Books, journals, and spiritual resources from our congregation
Branch of the Vine Fruit of the Branch, A Historical Sketch of Ursuline Franciscan Congregation, compiled by Sr Alphonsa and edited by Fr Devadatta Kamath S.J. published on October 21, 1991, Feast of St Ursula, Founder’s Day. The Book first of its kind, written in three parts elucidate the Beginnings, Renascence and Growth of the Congregation and depict the branches of the Branch. The Compiler and the Editor are very descriptive and eloquent in recording the history of the Congregation. This Book is the response of the Superior General and her Council to the mandate given to them in the General Chapter VIII, held in May 1986. As the readers peruse through the pages they come in touch with the providential care and love of God poured lavishly by him on the Congregation to which the Founder, Pioneers, Superiors and all the members of the Congregation bear witness. The apparent fact in truth is that the Little Lamp and the tiny Mustard Seed, the Branch of the Vine has grown and has spread its Branches that today bear Fruit for the Kingdom of God and for his people.
It was published on Christmas 1978 at Holy Rosary Convent, Jeppu, Mangalore. The inspiration came from Dr Jessie Tellis Nayak, the then Programme Director, Programme for Women’s Development, Indian Social Institute, New Delhi who suggested that we record our work and efforts in the field of social and economic development so as to enthuse our Sisters and lay people to direct their energies in their own way towards the total liberation of humankind. It takes us back to the daring spirit of our Sisters whose service was unassuming and who befriended the poor and the neglected lot of society in the villages where they served. The words of Mother Ernestine the then Superior General in her Introduction to this Booklet are worth quoting here: “While Mother Teresa the superstar, sheds the bright light of her humanitarian works of mercy and charity in the slums of India and abroad, we count our service as that of a lamp keeping the night watch in the poor villages and hamlets the ‘work fields’ of our Sisters”.
The Author in her brilliant and attractive literary skill has etched the portrait of the Founder, Patrons, Pioneers and early Superiors, Superiors General, the First Capuchin Spiritual Director – Fr Pacificus, bishops associated with the Congregation, the three developmental stages of the Congregation and the growth in numbers of its members and houses, its geographical expansion, its activities and spirit behind them and the recruitment and formation of new members. It also includes the Directory, which is much more than a simple list, useful for practical purposes, of places, undertakings and members of the Congregation. It is a view of the Congregation by an outsider - lay woman, quite interesting to the reader that provides a vivid picture of Ursauline Franciscan Congregation is in the context of Church and society. It is interesting to note the comment made by Most Rev. Agostino Cacciavillan, Apostolic Pronuncio who wrote the Preface to the book: “The Congregation is no longer just a “mustard seed” or a “little lamp”. But the plant that has sprung up can and should grow further; the light can and should spread more, a light that is also the warmth of God’s love.”
In the Land of the Living- Vol II, the faith journey of our deceased Sisters, compiled by Sr Aurea D’Souza, UFS and released on the occasion of the Post Cebtenary Silver Jubilee Celebration of the Foundation of the Congregationt. The book is dedicated to all the departed members of the Congregation.
In the Land of the Living, the faith journey of our deceased Sisters, compiled by Sr Aurea D’Souza, UFS and released on the occasion of the Centenary of St Ursula Convent, the First house of the Congregation of the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters on ….The book is dedicated to Rev. Fr Urban Stein S.J. the Founder of the Congregation, Mother Nympha Fernandez, the First Superior of the Company of St Ursula and Rev. Fr Pacificus OFM Cap. It contains the necrology of our Founder, Mother Nympha Fernandez and the pioneers who were the members of the Company of St Ursula from which sprouted the religious congregation of the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation, Rev. Fr Pacificus and the sixty-four members of the Congregation till June 2001. They are the grains of wheat fallen in the soil, died and brought forth fruit in abundance of which we are the beneficiaries. If they had not died to themselves until they died even the physical death, would the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation receive as much life as it enjoys today?
The True Story of Angela Merici, originally Italian by Rosa Serina.. With the permission of Istituto Santa Maria Degli Angeli, Brescia this was translated to English by Rev. Fr Bona Marcel Rodrigues OFM Cap. in 2002 for the use of the formees in initial formative period. It is a fine description of the life of St Angela Merici with illustrations, written as a letter of St Angela Merici to the children.
Sant Angela Merici Hici Neez Katha, a Konkani translation of The True Story of Angela by Rev. Fr Stany Goveas, Professor, St Joseph,s Seminary, Mangalore. This small booklet was thought of for the purpose of giving it to the children in the parish and to our formees.
St Angela Merici, originally in Italian by Rosa Serina, translated to .English by Sr Lenita D,Souza UFS and released on the occasion of the Birthday of Sr Edilburga, Superior General 2003. The purpose of the translation was to introduce the life of St Angela Merici to our formees in basic formation. The text gives a simple but attractive description of the Saint with illustrations.
St Angela Merici Rule Counsels Testament, published by the Congregation in 2004 in order to make available to the members the Writings of St Angela Merici, the Patroness. In accord with the mind of the Eleventh General Chapter the Superior General Sr Doreen D’Souza took it as the first means to strengthen the Ursuline Franciscan Identity in her Sisters. In her Preface to the Book she expresses her desire to search earnestly for our identity and journey enthusiastically towards the spirituality of the gospels which has been passed on to us by our Patrons and Founder. Through this booklet of Writings of St Angela we are helped to discover the interiority of a ‘woman’ who attained holiness through her deep faith in God and lively zeal and commitment towards the contemporary needs of our times.
The Life and Mission of Fr Urban Stein S.J., a simple biographical account of our Founder written by Sr Ivy Fernandes UFS in 2005 for the sake of offering it as a easy study for the formees of the Congregation. The material is adapted from the life of Fr Urban Stein written by Rev. Fr Devadatta Kamath S.J. and published in the book of the Congregation ‘In the Land of the Living’. It contains the portraits of the paintings displayed in the Foundation Room of the Congregation.
Leaven of Love Charism and Spirituality of Ursuline Franciscan Sisters published in 2007 as a response to the mandate given by Eleventh General Chapter. This book introduces the Ursuline Franciscan Sisters to the amazing power that lies within the charism and spirituality of the Congregation. The hard work of the Commission and the Editorial Board that were formed by the Superior General and her Council we are enabled to go to the roots of our Congregation and relish the sap that runs through its veins. ‘Leaven of Love’ in its six Chapters give us a deep knowledge of what charism and spirituality in general are and educates us in the charism and spirituality of the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation. Our charism and spirituality lays emphasis on one side on the primacy of the love of God, and on the other we realize the truth that the more genuinely we love God, the deeper and more effective will be our love of neighbor, especially the poor and the unloved – Passion for Christ, compassion for Humanity.
Leaven of Love Catechism of Charism and Spirituality of Ursuline Franciscan Sisters, published in 2008 as an aid to study the Charism and Spirituality of the Congregation. It was Rev. Fr Remigius Sequeira, OFM Cap. who inspired the Superior General and her Council to prepare a Catechism on our Charism and Spirituality in order that the material given in the LEAVEN OF LOVE is made easy to learn. It is a kind of text book which can be used in the different stages of formation to help the formees memorize the content of the book and to assimilate it.
Purposeful Journey
The book is dedicated to All the Departed Members of the Congregation, who have left the rich legacy of faith, love and dedication to the living members of the Congregation as an inspiration and challenge. It contains the necrology of our forty six members of the Congregation till October 2012. This book also tells us about their life and mission
It is released on April 12, 2012. The Hand book of Ursuline Franciscan Lay Association provides us the vision, mission, aims and objectives and other necessary guidelines for those who with zeal become members of this lay association. This guidelines explain as to how to associate and become sharers in the gifts of the Spirit focusing on their life and mission. Associate members will come to know the way of life, the charism and spirituality of the Congregation.
This book is dedicated to All the Formators and Formers of the past, present and the future as a memorial of the Post Centenary Silver Jubilee Celebration of the Company of St Ursula (1887-2012). It contains the syllabus for all stages of formation and expresses the character on wholeness precisely because it aims at transformation of the whole person and it is clear that the commitment to formation never ends. Every stage of formation opportunities are offered to grow in their commitment to the Charism and Mission of Ursuline Franciscan Congregation.
Showing 1–16 of 38 publications
