Founding of the SSA (cont. • 1886)

The Congregation then turned its gaze southward, where numerous needs were becoming apparent. Starting in 1944, Haiti, then known as the Pearl of the Antilles, welcomed a growing number of missionaries who taught the children and cared for the sick. At present, the Sisters of Saint Anne in this corner of the Antilles are mostly native-born Haitians. Filled with the spirit and boldness of Mother Mary Anne, they manage and organize works to meet the needs of the Haitian people and fill many empty places there.

In the wake of the Second Vatican Council, Chile received its first Sisters of Saint Anne in 1965. With humility and boldness, the Congregation shared good times and bad with these brave people in search of freedom. Some native-born Chilean sisters are gradually taking on leadership positions.

In 1969, another country opened its doors to the Sisters of Saint Anne: the African nation of Cameroon. According to their time and talents, the sisters met needs that required generosity and love. They taught the young and opened a dispensary, a birthing centre and a homemaking centre. A particular concern was to help educate the local church. From the founding of the Congregation to date, there have been a total of 3,900 sisters. At the present time, the community numbers slightly more than 840. Some of the traditional works in which they carried out their charism as teachers no longer exist, either because of lack of personnel, because of changes in the educational system, or because the laity have taken charge of the institutions. However, the Sisters of Saint Anne, true to their mission of education, willingly engage in Church, teaching or social work.

 Photo:

• A Sister and three children in the North (Alaska).
  (photo : General Archives