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Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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The Congregation of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (ASCJ) is an international congregation of women religious, founded in Viareggio, Italy, in 1894, by Servant of God Mother Clelia Merloni (1861-1930).

History

Clelia Merloni was born to Gioacchino and Teresa Brandinelli Merloni on March 10, 1861, in Forli, Italy, and attended a private school in the suburbs. After experiencing religious life in different congregations, Clelia entered the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Mary of Divine Providence, founded in Como by Don Luigi Guanella. She wished establish a new congregation dedicated to works of charity and founded the Congregation of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Viareggio, Italy, May 30, 1894.[1]

The Congregation expanded rapidly and seemed to hold great promise. In 1895 her father died, leaving Clelia his estate. A dishonest financial administrator put the congregation into bankruptcy. On June 10, 1900 Bishop Giovanni Batista Scalabrini, of Piacenza granted episcopal approbation to the Congregation of the Apostle Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and approved its rule with a new Missionary dimension. Bishop Scalabrini had been looking for a foundation of Sisters to assist the emigrants who had left Italy in search of livelihood in the Americas. The central seat of the congregation was established in Piacenza.[1]

On August 10, 1900 six Apostle Missionaries departed from Genoa on the ship Piedmont for São Paulo, Brazil. Two years later, on June 16 1902, six Apostle Missionaries, sailed from Genoa on the English ship The Vancouver for Boston, Massachusetts, to aid the Missionaries of St. Charles.[1] Within a short time these sisters had gathered about 200 children from the area and organized Christian Doctrine classes for them.

The movement became a target and the movement's founder was forced into hiding. The nuns gained some protection from Bishop Giovanni Batista Scalabrini but he died in 1905 and the movement was moved to Alessandria. In 1911 the church removed the founder from office.[2] Mother Merloni died on November 21, 1930 in the Generalate in Rome, and was buried in the chapel. She was replaced by Marcelline Vigano who was recalled from America where she had created a new novitiate.[3]

In 2011 on the 150th anniversary of the founder's birth the Pope praised the work of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.[4]

Today

The Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus profess the evangelical counsels of Chastity, Poverty, and Obedience. The congregation numbers about 1,200 sisters[5] on five continents. The Congregation is divided into 5 Provinces and 2 Vice Provinces, each with its own government subject to the general government. The sisters work in Italy, Switzerland, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, the United States, Mozambique, Benin, Albania, Taiwan, Ireland, and the Philippines.

The U.S. Provincialate is located at Mount Sacred Heart, 295 Benham Street, Hamden, Connecticut, where the sisters run Sacred Heart Academy.[6] In St. Louis, Missouri, they operate a preschool program at Sacred Heart Villa, and they also run an all-girls high school, Cor Jesu Academy.[7] Apostle Immigrant Services is a nonprofit agency that provides a range of educational programs and legal immigration services to the greater New Haven, Connecticut community.[8]

There are about 130 professed members who work in Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Florida. Their principal ministries of service are in education (all age levels), health care, missionary activity, and social work and pastoral service.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Founding the Congregation", Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
  2. ^ Years of Exile, then Joyful Reunion, ASJ, Retrieved 13 August 2015
  3. ^ Marcellion Vigano, ASCJus.org, Retrieved 13 August 2015
  4. ^ Pope Praises Founder of Apostles of Sacred Heart, Zenit.org, Retrieved 13 August 2015
  5. ^ "About us", Apostole del Sacro Cuore di Gesú Archived October 20, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Sacred Heart Academy, Hamden, CT
  7. ^ Sacred Heart Villa, St. Louis, MO Archived July 19, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Apostle Immigrant Services, New Havan, CT
  9. ^ Kenny, Joseph. "St. Louisans profess vows in Apostles of the Sacred Heart", St. Louis Review, August 21, 2013
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