Community 01
Santa Maria Illam
Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu
History
Our story
Santa Maria Illam, Kumbakonam, is the first house of the Sisters of Charity of St. Mary in India. The foundation stone was laid in 1993, and the house was blessed and officially opened in 1995. Since then, it has served as the Mother House of the Indian Delegation, fostering formation, community life, and apostolic service.
Mission
Our mission
Santa maria Illam is a centre of prayer, formation, and service. As the Mother House of the Indian Delegation, it welcomes the novitiate, the local community, sisters engaged in studies, and sisters involved in various apostolic ministries.
The community is committed to nurturing religious vocations, strengthening the spiritual life of the sisters, and witnessing Christ's love through compassionate service to society.
Apostolic Ministry
How the sisters serve
Formation Ministry
- Accompanying novices and young sisters in their journey of religious formation.
- Providing spiritual, human, and intellectual formation.
- Creating an environment of prayer, community life, and discernment.
Educational Service
- Offering educational support and contributing to the formation of young students.
Pastoral Ministry
- Assisting in the pastoral work of neighbouring villages and parishes.
- Accompanying families through prayer and spiritual support.
Social Outreach
- Offering assistance to people in need, especially those experiencing poverty and abandonment.
- Visiting and supporting residents of the leprosy care centre with compassion and dignity.
Through these ministries, St. Mary Illam continues to be a centre of formation, charity, and hope, faithful to the charism of the Sisters of Charity of St. Mary.
Location