by Sumon Corraya

A memorial jubilee was held in Jessore in the presence of the Bishop and the faithful. Three Italian nuns founded the religious organisation in the Asian country. Now it includes 21 convents and 109 consecrated nuns. The Sisters of Charity work with the poorest sections of society, especially in the garment industry where women are exploited.

Jessore (AsiaNews) – Three Italian nuns "came to Jessore 150 years ago with a loving heart, and brought charity to the poorest of the poor. At the time, communications were almost impossible. Yet, they planted the seed of charitable work, which now has turned into a big tree of charity,” said Sister Lucy Purification.

The nun spoke at the ceremony marking the 150th anniversary of the arrival in what is now Bangladesh of the Sisters of Charity of Saints Bartolomea Capitanio and Vincenza Gerosa (aka Sisters of Maria Bambina or Sisters of the Holy Child Mary).

The jubilee was held in the School of the Sacred Heart, in Jessore, in the presence of the bishop, Mgr James Romen Boiragi, 13 priests and more than 100 religious men and women and faithful.

The first Italian nuns to arrive in the Asian country were Sisters Augustina, Nazarana and Benedicta.

"We started out very small 150 years ago,” said Sister Lucy. “Now we have 21 convents and thousands of people who support us in six dioceses. We serve in hospitals, schools, vocational facilities, and sewing centres."

The Sisters of Maria Bambina have educated some of Bangladesh’s foremost political and cultural figures. One of them is two-time Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who learnt to read and write at the nun-run St Joseph’s School, in Goneshtola, Dinajpur.

Much of the sisters’ work is directed at those who are at the bottom of society. "When I got sick, I was well treated at the St Vincent’s Hospital, which is run by the nuns," said Monir Hossian, a Muslim from Dinajpur.

"The Sisters of Charity greatly help poor women in textile plants,” said Fr Joseph Noren Baidya, a priest from the diocese of Khulna who was at the jubilee. “They give them even a moral education,” he told AsiaNews.

"My respect goes to the Sisters of Charity for their incredible contribution to our country," said one Catholic who attended the jubilee.

At present, the Sisters of Charity in Bangladesh can count on 109 nuns, including three from Italy.

• bangladesh
• sisters
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• charity
• 150
• jubilee