which we are to respond by our profession of public vows, so as to follow Jesus Christ more intimately in Chastity by loving him with an undivided heart, in Poverty by adopting a simple life–style and in Obedience by discerning God’s will and generously responding to it. (See PC 1)

OUR CHARISM

The Handmaid of Christ empowered by the saving love of God lives in intimate union with Him by being broken and shared through the Eucharist. She earnestly seeks the Will of God and communion with her Sisters by dying to self in order to promote the Kingdom of God in Community and Creation, thereby committing herself to reach out in compassion and justice to the poor and the marginalized especially children and women in distress.

OUR VISION

Inspired by Mary’s ‘YES’ the Handmaid of Christ die to self to reach out in compassionate love in order to give fuller life to those in need. OUR MISSION

As an expression of our God experience, we the Handmaids of Christ respond to the needs of our time by giving hope and meaning to the lives of the poor, the needy and the marginalized especially children and women through our Educational and Social Apostolate.

SPIRITUALITY: Our Founder, with child like simplicity, allowed himself to be loved by God and be possessed by him. Thus, possessed by the spirit of Christ , he could be free to die to self and become Christ like to the poor, the destitute, the orphaned, and the needy in order to make Christ’s redemptive love tangibly present to them thus helping them to be what God wants them to be, and to have what God wants them to have. Just like our Founder, we are sustained and nourished by the Holy Eucharist and strengthened by the Passion of Christ. Mary, towards whom our Founder had filial devotion, serves for us as our model and inspiration.

OUR APOSTOLATE: Our Sisters seek opportunities to share their life and love with the poor, especially children and women in distress. Keeping in mind the charism of our beloved Founder and further reading the signs of the time, the sisters undertake all types of charitable and missionary work–running orphanages, caring for the aged and the sick, running hostels for the protection of the girl child and women and conducting classes in tailoring and courses in art and craft. Sisters are actively involved in various ministries like Education Ministry, Youth Ministry, Mission work, Pastoral Ministry, Social work, etc.

PRESENT STATUS AND STATISTICS: GENERALATE: St. Alex Convent, Calangute , Bardez, Goa Total Communities: 33 In Goa: 20 Communities Other States of India: 12 Communities West Indies: 1 Community Feast of Patroness: 25th March.

ROOTS OF OUR FOUNDER: Msgr. Herculano Damasceno Olivet Xavier Gonsalves was born at Cana Benaulim, Salcete, Goa, on 11th February 1868 to a devout and pious couple. His father, Mr. Remedios Santana Gonsalves and mother Mrs. Angela Fremiot Amarante were simple, religious minded and God fearing couple. He was the second child in the family and had two brothers and a sister. He was baptized in his Parish Church of St. John the Baptist at Benaulim, Goa on 18th February 1868. As he grew up he tried to live up to his name – Herculean indeed – in all his dealings. Right from his younger days he displayed those qualities that pleased everyone and was therefore admired and cherished by all those whom he came in contact with. His caring and spontaneous charity was experienced by those who entered the portals of his majestic home. Soon he felt the call of the Lord and he joined the seminary.

CONCLUSION: The missionary flame lit by the Founder when he started to reach out and go beyond Calangute, was rekindled during the last three decades. This flame is surely growing into a fire. The charism and the mission of our congregation are very much relevant and our services are well appreciated in different parts of the country, and beyond. We do acknowledge that time and again that we need to re-visit our Charism, always listening to the voice of our beloved Founder: ‘to live only for God, all for God and always for God’ in the service of the poor and the needy. Our Founder has left us the treasure trove of some 400 letters, sermons and conferences which speak loud enough of his saintly life and insightful legacy. Keeping in mind the 150th Birth Anniversary of our Founder we work whole heartedly to make better known the life and spirituality of our Founder to our own Sisters as well as to introduce him to both ecclesiastical and secular church and thus enjoy the honour of seeing him being officially raised to band of Saints in Heaven.

Long live our Founder Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves!

Long live the Congregation of Handmaids of Christ!

-Sr. Faria Barretto HC