The Story of a Remarkable Woman
The Congregation of the Sisters of St. Anne of Tiruchirapalli had its origin in the 19th century, when child marriage and consequential early widowhood were rampant even among the Catholics. Widows were treated as outcasts and subjected to untold suffering and inhuman treatment besides the social stigma stamped on them.
Our Foundress, Rev. Mother Annammal, was born in 1836 at Varaganeri, Palakarai, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India. Owing to cholera, many young girls — including our Foundress — were widowed and treated worse than slaves by their families. The society did not permit them to remarry.
She courageously went about begging for the sick and the needy, educating the little ones and praying with the Sakkiliar community. Inspired by her service, many young widows joined her.
As the number grew, she approached the Bishop of Tiruchirapalli, His Excellency Bishop Alexis Canoz S.J., to start a community for the widows. Due to financial difficulties the permission was initially denied. But she assured him that she would not ask for any financial aid and begged for permission, which was later granted.
The vibrant and burning urge of a single woman sowed the first seed for the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Anne, Tiruchirapalli — to liberate Indian women from the shackles of inhuman and irrational social practices and to empower women. Trusting in divine providence, Rev. Mother Annammal founded the first community with nine widows on 2nd February, 1858.
The power of the human spirit, triggered for this noble cause in the heart of Mother Annammal, was the marvellous beginning of a reformation unprecedented in the history of Indian womanhood. Her ministry among the poor, the sick, and the downtrodden showed her other-centred spirit. She discovered the face of God among the poorest and the suffering people.
She totally relied on God's bounty and power — not on her own capabilities — which in turn bore bountiful and good fruits for over 155 years. With the support of the local church, the ministry expanded into several dioceses in India and in various parts of the world. The members of the Congregation have always striven to live up to the charism of the Foundress:
"Simplicity in Life and Service to the Poor"
Being concerned with the upliftment of the poor and the socially outcast, the ministry has taken different dimensions in the involvement of multifarious activities — with a specific involvement in working for the differently-abled persons.